Believe to Achieve

Very interesting Julie. I have to say that I am not surprised b/c your training was so good all summer, it seemed like something else just had to be wrong. Luckily you know what the problem is and can get it taken care of, and monitor it going forward. Andrea struggled w/ low iron levels last year, and getting those back on track have been crucial for her success this year. It happens to so many female runners who train hard. I often think that I should get some baseline bloodwork data on myself... its probably the reason behind some guys going into a "slump" but they don't recognize it.

totally agree with you there Jake--- about guys getting checked out. I should talk to Tyler too who I moaned and groaned to in the 23rd mile. We both couldn't catch our breaths and our heartrates were soaring. We were like asking each other "what in the heck?" Tyler being a previous 2:54 marathoner. Problems like this slowly sneak up on you. I noticed about two weeks ago similar symptoms (difficulty breathing uphill running and an irratic heartbeat) coming on but I took for granted that my body could "pull through it" because it was doing so well all summer. I stopped taking my iron regularly three months ago and thought by eating a hamburger a week and some cream of wheat would do the trick. But not when you are that low apparently. My Dr. said last year that I would probably need transfusions every year because she didn't think I absorbed the iron. I blew that off and felt like superwoman after the transfusions last fall so obviously I didn't need to do anything but eat some hamburgers right? so weird. I am kind of a minimalist. Eat right. No need for medical assistance. So the IV thing was strange for me. Although, ironically I am a nurse. But before that I am a runner.

It's really good that you got this checked out. I bet there are so many runners that have low iron levels and don't even know it.

So do you know why you aren't absorbing iron? I haven't been to a doctor since last year and now I'm thinking it might be a good idea to make sure I'm on track now.

P.S. Iron IV therapy sounds terrible! Ouch!

Wow, good information. Hope you get better soon Julie:)

I sent you a pm but this is definitely a good read and I'm glad you got on top of getting it checked back out!

Andrea, not sure why the poor absorption...perhaps she could figure more about that this time. I was also very low in vitamin D so I made sure to run without sunscreen and take some vitamin d. So again absorption problems. YES keep in check. Since you are so on track with your fitness you want to stay on top of it and not tank like I did. Lesson learned. I have told bloggers over the last year to check their ferritin level if they experience lots of fatigue, muscle aches and breathless. It is not always easy to get into the Dr. but for women runners it is so important. Hindsight is always 20/20 but this time I am going to regularly see a Dr. two months before an important marathon just to make sure levels are in check.

I began taking Ferrous sulfate elixir, 1-2 tsp a morning and felt a difference. My ferritin was low after UVM and decided to give it a try but it sure tasted like a mouth full on Nickles.

McKenzie, do you remember what your level was? Last year mine was 5, the lowest the dietician for NICU had ever heard. She is very particular about how much iron babies on the NICU get. I sadly never took iron when I was pregnant or any other time because I got so sick on it. I found the german brand floradix to be the best for me. I had just stopped taking it. Still had some symptoms but if I took it less often I had less, of course. Apparently I should have just kept taking it every day not once a week or so. Red meat has the best iron source as the heme iron is well absorbed but nonheme iron from plants is not. So much for eating meat sparingly I guess I will start that regimen again. A greasy hamburger probably had more grease than iron. Going to the meat market for better quality. BTW performance drops when ferritin levels drop below 20-25. There are lots of articles on this about women runners and injuries/performance dwindling.

Mine was 15 and I was feeling awful but much better now

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