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Sep 2014
2:02pm, 2 Sep 2014
1,093 posts
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icelandic trigirl
Looking for some unbiased medical advice as google produces widely varying views. The blood donation bus is coming to my work tomorrow (Wednesday) and I would like to donate. However, I am signed up for a race on Saturday and I really don't want to pull out, as I am flying my whole family out to there for the day. It is not a big race and I am not really "competing" in it; just out to have a good run in a new place. However, I know that on the day, I will push myself as hard as I can. I won't be able to take it easy. It is about 12k, very hill and on a trail.
My question is what impact I can expect from the blood donation. I'm not desperately worried if I get a sub-optimum time but I am worried about getting fainty or worse en route. My blood pressure is low and I'm a bit woozy at the best of times.
I don't know when the bus will next be back but it doesn't come here very often - maybe once a year, but I am away a lot.
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Sep 2014
2:22pm, 2 Sep 2014
8 posts
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tonyp2604
I am also a regular donor and like to do my bit to help others. However, in this instance I would postpone giving blood until after the race. For an average person, the 470ml represents just over 10% of your blood volume and you will be missing a lot of red blood cells. It takes a while for the levels of these to recover and this is most noticable in the time immediately after donating. you may well be able to do the race but you will probably be getting out of puff quicker than normal. If you do decide to compete - then make sure you are really well hydrated in the 48 hours after giving blood. You might want iron supplements but I am not sure what amount of difference this will make.
You say that the blood doantion bus only comes to your work once a year - you can actually donate at any centre and these are all listed on the blood.co.uk website.
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Sep 2014
2:27pm, 2 Sep 2014
1,094 posts
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icelandic trigirl
I'm not in the UK, Tony, and I don't think we have a centre locally :/
I'm also not that big (about 57k) so it would probably be more than 10% for me. Bummer.
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Sep 2014
2:35pm, 2 Sep 2014
4,575 posts
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Southcoastpete
Giving blood always makes my running sluggish for a few days Icelandic Trigirl, to I would advise against.
There is a Fetchie blood donor thread, though if your not in the UK, it may not be of much use.
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Sep 2014
2:44pm, 2 Sep 2014
9 posts
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tonyp2604
Sorry - didn't realise you are outside the UK.
What I said is based on personal experience/reading some articles. At the end of the day it is your call - you could run but you will appreciate that there will not be as much oxygen available to your muscles as normal. You blood HB count will be lower than usual and being female more so (in the UK women are only allowed to donate three times a year (due to menstrual cycle) as opposed to four times a year for men) - I also read that a lot of female endurance athletes have lower blood HB than women generally.
Personally - after donating, I avoid running for 2-3 days then take it easy for the following few days. The last time I went out for a seven miler a few days after donating and had to walk every now and again as i was so out of breath!
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Sep 2014
2:44pm, 2 Sep 2014
241 posts
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Wirral Dave
The bus might only visit your work once a year, but it might visit places nearby fairly often. Do they have a website where you can check where it's going to be?
Also, in the UK most big towns and cities have a centre where you can pop into at any time. You don't necessarily have to go out of your way to visit a big city which has a centre, but you could find out where they are and visit on if you happen to be nearby for an unconnected reason.
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Sep 2014
2:48pm, 2 Sep 2014
4,622 posts
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Autumnleaves
I'd also caution against if you really want to push yourself - I have given blood on a Tuesday and done normal training runs on Wed or Thurs and Saturday - I always find them quite hard and get more tired more quickly. O once went to a cross-country session the Saturday after where I worked far too hard and had to stop as I did feel distinctly unwell - only belatedly remembering that it probably hadn't been a good idea. If you really think you won't be able to amble along admiring the scenery I wouldn't give blood.
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Sep 2014
2:49pm, 2 Sep 2014
4,623 posts
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Autumnleaves
*I* not O!!
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Sep 2014
3:50pm, 2 Sep 2014
1,096 posts
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icelandic trigirl
boo  Think probably best avoided, for now. I'll try to find out if there are other times I can donate and go for it at a better time. I don't *think* I have any more races this year till a 10k TT at the end of October (which I don't even know if I will do).
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Sep 2014
3:53pm, 2 Sep 2014
1,097 posts
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icelandic trigirl
Aha! Did discover it is possible just to book a time locally, so I will do that when I am back from the next work trip and well before the next race Bloodbankbus did it's job, I'd say, by kicking me up the bum to find out about this.
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