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Donating blood in OUTseason?

Hi, what do people think about donating blood in the outseason as a way to add additional CV stress/challenge to the body with hopefully increased long-term gains?

I imagine it is like training at altitude for 1-3 months.

I know it would screw up my numbers in the short term, but hopefully provide CV benefit to me in the long term.

(not to mention it saves lives, and I enjoy it).

Comments

  • Not sure about any training benefit?
    But I do in the OS, because I definitely don't do it in season, and so if I didn't donate in the OS, I wouldn't donate at all.
  • Hi, what do people think about donating blood in the outseason as a way to add additional CV stress/challenge to the body with hopefully increased long-term gains?

    I imagine it is like training at altitude for 1-3 months.

    I know it would screw up my numbers in the short term, but hopefully provide CV benefit to me in the long term.
    I don't think you'd be any better off, long term, then before a blood donation. The "stress" is two fold:
    • Decreased body water due to loss of about 10 oz worth of H20. This is easily and quickly replaced by hydrating before and after the donation, no long-term effect
    • Loss of about 10% of your oxygen carrying capacity, sensed by the kidney, which releases EPO >> increased production of red cells. But this will not result in an "overshoot", merely bring your total O2 carrying capacity back to whatever your body thinks is "normal". In the intervening 4-12 weeks you'll have less ability to go long or hard.
    As to altitude, and its effect on EPO, hematocrit, etc, that's a different topic. Donating blood is more like being a trauma victim, losing blood acutely, and having to recover from that. I don't think there's any short term or long term training advantage. Not saying don't donate, just saying don't do it hoping to improve your ability to run a marathon six months from now.

  • edited November 20, 2017 9:51PM
    Thanks a ton @Peter Greagg and @Al Truscott ! Mark Thoma (@mark thoma) , a teammate & physician had similar comments as to what you shared on the RDP Group-me @Al Truscott

    I'll post a screenshot here.


  • I donate blood because it's the right thing to do :)
  • Thanks a ton for the encouragement @Tom Glynn ! I totally agree!
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