Donating blood question

[Jogunlikely]

Fingers crossed I graduate on Thurs, then Friday evening I'm due to give blood. Not wanting to lose momentum but also don't want a rubbish run, how long have people given before they run after donating? I appreciate we are all different but I'm wondering if giving it until Sunday afternoon is sufficient?

Thanks

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate]

Good luck to you for your graduation run on Thursday, a gentle run on Sunday seems OK, certainly not on Saturday the day after you give blood.

[ArthurJG Graduate]

Be careful. They say wait at least 24 hours though that wasn’t long enough for me. However it will be around three weeks before your running performance returns to the same level. If you run on Sunday, take it slow and don’t aim to run for 30 minutes.

After donation most components of your blood replenish themselves within a day or so but your red blood cells take much longer. That limits your blood’s capacity for carrying oxygen round your body. It doesn’t matter in everyday life but it does affect your capacity for strenuous exercise. I made myself thoroughly miserable because I didn’t know that and tried to do a parkrun at the same pace as the previous Saturday after giving blood on the Wednesday.

By all means go for a wee run on Sunday but don’t attempt your usual pace or distance because your body won’t have the capacity for that yet. Worth knowing for the future too, if you decide to enter races, not to schedule blood donation during training for a race.

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to ArthurJG]

Thank you, some great info there. I had no idea it could take 3 weeks to be back to normal 😮 I have a 5k event in 4 weeks but I'm not at 5k yet so was planning to walk the last bit anyway

I'll see how I go this weekend. It may turn into a Sunday stroll 😊

[ArthurJG Graduate in reply to Jogunlikely]

Nor had I any idea. Blamed my messy parkrun on not hydrating enough after giving blood but then came across an article that explained it’s much more than that. You can still run, after 24-48 hours, but you have to understand that your performance level will be lower. I had set a PB the Saturday before giving blood on the Wednesday. I went off at a similar pace the following Saturday and at 2k thought I might get at least a second-best time but by 3 k I was light headed and slowed right down including a couple of short walks. Finished more than three minutes slower than the week before. That was three days after giving blood.

[YoungArn Graduate]

Perhaps leave it a couple of days, you won’t lose any of the great work you’ve done. Last year I donated on Thursday and ran a half marathon Sunday, not great planning but both things were very important to me.

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to YoungArn]

Wow x

[PlodLife Graduate]

I would leave it a couple of days. I went to the gym the morning after donating once and it was horrible, just felt really weak. Good luck graduating!! I'm graduating tonight 😁

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to PlodLife]

Oh have a lovely run, don't forget to hold your arms aloft as you finish 😊

[PlodLife Graduate in reply to Jogunlikely]

Haha! I may cry...get terribly emosh after a milestone 😄

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to PlodLife]

😍

[nif100 Graduate]

your post should "after I graduate on Thursday" as you are going to smash it. Big smile and a tear or two are permitted when you finally make it....WHOOP WHOOP

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to nif100]

Thanks nif, I promise the uncertainty was around which day I have to take the cat for her annual jabs (now wed) not a lack of belief I didn't complete last time but I darn well will this!

Not sure if there will be tears but defo arms aloft and a stupid grin. let's hope the path is empty of walkers else theyll think ive gone batty 🤪🤣🤣

[nif100 Graduate in reply to Jogunlikely]

well I actually had my music blasting on rag n bone man "Giant" love that song for running and actually shouted "I AM GIANT" as I crossed my imaginary line. Then realised I was the only one who could hear the music had some odd looks but it was MY moment

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to nif100]

Brilliant!

[jaybrass73 Graduate]

Hi, I work as a Senior Nurse for Blood Donation at NHS Blood and Transplant. We advise all our donors to not undertake any hazardous hobbies / occupations on the same working day as donation. So, if you’re planning to run on Sunday having donated on Friday you should be ok. Just ensure you are really well hydrated and let someone know where you are running (just in case), or better still, run with someone else. Maybe take a slower pace and listen to what your body is telling you - if you don’t feel right, just walk the rest of your route! Happy running!

Have a look at blood.co.uk for more info!

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to jaybrass73]

Thank you, I'll do that 👍🙂

[jaybrass73 Graduate in reply to Jogunlikely]

No problem!

[Granspeed Graduate]

We’ll all be watching for that graduation run. 👍😳

[Jogunlikely Graduate in reply to Granspeed]

😍