Looking for reassurance ! Running after giving blood....

[Juliet202]

Haven't been here for a while (since the app was withdrawn !!) - and can see what I've been missing ! New year's resolution - not so much 'more running', but 'more checking with you lot' ! But my need for reassurance is as follows - today I abandoned my long run after only 4k (was meant to be 8 miles - '9 weeks to go' on the NRC HM plan). I'm not used to abandoning runs.... But it was soooo unusually hard, I could hear Coach Bennet's wisdom from previous runs, about knowing when to back off, avoiding injury, etc. etc. Thing is, I gave blood on Friday - now I knew that I shouldn't attempt a run on Saturday, but I honestly thought I'd be back to normal by Sunday. Am I using it as an excuse ? Really it was hard, my VO2 max has gone down a point ! The watch can't be wrong !! I just found an article on Running World that advises waiting 2 days after donation before running (well, it was about 42 hours...), but that most people would be reasonably recovered after 2 weeks, and to wait a month before a 'serious race' !! I had NOT factored for such a long recovery !

I am kind of thinking of re-trying my 8 mile this Wednesday (timing is work-related - the earliest I'll have time off to do it in the light). I am far from 'elite' athlete, I don't care about time, I'm not in a hurry to complete the training plan. Am I being over-optimistic ? It will be the longest run I've done for quite a while..... (have a couple of recent 10ks under my belt)..... I know how much psychology contributes to the running achievements, and I'm worried that I'll be telling myself 'it's ok not to bother' - and then of course I won't, and then I'll end up abandoning again..... Maybe I'll try Jeffing it instead...

[Cmoi Marathon]

I've no experience of running after giving blood (France regards me as a mad cow, so I'm banned) but two weeks' recovery sounds OTT to me, and under 48 hours a bit short.

My totally unscientific conclusion is that you should ignore the watch, chill out, and give the run another go on Wednesday at a nice easy pace.

Most importantly, believe in yourself and in the value of your actions - giving blood is potentially life-saving. You should be proud of that, not worrying about not completing a run.

[Juliet202 Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks ! Good philosophy ! I do take the watch with a pinch of salt, but this time I was relieved to have VO2 max downgraded as this kind of confirmed my poor physiological status…. Ie it wasn’t just all in my head.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Juliet202]

I wouldn't assume that a drop in V02Max is indicative of poor physiological status! 😜 Months ago my Garmin increased mine after a couple of boring 5kish runs, and then docked me points when I completed a trail marathon. Am I bovvered?!

[GoGo_JoJo Ultramarathon]

Always best to wait a couple of days. Hydration is super, super important after donating.

"Serious race" is when you're aiming to win or place high, I really wouldn't worry about that guideline!! 🤣

If you overthink it, you'll make it a mental block. 👍🏻

[Juliet202 Half Marathon in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Yes - best not to overthink, you're right. Though getting through a run can be as mental as physical - I'm going to put today down to 100% physical and feel a little bit self-righteous about it, too ! 😇

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Definitely some overthinking here. Yes you can do it. Of course you can! I know nothing about giving blood (a perrenial fainter!), but I do know some runs are just tough! Another day and it will be very different. Run easy and you will do it. As for the watch? It can really only be relied on when you like what it's telling you, the rest of the time it doesn't have a clue 🤣

[nowster Metric Marathon]

Your body's not going to have quite as many oxygen carriers for a week or two. You've given away about 10% of them and it's working overtime now to replace them.

And Garmin is a fickle fellow. Expect your VO₂Max to drop with a longer slow run compared with a short faster one. Mine peaked this week with a 2 mile run and then dropped 0.7 points having done parkrun yesterday and a HM today.

[Juliet202 Half Marathon in reply to nowster]

Yes I hadn’t thought of it that way - I knew about the need to replace liquids and to avoid strenuous exercise for a day - apparently the actual liquid volume is replaced quite quickly within 24 hours - but I guess the haemoglobin replacement takes a bit longer. I’ll chill out for a bit - might or might not try again on Wednesday jeffing - or will just do a shorter run.