The mind is willing but....

ElliotJ

.... at the moment I feel like I'm carrying an extra two stone in my legs when i'm running.

I'm a long time follower of other training logs in here and really find great motivation for keeping up the running so i'm hoping that I might find help from others experiences.

A quick background on me. I'm a 35 year old female and I've been running for the last 10 months, did a few 10kms and worked up to a half marathon in Dec in Waterford that I finished in 2.13 - my big achievement! Joined a winter running league and was running 5 miles in 42 mins just in the past few weeks.

So, what's the problem; well, I've suffered from anemia in the past year and while I should be taking iron supplements daily, I let it slide over the past couple of months. I wouldn't have considered me a serious case (levels of 9 when they should be 12? - I'm not an expert though) so I just thought that I could get a away with it. Not so. Anyway, i'm back on the supplements (doubling them) but it's a slow road.

I'm hoping to run another half marathon in May and am starting the Hal Higdon programme again - but it's a case barely managing 2 miles on Monday and having to walk half way through my 3 mile run tonight :mad: It's very frustrating, my legs just feel so heavy but I don't want to give up running for fear of losing everything that I've worked up to - cos it's in there somewhere!!

Has anyone experienced this before, and if so, how long is it going to take to get me back on track roughly, I appreciate that everyone is different but any advice is welcome

pistol_75

Check out Claralaras training log. Go back to summer of 2011 and you'll have a good read to see how she has progressed after iron problems.

Ceepo

ElliotJ wrote: »

.... at the moment I feel like I'm carrying an extra two stone in my legs when i'm running.

I'm a long time follower of other training logs in here and really find great motivation for keeping up the running so i'm hoping that I might find help from others experiences.

A quick background on me. I'm a 35 year old female and I've been running for the last 10 months, did a few 10kms and worked up to a half marathon in Dec in Waterford that I finished in 2.13 - my big achievement! Joined a winter running league and was running 5 miles in 42 mins just in the past few weeks.

So, what's the problem; well, I've suffered from anemia in the past year and while I should be taking iron supplements daily, I let it slide over the past couple of months. I wouldn't have considered me a serious case (levels of 9 when they should be 12? - I'm not an expert though) so I just thought that I could get a away with it. Not so. Anyway, i'm back on the supplements (doubling them) but it's a slow road.

I'm hoping to run another half marathon in May and am starting the Hal Higdon programme again - but it's a case barely managing 2 miles on Monday and having to walk half way through my 3 mile run tonight :mad: It's very frustrating, my legs just feel so heavy but I don't want to give up running for fear of losing everything that I've worked up to - cos it's in there somewhere!!

Has anyone experienced this before, and if so, how long is it going to take to get me back on track roughly, I appreciate that everyone is different but any advice is welcome

HI there,

Sorry dont have time to go into a long winded reply,

Buy imo you need to take a few days off, if your iron level is down you are not helping it by running,
Take a 5/6 days off and then start back doing every 2nd day for a few days
and see how you feel, you won't loose as much fitness by doing this as to stay running to a standstill and maybe risking injury and or illness,
Also to stay going is hard mentally you never know you might even enjoy the few days off

ger664

Go see your GP. Ask them to check your Ferritin Store.

JohnnyCrash

The one thing that jumps out at me is your half marathon pace is just over 10 min/miles and your 5 mile pace is just under 8 and a half.Possible that youve ramped up yor pace too quickly?

ElliotJ

Thanks for the responses - Pistol 75 I read Claralara's thread earlier, now that is some inspiration! It's great to hear about other people's perseverance, it certainly would keep you from feeling sorry for yourself!

I reckon I'll take it handy for a bit; the OH has just signed up for the Limerick marathon and I was going to do the half, but I might just leave it a month and see how I get on before committing. I was out on the bike at the weekend and didn't find it too hard on the legs so I might just concentrate on that to keep the fitness levels up.

Thanks again for the advice - watch this space - I could have a training log yet!

pansophelia

Hey,

Had an identical issue just a few months ago. I did my first half marathon in April 2012 and my second in May 2012 and had registered for DCM 12, but gradually found myself slowing down. My long run pace went from 10 min/miles, to 11 min/mile to 11.30 min/miles. My heart was pounding, even during the easiest of runs, and I started to dread going out because of how tough I was finding it.
Finally went and got my bloods checked after getting a virus that really knocked me for a few days, and, like yourself, my Hb was really low (btw at 9 you're going to really feel it) and my iron stores were practically non existent.
I missed about 6 weeks of running (I still ran, but only once or twice a week for a couple of miles) and DCM was out of the question.
So, I started to notice my times dwindling in June, got the bloods done in August, and wasn't back to myself till probably November/December.
Take yourself very easy getting back into things, and keep taking double dose iron for a couple of months at least. Avoid coffee/tea for 2 hours either side of the iron tablet and best of luck with everything!

ElliotJ

pansophelia wrote: »

Hey,

Had an identical issue just a few months ago. I did my first half marathon in April 2012 and my second in May 2012 and had registered for DCM 12, but gradually found myself slowing down. My long run pace went from 10 min/miles, to 11 min/mile to 11.30 min/miles. My heart was pounding, even during the easieI't of runs, and I started to dread going out because of how tough I was finding it.
Finally went and got my bloods checked after getting a virus that really knocked me for a few days, and, like yourself, my Hb was really low (btw at 9 you're going to really feel it) and my iron stores were practically non existent.
I missed about 6 weeks of running (I still ran, but only once or twice a week for a couple of miles) and DCM was out of the question.
So, I started to notice my times dwindling in June, got the bloods done in August, and wasn't back to myself till probably November/December.
Take yourself very easy getting back into things, and keep taking double dose iron for a couple of months at least. Avoid coffee/tea for 2 hours either side of the iron tablet and best of luck with everything!

Hey pansopheila, thanks for the post. Sounds very familiar alright. I have to say I'm finding it difficult not running (except maybe on nights like tonight!) so will persevere with it and hopefully ill be back in the swing of things by the beginning of summer. At least now I can be realistic about it and stop getting too frustrated with the legs! Thanks again and good luck with the training.

tunguska

[QUOTE=ElliotJ;82970696

So, what's the problem; well, I've suffered from anemia in the past year and while I should be taking iron supplements daily, I let it slide over the past couple of months. I wouldn't have considered me a serious case (levels of 9 when they should be 12? - I'm not an expert though) so I just thought that I could get a away with it. Not so. Anyway, i'm back on the supplements (doubling them) but it's a slow road.

[/QUOTE]

Just to let you know, beetroot juice is a really good source of iron(amongst a lot of other benefits). I know iron supplements can be very rough on the stomach so it'd be worth your while trying beetroot juice out for a while, see if it helps. I drink it myself and having been prone to low iron in the past, I feel way better now.

http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-beetroot-juice.htm

rom

tunguska wrote: »

Just to let you know, beetroot juice is a really good source of iron(amongst a lot of other benefits). I know iron supplements can be very rough on the stomach so it'd be worth your while trying beetroot juice out for a while, see if it helps. I drink it myself and having been prone to low iron in the past, I feel way better now.

http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-beetroot-juice.htm

Pink wee is another benefit :P

pansophelia

ElliotJ wrote: »

Hey pansopheila, thanks for the post. Sounds very familiar alright. I have to say I'm finding it difficult not running (except maybe on nights like tonight!) so will persevere with it and hopefully ill be back in the swing of things by the beginning of summer. At least now I can be realistic about it and stop getting too frustrated with the legs! Thanks again and good luck with the training.

Hey,
Just had a look back at my training log - I took 2 weeks completely off, and then gradually built the running back up again. I was going out five or six times a week, but really short distances and easy pace - nothing fast or long.
Everyone is very different too, Claralara was flying along again really quickly if her log is anything to go by!
You've loads of time to get ready for a May half, and it's such a nice feeling when you start to feel normal again!

ElliotJ

Thanks pansophelia, went out for a short run this eve, didn't feel as bad as I did last week so I'm delighted. Although it has been nearly a week since I ran last so I guess my next outing on thursday will tell more.

Tunguska, I picked up some beetroot juice today - its actually not too bad, I'll look forward to the pink wee!

One united

ElliotJ wrote: »

.... at the moment I feel like I'm carrying an extra two stone in my legs when i'm running.

I'm a long time follower of other training logs in here and really find great motivation for keeping up the running so i'm hoping that I might find help from others experiences.

A quick background on me. I'm a 35 year old female and I've been running for the last 10 months, did a few 10kms and worked up to a half marathon in Dec in Waterford that I finished in 2.13 - my big achievement! Joined a winter running league and was running 5 miles in 42 mins just in the past few weeks.

So, what's the problem; well, I've suffered from anemia in the past year and while I should be taking iron supplements daily, I let it slide over the past couple of months. I wouldn't have considered me a serious case (levels of 9 when they should be 12? - I'm not an expert though) so I just thought that I could get a away with it. Not so. Anyway, i'm back on the supplements (doubling them) but it's a slow road.

I'm hoping to run another half marathon in May and am starting the Hal Higdon programme again - but it's a case barely managing 2 miles on Monday and having to walk half way through my 3 mile run tonight :mad: It's very frustrating, my legs just feel so heavy but I don't want to give up running for fear of losing everything that I've worked up to - cos it's in there somewhere!!

Has anyone experienced this before, and if so, how long is it going to take to get me back on track roughly, I appreciate that everyone is different but any advice is welcome

Hi Elliot j
Similar story to you I'm male, starting running last April after loosing some weight (2stone) found I really liked the running part of the exercise so stoped the gym and ran instead (cheaper)did a couple of local runs, half mar and so on and really enjoyed the buzz did DCM in 3.37 this really got me more into the running steped it up sum more ,bet u can see where this is going ,up to this no real injures only small things ,twisted ankle in leaves ,knee swelling ,back pains nothing that kept me away for more than a week or so .this jan in my area they were looking for blood donors so said I'd go along ,signed up ,got in line ,thought they'll be delighted to have my super fit blood (lol) and saw some people turned away for whatever reason and thought "wouldn't it be embarrassing to be turned away" BUT that wouldn't happen to fit me anyway had my h/b tested and it was 9.2 they don't except less than 11.5 for a male and mine should be between 12 and 15 .
No idea what any of that meant ,tryed to understand what we're the causes from the nurse she was a bit vague I'd say see didn't want to say much cos the test doesn't tell much and I believe can be out .
I had done a 22mile two days before and 6 the night after so asked would it be the running she assured me it prob was .
Googled when I got home hb and running(nothing like google to self prescribe) found its fairly common in runners low iron and so on with this info said I better get my bloods properly done as I haven't for years I would advise anyone running or otherwise to have your blood checked at least twice a year (you'll never know!!)that's the preaching bit done came back after a few days only thing low iron this time 10.1hb so was put on galfor iron two capsules a day one in morn one in evening no tea or coffee for a few hours after taking (stops you absorbing the iron ,supposedly your body will only absorbe very small amounts of this anyway)doc also said if this was too hard on the gut I could take the liquid form ,it is, but deli belly and black poo ill live with.doc kept asking me was I tired and others asked as well ,wasn't really ,but have since been out for three weeks longest so far with a hip and knee prob ,ran on fri thought I could run 13 miles died after 10 ,had to walk the last three I know stupid but was able to do this regularly all along and supposedly the body doesn't forget how to run(what a load of **** that is lol)my times for the ten were the best I've done for ages ???did another on sun this time 6miles light jog this time felt great after it so it does come right just take it easy and you will love it again