Why does your throat taste like blood after racing??

I've never noticed it after racing, but it's certainly apparent during spring interval sessions.

Iron levels...something

Anyway Whatever wrote:

Iron levels...something

What?

The answer to all mysteries is on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib0Tll3sGB0

I get that sometimes, I always figured the heavy breathing just irritated the throat, probably some bloody leakage.

Found this, seems like they're slowly arriving at a plausible conclusion:

http://www.bikeforums.net/archive/index.php/t-77721.html

I find it funny that some people that are more recreational think it's pathological but everyone I know of that trains/races at all-out levels knows exactly what I'm talking about. My friend and I were hypothesizing the reasons behind it and I was thinking if your blood pH got to extremely low levels it'd cause an "acidic" taste in your mouth that is mistaken for tasting like blood. Just a guess. I really don't think there is any actual hemorrhaging going on.

I get this especially on colder nights. I have been diagnosed with a weak stomach valve and have problems with stomach acid rising up because the running motion splashes it up. Normally this just causes a burning sensation (acid reflux) but maybe it could be stomach acid you're tasting?

Wow. Finally. I thought it was just me. I've been talking about this for years and everyone thought I was nuts.

Same same. Although I got this more when I was a child - it occurs less frequently now. I always thought it probably was blood.

maybe it's just an altitude-induced thing because everyone I know knows what I'm talking about.

Its the lactic acid man...

Heard many thatwerent used to train hard complain of the "blood taste" in their mouth after speed/anaerobic sessions.

I felt it my self at a race I did with no training.

My guess is you mainly do miles at training and raise your lactic levels high only at races....?

I've never noticed such a thing after races/workouts. I don't think it's because I'm not working hard enough. I mean, I've thrown up after/during workouts, but I've never tasted blood nor acid otherwise.

I like the pH decrease hypothesis because I can kind of relate the taste of acid and the taste of blood. The only problem I have with it is that if I were to drive to a steep hill and sprint up it for 30 seconds, I'd probably taste it a little. I really don't think that my blood pH would decrease in that short amount of time as much as it would in running an all out 1500m or something. I do notice it more when I'm out of shape and/or not warmed up. More ideas?

Jekyllman wrote:

I like the pH decrease hypothesis because I can kind of relate the taste of acid and the taste of blood.

I don't like it. Blood pH isn't acid, it's slightly alkaline (pH= 7.35), and is tightly regulated by the body, dropping only to 7.2, and only during extreme exercise when lactate level approaches 10 mmol/L.

The taste of blood in the mouth seems to only happen on warm days during the spring, although I have tasted it indoors before.

Do you remember biting anyone during the race?

Blood pH can get down to 6.7.

Jekyllman wrote:

Blood pH can get down to 6.7.

Only if you are dead.

Jekyllman wrote:

Blood pH can get down to 6.7.

A healthy person's blood pH stays in a narrow range of 7.35 to 7.45. Below 7.35 is considered acidosis. Below 7.0 you would be having serious metabolic issues. Below 6.9 you'd probably already be in a coma. 6.7 is certain death.

You taste it on the spring or indoors because your just starting doing anaerobics at training (or a race indoors)!

Your body is not used to lactic acid and you get that taste...