Low iron levels

Get on something like Liquid Iron or ProFerrin. Just taking Iron pills will not always work! Here is a link. I am a college coach and Liquid Iron and this has helped many of my female distance runners.

http://www.proferrin.com/proferrinsport-home

Everyone is different but if your Ferrin levels are around 30 and above you should be good. Anything lower you should have concern and be on the above!

I went through this with my son. The first thing you MUST do is have your doctor prescribe a blood test that includes ferritin (the pediatricians normally do not include a ferritin test when testing iron, so make sure you specifically ask for it.) Do NOT take any iron until this is done! Don't go by your "theory" -- you're not a doctor. Too much iron can be toxic, and until you know what the deal is, you should not take anything.

If your ferritin level is really low (under 20), you may have to take 64mg a couple of times a day for a couple of months. Ideally you want it to be over 30. You would have to then get tested again, because you can't keep taking iron forever. Some runners take a maintenance dose of one 64mg iron pill a day. My son gets a blood test every three months just to make sure that he's not too low or too high.

my goodness...the bad information on this board is mind boggling. at least spell "ferritin" correctly. appropriate levels are different regarding sex, age, and actual physical maturity. there is no difference in the absorption of iron in liquid vs pill form. please stop giving out black pearls, dude.

I am going to guess that the OP just ran himself into the ground without recovering enough. That is usually the first case to consider before going to iron deficiency.

Sorry about the misspelling of it! If you read what I wrote I said that everyone is different. I also write this from 17 years of experience so the number 30 is an average number, but seems to be very close to what most of my Female runners are at when healthy. We have had much more success using the Liquid Iron and Pro Ferrin as opposed to the Iron Pills! Take them with some Orange Juice or Vitamin C for better absorption.

I went through this with my son when he was a sophomore in high school. too much speed work in practice(s) without adequate recovery or/direction as to training and pacing by a coach more oriented to sprinters and/or distance runners who didn't run all winter.

Anyway, agree with the above post as to over training, as well as previous posters as what is/is not appropriate levels. (if your training consistently, plus growing, 20 or below is a problem.)

Once he got on liquid Iron once a day the problem took car of its self. But to be honest, the biggest damage was psychological as he lost all trust of coaches in his high school program.

But that's a story for another day.

redneon101 wrote:

Blah. Blah.

I usually never eat meat (1 time /2wks) and sweat alot. ALOT.

Blah. Blah.

Your answer's in there.

Moron.

Eat more red meat, preferably medium-rare.

You're welcome.

Those Proferrin pills look like a total waste of money. $31.50 for 300 total mg of iron? That should cost less than a quarter!

I'd stay way from the iron salts and take something like ferrochel. I tried all sorts of different brands and tried the ferrochel at the recommendation of a friend and I've found that I have to take much less iron with that brand and I don't have the stomach issues.

I also found that when I take it with lactoferrin, I have less issues (along with Vitamin C on an empty stomach).

I've heard that both Oregon groups like to keep their ferritin at least at 100 to stay away from issues, and it's also low enough to not cause toxicity issues.

But I would definitely not take iron until you get an iron panel and ferritin tested by your doctor, preferably one who knows about distance running. I can't tell you how many doctors were clueless when it comes to things running/performance related.

You'd rather take a cocktail of pharmaceuticals than eating a nice steak????

Sorry, I don't get you guys.

Is it me, or are you all morons?

It's you. You're the CrossFit moron who thinks he knows everything about everything. Come to the track and we'll see just how "fit" you are. We'll be laughing while we run by you, and you're down on the ground gasping for breath.

The reason I mention iron is that most people pay absolutely no attention to it. Iron deficiency is very common in distance runners, both male and female. The OP could waste two months of the XC season wondering why his times aren't good, and if iron is the issue, it will be too late to salvage his season. It takes weeks for iron supplements to kick in, unless you get a transfusion.

Getting a blood test to check ferritin is prudent. If it's normal, great, no further action needed, then you look at training, recovery, etc. No reason you can't do both.

P.S. If you have really low iron, eating a steak once a week is not going to fix it.

rdad98 wrote:

P.S. If you have really low iron, eating a steak once a week is not going to fix it.

Eating steak DAILY is going to fix it though.

It will also fix low testosterone.

But you runners seem to prefer pills and gels (like Galen Rupp).

Thanks for your guys's time. XFit go suck some.