Giving Blood

I donate about 6 times per year.  I take 24 hours off of training after giving a pint.  I would allow a week to build back up to full blood supply for a Sprint, 2 weeks for an Oly and probably 3 weeks for a HIM.

I would delay and donate the week after the HIM race.

my wife is a phlebotomist and works for the Indiana Blood Center.

She says that after a week you should be fine, but if you are concerned, not to push it.  Most of the ill effects you feel right after donating are a reaction to the suddenly lower blood volume (hypovolemia).  Low blood volume = lower blood pressure = floor for some people.

Last time I gave whole blood, I made sure I ate well and stayed hydrated before and after, and only felt weakened for a day.  I was back to training at normal levels 2 days afterward.

Platelets would be a better option if you have the extra time, as it does give you back your red cells.  However, it still dehydrates you, so you will need to make sure you really focus on staying hydrated before and after.

One thing to consider as well...  Mobile people tend to try and rush through the process, to get people in and out.  So if you have issues with them missing your veins, just find a center and go donate on your lunch break (some companies will let you donate on the clock...worth looking into).

I donate regularly too. We Oneg's have to look out for eachother

I agree that you might as well wait until after the race since it is so close. It probably wouldnt make too much of a difference, but waiting a week or two to donate probably wont either.  Good luck

Don't do it.  Don't even consider doing it.  Make an appointment for the next time it comes around. 

Giving blood won't affect your performance. Your cardiovascular system isn't going to be a limiter for you anyways. If someone was going to DNF, it would be from local muscle fatigue before there was a problem carrying oxygen to tissues(barring any catastrophy). I think you'd be fine except it might psych you out just KNOWING that you gave blood. Like other people have said though, the blood center will be there after the race.

I wish I could....this rule hits me though:

You were a member of the of the U.S. military, a civilian military employee, or a dependent of a member of the U.S. military who spent a total time of 6 months on or associated with a military base in any of the following areas during the specified time frames

• From 1980 through 1990 - Belgium, the Netherlands (Holland), or Germany

The rule concerns Mad Cow Disease; I'm just wondering if there is ever an expiration on this.  I was there from 1989 - 1995, but if CDJ was to happen, I'd think it'd have happened by now.

That's not correct.  Delivery of oxygen to tissues is directly related to hemoglobin levels.  When you artificially suppress those levels by donating, you're limiting the oxygen delivery capacity of your body, and you will see performance affected.

It's the opposite of taking EPO, where you artificially raise your hemoglobin levels and see increased endurance performance.

That is not true.  When you donate you blood, you are losing close to 10% of your red blood cells and it can take well over a week to reproduce them.

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120121344/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

I'm not paying to read that entire study, but the results portion of the abstract say the average time it took to recover hemoglobin levels was 36 days, with a range of 11 either way.

An Ask the Doctor from velonews: http://velonews.com/article/5265

Call 1-800-Give-Life and schedule your appointment for a more convenient time.  They will be very nice about rescheduling you.  I have done this before when I got sick or there was a virus in my house.

I'm on "the list" at the Red Cross now and they call me whenever I'm eligible to donate again but last time I told them that I'm out until after my HIM race.

After. 

My doctor suggested I not donate blood the time prior to my backpacking trip (about 6 weeks).  I'd treat the HIM the same way. 

Every eight weeks like clock-work.  Heck, I make my next appointment before I leave the center.  Not only am I O- but am also eligible to donate for neonatal so my blood's in serious demand.

That said, I also would probably give it a week or so but then I'm nowhere near HIM level. 

Similar story to many above -- back when I donated, running the next few days was sometimes tougher than usual.  Other than that, no serious issues.  I wouldn't donate less than a few weeks out from a race.

I can't donate any more since I have traveled (and continue to travel) to places that are on the 'banned' list for blood donors.