WORKOUTS DRAGGING? CHECK YOUR IRON LEVELS

Our bodies need iron for oxygen transport. Kelly Pritchett tells us why and how - and what to do about keeping our levels optimal for running.

- Kelly Pritchett

IF YOU'RE A RUNNER - ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE A WOMAN - THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE YOU'VE RUN LOW ON IRON BEFORE, IF NOT BECOME OUTRIGHT ANAEMIC.

Having an iron deficiency is common among endurance athletes such as runners, impacting up to 17 per cent of male and 50 per cent of female endurance athletes across various cohort studies.

That's a problem for many reasons: not only does iron make it possible for red blood cells to carry oxygen to your muscles to power them, but the vital mineral is also important for energy generation during high-intensity activity, and for keeping your immune system humming along. When your iron levels are deficient, your performance and general health is compromised. You may notice feeling more burnt out during your training, not being able to finish your workouts the way you want to (and are used to), and not being able to bounce back after tough sessions. So let's break down everything you need to know about the relationship between iron levels and your kays.

How do we become iron-deficient?

The reason many of us worry about our iron levels is that this mineral is lost in many ways: in the urine, through the menstrual cycle, blood loss in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, sweat loss, and the breakdown of red blood cells via the impact of our foot strikes. Plus, chronic use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. ibuprofen) - often used by athletes - and antacids can also lead to iron deficiency.

What about anaemia?