Iron Deficiency
Vandersteen, Paul
IRON DEFICIENCY IN RUNNERS - PLEASE READ, VERY IMPORTANT
Throughout the years as head coach of this program, I have seen some of our more dedicated distance runners experience more-than-the-usual fatigue, heavy legs, and a dive in performance. In past years, I always wrote it off to over-training or not enough sleep. It was not until I saw an Olympic runner speak about low ferritin levels, did I become educated on the importance of maintaining proper iron levels and its correlation to performance. I also consulted coaches and athletes at the Division I level and found they regularly test their athletes for ferritin, an intracellular protein that stores iron in the body.
I am now beginning to see that if a very dedicated distance runner (averages over 40 miles a week during the summer and fall) does not make a concerted effort to ingest a lot of iron rich foods and/or take supplements, there is a very good chance those levels will gradually decline, and so will performance (usually about 10%, or 20-25 seconds for a 3 mile race).
I encourage you to get educated on ferritin levels and distance runners and take the necessary action.
Below are some articles that I highly encourage you to read. You may also want to print them off to hand to the doctor if you make a visit. I have found that most doctors are not aware of loss of ferritin in dedicated distance runners, so you may have to educate him/her (first article below is really good for this). If your son has not experienced the symptoms of fatigue, then a test is probably not necessary. However, the doctor can provide advice on how to make sure iron levels are maintained or safely increased. Please note that most physicians will not want to do this test even if your son has experienced the symptoms. They will see it as unnecessary. You may have to demand the test and/or educate them on ferritin levels in dedicated distance runners.
Ferritin, hemoglobin, and iron deficiency in distance runners
http://www.runningwritings.com/2011/11/ferritin-hemoglobin-and-iron-deficiency.html
Iron Level Upkeep For Runners
http://running.competitor.com/2013/10/nutrition/iron-level-upkeep-for-runners_63445
Iron Deficiency in Runners
http://runnersconnect.net/running-nutrition-articles/iron-deficiency-in-runners/
IRON DEFICIENCY IN RUNNERS - PLEASE READ, VERY IMPORTANT
Throughout the years as head coach of this program, I have seen some of our more dedicated distance runners experience more-than-the-usual fatigue, heavy legs, and a dive in performance. In past years, I always wrote it off to over-training or not enough sleep. It was not until I saw an Olympic runner speak about low ferritin levels, did I become educated on the importance of maintaining proper iron levels and its correlation to performance. I also consulted coaches and athletes at the Division I level and found they regularly test their athletes for ferritin, an intracellular protein that stores iron in the body.
I am now beginning to see that if a very dedicated distance runner (averages over 40 miles a week during the summer and fall) does not make a concerted effort to ingest a lot of iron rich foods and/or take supplements, there is a very good chance those levels will gradually decline, and so will performance (usually about 10%, or 20-25 seconds for a 3 mile race).
I encourage you to get educated on ferritin levels and distance runners and take the necessary action.
Below are some articles that I highly encourage you to read. You may also want to print them off to hand to the doctor if you make a visit. I have found that most doctors are not aware of loss of ferritin in dedicated distance runners, so you may have to educate him/her (first article below is really good for this). If your son has not experienced the symptoms of fatigue, then a test is probably not necessary. However, the doctor can provide advice on how to make sure iron levels are maintained or safely increased. Please note that most physicians will not want to do this test even if your son has experienced the symptoms. They will see it as unnecessary. You may have to demand the test and/or educate them on ferritin levels in dedicated distance runners.
Ferritin, hemoglobin, and iron deficiency in distance runners
http://www.runningwritings.com/2011/11/ferritin-hemoglobin-and-iron-deficiency.html
Iron Level Upkeep For Runners
http://running.competitor.com/2013/10/nutrition/iron-level-upkeep-for-runners_63445
Iron Deficiency in Runners
http://runnersconnect.net/running-nutrition-articles/iron-deficiency-in-runners/