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The effects of a low hemoglobin

Reliable sources have told me, most people don't experience any problems, i.e. fatigue, until their hemoglobin drops below 10 grams per deciliter (g/dl), and based on personal experience, I would have to agree.  

With my hemoglobin hovering around 12 g/dl, I function normally the vast majority of the time. Even when I'm riding my bike, I don't normally feel my low hemoglobin is such a detriment. But after todays ride, I'm not so sure.

I just could not get that burning sensation in my legs to go away today.

I was not experiencing any problems during the first half of the ride, and even though I did manage a max heart rate of 158 beats per minute (bpm), climbing the two hills on the ride, I could not get my heart rate much above 140 bpm the remainder of the ride, and I suspect my heart was not re-oxygenating my blood fast enough. 

Now while there may be some other possible explanations for the inability of my legs to recover adequately, like the fact I did a hard ride the day before, or that one of the hills today was particularly hard, with a grade approaches 11% (according to my Garmin Edge) in parts, or the fact I'm just getting older, I can't help but feel, had my hemoglobin been more normal, I wouldn't have been quite so tired.

In any event, I did manage to complete the ride, without getting dropped, by "hanging on" to the wheels (even managing to pull once or twice myself) of the younger and much stronger riders.

I just can't remember appreciating the cool down, and the end of the ride so much in the past, nor that bagel at the coffee shop afterwards.

Thank goodness tomorrow I get to rest!
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Becky said…
Hey, cool tunes you posted.

totally off subject. :-)
9:53 AM
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