Around the first of the year, I found a recommendation for a service that did blood analysis for endurance athletes (www.insidetracker.com) I found it very interesting. I have changed my diet and lost 70# in the last 8 ½ months. I am focused on running better, but concerned that my change in diet to produce the weight loss was negatively impacting my running. Since then, I have also had problems with fatigue and being able to run my higher mileage training plan. I reach the point where I can be 3 to 8 miles into a run and suddenly it feels like a ton of bricks were dropped on my back. Legs feel fine, but entire body is so tired it is a struggle to continue. After a few days of recovery, I can run again, but I am not able to maintain the training levels I want to. So I decided to schedule the blood draw while I was in Minneapolis last week for the 100% Irish 10 mile run.
Inside Tracker is focused on improving the performance of endurance athletes. They have plans that look at 12 or 20 specific markers. I went with the Performance plan for 20 markers. What interested me is the markers are selected to be specific for endurance performance, and the ranges they use to assess the results are different that your doctor will use for a normal blood test. This is based on the latest exercise science to not just find “normal/healthy” but to find the best performance and results.
Inside Tracker contracts with LabCorp for the blood draws. The nearest LabCorp location is in Edina, so I had to schedule the trip. The only complicating factor was it is a “fasting” blood draw so I had to get up and drive to Minneapolis without food or caffeine.
I was surprised by how much blood they drew; 5 full large tubes. I was afraid to ask for the total amount, but I felt like I had given blood (as was panicked about how it would affect my 10 mile race the next day).
I got my results back at 6am this morning. (two business days).
I found some interesting things.
First, I am low in Magnesium and Zinc, and extremely low in Vitamin D. These affect athletic performance, sleep, mood, wound healing, my immune system, blood pressure, and anti-oxident absorption. All can be addressed by supplements, and I am adding those today.
Secondly, I am high in Ferritin and low in Hemoglobin. Ferritin is iron, and high increases fatigue. Low Hemoglobin also increases fatigue, lowers VO2Max, endurance, running performance, and even my bodies ability to regulate temperature. Normally, these two are linked. I have a call into my doctor, but it stumped my nurse this morning.
Glucose and LDL (bad) Cholesterol were both a bit high and HDL (good) cholesterol was a bit low, but my triglycerides and total cholesterol were both in the middle of normal range and the three indicators are affected by by my other conditions (Glucose is raised by low magnesium, vitamin D, and hemoglobin; LDL by the high ferritin; and HDL is lowered by low vitamin D).
When I match my symptoms and concerns up, the fatigue, sleep, low motivation, and even constantly being cold all match up with the above issues. I now have specific lab tests that confirm what it preventing me from training and running the way that I want.
The challenge is the Ferritin and Hemoglobin. Iron deficiency does cause low hemoglobin, and male runners are 6 times as likely as the general healthy male population to have low iron (ferritin). So I have suspected this was the cause of my fatigue and endurance issues. My wife has been anemic and our diet has changed to more lean red meat cooked in cast iron. So I was “self-medicating” myself with the same diet. Well, my iron levels are now high, but my hemoglobin is still low and my condition is probably worse.
Inside Tracker has recommendations and also diet advice for each issue. What I really like the links to outside sources (usually the actual medical studies) that provide a better understanding of how to address each issue. In the case of some items, it recommends specific doses of supplements to address the concern. But it also helps you modify your diet to address the needs. So, I am spending a couple of nights clicking through the links, reading the articles, taking notes, and using the tools to modify my diet and nutrition to meet my needs. I also have a call into my doctor to discuss the results and see what else can be done to address the issues.
My initial reaction to Inside Tracker is VERY positive. The results were quick, professional, well researched, delivered in a way that lets me understand the issues and options, and confirms what is causing my symptoms and how I can address them. I have gone from a vague feeling and concern that something is not right, to specific indications from my blood tests on what is causing the issues and options for my doctor and I to discuss to address the issues and make a plan to address my bodies needs.
