Fun and Fitness for the 40-Something

I had a horrible run this morning—I had to stop every half or 3/4 of a mile—and I think it was because I gave blood Monday afternoon. I’d felt unusually tired during my bike ride yesterday, too, but I figured I’d be back to normal by today. Nope.

Now, I have a tendency to search far and wide for explanations (read: “excuses”) when I have a poor run, so I Googled “giving blood” and “running” after I got home. I found lots of anecdotal evidence on chat boards and forums that donating blood can diminish your performance. Apparently, “blood donation can influence hydration status and the oxygen-carrying ability of red blood cells.”

So that’s something to keep in mind if you give blood. It’s tempting to stop donating, frankly, but I’m a sucker for that tag line, “Give life.” It’s marketing genius—short, to the point and guilt-inducing.

Bored with your cardio workout, or just pressed for time? Interval training may be the ticket to reinvigorate your routine and get better results in less time. And it’s not just for runners.

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