Iron Status And Perceived Fatigue And Recovery Across A Cross-country Season In Collegiate Runners

Abstract

Iron depletion, with or without anemia, is of concern to endurance athletes given increased iron loss risk factors such as sweating, foot strike hemolysis, menstrual blood loss, and gastrointestinal bleeding. However, little is known regarding the impact of training volume on iron status, fatigue, and recovery in endurance athletes. PURPOSE: To observe iron status and its subsequent effects on aerobic capacity and perceived fatigue and recovery in distance runners over a cross-country season. METHODS: Male (n=10, age 19±1 yr, height 179±4 cm, weight 67±7 kg) and female (n=4, age 20±1.5 yr, height 164±6 cm, weight 57±3 kg) division II collegiate cross-country runners completed a complete blood count, ferritin level, maximal oxygen uptake test (VO2max), and a three-day food record pre-season (August 2019) and post-season (November 2019). Survey data regarding average weekly mileage, fatigue (visual analog scale, 0-100 mm), and recovery (scale from 0, very poorly recovered - 10, very well recovered) were taken at baseline then monthly for a total of four assessments. RESULTS: Pre-season hemoglobin concentrations were 15.6±0.8 g/dl (males), 13.7±0.3 g/dl (females), and ferritin levels were 67.4±25.7 ng/ml (males), 56.8±44.4 ng/ml (females). Pre-season VO2max was 64.1±2.4 ml·kg-1·min-1 for males and 52.6±2.9 ml·kg-1·min-1 for females. Weekly mileage remained similar across pre-season (51±17 mi), month 1 (56±7 mi), and month 2 (53±7 mi). Perceived fatigue increased significantly from pre-season (26±9 mm) to month one (59±15 mm) (p < 0.001), then decreased at month two (50±22 mm, p = 0.23). Perception of recovery decreased significantly from pre-season (7±1) to month one (5±2) (p < 0.05), then increased at month two (6±2, p = 0.45). Post-season iron status and VO2max data will be evaluated following season completion. CONCLUSIONS: Relationships between iron status, VO2max, and perceived fatigue and recovery will be assessed following completion of the competitive season.