Giving Blood 6 days before a race?

I gave the day of a Twinkie tri (500yds,8miles,2miles).  It did feel ok the bike and swim were fine but the run sucked as usual. 

You should be careful if they are calling for heat. If you are worried I would postpone and give later there is always a blood drive around.  Just the fact you are asking I would NOT. You spent a great deal of time and effort to prepare yourself. 

I wonder how different people respond to this.  I did this 3-4 years ago when I was running and it took me awhile to feel like I was before I gave, couple weeks IIRC.  I forget the particulars, but that was the last time I gave whole blood.  Been doing Platelets (Apheresis) for many years now any way.

In researching this on line I found that the blood volume is replaced pretty quickly, 1 day, but the red cells recovery takes several weeks (3-5).  Personally I'd like to have all my natural levels of red cells before huffing and puffing for any kind of race

Don

I say only do it if after they draw it they send it to the lab to be run throught the centrifuge to separate out all the RBC's.  They can send the rest of the stuff to the blood bank, but then, the night before the race, have them re-inject the RBC's back into you.  You would have one b!tchin' race!!!  Hmm, I wonder if that's legal.  I'll have to go ask Uncle Eufemio.

At any rate, I've never felt any adverse effects from blood donation.  I've never done it close to any race or activity where I would have noticed it or even really paid attention to it, but never really seemed to have affected me.

Ahhh, but you can always donate after your race!  There are drives held everywhere, all the time!  You can locate a local drive by going to https://www.givelife.org/ and typing in your zip code.  Every pint is needed and put to very good use!