Coach Janelle
For as long as I can remember, probably 15 years or more, I’ve struggled with low iron. But the thing is it took me years to actually get someone to listen. I’d go to the doctor, describe my symptoms, such as exhaustion, restless legs, dizziness, and I’d always get the same answer:
“Everything looks normal.”
Except it wasn’t.
I’m talking about the kind of fatigue that makes you feel like you could nap in the middle of the day even after a solid eight hours of sleep. I’m typically a one-coffee-a-day kind of girl. But at that point I was needing one in the morning and one in the afternoon… and sometimes still needed a nap after work.
My heart rate was always high, no matter how slow I ran. I just accepted it and said “I’m built different." Except, as it turns out, that was another red flag.
Then came the restless legs. If you’ve ever had them, you know how frustrating that strange crawling, twitchy, growing-pain-like feeling can be, especially when it keeps you up at night.
And then there was cramping while I was running. Weird ones. Even though I was hydrating, eating well, and keeping my electrolytes balanced.
I knew something wasn’t right. But every time I brought it up, I felt brushed off.
Yep, you read that right.
There’s actually a thing called footstrike hemolysis, a fancy term for when the impact of running causes tiny ruptures in red blood cells as your feet repeatedly hit the ground.
Combine that with sweat loss, possible menstrual loss, and the body’s higher demand for oxygen during endurance training, and it’s no wonder low iron is so common in runners, especially women.
Iron helps carry oxygen in your blood. So when your levels are low, your muscles, and your brain, get less of it.
That means:
Higher heart rates
More fatigue
Slower recovery
Brain fog
Dizziness or shortness of breath
And overall, feeling like you’re dragging through every run
It’s not in your head. It’s literally in your blood.
Once I realized what was happening, I started advocating for myself. I asked for follow-up bloodwork. I tried supplements. We ruled out other causes (yes, even a colonoscopy and endoscopy 🙃).
Eventually, I found out that I had some absorption issues, which meant that pills weren’t cutting it. We tried an iron infusion, and finally... success!!
For the first time in years, I felt like myself again. The difference was night and day. My energy returned, my heart rate stabilized, and even my sleep improved.
But about a year and a half later, I could feel it dipping again, the naps, the fatigue, the heavy legs. This time, I didn’t wait. I requested new bloodwork right away.
And sure enough, my ferritin had dropped lower than before my infusion. I was right. Again.
All of this to say: You know your body better than anyone else! If something feels off, even if the tests say you’re “fine”, trust yourself. You live in your body every day. You feel the changes before any chart or lab result can reflect them. And if you’re a runner, especially a female endurance athlete, don’t be afraid to speak up. Ask for the bloodwork. Ask for a second opinion. Push for answers.
Because fatigue isn’t always “just life.” Sometimes, it’s your body begging for help.
I’m not a medical professional, this is just my personal experience, but here’s what’s helped me manage my iron since:
✅ Pairing iron-rich foods (like spinach, lentils, fortified foods) with vitamin C sources (like citrus or bell peppers) to boost absorption
✅ Avoiding coffee/tea around meals — caffeine can inhibit iron absorption
✅ Regular bloodwork (every 6–12 months)
✅ Asking for ferritin to be checked — not just “iron”
✅ Using supplements like GoodPhyte
✅ And for me, regular iron infusions when needed
Always speak to a healthcare professional before starting supplements or treatment. But do advocate for yourself. You deserve to feel good.
As a coach, I pay close attention when athletes mention fatigue, unusual heart rate trends, or feeling “off. Because I’ve been there: ignored, brushed off, told everything was fine when it wasn’t. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do as an athlete isn’t push through… it’s speak up. Running teaches us endurance. But health teaches us when to pause, listen, and protect that endurance for the long run.
