Hi All,
Recently I have been having some all time low (bad) race performances. Training is going well enough, a bit more difficult and strained than usual but still hitting intended paces. Races however, as I mentioned are some of the worst results I’ve ever had. The morning of my last disastrous performance I had some beet juice. I’ve had beet juice dozens of times before, not a regular thing but enough to know how it affects me. Normally it will turn my stool darker, but have no effect on my urine. This time however it turned my urine red, something that has never happened before. Curious I google’d why this could be happening and I guess it’s a potential indicator of lowered iron levels. I’ve never been Iron deficient before (to my knowledge), but I’ve also never been performing so terrible. I’m a bit hesitant to cough up the bucks to have the blood work done as training is still going well enough, so I was wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences with beet juice and if it indeed indicated lowered iron levels or if I should just keep training hard and push through this “slump.” (I will most likely get the blood work done if need be)
I dont have an answer BUT i did the beet thing for 5 days pre 70.3 and like you it didnt effect the pee at all. Until during race day. Now i went in not very well tapered so i blame that for my own sub par peformance rather than beets. However i went to the toilet during the run, something i never usually need to do but my time had blown out so i didnt really care, and my pee was pinky/red for the first time. I just figured that i may be a little dehydrated as well as i know turning the pee colour is pretty common. I havent heard of any links with iron?
I hadn’t heard of a link with low iron either, but I tried beet juice Monday for the first time, before a pretty key workout. It turned my urine (and stool) red for the better part of 12 hours.
I DO have low iron, as confirmed by the last several months of testing. We’re working on finding the real source. I also have low white cell count and low HcT.
I still plan to use beet juice Sunday before a 70.3, and my performance in training the last few months has been great. But would it be better with normal iron levels and hematocrit? Yeah, most likely…so still trying to fix that.
I started using raw beets last season, I got a good boost from them (mental or otherwise). I was eating about 1/2 lb of raw slice beets on race morning. All of my post-race pee was bright pink. Very disconcerting, and I’m glad no one was next to me in the post-race restaurant urinal row!
As part of my pre-op work for recent surgery I had bloodwork done. I actually got sent to a cardiologist for symptoms sometimes associated with low potassium. Cardiologist said I was completely fine and that my potassium levels were inline, but I started to eat more kale anyway: online reading said that excessive training (sweating) can lower potassium levels, which can also affect endurance.
I’d recommend two things with my honorary Nigerian mail-in online nutrition degree: eat more kale, and try to get some grass-fed red meat into the diet.
Good luck with your training, and I hope you feel better.
Thanks for the replies! Here’s a brief article I found linking the three. It actually was after a race that I noticed it but only a 5k run, so I’m not sure that would have been enough to cause it, as I’ve had hard workout sessions after using beet juice and never experienced it. There’s a couple other articles as well but this one is quick and to the point if you’re interested. http://www.fitsugar.com/Connection-Between-Beets-Red-Urine-Iron-2036552. As I’m sure you are all aware bad performances are extremely frustrating and you’ll go almost to any extent to get answers.
Personally Ive been juicing twice a week for about a year now. Ive found that with beets, my urine isnt affected when im properly hydrated. However, If I juice the day before a long run/ride or a race where I end up mildly dehydrated, rather than a yellow shade of urine, it turns a shade red ranging from light pink to red.
As soon as im all hydrated again after the race, it all goes back to normal. Hope that helps
Turns my pee pretty colors. I think it’s normal, based on what I’ve read and other people have said. If you’ve been to the porta-potty during a bike race, you’d think someone was killed in there (and not just because of the smell).
I’m all on board the beet train. Love it. I’m feeling the benefits from it too. I drink half a bottle every morning except on my off days. Actually developed my taste buds to the juice (I use Biotta). However, I have had some crazy poop and my urine gets pinkish sometimes. Which is ok - everyone needs a little color in their life!
That article says if your pee is red and you are eating beets then it’s harmless. But if your pee is red and you haven’t been eating beets then it might be low iron.
You eat beets before races
You had red pee at a race
So you think you have low iron?
I think you might be drawing the wrong conclusion.
BTW, if you drink enough, it will turn your urine purple, you’ll blow right past red and go to purple. Show your friends!
I’m all on board the beet train. Love it. I’m feeling the benefits from it too. I drink half a bottle every morning except on my off days. Actually developed my taste buds to the juice (I use Biotta). However, I have had some crazy poop and my urine gets pinkish sometimes. Which is ok - everyone needs a little color in their life!
Just got some of those Beetit Shots yesterday…had one yesterday, one today, will have one tomorrow before a 5k (testing it before my first tri in two weeks). I hope my taste buds adapt some. That stuff is fairly brutal!
Eating beets and seeing it red in #1 and #2 physiological functions is normal. Get a full Iron blood-panel profile (not just blood in general). It’ll give you a baseline as well for the future. Another good iron supplement is ‘Ferrochel’ with orange juice for better absorption… :O)
Fascinating. The article definitely says that iron deficiency plus beets can cause the reds, not iron deficiency alone: “Once you start adding more iron into your diet, you’ll have an increase in energy and the next time you eat beets, you won’t have the scarlet effects.”
I definitely get my red on after eating beets, and my iron levels are marginally low, though not anemic. Recently, the missus made a homemade beet pizza and we ate equal amounts. I went red within two hours, but she never did. I’d been wondering about that, so I’m glad to see an explanation. It was not a training day, so dehydration was not a factor.
Side note: it’s important every once in a while to avoid eating beets for 2-3 days, because otherwise, how will you know you’re not hemorrhaging?
One thing worth considering which isn’t really covered in the reading on Beet’s is how your body (stomach) absorbs them. They are very high in fructans and the bacteria can form in your gut and be really hard to digest for people who are sensitive to fodmaps.
That will really mess up your race and you’ll feel off. It can take a bit of time to get over as well, particularly if you have such a large dose as is intended when taking beetroot juice or shots.
You can get nitrates from bacon as well from what I’ve read.
My pee turns bright red when I load up on beet juice… I will usually drink 500ml/day for about 10-15 days prior to my A race. I’m also very diligent on getting blood work done every year and definitely don’t have an iron deficiency. I’d suggest doing the blood work just because it will confirm you are healthy (even if you feel fine). Better a couple bucks lighter in the wallet then bigger issues down the road in life.
My pee turns bright red when I load up on beet juice… I will usually drink 500ml/day for about 10-15 days prior to my A race. I’m also very diligent on getting blood work done every year and definitely don’t have an iron deficiency. I’d suggest doing the blood work just because it will confirm you are healthy (even if you feel fine). Better a couple bucks lighter in the wallet then bigger issues down the road in life.
Why are people loading up on beet juice for days or weeks prior to a race? I haven’t seen anything that says there is a additive or cumulative effect when ingesting it. All of the research I’ve seen says that the effects occur a couple of hours after ingesting it and disappears several hours later. If there’s research supporting something different, I’d love to read it.
I started using raw beets last season, I got a good boost from them (mental or otherwise). I was eating about 1/2 lb of raw slice beets on race morning.
That is so not what I would want to eat for breakfast pre-race. Or any day.
You know, I grow my own. Fresh from the garden, they’re very crunchy and sweet. Did you know that some refined sugar is made from beets? When they’re fresh they’re not bad, and a good pre-race: pretty much all carbs plus the “beet boost.” I personally have eaten honey stinger waffles under duress, I wonder the same thing about people eating those!
Why are people loading up on beet juice for days or weeks prior to a race? I haven’t seen anything that says there is a additive or cumulative effect when ingesting it. All of the research I’ve seen says that the effects occur a couple of hours after ingesting it and disappears several hours later. If there’s research supporting something different, I’d love to read it.
Similar question, I have never heard of this beet thing at all. Drinking beet juice or eating beets is supposed to make you faster?