Last week I had two blood tests, a small one and a real one. It just so happens that these blood tests are related so I'm able to write a little story about why they happened. I find when I'm not doing any training or racing there's not much to say about my runnerslife (yes, that pun was intended) so these tests have sparked up a nice talking point between that void that is the track season and the cross season. Let our story begin....

7 days ago today (last Monday) I went into uni to have some blood taken and analysed. At the moment the uni are only able to analyse my red blood cell saturation (I think...), haemoglobin count and white blood cell count. Although this doesn't tell us much about the big picture it can give an indication to whether or not I'm anaemic which is what Steve thought. So I get the tests done and within 10 minutes of the blood leaving my body I got the results. I remember the red blood cell one coming back as 58% and the haemoglobin one as 19.6; I can't remember what the white blood cell one was. At the time I thought nothing of these numbers because I didn't know what was normal and what wasn't but the scientist who did the test said I definitely wasn't anaemic. To those of you who know what those numbers mean I'm sure you've already spotted the abnormality.

So anaemia has been ruled out. Now normally I'd sit down and ponder what was wrong with me during my track racing but this time it didn't occur to me to do that, I was just happy I wasn't anaemic.

Anyways, a few days later I get a call from the senior sports scientist at the uni, Eleanor Jones. She tells me that she had a look at my results and the haemoglobin count was way too high. She's into her cycling and she goes "if you'd been in a cycling race you would've been disqualified". It was then I assumed 19.6 is quite a high number and this was confirmed when Steve told Lindsay, apparently he's quoted as saying "that's f***ing high!!". Eleanor went on to say that I shouldn't be feeling fatigued with a haemoglobin count that high so there must be something else seriously wrong within my body and I immediately needed to get full blood tests to see what was going on. There's a chance it was high because I could've been dehydrated when I did the test which increases the count but she wants the full bloods done just in case. She said to get some at my GP but she was also going to contact UKA to get me in at Loughborough or Lee Valley. I got some at the GP on Friday and I need to call up tomorrow to get the results and then we'll see what happens from there. I don't know if this high count is a big deal or not but I'm too concerned. I'm not training at the moment so I like to think the chances of me instantly dropping dead are quite slim.

I've told a few people about this result, both athletes and non-athletes, and the athletes all seem to give the same response..."what have you been taking?". The one exception of non-athletes who made a comment about it was my mum, who said to me straight "have you been taking drugs?". Even the fact that I look Moroccan (apparently) is being abused and they're saying I'm juiced. I can't believe just because my blood is saying my haemoglobin is ridiculously high and I look like I'm from Morocco people are saying I'm on something! I asked Steve if he's been slipping me stuff and of course he denies everything. I'm not sure though, Maria made me some cakes and I reckon that's how he slipped it in. Steve came out with the following quote when we were talking about the whole situation:

"I can see the headlines in AW now...Goolab done for EPO...record result of 19.6...Sharp last seen partying in Reflex...Maria's cupcakes taken as evidence"

Seriously though, I'm not taking anything and if I was I'd jack the sport in if I could only run 3:49 while doped.

Like I say there's not much going on with the running front. In fact, nothing's happening so my training log isn't going to be very eventful when it comes up. But I do have some good running related news! Brooks have recently updated their website with all the winter kit so I've been browsing through that seeing what catches my fancy. Normally I don't like to take the mick and order loads of stuff, but with the kit they got out now I may go mental and order everything and potentially put them out of business. It won't matter though because I'll look good in the process. I joke! I'll be good and order a sensible amount.  

Run happy,

Goolab xxx