The reason I got slower and felt like I couldn't catch my breath as I climbed is because I gave blood three days ago. And I didn't just give a pint. I gave "double reds."

Instead of giving a single unit of blood I get hooked up to an apheresis machine that takes my blood, separates out the red blood cells, and then pumps the plasma and platelets back into me. Sounds weird, right? The first "return" of liquid is a little colder, but otherwise there's nothing that actually feels that weird. Giving double reds is more convenient for me since I only donate twice a year and it's better for the recipient who reduces the number of sources of blood and the likelihood of complications.

Afterward I'm down two units of red blood cells. Since those are the cells that carry oxygen there's a definite performance hit and I'm much more easily winded until my body replaces the blood. That's why I was 30 minutes slower up Mailbox.

Rather than thinking about the impact to my performance I was thinking about how important blood is. I thought about how it's my responsibility to share my blood with those that need it. It's even more important for me because I'm O-, the universal donor, and I meet the more strenuous requirements to donate double reds.

So, yeah, I sucked serious wind climbing Mailbox this morning and I'll be less than 100% for the next eight to 12 weeks. I'll be even more a lowlander when we travel to Rockies this spring. Considering the good my blood can do for someone else it's absolutely worth it.

You can find out where you can give blood through the AABB web site. If you're in the PNW check out Bloodworks Northwest. Don't bother telling them I sent you. It's not about me or you. It's about the lives that our blood can save.

And yes, Treen had a blast in the snow when there was no one else around.