Holly Zimmermann

Iron Deficiency in Distance Runners...as found in the Appendix of Ultramarathon Mom: From the Sahara to the Arctic I was recently diagnosed with iron deficiency anemia. When I tell this to my friends they say sarcastically, ‘Are you surprised?’ Actually, yes and no. Since I turned vegan almost two years ago I’ve been eating healthier than any other time in my life. Breakfast is a kale smoothie, then come the grilled veggies with buckwheat, sweet potatoes, nuts, bean burgers, sorghum, almond milk, avocados, mangoes and anything and everything that is colorful and fresh from my local vegetable market. I love to cook (see photos below) and create a whirlwind in the kitchen, whipping up a meat lasagna for my family and a veggie lasagna for myself. Five-course all-vegan dinner parties are the norm. I snack on nuts, hummus and veggie/bean salads. So, although I wasn't eating iron-loaded red meat, my diet was well-balanced and diverse, how could I possibly be lacking a vital nutri...