It is refreshing to find someone else with the same issue. I was diag. a month ago with extreme anemia -which now explains the same symptoms you are having. I am on a food grade iron supplement which my naturopathic doc gives me and it has helped a lot. A word of advice I can give is to make sure you are breathing deeply-I have a habit of breathing too shallow as do most folks. But this really helps me when working out.

And, not to denigrate naturopaths, an anemia should be worked up by a M.D. or D.O.. Once it gets diagnosed, feel free to treat it as you wish, but Medicine is primarily a science, so you owe it to yourself and anyone who cares for you (or you care for) to take a logical scientific approach to getting a diagnosis.

It may be that all you are in need of is a simple iron supplement, but it may be something else entirely.

Wow,
Great post lots of information. Well here's my two cents worth: Anemia is quite common among the general female population, this goes for athletes. In addition to issues of menstruation and blood loss there is a dietary component and a component having to do with muscle repair, foot strike, repetitive muscle use- lets call this the athlete-component. So three areas to adress:1) female 2) diet 3 athlete-component.
FEMALE:Well being a woman you need more iron period. That's just the way it is. Now I'm not an expert but maybe there's a birth control pill that could address reduced monthly mentrual flow: if so it would help the anemia by lowering iron requirement.
DIET: Well to get iron you have to eat iron rich foods. To make it simple there are two basic types of iron rich foods. Heme-iron and non-heme-iron. Heme iron is found in animal products-beef, dark chicken or turkey, fish, egg yolks. Milk by the way is not a source, breast milk is which is why infant formula has to be fortified.. So if your a vegetarian your cutting out this source which is far superior in absorption and potency compared to non-hemi-iron sources which are fortified cereal products, dried fruit apricots raisins, prunes etc, andbeets, oranges, tomatoes, nuts, soybeans, and too many others sources to mention.
How to supplement: Iron is best absorbed UNLIKE most other supplements on an empty stomach and that means two hours after a meal or two hours before. However iron absorption is greatly increased with the addition of absrorbic acid )vitamin C) and b vitamins specifically folic acid. DO NOT TAKE IRON WITH CALCIUM this blocks absorption so don't drink an iron pill with milk. Iron supplementation is noted for both stomach upset, gas and constipation.
Believeit or not the best "pill" to take for iron is dessicatted liver tablets. The best food to eat is liver. Don't like liver? Well my question to is then, How do you like anemia.
If you want to stay on top and get beyond this anemia- Learn to Burn:
Run smart stay strong
paul

Boy, do I know what anemia is like! Had it for years because of heavy menstrual flow, which later turned out to be fibroids - solving that problem solved the anemia!

But I wonder if you are having other nutritional deficiencies at the same time. Especially because when you exercise you need to have even more vitamins and minerals available to provide nourishment for what you're using.

I know that I felt better once I startd taking nutritional supplements that were really comprehensive with lots of antioxidants and phytonutrients, etc.

Good luck - we women need to take extra special care with all of that blood loss.