Physiology of marathons amounts of blood to and from the lungs to reach all bodily tissues is dependent on having a high cardiac output along with sufficient levels of total body hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the oxygen carrying protein within blood cells that allows for the proper transportation of oxygen from the lungs to other bodily tissues via the circulatory system. In order for the transportation of oxygen in blood to be effective during a marathon, the distribution of blood needs to be equally efficient in order for a marathoner's oxygen demands to be met during a race. The mechanism that allows for this
Packed red blood cells red cells with both are called AB. Except in unusual cases like infants or seriously immunocompromised individuals, all people will have antibodies to any ABO blood type that isn't present on their own red blood cells, and will have an immediate hemolytic reaction to a unit that is not compatible with their ABO type. In addition to the A and B antigens, there are rare variations which can further complicate transfusions, such as the Bombay phenotype. The Rh blood group system consists of nearly around 50 different antigens, but the one of the greatest clinical interest is the "D" antigen,