Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by MitoQ. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

It’s 2020, a new year and a new decade and I’ve decided to be smart and refresh some of my workout energy and recovery strategies. Wasn’t it Einstein who quipped that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result? Well, he’s smarter than me – so I’m switching things up and “cell-abrating” being an older athlete.! 

Read on to find out how I’ve added MitoQ, a supplement that delivers CoQq0 antioxidant support to the mitochondria (the “power plants” or “batteries” of your cells), to my daily routine as a smart way to support healthy energy levels, mental focus and overall wellbeing. 

As many of you know who follow the blog or my Instagram, I’ve been a lifelong competitive runner who, over the last decade, has added obstacle course racing and hybrid fitness events to my repertoire of “fun.”  However, I’ve noticed that over the years, especially the last five, that it’s been increasingly difficult for me to train with the same intensity and volume. Much of my energy for workouts has been fading, and in large part, I blame this on the increased amount of time it’s taking to recover from each previous workout . . . due to age-related health and wellness declines.

Unfortunately, it’s true. Hitting middle age makes training, recovery and performance more difficult for an athlete, whether professional or recreational. Systems start naturally deteriorating with each year, like aerobic capacity for endurance (V02 Max) and muscle mass for strength. Mitochondria, the tiny parts of every cell that make our bodies work properly and efficiently, can also deteriorate with age too. This means that oxygen can’t be delivered around the body as fast (hello sucking wind), the repair and growth of skeletal muscle cells in response to exercise is diminished (goodbye gains), and bouncing back after a workout hurts more, takes longer, and may have you flirting with injury. Even mental focus, sleep and so many other things can be affected and get you off your game when mitochondria hit middle age and beyond.

As we age, our mitochondria start to decline in function naturally – studies suggest that from the age of 30, the rate of decline is as much as 10% per decade.

So, what to do? While there is no stopping the clock, there are still plenty of proactive things one can do to optimize athletic pursuits as they age. If you’re like me, you probably already have a whole routine that covers everything from sports nutrition (including food, timing, and supplementation) to specific training strategies to post-workout self-care and recovery. We could chat for hours about all of these topics! But in a quick nutshell, I can tell you that all of these fitness strategies – what you eat (and how your food is digested), the energy you devote to training, and the “bouncing back” you get from recovery techniques can all be improved when mitochondria are working more efficiently.

Supporting the ability of your mitochondria to do their jobs, is where MitoQ comes in. Humans do make CoQ10 for themselves (production also diminishes with age) and CoQ10 is also present in some foods like organ meats, muscle meats, fatty fish and certain fruits, veggies and legumes (often hard to get enough in many dietary eating patterns). But MitoQ is different because it has been scientifically engineered to get inside the mitochondria at a meaningful dose that can support general well-being, conveniently.

This once-a-day supplement delivers an enhanced form of the CoQ10 antioxidant directly to the mitochondria in levels that help support both energy production and boost the body’s natural ability to combat the harmful effects of free radicals.  More energy, better recovery, good sleep, less stress, and an overall lift in libido and well-being – that all grabs my attention, what about you?! Read more about the benefits HERE.

When I found out that MitoQ can support my energy levels and workout recovery, I was all in! Plus, I felt confident and safe knowing MitoQ a highly researched and tested supplement with over $60M in independent research funding, 90 different health-related studies, and over 400 peer-reviewed scientific articles. Learn more about the extensive research HERE.

Please note that we are all different and, thusly, the MitoQ experience will vary to some degree from person to person based on a host of factors including age, fitness level, overall health and differing needs of various cells and organ systems.  It can take up to three months to see results, although I can report that I personally am noticing some positive changes in my energy levels and recovery after 30 days of use.

Super excited about 2020, turning 53 and enjoying all my fitness activities all while feeling great. Check out MitoQ and see what you think!