'Britain's fittest 64-year-old' reveals food that helped him run 123 marathons
Many of us are obsessed with how to live longer, whether it be cutting out alcohol or upping our vitamins in the morning. But what if an age-defying athlete could tell us exactly what food might help us add years on to our lives? Well, Mark Kleanthous, dubbed 'Britain's fittest 64-year-old,' is proving age is just a number after competing more than 1,350 endurance events and covering more than 283,000 miles in his lifetime. Incredibly, that is the equivalent of running around the world 11 times. Mark is now preparing for his tenth London Marathon on April 27 - his second marathon in a single month - and setting his sights on a sub-3:30 finish. READ MORE: Samsung SmartTag2 is £15 travel essential and 'true competitior' to Apple AirTag READ MORE: Simba offering 'great night's sleep' and £836 in 'freebies' if you do one thing That time would place him just 30 minutes behind his personal best set in his 20s, and 44 years later, he has only slowed by an average of 25 seconds per year. So, what helps him do all this? Mark credits his performance and rapid recovery to the powerful blackcurrant extract CurraNZ, which he says plays a key role in reducing muscle soreness, enhancing recovery time and boosting his endurance. 'CurraNZ undoubtedly helps me recover faster and perform stronger," Mark said. I'm running like I did 15–20 years ago. My wife Clare has watched me compete for 40 years and is amazed by how strong I looked out there today." As a veteran of 123 marathons, Mark's recent form is a testament to his remarkable fitness and the powers of this performance-enhancing berry. In fact, having recently boosted his pre-race dose of CurraNZ to four capsules, he's clocking some of the fastest times he's recorded in the last 15 years. The multi-sport endurance athlete and coach has accumulated more than 283,000 miles across his lifetime, the equivalent of swimming, cycling , and running around the world 11 times. But it's his reliance on blackcurrant extract from New Zealand that has played a key role in his successes of the last decade. Mark was an early adopter of CurraNZ, a premium runner's supplement, to fuel his body and support his training. Known for its high levels of anthocyanins and polyphenols, CurraNZ has been proven in over 60 studies to enhance performance by reducing fatigue and improving recovery times. It is available for purchase from a lot of health outlets. Capsules (30) can be purchased for £23.99 on CurraNZ website , or £22.51 on Amazon . Meanwhile, health and things is selling them slightly cheaper at £15.49. Meanwhile a bottle of Swanson, Black Currant Extract 200mg capsules cost £313.45 at iHerb.com "As someone who has competed in over 1,350 events since 1980, and having coached thousands of athletes, I know what works," Mark said. "I've tested CurraNZ extensively in both training and competition, and there's no question that it helps reduce fatigue and speeds up recovery. "I can race harder, recover quicker, and keep pushing my limits – all thanks to CurraNZ." He went on: "My running has been absolutely outstanding in numerous events. I've just run my fastest half-marathon at the Cambridge Half in 15 years and finished in the top 10 per cent of 13,569 runners. 'My goal this year is to run a sub-3 hour, 30 minute marathon. I ran the Newport Marathon on April 13 and then will do London just two weeks later. "I am confident CurraNZ will allow my 64-year-old body to run fast in both marathons, just 14 days apart.' Mark's experimentation with double doses of CurraNZ - four capsules - in recent weeks has helped him achieve even greater results. He says he is "running faster, feeling fitter, and staying well throughout his training ". "I've even noticed how much quicker I recover after intense sessions," he added. Mark is also quick to point out the value of New Zealand blackcurrant as a performance-enhancing tool for athletes of all ages. "These berries are rich in bioactive compounds that are proven to aid performance, and they're used by some of the world's top athletes and ultra-runners," Mark went on. With over 14,000 miles of swimming, 201,000 miles of cycling, and 65,000 miles of running under his belt, Mark has covered more than the distance to the moon in his training and racing, "and while CurraNZ hasn't powered all those miles, it's certainly made things easier as an older athlete and I have no plans on stopping now," he said.
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