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VALA ambassador: Simon Malley

VALA ambassador: Simon Malley

Please join us in welcoming triathlete Simon Malley to the VALA ambassador crew! Simon was a qualified professional chef for over 20 years and worked his way up to being head chef before starting his own successful tapas restaurant in Swansea, South Wales. In pursuit of a happy work/life balance, he decided to change career direction but still remains an avid foodie. Since discovering his love of triathlon, Simon has furthered his passion for it by training as Personal Trainer and is currently studying for his British Triathlon coaching qualification. Keep reading to find out more about Simon's inspiring achievements, upcoming races and his top tips for anyone thinking of getting into triathlons.   Hi Simon, can you...

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Attitude of gratitude

Attitude of gratitude

If you don't already have a daily gratitude practice, now is a great time to start. Gratitude is said to lead to an enhanced sense of mental well-being and can have a positive effect on our day to day life. At VALA, we're all about caring for our mental health as well as our physical health, so we love any opportunity to combine the two.Consider taking a bit of time during today's run, walk or ride to identify three things that you are grateful for. Take a deep breath, use our gratitude prompts below to get you started and think...

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VALA ambassador: Charlie Harding

VALA ambassador: Charlie Harding

This week we're catching up with VALA ambassador and triathlete Charlie Harding, who is definitely one to watch in the triathlon world. In our interview, he shares his achievements, his inspirations and his top tips for anyone thinking of getting into triathlons.   Hey Charlie, can you tell us a bit about your achievements so far? I’m currently in the North West Triathlon Academy and I compete in the British Super Series. I recently won the Epic Lakes Windermere 1 mile swim and the Windermere Sprint Triathlon. I’ve achieved a Top 3 in the British Triathlon Mini race day event and I compete nationally...

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All natural nutrition

All natural nutrition

At VALA, we believe in the power of nature. That’s why we use 100% natural ingredients in our energy gels: maple syrup, date paste, chia seeds, lemon juice, lime juice, matcha tea powder and @halenmon sea salt.We don’t use hidden preservatives or additives - what you see on our label is exactly what you get. Made from a base of date paste and maple syrup, our gels have a predominantly sweet flavour with a subtle citrus aftertaste to keep you fuelled up during your activities!

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Chia seeds - small but mighty!

Chia seeds - small but mighty!

Chia seeds pack a powerful nutritional punch and are well-loved for their ability to provide sustainable energy. They were a popular staple food with the Aztecs and Mayans and 'chia' is the ancient Mayan word for 'strength'.They also create a 'gel-forming' action, which slows the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar and makes them ideal for sports. They're an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, are rich in antioxidants and provide iron and calcium. These small black seeds can be added to smoothies or used as a porridge topping to add extra protein, healthy fats and fibre to your diet.If you're...

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Creative Conversations with Systemic Creative

Creative Conversations with Systemic Creative

I recently had the pleasure of having a long chat with Andrew Smalley, founder of Systemic Creative. Andrew is passionate about building organisations that are conscious and connected, which really resonated with me as a business owner. I was so inspired by the ethos behind Andrew's company that I jumped at the chance to chat to him about the importance of running a business with heart, values and purpose. We had a great time and covered everything from VALA's early days right through to future plans and how I plan to consciously evolve VALA as a company. Click here to watch our chat and...

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