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I love hearing the unique ways that you all sneak VALA into your days. From spreading our gels on toast to stirring them into morning porridge, a popular choice has been squeezing them into smoothies. As a smoothie addict, I’m always creating new concoctions, so I thought I’d share the recipe that I’m currently obsessed with. Peep it below...⁣▪️ 1 frozen banana⁣▪️ 20 fresh mint leaves⁣▪️ 1 cup of your favourite milk⁣▪️ 1 VALA gel ⁣▪️ 1 handful of spinach⁣▪️ 1tbsp of raw cacao nibs (add these in at the end so that they stay nice and crunchy)⁣⁣Enjoy!

It's well known that gels are an efficient way to maintain your energy and performance if you're training for over an hour. They're also a convenient and fast-acting source of sugar and carbs that can be quickly gulped down and converted into energy to keep you fuelled up.⁣⁣Over the past few years, I've been fortunate enough to learn a few helpful hints and tips from some excellent coaches and sports dieticians, which you can read below. As I've mentioned before, our bodies each tolerate gels in different ways, so it might be a case of trial and error to find...

Running a business is challenging enough at the best of times, without having to navigate your way through a global pandemic. During times like these, having the support of fellow independent businesses has made VALA feel like part of a community that has each others’ backs and has adopted an attitude of “collaboration over competition”. As an independent brand we love to support other independents and start-ups, so I thought I’d share a few of my favourites that are changing the game with their offerings.⁣🧦 @bravendurance for the best sports socks I’ve ever laid eyes on. Not only do they have the...

I'm so excited to share that VALA's “frankly delicious” gels are featured in the August edition of Stuff magazine’s ‘Outdoor Fitness Pocket Fuel’ @stuffmag!It’s a real honour to be included in Stuff and a dream come true. It feels very surreal to be nestled between two brands that I’ve admired since before I started VALA. I really respect both of them for constantly pushing the boundaries of sports nutrition and advocating for a more minimal approach to sports fuel, which we couldn't agree with more! Gem.

We’re all aware of how important it is to maintain fluid levels when exercising, as it helps to prevent thirst and dehydration. It’s also worth noting that energy gels should always be consumed with an adequate amount of water. This allows us to experience the full benefits of the gels and avoid any possible stomach irritation. Drinking water helps the gels to become properly absorbed by the small intestine and limiting water intake during longer sessions can put athletes at greater risk for dehydration.⁣⁣An early sign of dehydration is feeling thirsty, but by the time our body has sensed this, it’s already slightly dehydrated....

This week we're chatting with VALA ambassador Byron O'Donnell. Based in the Lake District, Byron has an undeniable passion for trail/ultra running and can be found out on the trails with his partner Alex and their doggo Fig.   In this interview, Byron shares his top tips for anyone thinking of getting into trail running, why he loves being in nature and why you're still a runner, no matter what distance you run.   Hey Byron, can you tell us a bit about yourself? I'm a runner, I have a fiancée named Alex and a dog called Fig. That pretty much sums me up. I live in the Lake District,...