News

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,...

As I'm not the best at exercising in the heat, this 'no jumping' HIIT workout has become my new favourite routine.⁣ I love to do exercises that work multiple body parts in one go as they make for a quick and effective workout.⁣I use a 40 second work : 20 second rest split (because I want to get it over and done with as quickly as possible!) but feel free to adapt the times to suit you. ⁣⁣Repeat x4 for a 24 minute workout that will get your blood pumping.⁣ You can add weights if you have them to hand or...

When formulating VALA I worked hard to ensure that all of the flavours were balanced, so that one ingredient didn't overpower the rest. If I had to sum up the taste of our gels in one sentence, it would be 'naturally sweet with a citrus twist'. If you're used to the more generic shop bought gels with a 'lemonade' flavour, our 'citrus' gels will definitely surprise you! The sweetness comes from a base of 100% pure Canadian maple syrup mixed with date paste and the citrus aftertaste comes from pure lemon and lime juice (none of that 'from concentrate' nonsense for...

I know I always bang on about how much I love being in the great outdoors, but after two months of lockdown I've realised just how important nature is for mental health and wellbeing. Being able to go for a walk or run in the forest has become the highlight of my day and allows me to fully switch off from work.⁣⁣Given that many of us work from home all day, it means that we don't have the option of leaving work at the office or doing an active commute. Setting work/life boundaries is always important, as is giving yourself...

This week we're catching up with VALA ambassador, trail/ultra runner and all around great guy Guy Ilott. We'll be hearing how Guy got into trail running, why he loves it and what his top tips are for anyone looking to get into it. Guy recently completed a challenge to run each day in July for baby loss counselling charity Petals and racked up the equivalent of running 10 marathons throughout the month. Impressive, to say the least!   Hey Guy, can you tell us a bit about yourself? I’m 32 and based in Oxfordshire. I’m a father and a trail/ultra runner that enjoys getting outside...

Several weeks ago my bestie @lia_sweatsalot did the unthinkable and smashed out a 10k, which is the furthest that she's ever run 👏 This got me thinking about how our goals often seem much scarier and unattainable in our mind than they are in reality. I remember the days when running a non-stop 5k seemed unfathomable and unattainable. In hindsight, I often used the phrases "I'm not a runner" or "I ONLY like sprinting" as a bit of a cop-out to not really push myself. The reality was that my ego and self-doubt was getting in the way and I didn't want to try...