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This summer I finally made my goal of learning to surf happen - with the help of the amazing @surfschoolwales - but the whole process really got me thinking about the mindset behind taking up a new hobby or sport. Here are my three biggest takeaways…1. IT’S FUN TO BE A BEGINNERAs adults we get so used to having somewhat mastered life that we forget what it’s like to be a beginner. Then we decide to try something new and realise it’s not as easy as we thought. Our ego kicks in to protect us and we say “Oh maybe that’s not...

Exercising with a partner has countless advantages and can really help you to stay focused, as well as adding a bit of fun to your training. Three times a week I train with my sister and it helps to stay us on track and hold each other accountable. There’s no way I’m snoozing the alarm if I know she’s waiting!If you’re interested in trying a new sport or hobby, asking a friend to join you can have heaps of benefits too. Last summer, I decided to do more surfing and paddle boarding as I wanted to feel closer to nature....

What do you get the VALA-lover that has everything for Christmas? The VALA gift box, of course!The VALA gift box includes a pair of our iconic VALA × @bravendurance neon green socks, a @joovsportsproducts sports 100% natural sports spray (the best in the game!) and a gift wrapped pack of our award-winning VALA gels.Every VALA gift box is wrapped with the most attention to detail, filled with shredded black tissue paper and finished with our custom VALA ribbon.You can also add a gift note or write your own gift message with the blank note card that comes with each gift box.To get your hands...

Well, this is a mega ‘pinch me’ moment. You might remember way back in September that we won a Gold Medal at the Nourish Awards @nourishawards in the ‘High Protein & Sports Nutrition’ category. Our award recently got delivered and I’m so excited to share it with you all! As I always say… it’s OUR award 🙌🏻When I started VALA last year, I added ‘winning a Nourish Award’ to my VALA vision board and would look at it every day. Now it’s really cool to have one sitting proudly on our shelf a whole year and a half later.Nourish is one of...

When packing your race kit, don’t forget to include a buff. This is essentially a tube of fabric but it’s one of the most versatile pieces of kit out there. Fun fact: the word “buff” comes from the Spanish word for scarf “bufanda”.Ask any buff-loving athlete what’s so great about them and they’ll tell you how they do an awesome job of keeping them warm in the cold months as well as dry and sun protected in the summer months.Our multi-purpose VALA buff is a must-have for runs, rides, walks, climbs and hikes. It can be worn as a headband, a scarf or wrapped...

A few weeks back I shared that VALA pal Rhys @creature_of_discomfort was training for his first ultra (which he absolutely smashed, by the way!).Knowing that VALA has so many amazing ultra lovers in our community, I posted a story asking for your top advice for anyone doing their first ultra and the responses were great.Peep a few of the top tips below, because sharing is caring...▪️ Walking the hills is not only acceptable but it’s a highly recommended race strategy!▪️ Take your time and enjoy it▪️ Pack a toothbrush and when things get tough, brush your teeth and freshen up▪️ Use chafe...