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ALLY HEAD

@allyyhead

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Health Editor. ✨
Run chat, wellness recs & pastries worth trying. 🎽🥐
🏅 11x Marathoner | 🦄 5x BQ
🖌🎙️ Marie Claire UK
📩 Work: email

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Well… hello again 👋✨

I’ve had a rather blissful few weeks off social so thought it was time for a reintroduction. 🏃‍♀️💫🚴‍♀️🥬🍓

I’m Ally, an Editor, writer, presenter, and runner. ✨ I used to hate exercise, but it’s changed my life, and I want it to inspire other people to give movement a go, too. 🕺

I’ve been a journalist for 10+ years, starting my career at Women’s Health magazine and writing for the likes of Glamour, Cosmo, Grazia, Stylist, and The Telegraph. I write and commission pieces on fitness, nutrition, wellbeing, female health, mental health, and more, all with the aim of making health less confusing, and more joyful. 🤝

I’ve been the Senior Health Editor at @marieclaireuk for 5+ years now, and am so proud of what we’ve built - a brilliant team who cut through the noise each and every month to debunk fads and inspire you to give healthy living a go. 🥗🫜🍓🍵🏃‍♀️🚴‍♀️🧘‍♀️

I also test fit kit for a living, so have quite literally all of the product recommendations you could ever need. If you’re ever on the fence about buying something, DM me - I’ve probably tried it and have an opinion. 😜✍️

I ran my first marathon for Cancer Research 8 years ago in a time of 4:11. It’s changed my life, and I bang on about it far too much. 😂🫶

Since then, I’ve banked:
London Marathon 2019: 3.58
Peterborough Marathon 2021: 3.35
London Marathon 2021: 3.26
Chicago Marathon 2022: 3.19
Berlin Marathon 2023: 3.15
Valencia Marathon 2025: 3.12
Boston Marathon 2026: 3.08.

4/6 World Majors ✅ any ideas what might be next? 👀

Can’t stop, won’t stop, still such a punch me life achievement. Always the biggest thanks to the @newbalance family 🫶

We got married at home, because my parents did, and basically had a big party. We didn’t do many traditional things, but it was unbelievably special to have all our fav people in one place for the weekend. I’ll never forget it! 💒💍

Plus, as a thrift lover, my @viviennewestwood sample sale dress made my LIFE. I didn’t even need alterations. Felt like it was meant to be!! 💫

The whole hen was just a highlight of my life, but OBVIOUSLY WE RAN and OBVIOUSLY IT WAS ABSOLUTE VIBES! 🏃‍♀️ (The people of TikTok seemed to think I taken in London, United Kingdom by @allyyhead

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3 months ago

AD - Running isn’t about perfection - it’s about progress, positivity, and the small changes we can make every day that build up to a bigger whole.

One thing I’ve changed recently? I now fuel adequately.

Training fasted used to be my go-to. But now, I won’t run without fuelling my miles.

One small change - but it helps me to show up stronger than before.

🌱 The Start of Something Better
@flora × @londonmarathon
📸: @runnerben_

#fuelyourruns #marathontraining #thestartofsomethingbetter #Flora taken in Camberwell by @allyyhead

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8 months ago

Introducing one of the faces of your 2024 @newbalancerunning @londonmarathon - ME. 🥹🏃‍♀️🤯😭🚀

A campaign designed to celebrate all runners, I was asked to front the official LDN 2024 Marathon campaign alongside a mix of other grassroots runners, club founders, and athletes from across the UK. The aim was simple: to share the stories of real runners, many who have tirelessly built or expanded communities purely because of their love of the sport and passion to share that feeling with others.

It’s hard not to get a bit emotional seeing my face alongside so many other amazing humans. Running has changed my life for the better, made me who I am today, and enriched my life in so many ways. The London Marathon was where it all started - it’s single-handedly responsible for making me fall so head over heels for the sport.

Running is never just about running - it’s about joy, community, endorphins, energy, passion, pastries, and making the most of every day. And, of course, reminding yourself day in, day out, that yes, you can. 🫶

One of the biggest pinch me moments of my life being featured next to Team GB Olympic Gold medallist @lixsanyee and Team Switzerland Olympic Gold medalist @debrunnercatherine, too.

I CANNOT tell you how excited I am to see these out in the wild (coming to NB stores, the expo and billboards near you soon!) - please do tag me if you see them anywhere. Biggest heartfelt thanks to @harry_swin @grovelanerunners for making community running feel fun again and @newbalance @gungho_co and the dream team @harrietrose90 @georgemarrable for the opportunity. One of my biggest life highlights to date! #RunYourWay by @allyyhead

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3 years ago

I just ran my fastest ever 10k race at Nike After Dark. 🥹🏁🧞‍♀️

(It might not be my fastest ever 10k… bafflingly those were during half marathons. But I’m taking bcos 148th woman! 🥹 The 10k is my nemesis and I gave it my all. 🤣)

More importantly, though, I had one of the BEST race experiences.. of my life. The mental image of thousands of women taking over the streets of East London is one I will never forget. It felt like such a privilege to be a part of. So much energy. So much community. So much JOY. ✨

Let’s keep striving to make more safe spaces, events, and communities a reality for women. Where they don’t feel judged, scared, intimidated, or at risk simply because they’ve chosen to move their bodies.

Thank you x1000000 @nikerunning 💖 (ad* - PR) taken in Silverworks Island by @allyyhead

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a day ago

Double trouble ready to race. 😎🕺🤝

#nikeafterdark #racedayoutfit #runnergirl taken in London, United Kingdom by @allyyhead

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2 days ago

I haven’t been this excited for a race in a longgggggg time. 🕺✨🪩🎀

@nikerunning After Dark it is SO NEARLY TIME. 🥹

#runnergirl #nikeafterdark #nikeafterdarklondon taken in London, United Kingdom by @allyyhead

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2 days ago

Wake up babe, it’s @nike After Dark* weekend!!! 🕺✨🎀🎟️🪩💖

I’m SO excited to be checked in at @houseofgodshotel with @nikerunning for the Nike After Dark Tour, a global series of night-running experiences created for women and celebrating the power of running, community and showing up for one another in a safe and inclusive space. ✨

I LOVE that this is about so much more than running - it’s about bringing women together, creating an inclusive global event, pushing ourselves, and celebrating every kind of strong 💅🏼🎀

Good luck to everyone running - I’ll be lacing up too and can’t WAIT to party. 🪩

#nikeafterdark #nikeafterdarktour2026 #runnergirl (ad* - press place and stay) by @allyyhead

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2 days ago

Highlight of my week = getting to take my lovely Mum to the @jomalonelondon Christmas Press Preview. 🎄🎁🥰

@samhead11 is quite literally the biggest Jo Malone fan I have ever met. Her signature scent is Pomegranate Noir. She has a whole wall of their perfumes in her bathroom.

So this was a rather wholesome start to a Tuesday. Thank you so much for having us lovely @bianca_1026 💫 taken in London, United Kingdom by @allyyhead

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4 days ago

I just dropped out of my first race in a LONG time… and it’s taken me all day, but I know it was the right decision. 🧘‍♀️

I’ve jokingly called this year my year of abundance because it’s been so full. Full of love, opportunities, amazing races, and even more amazing memories. I feel so grateful - but it’s undoubtedly been enormously busy, too.

And your body always keeps the score! So rest, honey, and lemon for me today it’s been. 🍯🍋

I was so excited to lace up with @oysho for @royalparkshalf today. But it was too close to New York Marathon to risk it. 🇺🇸

THREE WEEKS! 🍎

#runner #dns #royalparkshalf taken in London, United Kingdom by @allyyhead

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8 days ago

I just ran my slowest half of the year…. And I reckon it was one of my biggest wins. 👀

Not every event can be an A race. Not every race, a PB. You get faster by running slower - ultimately, all that *really* matters is that you enjoy yourself.

Your daily reminder that perspective and having a good time = 🔑👑

Whats your biggest non-time related running win of the year? ✨ taken in London, United Kingdom by @allyyhead

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11 days ago

@mcrhalf, you were everything and more! 🪩 race 10/13 of the year, done and dusted. ✔️

Happy to come away with 1.37 today on tired mid block legs, with two extra miles to run pre and post, and with an absolutely essential @jessie_thegoldador cuddle at mile seven. 🐶💫

Epic cheer squads, seamless organisation and a great route - I’ll definitely be back. Plus @cadence fuel ⛽️ and @weasie kit 👀 was a solid 💯. Thank you to EVERYONE who cheered my name - means the 🌎

#manchesterhalf #runnergirl taken in Manchester, United Kingdom by @allyyhead

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15 days ago

@mcrhalf it’s go time!!! 🚀

17 mile training run (4 pre race) with a cheeky medal at the end? Don’t mind if I do. 🥇

Good luck runners!

#manchesterhalfmarathon #halfmarathon #runner taken in Manchester, United Kingdom by @allyyhead

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15 days ago