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    Ally Head

    Ally Head

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    Senior Health and Sustainability Editor

    Ally Head is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, a ten-time marathoner, and a Boston Qualifying runner. With nine years of editorial experience under her belt, she has a keen eye for a story, a passion for digital journalism, and is always innovating and pushing boundaries with how online content should be delivered to ensure her pillars are consistent top performers. Day-to-day, she manages a team of freelancers and works across site strategy, features, and e-commerce, overseeing all health and sustainability content, commissioning strategy, and reporting and effortlessly sustaining growth. She spearheads MC UK's yearly Women in Sport covers, interviewing and shooting athletes including Mary Earps, Millie Bright, Daryll Neita, and Lavaia Nielsen, and also oversees the brand's Start The Year Strong anti-fad January health campaign. She regularly hosts panels and presents for events such as the MC Sustainability Awards, alongside presenting for her two regular franchises, Decoded and Wellness Wins. The first is an Instagram franchise where she interviews fitness royalty, including the likes of Kayla Itsines, Jillian Michaels, and Doctor Julie Smith, in front of millions of followers, and her newest addition, Wellness Wins, shines a spotlight on the latest must-try wellness products. Before joining MC, she freelanced for the likes of Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Grazia, The Telegraph, Refinery29, Stylist, Good Housekeeping, and more. Prior to that, she was headhunted to lead digital strategy at Foodism. Her first ever journalism job was at Women's Health, where she worked for three years and headed up their nutrition content, cutting through the clean eating noise and enlisting qualified dieticians and nutritionists to give their take on everything from protein shakes to probiotic gut health supplements. Shortlisted for three BSME awards, she won one in 2022 for her work in the sustainability sphere and scooped a Future Editorial Excellence award in 2025, too, winning "Magazine Of The Year" for her joint Ilona Maher cover with Rugby World at the Future Awards 2025. She has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in English Language from the University of Birmingham. When she's not writing, she's training for her next race or hunting down a good pastry. Follow Ally on Instagram for more.

    Latest articles by Ally Head

    A woman doing a resistance band leg workout at home on a workout mat
    Resistance band leg workouts are effective and affordable - as a fitness trainer, these are the 10 I always recommend

    Ready to work your glutes, quads and hamstrings?

    Fitness
    • Treehouse Hotel review: Madera restaurant
      Easy Escapes: Treehouse Hotel London is a playful, sustainable hideaway in the sky

      Ready to book your next trip?

      By Ally Head

      Travel
    • Directly below shot of female athlete with curly hair against clear sky
      People are paying "mules" to boost their mileage on Strava, which leaves me asking—is social media ruining running?

      It begs the question: are we prioritising how we appear on social media over our wellbeing?

      By Ally Head

      Fitness
    • Nele Moos of Team Germany, Olivia Breen of Team Great Britain, Maddie Down of Team Great Britain, Sofia Pace of Team France and Lida Maria Manthopoulou of Team Greece after the Women's 100m - T38 Round 1 Heat on day three of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games at the Stade de France on August 31, 2024 in Paris, France.
      As the Paralympics finishes, Livvy Breen chats following your dreams, owning your strengths, and never giving up

      The three-time Paralympian chats to MC UK.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Ozempic delaying ageing: Supplements spilling out of a glass bottle
      A landmark new Ozempic study claims the drug can "delay ageing" - but top experts warn it's not that simple

      A deep dive.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Ally strength training for 30 minutes
      I strength trained for 30 minutes every week - and feel stronger than ever

      Good for muscle, mind, metabolism and more.

      By Ally Head

      Fitness
    • Lauren Steadman competing at the Rio Paralympic Games
      Lauren Steadman: "I use sport as a vehicle - I might have an arm missing, but I'm just as strong as you are."

      The Paralympic champion and MBE owner discusses her most important life lessons.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • BEIJING, CHINA - AUGUST 23: Jessica Ennis-Hill of Great Britain competes in the Women's Heptathlon Javelin during day two of the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships Beijing 2015 at Beijing National Stadium on August 23, 2015 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
      Jess Ennis Hill chats motherhood, menstrual cycles and investing in workout kit that makes you feel great

      Life lessons from the three-time world champion.

      By Ally Head

      Fitness
    • WUKA period swimwear
      Trust me, I'm a Health Editor - WUKA’s period swimwear is the best investment you'll make all summer

      Functional, fashionable swimwear from a genuinely sustainable brand? It’s a yes from us.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Courtney Black, a personal trainer who swears by the best holiday workouts
      I'm a top personal trainer - trust me when I say, these are the only 5 holiday workouts worth your time

      You're welcome.

      By Ally Head

      Fitness
    • Daryll Neita and Laviai Nielsen fun facts
      16 things you didn’t know about Team GB sprinters Daryll Neita and Laviai Nielsen

      Meet our cover stars and two of the athletes representing the UK on the world stage.

      Health and Fitness
    • NANTERRE, FRANCE - JULY 27: Mollie O'Callaghan, Shayna Jack, Emma McKeon and Meg Harris of Team Australia react after winning gold medal on Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay Finals on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Paris La Defense Arena on July 27, 2024 in Nanterre, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
      I asked people on X for their take on Bob Ballard's dismissal after sexist "joke" - and the replies I got were eye-opening

      Opinion The Olympic commentator has been dropped for his remarks just days into the event.

      By Ally Head

      Culture
    • Laviai Nielsen
      The Women in Sport Issue

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Daryll Neita and Laviai Nielsen
      Women in Sport

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Running deals: Health Editor Ally Head on a run
      As a nine-time marathon runner, trust me: these are the most handy bits of kit for any distance

      You'll use these for years to come.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Holiday workout essentials: Senior Health Editor Ally Head working out on holiday
      I'm going on holiday this month - 6 fitness essentials I swear by for keeping me on track while I'm away

      You're welcome.

      By Ally Head

      Fitness
    • Morning workout routine: Ally Head reading and having a coffee after doing a morning workout
      These tricks for building a simple yet effective morning workout routine have drastically improved my fitness

      It doesn't need to be all 5am starts and ten miles for breakfast.

      By Ally Head

      Fitness
    • Senior Health Editor Ally Head on a mountain hike learning some health tips
      I'm a Health Editor who sceptically said yes to my first retreat - and these 5 health tips I learnt from a nutritionist were truly game-changing

      They're obvious, but absolutely worth giving a go.

      By Ally Head

      Wellbeing
    • Senior Health Editor Ally Head shares her adidas Ultraboost Light review
      As a diehard adidas Ultraboost fan, here's why I was wrong to be sceptical about their lightest shoe ever

      Your need-to-knows, if you're thinking about investing.

      By Ally Head

      Fitness
    • Lavina Mehta
      "I never worked out - now, at 46, I'm in my best shape ever and proof that it's never too late to find your fitness"

      Lavina Mehta MBE built a body for life later in life - and reckons you can, too.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Summer workouts: Stef Williams post-workout
      As a top personal trainer, I guarantee these are the best summer workouts for boosting tone in no time

      To feel good in both body and mind.

      Fitness
    • Sweaty Betty Rewilding range: Sofia, Ally and Valeza testing
      We tested the entire new Sweaty Betty range - and reckon it's the perfect summer kit for any type of workout

      Tried and tested by Team MC UK.

      By Ally Head

      Fitness
    • Em The Nutritionist health hacks
      Emily English has taken over the internet with her feel-good, nourishing recipes - 7 health hacks the nutritionist swears by

      Bookmark this one for later.

      By Ally Head

      Nutrition
    • London Marathon record breaking entries: Ally running her second marathon in 2019
      Nearly a million people entered the London Marathon 2025 ballot - why comments saying "slow" runners shouldn't be allowed are not okay

      Running is never just about the time.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Maternal mental health: Three women at Copenhagen Fashion Week
      One in five new mums experience mental health issues. A psychotherapist's top tips for safeguarding yours

      Plus, this Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, MC UK Editors share their own experiences.

      By Ally Head

      Wellbeing
    • Mental endurance
      I’m a Health Editor who regularly runs marathons - 7 mental endurance tips that have changed my life

      Plus, how building mental resilience can boost all aspects of your life.

      By Ally Head

      Wellbeing
    • Earth Day 2024
      Keen to celebrate Earth Day? 5 simple ways you can inspire change and build a better tomorrow

      Living sustainably doesn't need to feel unattainable or overwhelming.

      By Ally Head

      Sustainability
    • Anya Culling
      "I started running in lockdown for my mental health - four years on, I'm one of the fastest female marathon runners in the UK"

      Here's how Anya did it.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • How to get fit in your 50s: A woman doing yoga
      This is exactly how to get fit - and stay fit - in your 50s, according to a top expert who trains clients every day

      Your ultimate guide.

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
    • Nike USA kit
      As a seasoned runner, I can’t even begin to tell you everything that’s wrong with the Nike US Olympic kit

      Once again, women are being set up for failure in sport. Here’s where it all went wrong

      By Ally Head

      Health and Fitness
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