
Ally Head
Ally Head is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, a nine-time marathoner, and a Boston Qualifying runner. With eight 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. She spearheads MC UK's yearly Women in Sport campaign, interviewing and shooting athletes including Mary Earps, Millie Bright, Daryll Neita, and Lavaia Nielsen, and also oversees the brands Start The Year Strong anit-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 that she's genuinely tried and loved. 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. She's won a BSME award for her work on Sustainability and scooped a Spirit of Hearst award in 2018, too. She has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in English Language from the University of Birmingham. While at Birmingham, she was Head of Marketing for student radio station Burn FM and Travel Editor at the student newspaper, Redbrick, winning Article of the Year for a long read about living in New York in 2015. 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
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These are the only 5 pairs of hiking boots worth your money, according to a Health Editor
Hot girl walks, here you come.
By Ally Head
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I've worked in the running industry for ten years - 15 things you need to know before running your first 26.2
As Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa breaks the women's-only marathon world record at the 2025 London Marathon in a time of 2:15:50.
By Ally Head
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I'd never run a marathon before - six years on, I'm one of the UK's fastest female marathoners. Here's how I train every week
Serious inspo, served.
By Ally Head
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We're hard to impress - but these 11 cycling shorts are, hands down, the best for sweaty summer workouts
Tried and tested.
By Ally Head
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Feeling inspired by the London Marathoners? Four experts share the exact formula for improving your running speed
Get faster, fast.
By Ally Head
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Keen to know how to run for longer? 12 simple ways to make upping your mileage seem easy, according to the pros
Whether it's 5km, 10km, or a half marathon, our experts have got you covered.
By Ally Head
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I'm a 9x marathoner who likes looking and feeling their best. Enter: the functional but fashionable race day outfits I swear by
These outfit formulas almost guarantee you a PB.
By Ally Head
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Micro shorts are every runner's must-wear RN - 8 top picks you'll wear on repeat
Trust me on this one.
By Ally Head
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I used to hate running - but this type of training helped me run three sub-90-minute half marathons
Keen to improve your speed?
By Ally Head
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I'm the founder of an ethical brand marketplace - why, in the wake of tariff-gate, protecting independent businesses is more important than ever
This Earth Day, the founder of Wolf & Badger shares why protecting sustainable brands is so pivotal.
By Ally Head
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Road To Recovery: I won't be making the London Marathon start line. But that doesn't mean the dream is dead
This year’s mood? Patience, persistence and the power of a keep-on-keeping-on-attitude.
By Ally Head
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On the hunt for the best protein powder for women? 9 a Health Editor uses to boost satiety and build muscle
Let the gains, begin.
By Ally Head
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Sustainable activewear brands are a great way to make your workout more conscious - 14 to have on your radar
Do your bit and sweat in planet-friendly kit.
By Ally Head
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It's Emma Watson's favourite sustainable fashion platform - why you need to have Good On You on your radar
This one's worth bookmarking.
By Ally Head
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You’ve heard of greenwashing, but do you know how to spot - and stop - it happening?
This Earth Month, educate yourself on the most obvious red flags.
By Ally Head
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Sustainable sports brands should be on your radar - 14 to invest in for a more conscious workout
Do your bit and sweat in planet-friendly kit.
By Ally Head
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Road To Recovery: I'm a Health Editor and marathon runner who’s long struggled to make recovery a habit - enter, my lazy girl's guide to R&R
Recovery is all too easy to skip when you’re busy, but it’s as essential as working out to boost wellbeing - which is where these handy tips come in.
By Ally Head
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B Corp brands: 35 to have on your radar to help you shop more sustainably
Shop smart this Earth Month and help save our planet.
By Ally Head
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8 Gen Z climate activists to follow now that aren’t Greta Thunberg
This Earth Month, refresh your social media feeds with noteworthy climate activists.
By Ally Head
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I'm a Health Editor and marathon runner who's tested nearly 1000 pairs - my definitive pick of the best running shoes for women
Don't be confused by the jargon - we've tried 100's of trainers and these are the ones worth investing in.
By Ally Head
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Introducing Global phenomenon, Olympic medallist and rugby icon Ilona Maher
By Ally Head
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The 90s diet culture that ruled my teens is regaining traction online - which is why embracing diverse body types is more important than ever
You've got to see it to be it.
By Ally Head
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Road To Recovery: As marathon training ramps up - 5 tips for maintaining motivation, from a 9x marathon runner
Plus, I share the joy of returning to running and the kit I've been loving recently.
By Ally Head
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These are, hands down, the best petite gym leggings that money can buy according to our 5ft 1 Editors
No slouchy ankles here, thank you
By Ally Head
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Road To Recovery: I'm a runner who currently can't run - how low impact exercise is helping me feel fitter than ever
Plus, boosting my mental health tenfold, too.
By Ally Head
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We're Fitness Editors who've spent nine years testing for the perfect sports bra - these 13 get our vote
Trust me on this one.
By Ally Head
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Been consistent with your probiotic supplements but not feeling any different? 5 simple reasons why
Daily supps not boosting your wellbeing?
By Ally Head