OFF THE RECORD WITH ALLY HEAD
Marathoner, writer, influencer – hard to think Marie Claire’s health editor wasn’t always sporty.
So, who is Ally Head? She’s an award-winning journalist and the Health Editor at Marie Claire. But when she’s not writing some of the most insightful pieces in the industry, you’ll find her training for her next big race – all while sharing valuable tips and insights with her social media followers to keep them motivated. And as if that wasn’t enough, she’s now also Sports Direct’s go-to expert on all things running. And to kick off this relationship, we caught up with Ally to chat about her running journey, how she balances it all, and the mindset that keeps her pushing forward.
Ally wasn’t always the dedicated runner she is today. In fact, it was quite the opposite. "I wasn't actually very sporty as a teenager," she admits. "I did ballet, tap dance, and disco dancing when I was much younger. But then, as soon as I hit my teenage years, I was like, nope, I don't want to see any movement."
"I wasn't actually very sporty as a teenager"
It wasn’t until she was 16 that she signed up for a Race for Life 5K with her family – without doing any training. "Getting around the 5K felt like it took my entire life. But crossing the finish line was the most amazing feeling in the world. I remember thinking, 'Maybe if you'd put in some effort next time, it could be a bit easier.'"
That first race flipped a switch. And rather than easing into running, Ally went all in. "I knew the best way to motivate myself was to just keep booking things in the calendar," she explains. "You're so scared that you won't be able to complete the distance that you have to do the training." It was a smart strategy – basically tricking herself into committing. "It was like almost tricking myself to motivate myself to keep running and keep at it," she says with a laugh. And it worked. That’s how she started running.
Running took on a deeper meaning when she went to university and her family moved to New York, leaving her behind. "I found running to be the most amazing mental release. If I was feeling stressed or overwhelmed, running was this physical escape that allowed me to be my personal best and stay in shape."
?fmt=auto&upscale=false&w=864&$h-ttl$)
After graduating, Ally landed a job at Women's Health magazine, where she trained with some of the best athletes and coaches in the world. Then came a big opportunity: the magazine offered her a marathon spot with Cancer Research. "Training for it was so hard, but also one of the biggest joys of my life," she recalls.
Race day, however, was brutal. "It was 2018, and the temperature was about 28°C. It was that awfully hot year," she remembers. Still, she finished in 4:11. "I remember being so disappointed because I'd been on track for a sub-4 but also impressed at the same time. At that point, I was like, 'Okay, there's maybe something here.'"
"Running isn't about fitting in so many sessions that you're stressed; it's meant to be about the balance between what can I do to improve, and what can I do to make sure I'm still enjoying this?"
Fast forward to today, and Ally has run nine marathons – and found her favourite distance to run at the same time. "A half marathon is fun, but it's too short. A 10K? The devil. 5Ks? Death," she jokes. "Marathons are the best. You get to party for like three and a bit hours, and all your favourite people come."
Along the way, she started training with a coach, which turned out to be a game-changer. "He sees your potential more than you do," she says. That outside perspective makes all the difference because running isn’t just about fitness – it’s a mental game, too. "There would be times where I was like, 'I can't run,' and my coach is like, 'Yes, you can, just go give it a go, believe in yourself.'" That mental toughness is just as important as the training itself – and it carries over into the rest of her life. "If I can get up at 5 AM and go out in the snow and hail for 20 miles, I can deal with the other hard things that life inevitably throws at you."
Of course, balancing marathon training with a full-time job as a health editor – and growing an audience – isn’t always easy. But Ally keeps things in perspective. "I remind myself that I’m only human," she says. "Running brings me joy, but I’m not a professional athlete." For her, success is all about balance. "Running isn't about fitting in so many sessions that you're stressed; it's meant to be about the balance between what can I do to improve, and what can I do to make sure I'm still enjoying this?"
And her race-day rituals reflect that approach. "I'm not prepared for a marathon unless I've spent about three to four hours the week before, just doing my race-day playlist." She even gets family members to pick songs for the final stretch. "When that song comes on, I know my sister or my mum picked it, and it motivates me when I'm dying and really struggling."
And when things get tough? She focuses on the positives. "Focus on the good and the good gets better." It’s a mindset that’s helped her through challenges – including recovering from a recent injury. "That I'm able to go and do it. I broke my foot just before Christmas, and here I am, able to do my interval session. This is a joy! Focusing on the good – that I get to do it, that I'm able to do it – I think it's quite an important life lesson."
Next up: Valencia. Maybe London too – if her coach lets her. "I've been telling my coach I still want to do the London Marathon. He says, 'You broke your foot three months ago – why would you risk it?'" she laughs. But that’s Ally – always pushing forward, always finding that balance between ambition and wisdom. Nine marathons down, and plenty more to come.
All images featured are taken from @allyyhead's Instagram