THIS IS AUBREY MVULA aka. AUBREY RUNNING
Published: 08/04/2025, by: Alex Courbat | Photography: Joseph Ironmonger
Aubrey started running to get fitter – now he's inspiring thousands of people to go the extra mile. To top it all off, he’s also Sports Direct’s new Running Ambassador. To kick off this new partnership, we sat down with Aubrey to chat about his relationship with running, his community and the importance of priorities.
For Aubrey Mvula, running started as a challenge – a way to get healthier when he and his fiancée were expecting their first child. "I wasn’t in great shape, and I wanted to change that. The health part was key." But, as he puts it, it wasn’t exactly love at first sight. "I was rubbish," he laughs. "And I don’t like being rubbish at things."
So, he kept running. He struggled – but he kept going. And like many beginners, he had a ton of questions, with one popping up more than any other: what shoes should he wear to run? He figured if he was searching for answers, others probably were too. So, he started filming his progress, sharing his experiences, and testing gear. "That’s how the YouTube channel happened. I was just trying to figure things out." And, just like that, Aubrey Running was born.
What started small quickly grew. Sure, the running gear reviews were helpful, but what really made Aubrey stand out was how people saw themselves in his journey. "I’m not fast," he says. "I run a 10K in over an hour. I’m not out here winning races. But that’s exactly why people relate to me."
It was that connection that changed everything. It wasn’t just about running anymore – it was about community. People began reaching out, sharing how his story inspired them. "They’d tell me, ‘I got into running because of you,’ or ‘I stuck with running because of you.’ That hits me hard."
And to this day, Aubrey makes it a point to show up for his community. He announces the races he’s running so others can join him. "In December, I paced a guy I’d never met before to his 10K PB. Just because he watches my channel, and we run a similar pace."
Now, Aubrey’s taking things even further. "I’m rebranding the channel to ‘Bigger Than Running’ because that’s what this is. Running is the bonus, but it’s really about something more. When a Black runner comes up to me and says, ‘I don’t see many people like me on YouTube. You’re the only one I follow’ – that’s when I know this is bigger than running." Because for Aubrey, the real win isn’t the medal – it’s the people he’s inspiring along the way. "That’s the best part. Knowing I’m helping people stick with it."
As for his own running? It’s taken him places he never imagined. His first marathon wasn’t just any race – it was Berlin, one of the six Abbott World Marathon Majors. Then came New York. This year, he’s got Boston and London lined up. "If I finish those two, that’s four. Then I just need Chicago and Tokyo for the six-star medal. That would be huge."
"That’s the best part. Knowing I’m helping people stick with it."
But balancing running with everything else isn’t always easy, and Aubrey gets that. He works full-time at a bank, managing a career, growing his YouTube channel, and being there for his family. "I actually downgraded my job title because I used to be head of operational risk at a bank, and that was intense. My fiancée, my kids – that’s my priority."
With his priorities straight, he runs when he can. Sometimes it means waking up at 4:30 a.m. for a long run. Sometimes it means squeezing in miles before the school run. And sometimes, it means skipping a session altogether to spend time with his kids. "If my daughter wants to do my nails, that’s the priority. You have to know what matters most."
His advice to runners? Know your priorities and run your own race. "At the Cambridge Half Marathon, Liz – one of the other ambassadors – ran it in 1 hour 30-something. I ran it in 2:05. She got a PB. I didn’t. But I was just as proud of myself as she was of herself."
That’s because for Aubrey, speed isn’t the point. The numbers don’t define the experience. "I’ve seen guys finish a 10K in 33 minutes and be in tears because they missed a goal. Meanwhile, I come in at 55 minutes, feeling on top of the world. It’s about appreciating where you started and how far you’ve come."
That’s always been Aubrey’s philosophy – because in the end, it’s always bigger than running.