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a pretty place to play

Hi, I'm Bethan, a runner, yogi and PhD student from London. For questions or press please email me at aprettyplacetoplay@gmail.com.

I'm on Instagram...

Endurance is the ability to exert yourself and remain active for a long period of time. In my life there are two types of endurance - athletic endurance, which allows me to run long and hard in challenging environments; and academic endurance, which allows me to think critically, learn and develop ideas that in due course will earn me a PhD. Both are really hard. They require dedication, focus and the resilience to get up every day and try to do better, to pick yourself up when things are inevitably difficult and to somehow keep mind, body and soul through it all. In return both can give you everything. They show you how hard you can push, even when you are sure you cannot give more and then what it feels like to go beyond your wildest expectations. They teach you humility, humour, bravery and a unique perspective on trusting the process. It takes a hell of a lot of faith to give yourself over to endurance because you don’t know what will happen, but you do know how easy it is to sacrifice your goals because things get really hard, and you do know it’ll get really hard.

Over the last 12 months I’ve opened my life up to endurance more than I every have before. A marathon, an ultra marathon and the first year of a PhD all rolled into one year. One year of ups and downs, sleepless nights, days where I just couldn’t make progress, moments of immense emotional and physical pain, amazing joy, friendship and new experiences. It’s been overwhelming and I continue to live in disbelief that this is my life.
Right now I’m in the midst of my end of year review - 12,000 words, a tonne of paperwork and forms, a presentation and an oral exam - it’s all consuming, and stressful. Have I missed a form? A reference? An idea? Did I submit the right version? All the thoughts that flood your mind when you are so committed to something, and all the thoughts that need you to have crazy faith, where your endurance comes into its own and you are insanely grateful that one day many years ago you went for a run that ended up changing your life.
[📷: @annarachphotography]
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#running #run #runner #instarunners #runners #instarun #runhappy #trailrunning #marathon

I was shit hot at my first job. I worked my butt off and was promoted more than once in my first 12 months. With each promotion I got a little pay rise and I was absolutely thrilled to be making such good progress in my role. It wasn't at all about the money, it was about the feeling of being good at something and progressing. Unfortunately, my boyfriend at the time didn't share this joy. To him it was unfair. He hadn't had a raise or a promotion in a few years, and rather than celebrate my progress he made it clear he resented me and that it was unfair. He made sure I felt bad for making progress.⠀
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I buried it. I convinced myself I saw his logic. He had been working longer than me and it was unfair he wasn't seeing progress, after all he worked hard too and had a talent for what he did. My promotions weren't really a big deal, it was just that we worked in different industries and mine just happened to have structured increments. I persuaded myself I didn't need to celebrate my achievements. ⠀
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This pattern happened over and over again, until I took up running. At the start my ex was supportive. He bought me an ipod so I could listen to music and came along to my early races. But over time things changed. I started running more and longer, and that running started to transform me and make me aware of what I could do. This irritated my ex. Me believing in myself wasn't really that convenient and I vividly remember the night he told me I was running too much. That was the straw that broke the camels back. I was OUT. Whoever thought they had the right to tell me not to do something I loved, something I was good at, something that brought me joy, had not place in my life. I'd had the sense things were not healthy for a long time. I'd nearly left him on a number of occasions but never had the guts because I honestly didn't think that much of myself. No more. I was outta there. ⠀
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I left with nothing, but four years later I have everything. I've built bridges with friends I isolated, I've got my health in gear, I got an MSc and am now doing a PhD, and I met this dude. Someone who celebrates EVERY ACHIEVEMENT and says 'let's go' whenever I suggest an adventure.

Moments like this aren't why I run, it's women like this who are my inspiration.⠀
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Happy Global Running Day. If you can run clock up some miles. If you're injured do some rehab. If running isn't your thing that's cool, support someone you love who loves to run. ⠀
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[ 📷: @fordtography]
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#running #run #runner #instarunners #runners #instarun #runhappy #trailrunning #marathon #globalrunningday #runnerscommunity #thespeedproject #instarunner #runitfast #marathontraining #triathlon #cardio #runtoinspire #garmin #trailrun #correr #runninggirl #halfmarathon #happyrunner #laufen #worlderunners #runnergirl #corridaderua #runnersofinstagram #jogging

Do you ever pretend that the words of the PT training someone next to you in the gym are for you not their client? Just me? Well I was all about it this morning, nothing like being told how great you are to get your week started on a positive note!! I have a tonne of work on over the next couple of weeks as I prep for my end of year review (12k word paper, a conference presentation and a panel review) so I’m keeping my workouts low intensity and low stress as I find anything too heavy brings on anxiety if I’m already dealing with stress elsewhere in my life. This morning was a nice simple lower body band workout, and while it was low intensity I can definitely feel it in my butt now 🍑
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#running #run #runner #instarunners #runners #instarun #runhappy #trailrunning #marathon #beyondexpectations #runnerscommunity #361Europe #instarunner #runitfast #marathontraining #triathlon #cardio #runtoinspire #garmin #trailrun #correr #runninggirl #halfmarathon #happyrunner #laufen #worlderunners #runnergirl #corridaderua #runnersofinstagram