Bethan Taylor-Swaine

Home
United Kingdom
London
Bethan Taylor-Swaine

Hi there, I’m Bethan Taylor-Swaine, Architect of Wellbeing, PhD Student and Coach.

29/05/2026

These are my parents ⬆️ They’re currently around 600 miles into hiking the Appalachian Trail. While my Mum has been keeping the group chat updated with their progress and sending pictures, my Dad has limited his communication to the essentials - a review of his Lone Peak 9 plus trail shoes.

This isn’t a huge surprise, he’s a man of few words and he takes his kit seriously. In fact most of our conversations in the lead up to this expedition were about kit, and particularly shoes.

I’m a huge fan of the Lone Peak, I’ve worn a couple of iterations of the shoe over the years and loved them. However I was a little concerned that my Dad wouldn’t get on with the 0 drop (something totally new to him) and that it might ruin his trip. Turns out I had nothing to worry about, his strength training down the LC (IYKYK) has paid off massively and he’s as big a fan of the Lone Peak as I am.

This post is in no way sponsored. My Dad chose the Lone Peak 9s before he knew I’d worn them and paid for them (and now his second pair) himself. Obvs if Altra want to hook him up when he needs a new pair in 400 miles he’d be thrilled though 😂

28/05/2026

Why should you come to an webinar on public sexual harassment for runners and run clubs?

Because around 70% of women have experienced PSH while running and run clubs are not the exception.

No one likes to think that bad things could happen in the club they’ve cultivated or the community they value, but harassment and abuses of power can happen anywhere. Part of being in a community has to be working to create safe cultures and preventing harm. This is remarkably straightforward, it just requires us to acknowledge the issues, understand them and develop appropriate responses.

The Our Streets Now Webinar for Run Clubs and Runners helps you start this process. We discuss:

• The nature and impact of sexual harassment on runners and athletes
• How to support members and fellow athletes, ensuring harassment is not a barrier to thriving in your run club or sporting community
• Key skills to notice and challenge harmful language and behaviour

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!

📆3 June 2026
⏰ 6pm - 7pm
💷£5

All the details of how to sign up are in bio.

19/05/2026

Earlier today shared a post highlighting that 1 in 3 women in the U.K. don’t have time to go for a walk.

It really resonated, and it prompted an exchange in my DMs which shows just how real this issue is for women. Including me.

Women do on average 54 more minutes per day of free labour than men. We often carry a mental load which men can find hard to understand. We earn less money and have less free time. Something has to give, and often that’s exercise.

Exercise isn’t necessarily a clean cut choice. It is affected by a whole host of factors, many of which are hard for individuals to control because they’re part of the structure of our society.

12/05/2026

The story of my life 🤦🏼‍♀️

Between an MSc in Sports Management and a PhD examining the experiences of women in ultra-running I’ve spent the last 10 years exploring the experiences of women in ultra-running. I’ve read the studies, my work has been closely scrutinised and I’ve been subject to rigorous academic standards. When I speak on these issues I know what I’m talking about. Trust me.

07/05/2026

Imagine running over 250 miles in just over 56 hours. Insane. That’s what Rachel Entrekin did this week when she not only won Cocodona 250 outright but also smashed the course record. Honestly, it’s hard to comprehend an achievement like that and all I can say is that Rachel is a PHENOMENAL human.

Whenever a woman wins a race like this outright people will often bring up the idea that when it comes to running a really long way women have an edge. They’ll usually mention that there’s research to support the idea, and that a woman winning proves it’s right.

It all sounds pretty cut and dry right? It’s a really appealing idea, the idea that women could outperform men is a really exciting prospect! But is it really that straightforward? I probably wouldn’t have written an article about it if it was…it’s up in now.

04/05/2026

Recently 🏃🏼‍♀️⛺️ ❤️ running with friends, running on trails, being outdoors, being in rivers, bonfires, crates of drinks, marshmallows, little dog, little person and Princess Di as style inspiration. It’s been a good time.

AD featuring x // x

29/04/2026

I’ve started a substack!

It’s been an age since I last wrote long form commentary about running. Back in the day I used to blog pretty regularly, but since writing up my PhD I haven’t been able to face any extra writing. However, today inspiration struck and 3 hours later we have something that I hope is a passable read!

This one is a sceptical look at some of the stats being shared in relation to women’s participation at London Marathon last weekend and how they might be a tiny bit misleading, at least if you’re looking at things in terms of the big picture relating to women’s participation in sport and equality.

Thanks to and for the inspiration.

28/04/2026

Did you know the average time for a woman to run 5km is 38 minutes according to ?

There’s lots of variables at play when it comes to average pace (for example, the groups that race or use are self selecting, the impact of race conditions and whether data has been adequately cleansed), but what’s clear is that the idea that a 5km should take 30 minutes is a bit misplaced. Infact the idea that we should complete any distance in any particular time is pretty unhelpful when it comes to getting more people into running and to stay in running.

23/04/2026

How about we believe women?

Every so often I share stories about the harassment people have experienced in running. Most of the comments are supportive, but there are always a few that illustrate why this problem exists. Our society is set up to minimise and discredit women’s experiences. Whether it’s by pushing women to ‘prevent’ their own abuse or suggesting that women are out to maliciously sabotage men’s reputations, everything leads to the idea that women aren’t to be trusted.

If we want change we need to ensure women are platformed and believed.

Do you have a story you’d like to share anonymously about your experiences of harassment in running? I’ve started a project collating anonymous stories to build a picture of what harassment in running really looks like. The link is in my bio.

15/04/2026

Dispatches from the frontline…this is just one of the many stories women have shared with me about the abuse of power and harassment in run clubs. This is why the Run Club Tool Kit is so important, and why I’m thrilled is hosting training on the issue for run club leaders. In my experience the is one of the most significant but untalked about issues facing our industry, its harming women, pushing them out of sport and needs to stop.

Address

London

Website

http://www.bethantaylorswaine.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Bethan Taylor-Swaine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Bethan Taylor-Swaine:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Health & Beauty Business in London?