But above all, Mirna Valerio is an athlete with a message: She’s “breaking a few barriers and shattering stereotypes along the way” by sharing the message that all bodies are runner’s bodies. “My body does all these incredible things and I’ve learned to respect the awesomeness of it,” she tells Curvicality.
Valerio has become a media mainstay as a plus-size ultramarathon runner because of her undying enthusiasm and constant push to create an all-inclusive athletic environment in the running world.
She shows fans her confidence with her highly trafficked Instagram platform, her blog and her prejudice-busting memoir, “A Beautiful Work in Progress.”
Mirna Valerio: How it All Started
Valerio knew she had a story to share with the world. While training for a marathon eight years ago, she started her highly trafficked blog Fat Girl Running. On it, she has told stories about the triumphs and tribulations of training as a plus-size athlete.
But how did the media fall in love with her story?
It all started in 2015 when a reporter at The Wall Street Journal got wind of her inspiring journey. The feature led to an inquiry from NBC Nightly News, connections with agents and eventually a book deal. She also picked up a lot of sponsors along the way, including: Merrell, Swiftwick Socks, Skirt Sports, LEKI and L.L. Bean, just to name just a few. And, she’s written for Runner’s World.
Valerio is very open about her story. She had a health scare in 2008. She thought she was having a heart attack, but medical professionals confirmed another diagnosis: a panic attack. She tried a lot of things to get more in touch with herself, like piano, voice (she’s Juilliard trained), foreign languages (she was a Spanish teacher) and music arranging. But the thing that gave her peace of mind was running.
She doesn’t win, and that’s a part of her message. “You’re still able to do really incredible things,” she says. “You can rewrite your own narrative. You don’t have to internalize the narrative other people have for you. That’s the message.”
As she said in a piece in Runner’s World: “I fell in love with running in high school, when I used it as a means to improve my general fitness, not to achieve a certain body ideal. I loved how it made me feel: powerful and capable of handling anything that came my way. Now, almost 25 years later, I continue to run for that same reason — to be my best self, not someone else’s version of my best.”
Valerio’s Message to Body Shamers
As any plus-size athlete would, Valerio encounters body shamers. She doesn’t have time for it. “I don’t engage with them anymore,” she says. “I choose not to and I choose to utilize my energy in embracing and loving on people that I love, that love me, that need my love … I’m not going to bring any more attention to people that don’t care to see me as a full human being.”
She encourages all people to stand up for body equality.
“Unfortunately, people are going to say things. They are going to have reactions to you and your body. That is an awful truth. The more we practice being OK with our own bodies and also being OK with other people’s bodies, the easier it becomes to hear it and let it go.”
To her, the key to body love can be found in appreciating all the things your body can do. She has found this through the sport of running.
“For me, personally, the way that I’ve gained this belief in myself is through running because I’m so proud of what my body can do … That helps me to exude confidence in my body and to be really happy that I’m living in the body that I am.”
Despite naysayers, she continues to move forward in her journey. She puts herself out there knowing that people are going to have thoughts and opinions.
“That’s just a fact of life. You have to keep doing it … You have to build a thick skin. That’s something that has to be practiced. People are assholes. You have to be mentally prepared for that, but not so mentally prepared that you don’t set out to do what you wanted.”
Starting a Trail Running Routine
We asked Valerio how to start a trail running routine, and what it’s like to train for trail running. As it turns out, one of the most important keys to success is patience.
“You will randomly trip on a rock. Sometimes you will trip on nothing,” she says.
Physically speaking, Valerio says that full-body training is essential.
“You work on your core. You work on your squats and your lunges. That will make you more and more prepared to run on trails,” she says. “It’s better for your body than road running.”
Perhaps formalized training is not the way to start a trail running routine. Sometimes it’s just a matter of doing it.
“I’m an intuitive runner. I’ll warm up by hiking, and then when I feel the spirit, I run,” says Valerio. “Don’t get stuck in intervals. Just go.”
That said, she says it’s important to be mindful of your surroundings at all times. In addition, it’s essential to preserve energy. Running up hills is not always the best option. “Power hike up hills. Don’t waste your energy.”
‘Gymtimidation’
We asked Valerio for her advice about gym intimidation. After all, many plus-size people are intimidated by an environment filled with slender bodies.
“It’s something that makes me really angry,” she says. “I’m mad at the fear that people have because the gym can be an amazing place.”
When she joins a new gym, she takes advantage of all the opportunities available for new members, and she encourages others to do the same. “I always take the free things that are offered as part of the package … personal training, pilates, orientation on all the machines … and I tell the gym what my goals are.”
She wants readers to remember that working out is a personal journey.
“Again, people are gonna look, maybe say things … No matter what your reason for going to the gym, you are investing in yourself … Those people cannot take space up in your mind. You’re investing in you.”
“When you learn how to use machines, have learned exercises, etc., you become more empowered at the gym. That helps you to take ownership and be fucking amazing at the gym. Take advantage of every single thing they offer to you.”
On Becoming Your Best You
Valerio very much believes in taking ownership of your story, and changing it.
“Set a different story, a different narrative. Learn what it is you love about your body. That love has to start somewhere. Once you fully believe in that love, it can grow. It makes it easier to put yourself out there.”
Valerio’s Ideal Media and Her Past Role as an Educator
Valerio hopes for a world that represents all body types. “If I had my choice, the media would just be representative of all bodies, all ethnicities, all races, all faiths, all genders. Every part of humanity … even the ones who are unsavory to us, are represented.”
She did her part in showing positivity as a teacher for 18 years and as a cross country coach. She went into her roles with a goal of teaching students to go above and beyond what they thought they could do. “It was a goal of mine as a coach to show people who thought that they couldn’t or weren’t able to run that they could run, and that this was a really great lifestyle to have.”
About the Author: Mary Beth Cooper is the founder and CEO of Curvicality. After getting an MBA, she dedicated her life to creating media that celebrates bodies of all sizes. In her spare time, she can be found hanging out with her fur kids (Gabbana and Taber), taking a Peloton ride or run (her favorite hobby), catching up with friends and spending time with family. She’s a lover of all things sparkle and lace. She can be reached at: Marybeth@curvicality.com
For more Mirna Valerio, you can follow her on IG @themirvanator.
