logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2018
2h 40m

Mirna Valerio Is A Beautiful Work in Pro...

Rich Roll
About this episode





“Instead of being ashamed of doing what you do or being what you are, I ask two important questions: Why not celebrate it? Why not be proud of the fact that the body you are in can do great things?”

 Mirna Valerio 



What is a runner? How do we define an athlete? What does it truly mean to be fit and healthy?

Challenging stereotypes, today's guest demands that we broaden our limited definition of these terms.

She may not be fast, but she runs. In fact she runs a lot, an impressive slew of ultramarathons to her name.

She's also not skinny. In fact, she's big.

250 pounds big.

But Mirna Valerio is without a doubt a runner.

In fact, the force of nature affectionately known as The Mirnavator is one of the most inspirational athletes I have ever met — a true ambassador of sport on a mission to empower women of all shapes and sizes to proudly embrace their bodies, expand their horizons, and own their truth.


Carrying herself with grace, an intelligent self-confidence and a smile so gleeful it brightens all in her path, Mirna's appeal has less to do with her ability to run long distances and everything to do with her unapologetic celebration of her personal truth.

Mirna's joyful self-acceptance is both real and rare. It's both authentic and bold. It's as infectious as it is inclusive.

And it's incredibly empowering to the millions of people who suffer body shame issues silently.

When she’s not running, the Brooklyn native (now living in the North Georgia Mountains with her husband and teenage son) is a Spanish teacher, diversity practitioner, cross-country coach, and author of the wildly popular blog Fat Girl Running. She also writes frequently for Women's Running Magazine and recently released a remarkable memoir I thoroughly enjoyed entitled, A Beautiful Work In Progress*.

She’s been profiled in the Wall Street Journal and Runner's World and on NBC Nightly News. She’s also an ambassador for a variety of brands like REI, Merrell, Skirt Sports and Swiftwick. Just this week Mirna became one of the faces of JC Penney’s newly launched Here I Am campaign.



I first came across Mirna’s story by way of a mini-documentary produced by REI called The Mirnavator that went viral. Hooked, I was determined to share her powerful story with you. Mirna more than delivered.

Much like past episodes with Josh LaJaunie, Adam Sud, David Clark and my most recent episode with Charlie Jabaley, this is an incredibly inspiring underdog every person story.

But unlike those tales, Mirna's journey is not one marked by dramatic before and after photos. On the contrary, this is a story about body acceptance and body positivity.

It's a conversation about self-empowerment and self-acceptance. It’s about tackling stereotypes, overcoming prejudice and the importance of inclusion. And it's an exchange about the need to redefine how we think about and define athleticism, the spirit of sport, and fitness in general.

But more than anything, this is a conversation about owning your truth.

I adore Mirna and I absolutely love this conversation. I think you will too.

Please stick around to the very end for a treat. In addition to her impressive accomplishments, Mirna is also an extremely talented, Julliard-trained opera singer. I was able to convince her to take us out with her angelic, etheral voice. It's insane!

Peace + Plants,






See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Up next
May 2022
Dr. Will Bulsiewicz On All Things Microbiome: Heal Your Gut, Sidestep Disease & Thrive
One of the most popular guests in the history of this podcast, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz ‘Dr. B' joined me back on episode #538 for a deep dive on the gut and honing our immune systems. Today we dive even deeper with a comprehensive investigation of the microbiome, why it’s important, ... Show More
3h 3m
May 2022
Roll On: Kristian Blummenfelt, The Ministry of Truth, & Sustainable Self-Growth
Welcome to another edition of ‘Roll On’, wherein Rich Roll and journalist & author Adam Skolnick riff on matters of interest across sports, culture, entertainment, and self-betterment.  Specific topics discussed in today’s episode include:Adam's latest NYT piece A Free Diver’s Tr ... Show More
1h 46m
May 2022
Gemma Newman, MD On Optimizing Hormone Health
Today’s episode explores nutrition, lifestyle  and overall well-being with a particular focus on hormone health – particularly (but not exclusively) women’s hormone health, aging, and reproductive care – with Gemma Newman., MD. A Senior Partner at a family medicine practice in th ... Show More
2h 8m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2023
101. Courtney Gioia (she/hers), ACE Certified Fitness Professional and Mindset Coach
Hi Navigators! We’re excited to welcome Courtney Gioia, CEO and founder of Loyobo, to the podcast! Loyobo (meaning Love Your Body), is a virtual wellness community dedicated to helping women ditch diet culture, find joy in movement and to finally figure out how to love their body ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 2021
Courtney Dauwalter: Mindset Secrets From The World's Best Ultrarunner
We tend to think of high-performance athletes as superhuman—a rare species with extraordinary strength and a preternatural ability to suffer. But if you ask today’s guest what distinguishes the elite athlete and everyone else, she’ll say nothing. For her, the secret to high-level ... Show More
1h 46m
Jul 2021
Jillian Michaels On The Truth About Weight Loss
Jillian Michaels is one of the world’s leading fitness experts, a renowned nutritionist, and a wellness entrepreneur. With an international community of followers exceeding 100 million, her dominance in health and wellness extends to her award-winning The Fitness App by Jillian M ... Show More
48m 24s
Jan 2017
#88: Why "the Perfect Body" & Winning Fitness Competitions Won't Make You Happy with Sarah Vance, Body Image Coach
Body image coach and registered nurse Sarah Vance shares how competitive bodybuilding triggered a disordered relationship with food and fitness, why getting praise for her looks and "healthy lifestyle" only led to unhappiness and pain, how she finally made peace with food and her ... Show More
1h 2m
Mar 2019
[REPOST] #113: How to Cultivate Radical Body Love & Social Justice with Sonya Renee Taylor of The Body is Not An Apology
Writer and activist Sonya Renee Taylor joins us to discuss why we need more radical body love in the world, how to deal with weight gain and weight stigma while learning intuitive eating, what mainstream body positivity gets wrong, why understanding oppression and intersecting id ... Show More
1h 12m
Dec 2014
TMHS 082: Stop Comparing Yourself, Gain True Happiness, And Achieve Body Freedom - With Madelyn Moon
One thing is for certain: you will fall in love in this lifetime. You will be head over heels, you will sacrifice anything, and you will see a beauty that words can't describe. For many of us, we will fall in love many times... But the question is, will you ever fall in love with ... Show More
45m 37s
Sep 2021
How to Accept Your Flaws, SILENCE the Haters, and Love Yourself to the Fullest | Emme
At what age did you become aware of your body? How long after becoming aware of your body did you start to feel shame or embarrassment? When your walking down the street, sitting in a class, at work, or scrolling through social media, everywhere you look, consciously or unconscio ... Show More
45m 59s
Sep 2023
Die Wahrheit über den Fitness-Lifestyle
Die Wahrheit über den Fitness-Lifestyle Freunde der Fitness: Heute gibt es mal wieder eine Folge für euch! Aber auch für alle anderen - denn ich spreche mit der fitnessbegeisterten ITlerin und Instagramerin Ha! Kennt ihr nicht? Dann schaut unbedingt mal bei tiny.fitnamese vorbei. ... Show More
1h 10m
Jun 2020
#242: Anti-Racism Resources, and Repost of #113: How to Cultivate Radical Body Love with Sonya Renee Taylor
Writer and activist Sonya Renee Taylor joins us to discuss why we need more radical body love in the world, how to deal with weight gain and weight stigma while learning intuitive eating, what mainstream body positivity gets wrong, why understanding oppression and intersecting id ... Show More
1h 6m
Dec 2020
SMNTY Book Club: A Beautiful Work in Progress
What does an athlete look like? For this month's book club, Anney and Samantha delve into themes around atleticism, stereotypes, health, running, motivation and the power of support with Mirna Valerio's book A Beautiful Work in Progress. Learn more about your ad-choices at https: ... Show More
41m 30s