Mirna Valerio runs ultramarathons and weighs 250 pounds

At a running expo inside the small Custom Performance gym in midtown Manhattan, people mill about the tables to chat about training and preparation for the New York City Marathon – but Mirna Valerio is clearly the favorite. Fans have lined up clutching their bright pink books to be signed by the ultrarunner, just days after her memoir was published.

‘Are you writing another book?’ her friend sitting behind the table with her laughs, as Mirna focuses intently on the note she is writing to a fan, as if the woman in front of her is the only person in the room. Mirna has already taken a few minutes on this book and the line in front of her table is growing. Though she laughs along, she stays focused until her note is finished. 

That focus has driven the 42-year-old to run hundreds of miles in marathons, ultramarathons and Tough Mudders – obstacle endurance races. She’s even run a six-day stage race that covered 120 miles in the Rocky Mountains. Though she is clearly exceptional, Mirna is also an unconventional runner, weighing in at around 240-250 pounds.

‘I have no issue acknowledging that I’m a bigger girl,’ the Rabun Gap, Georgia-based teacher tells DailyMail.com after the release of her memoir on October 1. ‘People use different nomenclature for different things and [fat] is the one that I chose. It’s my identity. For as long as I can remember after second grade I’ve been a big girl, but that wasn’t stigmatized in my family, so I’ve always had a sense of self.’

Mirna Valerio, 42, from Rabun Gap, Georgia, is an ultrarunner, which means she runs distances longer than marathons, despite the fact that she weighs about 240 to 250 pounds

Mirna had a health scare in 2008 that inspired her to start running to live a healthier lifestyle. She wrote about her running journey in a memoir, which is based on her blog, Fat Girl Running. She is pictured in March 2013

Mirna had a health scare in 2008 that inspired her to start running to live a healthier lifestyle. She wrote about her running journey in a memoir, which is based on her blog, Fat Girl Running. She is pictured in March 2013

Mirna's memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress, was published on October 1. She is pictured at a book signing at the Custom Performance gym in midtown Manhattan

Mirna’s memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress, was published on October 1. She is pictured at a book signing at the Custom Performance gym in midtown Manhattan

Her memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress, tells the story of her journey to running ultramarathons, based on her blog called Fat Girl Running, which she started in 2009. Despite pushback from her friends and family about the title, Mirna kept it.

‘I named it Fat Girl Running because I am a fat girl and I run,’ says Mirna, who is originally from New York. ‘And I got a lot of flack about it from friends and family. “Well maybe you should, maybe you should title it fit girl running or maybe you should just title it something else, like “Mirna Runs”.

‘I said no. I’m fat and I’m running. And what I’m writing about is my experience as a person who is fat running in a running world, or a fitness world, that is populated with thinner people. So whatever that means, I’m going to write about it.’

Mirna really started posting on her blog in 2011 as she was training for her first marathon and soon, Fat Girl Running became popular, drawing fans and critics alike.

‘It was never my intention to have it go beyond my friends and family, but I guess it did,’ she laughs. ‘It resonated with a lot of people.

‘It resonated with people who had always loved fitness, but maybe they felt some pressure to change their body or to lose weight. Or they just loved running or they just love doing yoga but people always assume that they were doing it to a weight-loss end…and weight loss was part of my story, absolutely. That is one of my truths.

‘But then it became something completely different and deeper and I was okay with that. Some people love that about me, some people didn’t like that I was okay with the way that my body ended up looking like, but I’m still okay with it right now.’

Mirna says: 'People use different nomenclature for different things and [fat] is the one that I chose. It's my identity. For as long as I can remember after second grade I've been a big girl, but that wasn't stigmatized in my family, so I've always had a sense of self.' (Mirna is pictured in the third grade)

Mirna says: ‘People use different nomenclature for different things and [fat] is the one that I chose. It’s my identity. For as long as I can remember after second grade I’ve been a big girl, but that wasn’t stigmatized in my family, so I’ve always had a sense of self.’ (Mirna is pictured in the third grade)

Mirna actually started running when she was in high school to help her prepare for field hockey and lacrosse, but she continued to run through college and even afterwards until she had her son Rashid

Mirna actually started running when she was in high school to help her prepare for field hockey and lacrosse, but she continued to run through college and even afterwards until she had her son Rashid

When her son was about a year and a half in 2004, Mirna stopped running. Her weight rose above 300 pounds and her health started to decline. She was constantly stressed because of work and frequent sickness in her family

When her son was about a year and a half in 2004, Mirna stopped running. Her weight rose above 300 pounds and her health started to decline. She was constantly stressed because of work and frequent sickness in her family

When she was just getting started, Mirna would get a side-eye or a double-take, with the occasional question from other runners at the starting line. But as her blog picked up and she was featured in Runner’s World magazine and on NBC Nightly News in 2015, she started receiving harsher criticism online.

Though she says she rarely gets direct messages on her blog or social media accounts, someone sent her a written rant to her work email in May this year. She got the email while she was running the Black Mountain Monster 12-hour Ultra in North Carolina and she saw it during the race as she was going to take a picture with her phone.

‘You are a liar and a fraud,’ the man, who used the name Joshua Strode, wrote. ‘F*** you! You are not a runner. You have never once revealed any actual time completions of these so called marathons you run. I have seen your few videos where you actually pretend to run. What a joke! You are moving no faster than what I can walk. You expect people to actually be stupid enough to believe this sh**. A true professional runner is not overweight which is what you are. A person who runs marathons for a living is not overweight which is what you are. F*** you! You want to further fat acceptance and people kill themselves in your perverse idea of beauty. F*** you!’ 

As she talks about the email, her voice is steady and the laughter that is prevalent throughout the rest of her conversation dies down momentarily.

‘That was probably the worst thing that I had seen with my own eyes,’ she says.’It was so shocking and I was stunned to have received something like that. It was painful. Something like that causes emotional pain, even – I am very thick-skinned. I’m very – I try to be positive. 

‘I’m a New Yorker, so I can deal with criticism, I can deal with feedback, but this was not criticism or feedback. It was just an insult aimed at hurting me. And I definitely felt that. I definitely felt that intention… But I know who I am and I know what I do… So while it hurt, I knew better than to let that hamper my progress.’

In 2008 Mirna had a health scare, where she thought she was having a heart attack but it turned out to be a panic attack. When she saw a cardiologist, he told her that if she wanted to see her son Rashid grow up, she would have to change her lifestyle 

In 2008 Mirna had a health scare, where she thought she was having a heart attack but it turned out to be a panic attack. When she saw a cardiologist, he told her that if she wanted to see her son Rashid grow up, she would have to change her lifestyle 

After that doctor's appointment, Mirna started to run and hasn't stopped since. She started out by running in 5K races and within the first three years of her running, Mirna lost 65 pounds. She is pictured at a 5K in 2009 

After that doctor’s appointment, Mirna started to run and hasn’t stopped since. She started out by running in 5K races and within the first three years of her running, Mirna lost 65 pounds. She is pictured at a 5K in 2009 

She adds: ‘People are going to criticize me and I will have to deal with trolls. I am prepared for that. That doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt when it does happen, but I’m prepared for that. I know there are people out there who believe that I’m not doing what I say that I do or there’s no way that a person in my body could do this. I’m out there and I know I’m out there doing it, so you know, I don’t have any self-doubt.’

Mirna is also supported by the close-knit running community who backs her whenever someone does decide to say something rude to Mirna.

‘The amazing thing is that the entire community rallies and people start going at them, going at trolls, going at people who really just don’t understand and who keep trying to promote whatever stereotypes they have in their mind, whatever kind of puny notions that they have that they cannot shake or whatever cognizant dissonance that they can’t handle.

‘People engage them. I don’t always engage them,’ she chuckles. ‘I engage the big ones.’ 

‘I do think you need to confront trolls,’ she says. ‘It’s not confronting, really, individual people. It’s confronting these ideas that certain types of people can’t be athletes or certain types of people can’t be runners.

‘It’s really not a personal attack, it’s attacking the idea and attacking the actual insult. I do think people should confront them. You know, that’s not engaging every single troll because you’re going to waste your time, but I think if you don’t confront when people are negative or people are hurling insults or spreading erroneous information about you, then the world will continue being this stymied place. 

In 2011 Mirna ran her first marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC (she is pictured during the marathon)

In 2011 Mirna ran her first marathon, the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC (she is pictured during the marathon)

After that first marathon in 2011 (pictured), Mirna started running long distance races, including ultramarathons

After that first marathon in 2011 (pictured), Mirna started running long distance races, including ultramarathons

Mirna actually started running when she was a freshman in high school in 1989. She had just started at a boarding school in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and went to try out for the field hockey team.

‘I was new to sports in general and to physical activity that did not include PE classes in school,’ she chuckles. Though it was an incredibly difficult tryout, with running laps and suicides and timed miles, she decided to stay.

‘There was so much running involved and that was the thing that I needed to do better at and so I woke up the next morning with a friend and we started this routine of running in the morning a couple of days a week and I grew to love it… It felt good. Maybe not in the moment, but afterwards it would really set the tone for my day.’

She continued to run recreationally as she played field hockey and lacrosse throughout her high school years. Even in college and after she graduated, she kept running.

But by the time her son Rashid, now 14, was a year and a half old, Mirna had taken a break. Her health started to decline and her weight reached past 300 pounds because of stress and frequent sickness in her family.

When she was in high school at a boarding school upstate, Mirna also enrolled in the Juilliard Pre-College Division, which prepares young students to study music. She is pictured at a recital

When she was in high school at a boarding school upstate, Mirna also enrolled in the Juilliard Pre-College Division, which prepares young students to study music. She is pictured at a recital

Mirna went to The Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Ohio, where she studied vocal performance and Spanish

Mirna went to The Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Ohio, where she studied vocal performance and Spanish

Mirna met her husband Cito Nikiema (pictured) in 1999 in New York City. He is from Burkina Faso in West Africa and together they have a son, Rashid, who is now 14

Mirna met her husband Cito Nikiema (pictured) in 1999 in New York City. He is from Burkina Faso in West Africa and together they have a son, Rashid, who is now 14

Mirna was driving one day in 2008 when she felt sharp pains in her chest and thought she was having a heart attack. She drove home and called a friend, who came and took her to the ER, where they determined she was actually having a panic attack. After more tests, she saw a cardiologist who told her she needed to drastically change her lifestyle if she wanted to see her then five-year-old son grow up.

‘After being told that I immediately recommitted to health and fitness and running was the thing that got me right back on track,’ she says. ‘So that’s how I started back running and that became, I needed a goal, so I signed up for a 5k and then I signed up for another one and continued to regain health and fitness and wellness in general through running.’

The first summer after she decided she was going to recommit to her own health, she lost about 37 pounds and continued to lose weight for the next few years, losing a total of about 65 pounds by 2011.

‘Then it plateaued, but when it plateaued, I felt great. I felt like I had been in the best health of my life. And so that’s where my body has been.’

After about three years where she lost 65 pounds, Mirna's weight plateaued at around 240 to 250 pounds. She says: 'When it plateaued, I felt great. I felt like I had been in the best health of my life. And so that's where my body has been.' She is pictured at a 5K in 2009 with her son Rashid

After about three years where she lost 65 pounds, Mirna’s weight plateaued at around 240 to 250 pounds. She says: ‘When it plateaued, I felt great. I felt like I had been in the best health of my life. And so that’s where my body has been.’ She is pictured at a 5K in 2009 with her son Rashid

In August, Mirna ran the TransRockies Run, which is a six-day stage race that covers 120 miles through the Rocky Mountains. Though she wasn't able to finish all of the stages, she says it is her greatest accomplishment to date. Mirna is pictured at the Finger Lake 50s 25K in July 2013

In August, Mirna ran the TransRockies Run, which is a six-day stage race that covers 120 miles through the Rocky Mountains. Though she wasn’t able to finish all of the stages, she says it is her greatest accomplishment to date. Mirna is pictured at the Finger Lake 50s 25K in July 2013

Despite the fact that she stopped losing weight, Mirna continued to increase her mileage from those first 5Ks. Besides several other races this year, she ran The TransRockies Run in August, a six-day, 120-mile stage race through the Rocky Mountains. She says it is her greatest accomplishment, despite the fact that she wasn’t able to finish all of the stages.

‘It was definitely the hardest thing that I’ve ever done in my life,’ she says. Despite the fact that she suffered from altitude sickness on four of the six days, Mirna started every stage each morning and ran a total of 72 miles during the week.

‘I tried to do it in a smart way and stopped when I needed to, but that was definitely – it really took its toll on my body. I’m still recovering. Mostly mentally,’ she laughs. ‘It really took a lot out of me, but I’m super, super proud that I even went out and tried. I immediately signed up again for next year because, you know, if there’s a challenge, if somebody presents a challenge to me, I’m going to keep going at it until I get it.’

Running is a part of almost everything Mirna does. Most days she wakes up around 4.30am so she can run an hour later for 30 to 45 minutes and on weekends when she’s not in a race, she’ll do long runs. Mirna is endorsed by Merrell, Skirt Sports and Swiftwick and she’s even the cross country head coach at the boarding school where she has been teaching since 2013.

She’s even used running as a form of ‘punishment’ for her son when he was playing his video games when he wasn’t supposed to be.

The first time it happened, Mirna gave him two options: deep clean all the bathrooms in the house or to run ten miles with her. He chose to run. The second time she took the video games away and sent him to the trails to run by himself. 

‘I just thought that was really cool. I was like, you think you’re being punished but you’re actually doing this great thing.’

And it must have worked because Rashid just joined the cross country team this year.

‘I think he’s actually enjoying it, although he would never admit it to me,’ she laughs. ‘Every day that I see him on the team, I’m surprised.’

Mirna is a teacher at a boarding school in northeast Georgia and is also the cross country head coach there as well. She is also endorsed by Merrell, Skirt Sports and Swiftwick. She is pictured in 2012

Mirna is a teacher at a boarding school in northeast Georgia and is also the cross country head coach there as well. She is also endorsed by Merrell, Skirt Sports and Swiftwick. She is pictured in 2012

Almost every morning, Mirna wakes up around 4.30am to start her day. By 5.30am, she is out the door to run 30 to 45 minutes. Mirna is pictured at the DoubleTop 100 50K in Chatsworth, Georgia in 2015

Almost every morning, Mirna wakes up around 4.30am to start her day. By 5.30am, she is out the door to run 30 to 45 minutes. Mirna is pictured at the DoubleTop 100 50K in Chatsworth, Georgia in 2015

Mirna says: Everything just seems right when I'm moving my body in that way. Sometimes it's painful. Sometimes I'm too tired, but I never ever, ever regret a run. Even when I broke my ankle, I didn't even regret that run. The connection that I feel with my body when I'm moving it in that way is incredible. And I don't get that from a lot of other activities. I think running chose me'

Mirna says: Everything just seems right when I’m moving my body in that way. Sometimes it’s painful. Sometimes I’m too tired, but I never ever, ever regret a run. Even when I broke my ankle, I didn’t even regret that run. The connection that I feel with my body when I’m moving it in that way is incredible. And I don’t get that from a lot of other activities. I think running chose me’

In 2013, Mirna and Rashid moved to Rabun Gap from New Jersey so she could teach Spanish at the boarding school. As a Brooklyn native who had lived in the Northeast her whole life, Mirna never thought she would move somewhere like northeast Georgia.

‘It still surprises me that I’m still down there,’ she chuckles. ‘But the person who kind of convinced me to even look at the school, this is how he convinced me. He said: “There are mountains. There are lots of trails and your son can go to school for free”. So I went down for an interview and I fell in love with the school, I fell in love with the mountains.’

Her husband Cito Nikiema, however, did not want to move to the South as a tall, black immigrant from Burkina Faso in West Africa, Mirna says. He wouldn’t have an African community near him in the rural area of northeast Georgia and he wanted to focus on his business, so after Mirna and Rashid moved to Rabun Gap, Cito moved back to West Africa.

The couple have remained married despite the physical separation, though Mirna admits her husband doesn’t really understand why she loves running so much.

‘There’s so many things I love about running. One of them is that it’s so simple,’ she says. ‘In its simplest form, I put on a pair of sneakers and some shorts and a shirt and I go out and run and move my body. Other than walking, it’s the simplest form of human movement and I think that’s what I love about it, is simplicity.

‘I also love how it makes me feel… Everything just seems right when I’m moving my body in that way. Sometimes it’s painful. Sometimes I’m too tired, but I never ever, ever regret a run. Even when I broke my ankle, I didn’t even regret that run. The connection that I feel with my body when I’m moving it in that way is incredible. And I don’t get that from a lot of other activities. I think running chose me,’ she laughs.

But as she listens to fan after fan and signs book after book with care for every word she writes at the small expo in midtown Manhattan, it’s clear Mirna’s passion for running goes beyond just feeling good or staying healthy for herself. It’s a love she wants to pass on to others.

‘I have this huge platform for spreading positivity and enthusiasm for movement, enthusiasm for life. And that is a real honor for me and if that’s my job, then I’m going to keep doing it.’ 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk