- People think fat people never get off the couch

and people think that fat people sit around eating all day.

My mission is to challenge people's assumptions

about fat people.

(gentle piano music)

I'm Mirna Valerio, and I'm a runner.

I've been running long distance for about eight years.

I've done nine marathons and 10 ultra-marathons

with my longest being 100K.

Traditionally, trail races and other outdoor events

have not always been welcoming to people like me.

I'm black, I'm a woman, and I'm fat.

When I go to a race, I know I'm breaking the mold.

It's still very white and very male.

So I know going in that I'm going to be different.

(soft piano music)

10 years ago I lived a very stressful life,

and so that took a huge toll on my health.

I consulted with a doctor who told me

that I needed to change my lifestyle pretty drastically

if I wanted to see my son grow up, so I did.

I'd had some experiences with people

always making the assumption that whatever I was doing

it was for weight loss.

After a couple of years,

it was not a weight loss thing anymore;

it's about fitness.

Running makes me feel like

my most human self.

My first mile was pretty awful.

It was painful, it was slow.

When I'm feeling like this is really too difficult,

I know that in the end I'm doing it for a reason.

There's always a larger reason.

The end goal not always only being to finish,

but the more important thing is that I'm out there

because sometimes I come in last.

It's amazing to me how many messages I get

on a daily basis saying,

"Thank you for being you,

"thank you for living in your own space

"and taking up space, and not being afraid to do that

"because that has allowed me to do that."

I'm gonna continue doing it because I think

people still need to see me.

(dramatic music)

(chime dings)