People See This Woman as a "Fat Girl Running," and She's OK With That

Slim, fast, muscular, thin. That's what most people think of when they think of a runner, especially one who runs marathons. But Mirna Valerio, an accomplished distance runner and Fat Girl Running blogger, said, "I'm none of those," and she's OK with that. She's on a mission to challenge that typical runner stereotype and remove the negative connotations from the word "fat."

When most people look at her, they wouldn't think she was an ultramarathoner - her longest distance is 35 miles straight! - but she wants people to know that being fit doesn't have to mean a specific weight, body type, or shape. What's important is to challenge yourself and to find out what your body is capable of, not what it looks like doing it. Mirna said, "I love my body. And I have learned that the more I love my body, the more I love myself, the happier I am, the more healthy I am, whether that's in physical health, or emotional health, or mental health. When I love myself, I'm a better person."

from POPSUGAR Fitness http://ift.tt/1Mm3qVj