tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.comments2024-03-15T06:36:39.655-04:00FAT GIRL RUNNINGAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.comBlogger1432125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-71291200236895831562018-01-15T14:43:06.096-05:002018-01-15T14:43:06.096-05:00I am arriving late to this party but the post remi...I am arriving late to this party but the post reminded me of the first time that I ever went into a running specialty store. I had been training for my first half marathon with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training when plantar fasciatis hit both feet really hard. The TNT Coach suggested a shoe check and referred me to the store. The employee who assisted me was completely exasperated by my presence and told me directly that I was "better suited for a tractor pull than for a half marathon" and wondered where the coach keeps finding "these people". Fortunately for me, the employee said that the store did not carry anything suitable for my needs and referred me to a competing store. The good news is that his attitude did not deter me and I completed my first half marathon and am still running years later. That was a very well-known and respected store in my area and I wondered if the owner knew that this employee was a complete condescending jerk. I did not go back there but have been treated very well at other running stores that have opened in my area since that time. I only wish that I had told that guy that in my opinion, tractor pulling is just as awesome and honorable as distance running!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-37946639929081335112017-12-04T23:37:21.056-05:002017-12-04T23:37:21.056-05:00Mirna, you are an inspiration to me. Fat shaming i...Mirna, you are an inspiration to me. Fat shaming in the fitness world is unfortunately real. I love how you handle to negative and continue doing your thing. At the beginning of this year, I was 380 pounds and couldn't run, at all. After reading your blogs and following your races, you helped inspire me to get back to my goal of trail running. 10 years ago, I had lost 80 pounds and was a police officer. I was able to trail run and enjoyed every minute of it. Unfortunately, I started to rapidly gain weight and couldn't figure out why. It took a year before doctors were able to tell me that I had a tumor on my pituitary gland. The weight gain was out of my control. I had to quit my job and it took until this year for me to be tumor free. In that time frame, I gained 160 pounds. I'm proud to say that in March I found out I was tumor free. I got a personal trainer and started to get serious about getting fit. I'm now down 62 pounds from just diet and exercise. You stories have kept me motivated. I just finished my 2nd 5k this weekend at 318 pounds. I heard comments and saw the looks people gave me, but I just did my thing. Haters are going to hate. Not sure why. But assuming that big people aren't fit is just an ignorance on their part. So many "thin" people couldn't run a 5k or do what we do. So keep doing your thing. Just remember, you are helping to inspire others to get out and believe in themselves and just do it. Thank you for sharing your stories, triumphs and struggles. You are AMAZING!!!! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11280198599784018626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-87128634937714654762017-12-03T13:20:08.809-05:002017-12-03T13:20:08.809-05:00You are amazing ! Here in France, i think there wo...You are amazing ! Here in France, i think there would have much women who should know what you experienced. I think the enemy of the body is not fat but sedentarity. Moving is the best way to simply live your life. Keep on! peon runnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07397320241844817592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-12397921558490478782017-11-25T16:09:49.833-05:002017-11-25T16:09:49.833-05:00You have inspired me to sign up for my first TM he...You have inspired me to sign up for my first TM here in Atlanta October 2018. Scariest thing I've ever done! Kat Walkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-9011165194039675142017-11-15T11:00:22.746-05:002017-11-15T11:00:22.746-05:00Hi,
I just happened to read about the email you g...Hi,<br /><br />I just happened to read about the email you got at school. I just want to say the I admire your tenacity and believe that you are truly a beautiful and amazing person. The hate swirling through our world today is so very sad and disheartening, but after reading your story and your response you clearly have the upper hand over those sad people. You are following your dreams and plans and I wish you all the best!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-41605590003679185472017-10-17T10:03:46.412-04:002017-10-17T10:03:46.412-04:00Thank you so much for this blog. I am doing my fir...Thank you so much for this blog. I am doing my first MCM <br />This Sunday. I am so scared I won't make the time limits. This year there is three at mile 17,20 and 22. You have definitely inspired me. Thank you soooo much!! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00853591836442736233noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-60321408855349148002017-10-15T15:23:42.814-04:002017-10-15T15:23:42.814-04:00Mirna, I saw your video on Facebook recently about...Mirna, I saw your video on Facebook recently about the jackass who emailed you and bashed you during your mountain run. You are an inspiration to me and countless others! I'm 42 and I only started running in June. I had finally got to where I could run 3.2 miles and then 10 days before my first 5k, I injured my knee. I was determined to finish my race, even if I had to crawl across the finish line. My family and I were doing the race in memory of my mother in law who passed away from ovarian cancer two years ago. The race was for ovarian cancer awareness. I saw your video when I was trying to heal my knee enough to get through my race and it gave me the extra push to do it. Thanks to physical therapy and kinetic tape, I was able to finish. I had to walk part of it and I was one of the last ones to finish but I finished! Thank you for being a role model and inspiration to those of us who might not look the most graceful when we're running but we do it anyway!! The fact that you even ATTEMPTED such a grueling feat is amazing in and of itself! Sunshine https://www.blogger.com/profile/09589470320813045994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-90258595298440093842017-10-10T10:20:32.667-04:002017-10-10T10:20:32.667-04:00Good morning Mirna. I just had the opportunity to ...Good morning Mirna. I just had the opportunity to visit your blog. You are so amazing. Your beautiful spirit inspires me to just do it. Whatever that is in my life. I dont know you personally but from what you've shared about yourself, you are very intelligent, strong, courageous and beautiful inside and out. Keep running and keep inspiring others. Thank you.Carolyn Tylernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-4558554892409536262017-09-27T18:09:31.645-04:002017-09-27T18:09:31.645-04:00Mirna - I meant that as a reply to Jules - who com...Mirna - I meant that as a reply to Jules - who commented back in May "looking for info/inspiration" while training for her first marathon! I definitely see that you, personally, have got that under control. I perhaps should have been more specific :)KathrynVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08825064639827755983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-12672497076566420622017-09-27T14:03:05.540-04:002017-09-27T14:03:05.540-04:00Thanks for your message. I'm not sure what iss...Thanks for your message. I'm not sure what issues/post you are responding to, but I do ultramarathons which do require time on your feet and mileage. I don't typically go over 20 miles in my training runs unless I'm using races for training--but then again, if I do a 100K or a 6 day stage race, I need to actually have enough miles and time on my feet. I've done 9 marathons and 9 ultramarathons so far. I still have to tweak my training every time, since every event is vastly different than the next, but I have a pretty good handle on training. Thanks though!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01497168921799270349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-52720496337410289242017-09-27T13:56:10.740-04:002017-09-27T13:56:10.740-04:00Hi there! I know that we are past the point of yo...Hi there! I know that we are past the point of your marathon date by now, and I hope that you were able to make it through! I have so much admiration and respect for older runners; especially ones who have just gotten into the sport at their age. It takes so much strength and courage, and I think it's absolutely beautiful to see!<br /> <br />I do want to respond to the issues you were having, in case it might help in your future life as a runner:<br />It sounds to me like you were doing too much mileage for what your goal was. The vast majority of marathon training plans take you no further than 20mi distance - a couple weeks prior to the marathon - and for a good reason. There is really no need to do a full marathon while training for a marathon. Furthermore, pushing yourself to do those longer runs during training leaves you open to injury - which makes it *less* rather than more likely that you'll succeed at your race when it comes.<br /> <br />What's more important to focus on is time on your feet. Meaning that if you ran every day but only ran for 1-2mi (even at a slow pace!), that time on your feet adds up and it REALLY counts toward your baseline fitness and overall endurance. This approach is much gentler on your body, which amounts to it being more sustainable in the long run. Then, when it comes time to do the longer runs (approaching your marathon date - not over a month before it) you can even run/walk them to prevent injury...because remember! Total time on your feet is what counts, not how fast you clocked each mile.<br /> <br />Even though it may seem like it at the time, it's not a failure to "quit" when you're hurting that badly. We have to have compassion for our own bodies, and the signs you were receiving could have been pushed through...but you run the risk of serious injury. "Try again another day or be out for several weeks with injury?" Phrasing it that way to myself makes it an easy choice to be respectful of my limits.<br /> <br />Last, but not least, you absolutely should be doing this "at your weight"!! <br />At my current status of 5'0" and 135lbs, I'm overweight according to BMI. I have struggled with weight my entire life; having grown up morbidly obese...I have come a long way since then, but I will never be conventionally thin. I've come to realize that the number on the scale doesn't matter, and can even be damaging. My advice to you is to focus on how you feel. Get to where you feel healthy and let your activity be an on-going celebration of your health!<br /><br />This quote helped me (and to this day is on my kitchen calendar):<br />"To become a marathoner, you just have to become a runner. The race is merely the celebration of how healthy you've gotten as a result." - Justin Nyberg<br />That's an oversimplification, I know - but there is a lot of truth to it. Health is the goal, not weight.<br /><br />I hope this helps! You inspire me!!KathrynVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08825064639827755983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-71990767730736853852017-09-27T00:02:35.526-04:002017-09-27T00:02:35.526-04:00There always has to be one dumas in the crowd.There always has to be one dumas in the crowd.remco7https://www.blogger.com/profile/08329337683846891945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-87130575187452724822017-09-26T09:45:56.014-04:002017-09-26T09:45:56.014-04:00Just saw the video of the Black Mountain run on FB...Just saw the video of the Black Mountain run on FB and wanted to say.......GO YOU! And you have inspired me beyond words as a runner, as a musician, and as a healer. I just wanted you to know. Thank you is too shallow an expression for the gratitude I feel. 💜 Cheryl Johnson, not to far from Black Mountain NCAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12676597227941122205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-7468792908059220532017-09-25T17:16:30.553-04:002017-09-25T17:16:30.553-04:00THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING!...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING!! Humans are so so bad at accepting people who break stereotypes, but you are knocking the stereotype down and making it that much easier for the next little girl to look in the mirror and see who she really is and what she really wants to do. With all my heart, thank you. Megan Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00242527802183373548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-65770463651753884252017-09-24T16:23:11.907-04:002017-09-24T16:23:11.907-04:00Hi... Just saw one of your videos on Facebook toda...Hi... Just saw one of your videos on Facebook today, the one where you got the hateful email when running. I am 57 years old and love to run even though I'm not as skinny or as fast as I once was. Just in the last few years I've got back into running and mostly with some other ladies that I met through running. I used to run alone but these ladies have changed it for me and I love it!! Anyway, I know you don't blog often now but just wanted to share a few things with you and didn't know how else to reach you. One funny thing is that I look at your pictures when you are running and think you look amazingly beautiful and strong... I look at my pictures and think "I look fat and like a boy", lol, isn't it sad how critical we can be of ourselves but see the good on others easier? I'm definitely getting better, I did just wear a two piece swimsuit in Mexico for the first time in 30 years! I have about 30 lbs to lose and I might never get there but having fun running and you are an inspiration for me. Thank you.bboop4k4gknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-38779810737791806202017-09-24T16:12:42.702-04:002017-09-24T16:12:42.702-04:00Wow... why do you have to be so mean? Does that ma...Wow... why do you have to be so mean? Does that make your life seem better? MOST runners that I have met are kind and encouraging no matter what size someone is, a few, like you, have a "better then you" attitude. So, you sir are the one we should feel sorry for. bboop4k4gknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-66299049938401130492017-09-24T15:28:16.232-04:002017-09-24T15:28:16.232-04:00I wish I had known about you when I was training t...I wish I had known about you when I was training to box. It was so hard dealing with all the hate and doubts from people. I not only didn't lose weight, I gained fat because of intense 2hr training sessions where I did more than the men because I was "fat". I went into the ring a professional fighter at 295lbs and did 4 rounds without even getting out of breath. It went so fast, I was wishing for 4 more! When I was done training, I had a resting heart rate of 55 and perfect blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. I believe you can be fit and fat because I proved it to myself. Go girl! You are an inspiration!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14311917932204095490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-50053993925058033092017-09-24T00:48:54.743-04:002017-09-24T00:48:54.743-04:00You're my hero! Keep it up!You're my hero! Keep it up!Shannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11095418173883109757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-3222827850975466352017-09-23T18:18:47.619-04:002017-09-23T18:18:47.619-04:00Thank you Mirna <3 For ALL your Awesomeness!Thank you Mirna <3 For ALL your Awesomeness!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06379028563375923198noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-58427225282069714192017-09-22T23:34:13.789-04:002017-09-22T23:34:13.789-04:00You are an AMAZING woman! Keep on doing what you ...You are an AMAZING woman! Keep on doing what you do! ❤️klphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06110318745233812998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-26139973934490241542017-09-22T23:00:18.758-04:002017-09-22T23:00:18.758-04:00Just read read your fabulous book and decided to c...Just read read your fabulous book and decided to check out your blog for the first time. LOVED them both! You are a remarkable writer. <br />I'm a runner. Not fast and never will be. And frankly have been struggling personally with how my body is aging. And I'm only 38. Your writing has been a wake-up call for me to stop bringing myself down and be grateful that I can do what I can. It's a privilege to run. No matter how slowly, or jiggly for that matter. I've forgotten that recently until reading (in two days because I couldn't put it down!) your book. Thank you. I'm reinspired to push myself simply because I can and, to savor the process and the knowledge that I'm right where I'm supposed to be, doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. <br />Best of luck in your future ventures!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-30230424576031917212017-09-22T16:37:52.109-04:002017-09-22T16:37:52.109-04:00I love you! I want to BE you! I too am a curvali...I love you! I want to BE you! I too am a curvalicious girl - and I love being in the woods. I fantasize about trail running - but you inspire me to actually DO it! THANK YOU for you!!amyclare88https://www.blogger.com/profile/04902586718071214952noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-24108699811366339572017-09-22T15:12:34.609-04:002017-09-22T15:12:34.609-04:00I just wanted to say your awesome! and I admire yo...I just wanted to say your awesome! and I admire you!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11342488176449183641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-18696989141809361562017-09-22T01:29:00.781-04:002017-09-22T01:29:00.781-04:00I'm a fat girl who, until this year, had never...I'm a fat girl who, until this year, had never run a day in her life. I just did my first 5k yesterday. Today I saw the short film REI did about you. What am inspiration you are! Thank you for sharing your story. Seeing what you're doing encourages me to keep trying, too push harder, and challenge myself to do more. <br />Lisa from DenverAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5054178117389537894.post-49404922321877023612017-09-20T10:54:07.657-04:002017-09-20T10:54:07.657-04:00Thank you, Mirna! 3 months ago I received a kidney...Thank you, Mirna! 3 months ago I received a kidney transplant and since then I've been trying to decide which sport I wanted to try so I can keep my new kidney. I've always hated running and preferred dancing, however I realize that a team sport isn't for me right now. I just read your book and your story has motivated me to give running a try. I'm about the same age and size as you are, so I will no longer use that as an excuse. <br /><br />I'm leaving this comment as a form of commitment to (once I get Dr's clearance) put one foot in front of the other, instead of crossing them on the couch.<br /><br />Thanks again!! <br /><br />Most Sincerely,<br />Monica J.Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09431418175976285167noreply@blogger.com