Mirna Valerio

Mirna Valerio runs around Blackrock Lake in Georgia. In effort to bring body-positive messaging to the world of ultramarathon running, she's faced racism, sexism, and body shaming.

Mirna Valerio (born 1975, sometimes incorrectly cited as ) is an American runner who advocates for inclusion in the running community towards people of all races, sizes, genders, and backgrounds. In her own words, “[she is] good with [her] big body.”

Early life and education Valerio was raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn in New York City. Her father was a Honduran merchant seaman, and her stepfather worked at the laundry facilities of a hospital. At eight years old she discovered her love for the outdoors and hiking while attending summer camp in the Catskill Mountains. Valerio prefers trail running because it forces her to be more present in her mind and body while also connecting with nature. She began documenting her running experiences as a large-bodied woman on her blog, Fat Girl Running, which she started in 2012 when training for her first marathon. She appeared on the cover of Women's Running magazine for their September 2017 issue.

Nichols and Sarah Menzies created a brief video about Valerio with funding from REI called The Mirnavator. "Her writing has been featured in Women’s Running Magazine, Self Magazine Online, Outside Online, and Runner's World Magazine. As a diversity professional for over 11 years, Valerio also works as a motivational speaker and presenter on how diversity, equity, and inclusion pertain to education, the outdoor industry, and fitness.

Personal life She married Cito Nikiema, originally from Burkina Faso, after they met in New York City. She now resides in Montpelier, Vermont with their son while her husband splits his time between there, New York City, and Burkina Faso.