Mirna Valerio is a runner, adventurer, speaker, and anti-racism educator. In this Fresh Take interview, Mirna tells us how she fell off the fitness wagon after becoming a mom, how that first mile went once she made herself lace up her running shoes again, and her path to becoming an endurance athlete since then. Even if we’re not all cut out to run 100 kilometers in the desert– or even want to– Mirna tells us why fitness is worth it, and how to reacquaint ourselves with fitness, no matter how long we’ve been out of the game. “I believe in having the long view. Look, I'm still a big girl. I’m going to be a big girl. But my long view, my overarching goal, is long-term health and wellness. What am I doing to put long-term health and wellness in the bank for later? What am I doing today to ensure that I have long-term health and wellness?” We also discuss how we, as women, are entitled to name what we need– and how that well-timed help, especially when we ask for it, is the very thing that will allow us to get back up and keep running. Acknowledge how you're feeling. Give yourself some grace. Start today. Find Mirna on her website: https://themirnavator.com/ and at @themirnavator on Instagram and Twitter Catch Mirna’s winter workout on @thev1ve: https://www.instagram.com/p/CKCGndXj-oS/ and join the Fatgirlrunning group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fatgirlrunning-939724599403584 Here are links to some of the other things we discuss in this episode: Mirna Valerio for Self: Open Letter To Women Who Aren’t Putting Their Needs First https://www.self.com/story/mirna-valerio-open-letter-to-women-who-arent-putting-their-needs-first Kate Martin at Unheard LA: The Rescue https://www.thekatemartin.com/storytelling Caravaggio’s Conversion on the Way to Damascus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conversion_on_the_Way_to_Damascus * Leave us a rating or review in your favorite podcast app! * Join us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/whatfreshhellcast * Instagram: https://instagram.com/whatfreshhellcast * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WhatFreshHellPodcast * Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/whatfreshhellcast * Twitter: https://twitter.com/WFHpodcast * questions and feedback: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices