Episode 26 – Redefining Runners: Live with Mirna Valerio and the Pansa Boyz

Mirna Valerio and The Pansa Boyz (Tyrone Alomia, Hector Espinal, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Jason Suarez) join the podcast in front of a LIVE audience to discuss how they are redefining what runners look like and creating inclusive communities to inspire all. Mirna Valerio is a native of Brooklyn, NY, a former educator, cross-country coach, ultrarunner, obstacle course enthusiast, and author of the recently published memoir, A Beautiful Work in Progress. Although she began running in high school, she recommitted to the sport after a health scare in 2008. It was then that her love for running and all its attendant benefits were reignited. She soon started her blog Fatgirlrunning, about her experiences as a larger woman in a world of thinner athletes. The Pansa Boyz are Tyrone Alomia, Hector Espinal, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Jason Suarez. Profiled most recently in Men’s Health, the four friends have connected over the positive impact running has had for them. As their profile in Men’s Health notes, “These four guys—who’ve adopted the nickname ‘Pansa Boyz’ (“panza” the word for “belly” in Spanish)—weigh almost a ton combined. Recently, they teamed up to relay both the North Face Endurance 50K Challenge and the Brooklyn Mile, the native New Yorkers aren’t slowing down anytime soon—at least not because of their size.” ------ ❤️ Please consider supporting our work. We want to continue pushing out the podcast on a bi-weekly basis and bring you quality audio for our guests. we're simply asking for you to set aside a few dollars that might go toward a coffee or dollar slice to support our work. In return, we'll do our best to put together exclusive episodes, interviews and maybe some video for those supporters. The NYC running community is awesome and we'd appreciate the assistance: www.patreon.com/runnersofnyc ------ --------- ▶ Follow us: twitter.com/RunnersOfNYC instagram.com/runnersofnyc ▶ Follow Chris twitter.com/ChrisChavez instagram.com/chris_j_chavez www.strava.com/athletes/9032675 ▶ Follow Leigh Anne twitter.com/leighannesharek instagram.com/wicked.la www.strava.com/athletes/10122804 👔Biz Inquiries/Write Us: [email protected]