7 minute read
Tina Muir
Q. Thanks for interviewing with us. Tell everyone who you are and what you do?
A. My name is Tina Muir, I am the founder and CEO of Running For Real, the largest global community of runners contributing and connecting positively to the world around them. I am a mother of two and former international runner for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. I host the Running For Real Podcast, which has amassed over 5 million downloads and Running Realized, noted as “The ‘Invisibilia’ of running” by Women’s Running.
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Q. How was your experience being in the “Be You” book?
A. I have always loved Chicken Soup For The Soul books, and one of my biggest passions are helping people to see that they are perfectly imperfect just as they are, so this was an ideal match for me. I loved being able to share my story, knowing it would help others to recognize and embrace their own journey.
Q. Let’s talk about “Running for Real” & the motivation behind it?
A. It initially started as a place for people, primarily people who like to run to share their struggles, to celebrate the highs, but also work
Photo by: Nicky Hayes
through the lows. So much of what we see in social media and online is about how great everything is going, the highlight reel of everyone’s lives. I wanted to provide a place where runners could show all the stages of their journey and connect with others doing the same. Since then, it has evolved slightly by putting advocacy and inclusivity as a fundamental core. We want to provide a place where runners can have conversations about what it means to feel welcomed, to belong somewhere. We know the running culture has a long way to go but Running For Real helps to take us a few steps closer to the place we believe it can be.
Q. Where do you see yourself in the next three years?
A. Three years is a tough number to think about! I would love for the community to be thriving and strong, a place for growth, compassion, and love. I hope we have events all over the world, held by other runners, bringing together those who have a passion for running, but also want to contribute positively to the world. Beyond that, I don’t know, after so many years as a professional runner having goals dictate my life, I like letting the path unfold before me, let’s see what happens!
Q. Let’s also talk about your podcast & how it got started?
A. The Running For Real Podcast started in 2017 as a place for runners to share those highs and lows together, to see that elite athletes, inspirational people, and even medical professionals still make mistakes, still struggle with doubt and fear, still have hard days. I pride myself on asking unique and challenging questions to my guests, even if, like Malcolm Gladwell, they have been interviewed hundreds, if not thousands, of times.
Running Realized launched in 2020, and this podcast came about after discussing running culture with my friends, Knox Robinson and Jon Phillips. We wanted to create a place to expose runners to new people, who have a different world view to the one they do, but do it in a highly produced, NPR style way, where it enjoyable to listen to for the extras too. With each episode we wanted a few takeaways for listeners to act.
Photo by: South Bay Photography
Photo by: Sandy Guiterrez Photo by: Altra
Photo by: Sandy Guiterrez
So often we are told we need to do something, but either not told what to do or told something that is too big for us as an individual to do. We hope this show filled that gap.
Q. What has been one of your biggest challenges so far in your career?
A. In 2017 I quit running at the peak of my career. I had to make the decision to step away from the sport as I was getting to a point where I despised it, and my body was in a bad place from years of restrictive eating. At that moment, I was very much in the mindset (as are a lot of professional athletes, although changing now) that we don’t quit. No matter what. We are tough and strong and gritty, so that means never quitting. Having to run a personal best time in the marathon a few months prior, quitting felt like such a big risk. Was I throwing away my talent and career? But I knew in my heart it was the right thing to do…and it was!
Q. How did motherhood change your approach to running?
A. I remember in my first race back after having my first daughter I ran the Disney World Half Marathon. In the hour before the race, I left my daughter with my dad, and spent a lot of the time before the race began wondering if she was okay, would she be crying? Would he be able to find me at the end? What if she was melting down? Questions flooded my mind. I was able to focus, and then ended up winning the race. A few minutes after I finished, I found my dad and Bailey, we were invited into a VIP tent where I would be interviewed by the local media.
Photo by: Sandy Guiterrez
Q. Are you working on any new events or upcoming marathons?
When we got in there though, Bailey had no care for me or my race, she was hungry, she wanted food. It was a strong reminder that life was different now. Before my running controlled the lives of everyone around me. Every element of my life was perfectly controlled from the meal the night before having to be an exact food I wanted (versus fish tacos which was “good enough” at Disney) to removing all stress before the race and doing as I pleased after. Rather than seeing it as a burden, I welcomed the change. It took the pressure off and reminded me that at the end of the day, running is just running. What really matters is the good I put into the world, through raising my girls to be strong women, and helping runners in the community to feel seen and recognized. My running was one part of my life, but giving back was so much more rewarding.
Q. What has been your most memorable run/marathon?
A. The London marathon 2015 was special to me. Having grown up 20 miles outside of London, I considered it my hometown marathon, and I had spectated many times before, dreaming of someday doing it. I had friends and family all over the course, which was an incredible thing to have (especially living in the US, I rarely had that opportunity), and the famous sights of London all around was cool too, but that was not what made the race special. The other marathons I had done to that point had been so focused on time. I gripped so tightly to the time I wanted to run that I hadn’t enjoyed the races at all. I hadn’t looked around or looked up, only forward. This race I was finally able to remember that while I run to challenge myself and be my best, I also do it because I enjoy it. If you look at photos of that race, I was smiling most the way round. I really enjoyed myself (and ran fast too!)
Photo by: South Bay Photography
A. I am racing The New York City Marathon on November 7th and running my first 50k two weeks later at the Golden Gate Classic in the Bay area. I am excited to be a part of those, especially as my relationship with running has become even more healthy and satisfying since my second daughter, but also really enjoying work for Running For Real too. We have lots planned for 2022 and would love to see you there!
Q. Where can the readers follow you?
A. Runningforreal.com has everything you could need I am @tinamuir88 on Instagram @ tinamuir on twitter And you can join our running community on Facebook at tinamuir.com/superstars
