TINA MUIR
St. Louis, MO
Specialty:
I used to always say marathons and half marathons, but as I am still in my return postpartum after two babies, I am not really sure what the future looks like. I see some trails in my future.
Tina is a former elite runner who represented Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the World Half Marathon Championships in 2016, but she is most commonly known for quitting professional running shortly after. After not having a period for nine years, Tina was struggling with burnout. She was the first elite runner to openly talk about having amenorrhea (now called RED-S), and her story went viral, helping inspire future runners.
Since then, Tina has founded "Running For Real,” the largest global community of socially engaged runners – people who are willing to contribute and connect positively to the world around them. She also hosts the “Running For Real” Podcast, one of the top running podcasts worldwide, and recently launched “Running Realized Podcast,” which is hosted with Knox Robinson.
Tina tries to use her platforms as a place to speak out about the climate emergency and uplift underrepresented communities and cultures.
Accomplishments:
Becoming a mother to two beautiful children
Running for Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the Half Marathon World Championships
Running 2:36 in a marathon and 1:13 in a half marathon
Founding “Running For Real” and “The Running For Real Podcast” and consistently being recognized as a top podcast
How fast do you think you could run a backwards mile?
What is one of your most memorable non-competition runs?
Running along the Dipsea trail in California in 2019. I had always heard runners saying about how special the trails were, and I felt in that moment, I finally understood what they were saying. It made me wonder, “what if?”
If you had to pick one race or event this year that you anticipate will be your most proud achievement or moment, which one would it be and why? Do you have a special connection?
The launch of the “Running Realized Podcast” on February 22nd, 2021. My co-host, Knox Robinson, and our Producer, Jon Phillips, have put a lot of time, heart, and energy into making this podcast something that changes the running world for the better.
What is your favorite event to watch that you don’t participate in?
4x400m relay
Do you have any quirky running habits?
Not during running as such, but after a run, I immediately remove my socks.
WOULD YOU RATHER:
Eat a slice of pizza mid-race or drink a milkshake?
Pizza.
Run on an empty stomach or a full bladder?
Empty stomach, I have to pee enough as it is.
Do a beer mile or a milk mile?
Ugh. Beer mile.
Run in the freezing cold or the sweltering heat?
How freezing are we talking? Probably the cold.
Be met at the finish line with your favorite beverage or favorite meal?
Meal- A banoffee waffle from the Waffle House (the Waffle House in my hometown in England, NOT the US Waffle House!).
Come across a snake or a rat on your run?
Rat.
Run with a blister on your foot or a cramp in your side?
Cramp in my side. I once got a stress reaction from overloading my shins trying to avoid a blister on my foot.
Give up core work or stretching and still stay injury-free?
Stretching. Strength training is fun.
Run uphill in the first half of your run or the second?
Second half.