Danielle Burnett is a runner pushing herself and her community to embrace their bodies, realize their strength, and stride through space with confidence. As the founder of Big Girls Who Run, she’s on a mission to cultivate community on the foundation of courage — to move on their own terms and at their own pace.

Why was it important to start Big Girls Who Run?

It was important for me to start Big Girls Who Run because I didn't see any run clubs in the space that reflected my pace or my size. I never saw anybody that looked like me running, but having a community around me has made the sport just so much more special.

We’re all looking for these groups to feel supported and to feel seen and to have the actual community element in our lives. I wanted to create that for other people.

So even though it's hard, I think that the end result —just truly feeling good — is worth it. I know that the hard thing is going to make me happier because it makes me feel good.

Running can feel really hard... how do you find joy in a practice that sometimes feels anything but joyful?


When I run, I show up for myself. I think it allows me to just feel better in my body constantly.

I feel like people are insecure about running slow...and being seen running slow, and they comparing themselves to other people. But when I slow down, I have way more fun. It's just like a easy flow, outside, steady pace, just vibing.

So even though it's hard, I think that the end result —just truly feeling good — is worth it. I know that the hard thing is going to make me happier because it makes me feel good.

How does moving in such closeness with your surroundings and your community help you find your own rhythm?


When I'm running, I'm really aware of everything around me, and really present in my body.

Obviously I’m moving faster because I'm physically running, but I think running actually makes me slow down. When I'm running in my neighborhood, I notice the seasons change. I notice spring happening, flowers blooming — I see nature actually change in front of me and I’m aware of it. It just feels really connected.

Talk to us about a time where slowing down actually helps you move forward. What did you learn from that?


I think in the beginning, I was comparing myself to a lot of other runners. I was noticing that my pace was slow, that I'm slow, and I was just kind of getting down on myself. And I think that what I realized through this process, and through talking with other runners, is that it's not about your pace. Like your pace truly doesn't matter.

It's about the fact that you're getting outside and you're moving and you're pushing yourself to do something that you never thought you could do.

I'm about to run my first half marathon in a couple weeks, and the progress that I've made with running by just being easy on myself has been really, really cool to see.

How does running empower you to seek beyond?

I think running empowers me to seek beyond because it allows me to push myself in the way that I wanna push myself — not by looking at a scale or looking in a mirror or looking at the size on a piece of clothing, but by seeing how far or long I can run.

It gives me challenges that aren't based on societal expectations of women.