Where you live matters to your health. But, it doesn't have to determine what your body and mind are capable of.

The Bronx faces some of New York’s starkest health disparities. Life expectancy is about seven years shorter, type 2 diabetes is roughly twice the national average, and asthma hospitalization rates are about three times higher.

But, statistics don't tell the whole story.

On this episode of Health Under the Hood, Dr. Maria Nichols sits down with Annie Molina, a Bronx-born ultramarathon runner, yoga instructor, and elementary school teacher who has run 33 miles in a single day, completed multiple marathons, hiked 1,000 miles of the Appalachian Trail, and teaches yoga to both kids and adults.

Annie talks candidly about growing up in the Bronx, and how her family’s health history shaped the way she thought about food and wellness. She shares her journey from walking and dancing to running and ultramarathons, and the unexpected role yoga played in helping her navigate depression, body image, and self-doubt.

The conversation goes beyond miles and finish lines to explore the mind-body connection, finding purpose instead of waiting for motivation, challenging the idea of what a runner “looks like,” and why community can sometimes be the spark that helps us change.

Notes:

Follow Annie Molina on:

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Photo credit: Erik Gonzalez – @gokire