Our Story – Running in Silence

Author, Speaker, & Advocate

Hear Rachael Steil’s Story

Running in Silence is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Running in Silence is committed to empowering the athletic community to talk about eating disorders so that athletes speak up, seek help, and achieve their potential.

December 16, 2012 was the day Rachael stopped running in silence. It was the day she wrote the first blog post on this website about dealing with anorexia and binge eating as an All-American runner and shared it with the world.

Writing her truth invited others to share their eating disorder experiences. Rachael began to see how many athletes dealt with these issues behind closed doors–in secrecy and in shame–and it made her feel less alone. It also fueled the fire to speak louder about eating disorder experiences and ask, now what?

Now, we share our stories to raise awareness, break down the misconceptions and stigma, and learn what steps to take to help those running in silence.

Now, we create change.

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Athletes Reached

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Coaches Reached

Virtual Talks

Our Goals

Creating an athletic community that meets the needs of athletes physically and mentally to prevent, identify, and encourage recovery of eating disorders.

Give the athletic community (athletic administrations, coaches, parents, teammates, athletes) the tools to better identify eating disorders beyond appearance.
Share athlete eating disorder stories to raise awareness, show the prevalence, and break the misconception that eating disorders are based on appearance.
Give coaches tools to better understand how to properly address eating disorders with their athletes and encourage the creation of a yearly training protocol.
Bridge the gap between the athletic community and health professionals.
Share the eating disorder recovery process to bring hope.

Rachael Steil [“Style”] began this website in December 2012 in the midst of her binge eating disorder, and as a cross country and track runner at Aquinas College. Unable to find many stories about athletes dealing with eating disorders, Rachael decided to blog about her journey in the hopes that it might speak to others running in silence.

Rachael Steil is now the author of Running in Silence, founder of the Running in Silence 501c3 (www.runninginsilence.org), a nationally recognized eating disorder recovery speaker, cross country and track coach, 2010-11 All-American runner, and recipient of the Aquinas College Outstanding Young Alumni award. She has presented at coaching clinics, conferences, schools, and colleges with powerful stories of honesty and hope. Steil has appeared on The Dr. Nandi Show, WGVU’s Family Health Matters, and in Vogue Magazine, U.S. News & World Report, Women’s Running, and has written for Runner’s World and Techniques magazine. Reviewed as a forthright, relatable speaker, Steil offers coaches the tools to help athletes to reach their potential in sport and in life.

Rachael is writing her second book and coaches high school cross country and track.

Contact Rachael

Hear Rachael Steil’s Story

Running in Silence is a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Our Goals

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