My Story is Your Story
Running in Silence is not just my story. It’s a peek into thousands of stories. I share my journey not to highlight just what happened to me, but to reveal a perspective of fear, darkness, and chaos that either mirrors or closely reflects a community of women and men, thin and larger bodies.
Book Breakdown Before Publication
When I first received the PDF version of Running in Silence, I was in awe of the layout (props to Koehler Books!). But this soon turned into somewhat of a horror film as I began to make a final round of SMALL EDITS/CORRECTIONS (emphasis, my publisher). Thoughts: It’s almost a book! So many things to fix […]
Guest Post With Megan Flanagan of Strong Runner Chicks: The Dark Side of Distance Running
I met Megan Flanagan through social media thanks to our interest in preventing eating disorders in the running world. With a similar mission of speaking about the topic, and encouraging those who struggle to speak up. I am excited to work with Megan in the near future, and I’m especially excited to share what she’s doing […]
Lauren Fleshman: Eating Disorders in the Running World
Life has been busy. Not only have I started a Running in Silence YouTube channel, but I’ve also been scheduled for numerous speaking engagements, one of which I most recently completed this past Saturday with Yoga For a Cause. As for the YouTube videos, it’s been a lot of trial and error. There have been numerous many […]
Race Against the Stigma of Mental Illness: Interview with Suzy Favor Hamilton
Suzy Favor Hamilton–US Junior Record holder in the 1500m; three-time national junior champion in high school; winner of nine NCAA Titles, 32 Big-Ten Championships, and seven USA National titles; American Record holder and a three-time Olympian. And back in 2012, outted as a high-end escort in Las Vegas. As the Olympic “sweetheart” of track and field, many […]
A Runner’s Life Without Running in Eating Disorder Recovery
I will always miss running. I will always remember what it felt like to fly over the grass of a cross country course or pick up speed around the final curve of the track. I also know that when I ran that fast, it was the only area of my life that brought me happiness. […]
When Loved Ones Can’t Understand Your Eating Disorder
Trigger warning: eating disorder behaviors mentioned. Post updated 3/5/21 to reduce triggers and update the writing because I am still a perfectionist. 🙂 “How can you physically keep stuffing in more and more food?” my dad asked one night. “I mean, I get to the point where enough is enough in one meal.” My […]
Today, I Graduate
This post was updated 3/2/2021 to improve the writing and readability. I’m still a bit of a perfectionist. 🙂 I entered college anticipating a chance to start over. It was a chance to bring out the person I had always felt had been trapped inside. I left high school as a depressed, eating-disordered, running-consumed, […]
Rachael Recovered? Phases of the Eating Disorder and Where I Am Now
TRIGGER WARNING: Eating disorder behaviors mentioned. When I talk about my past eating disorder behaviors, the past Rachael I speak of seems so different from the Rachael I know now. When I write it all out as I’ve done here, it becomes clearer than ever. Restriction (2 years) 7 a.m.: Wakeup, and the first thing you […]
10 Life Lessons I’ve Learned in Eating Disorder Recovery
The more I’ve explored what it means to live outside of perfection, the more I’ve realized how much joy I have denied myself. Worry and guilt were the two feelings holding me down, and courage was what allowed me to stop making myself my own worst enemy. Thus, I’ve realized ten things: