Speaking Events for Coaches, Athletes, Parents
Eating Disorders in Sports Speaker
A Running in Silence keynote and/or workshop with author and high school coach Rachael Steil turns a difficult, often misunderstood mental health topic into an engaging conversation.
With relatable stories to illustrate key takeaways, audiences walk away determined to address eating disorders and inspired to speak up for themselves or others. In turn, athletes are more likely to reach their potential in sport and in life.
For a mental health issue that is widely prevalent (about 1 in 8 of all athletes struggle), this is something that every school, sports staff, and athlete should feel ready to talk about and address.
Fueled by Community Support
From high school teams to local businesses, we are grateful for the partners championing our mission to break the silence.
For Athletes
Rachael takes on a difficult topic with hopeful, relatable stories to illustrate key points. Her detail of the recovery process and how athletes can recognize struggles in themselves or teammates will inspire many to speak up or support those around them so that they can achieve success in sports and beyond.
For Coaches/Athletic Staff
As an All-American runner and high school cross country and track coach, Rachael shares her experience with an eating disorder to help coaches recognize possible disordered eating, confidently address an athlete who could be struggling, and understand their role in the recovery process so that athletes can reach their potential in sports and in life.
For Therapists, Dietitians, Counselors
Rachael shares her anorexia, binge eating, and bulimia experiences as a runner, the lure of macronutrient diets disguised as “lifestyles”, why eating disorders may appear differently in athletes and what makes it difficult for an athlete to recover, and an in-depth look into what did and did not work in her recovery.
Past Events
2026
Jan 12
Kalamazoo College
Sponsored in part by Pasadena Villa
Jan 17
GATFCCCA
Feb 23
University of Central Florida
March 21
Empower Her
March 24
Aquinas College
April 12
Tennessee Athletic Director Conference
2025
January 24
Ohio Track & Field Clinic
Sponsored in part by Anonymous Donor
January 25
Michigan Volleyball Clinic
Sponsored in part by Anonymous Donor
February 22
Women’s Sports & Health Expo
February 27
Aquinas College Coaching Course
Sponsored in part by Dr. Sheri McCormack
April 10
Otterbein University
May 14
Grand Haven High School
Sponsored in part by Dr. Sheri McCormack
July 24
Wyoming Coaches Association
August 21
Virtual Presentation by Elise Elliot (Running in Silence summer intern)
Sponsored by The McAleenan Family and the Trillium Foundation
September 9
Virtual Presentation to North Carolina Athletic Directors
Sponsored by Dr. Sheri McCormack
November 4
MAHPERD 2-hour workshop
Sponsored in part by Anonymous Donor
November 10
Boston University
Sponsored in part by Anonymous Donor
November 20
Boston University classroom (virtual)
2024
January 13
Georgia TF/XC Coaching Clinic
January 17
University of Michigan coaches & students
January 20
Washington TF/XC Coaching Clinic
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
February 2
Indiana TF/XC Coaching Clinic
March 15-16
Massachusetts TF/XC Coaching Clinic
March 18
Aquinas College Coaching Class (MI)
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
March 24
Iowa Athletic Director Conference
March 29
Vermont SHAPE Conference
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
June 20
Arkansas Coaching Conference
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
June 24
NDHSCA-NHSACA National Convention (North Dakota)
July 23
South Carolina Sports Clinic
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
July 31-Aug 1
Montana All-Sports Clinic
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
Sep 5
American Swim Coaches Association World Clinic
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
Sep 16
Whitefield Academy
Educate, Heal, Empower
Oct 2
Grand Haven High School
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
Oct 7
Northwood University
Nov 4-5
SHAPE Nebraska
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
Nov 8
SHAPE Pennsylvania
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
Nov 18
National High School Athletic Coaches Association Webinar
Underwritten by Anonymous Donor
2023
November 30
Northwood University (MI)
November 16
Endicott College (MA)
November 15
University of Massachusetts Amherst
November 13
Wheaton College (MA)
November 9
Boston University (MA)
November 7
Keynote for the Massachusetts Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Convention
October
Podcast: Bound for Greatness with Scott Garvis
August 3
Saline High School (Friends of Saline Cross Country)
July 25
Nebraska High School Coaches Association Clinic
(Underwritten in part by Anonymous Donor)
July 19
North Carolina Coaches Association Clinic
(Underwritten in part by Anonymous Donor)
March 8
Amy’s Gift Quad Cities – Eating Disorders in Athletes (IA)
March 6
Naperville North High School
February 28
Women in Sports Leadership (virtual)
(Underwritten by Sheri McCormack)
February 22
Truman State University (MO)
(Underwritten by Sheri McCormack)
February 4
Colorado Track Coaching Clinic
(Underwritten by Christine Wheeler Foundation)
January 6
Florida Athletic Coaches Association Clinic
(Underwritten in part by Christine Wheeler Foundation)
2022
December 9, 2022
Missouri Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Clinic
(Underwritten in part by Sarah DeGraff fundraiser)
November 11, 2022
Michigan Track and Cross Country Coaches Association Clinic
(Underwritten in part by Maggie Farrell fundraiser)
November 7, 2022
She Coaches Conference (Ames, IA)
(Underwritten in part by Greg McAleenan)
September 19, 2022
Coaching Distance virtual talk
(Underwritten in part by Maggie Farrell fundraiser)
July 26, 2022
New Mexico Coaching Clinic
June 24, 2022
IAEDP Webinar: Treating Eating Disorders in Athletes // with Adee Levinstein (MS, RD, CSSD, LD, CEDS-S) and Amy Gooding (PsyD)
(Underwritten by Maggie Farrell Marathon Fundraiser)
June 8, 2022
Cross Country Coaches Association of Texas Clinic
(Underwritten in part by Maggie Farrell Marathon Fundraiser)
May 13, 2022
Eating Recovery Center Webinar: Treating Eating Disorders in Athletes // with Adee Levinstein (MS, RD, CSSD, LD, CEDS-S) and Amy Gooding (PsyD)
(Underwritten by Maggie Farrell Marathon Fundraiser)
May 10, 2022
United Podcast Interview (Hilinksi’s Hope)
March 20, 2022
University of Iowa
March 1, 2022
Johnston High School
February 28, 2022
Iowa State University
February 26, 2022
Eating Disorder Coalition of Iowa (Keynote Speaker at Caregiver Event in Des Moines, IA)
Article: A Joyful Movement Message from Rachael Steil
February 25, 2022
Iowa Volleyball Coaches Clinic
February 18, 2022
Featured on The Hidden Opponent
February 3, 2022
Wisconsin Track Coaches Association Women4Women
(Underwritten in part by Sheri McCormack)
January 10, 2022
Article: “No Longer Running in Silence: Former MSU Athlete Opens Up About Eating Disorder”
2021
December 15, 2021
USTFCCCA Convention (Orlando, FL)
(underwritten in part by John Wheeler)
November 10, 2021
Article in Techniques: Eating Disorders: A Problem Bigger Than “Thin Runners”
November 2, 2021
Project Heal of University of Michigan
(underwritten in part by John Wheeler)
September 14, 2021
Mention in Dyestat: What Coaches Need to Know About Eating (Elizabeth Carey)
August 27, 2021
Eating Recovery Center & Pathlight Foundation Conference
August 11, 2021
Women’s Running Coaches Collective
(underwritten by John Wheeler)
August 9, 2021
Minnesota cross country coaches clinic
February 26, 2021
University of Central Oklahoma (virtual)
February 24, 2021
Edgewood College Athletics (virtual)
March 3, 2021
Running Issues: Eating Disorder Myths
February 26, 2021
University of Central Oklahoma
February 24, 2021
Edgewood Athletics
February 18, 2021
RACHAEL STEIL ON NOT BEING AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP (Lafontaine Nutrition article)
February 1, 2021
Mental Note Podcast: Perfectionism and Running
January 5, 2021
Social Sport Podcast, Episode 44: Rachael Steil on Breaking Misconceptions on Eating Disorders in Running
2020
July 8, 2020
Virtual presentation with HOPE’s Eating Disorder Awareness
(underwritten in part by John Wheeler)
May 21, 2020
Virtual presentation to Auburn XC/Track & Field
(underwritten by John Wheeler)
February 26-27, 2020
Hope’s Eating Disorder Support (London, ON)
February 17, 2020
Women in Sports Leadership Conference (Lansing, MI)
(underwritten in part by John Wheeler)
February 6, 2020
Article: Running in Harmony: How to Tackle Food and Body Issues led by Melody Fairchild and Elizabeth Carey
January 17, 2020
Grandville High School Women’s Athletic and Leadership Club (Private Event)
2019
November 19, 2019
Runner’s World: Coaches Need to Be at the Front Line of Addressing Disordered Eating in Runners
November 15, 2019
“Running Through It” Podcast Interview with Justin Horneker
September 24, 2019, 6-9pm
Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association: Conversations of Hope Fundraising Event
July 9, 2019
Article: Carb Queen (Guest Post Rachael Steil) with Rebecca McConville, Sports Dietitian
April 2, 2019
Webinar with NCAC
March 13, 2019
Penn State Behrend
March 11, 2019
West Shore Community College (Scottville, MI)
March 1, 2019
Photo event for National Eating Disorder Awareness week at the Grand Rapids Blue Bridge (lit in the NEDA colors) funded by MiEDA and the Running in Silence nonprofit
February 20, 2019
University of New Hampshire
February 19, 2019
Holderness, NH
February 8, 2019
Podcast: Running Through It interview (Host Justin Horneker)
February 5, 2019
CHHAM Winter Conference
February 1, 2019
MITCA Track and Field Clinic (Lansing, MI)
January 14, 2019
Dana Hall School (Wellesley, MA)
January 11, 2019
ITCCCA coaching clinic (Running in Silence presentation sponsored/funded in part by the Capital High School cross country team!)
2018
December 13, 2018
Vogue magazine article: Is Orthorexia the Eating Disorder for the Digital Age?
October 28, 2018
Article: Emily Jackson, Capital XC Help Bring Awareness to Eating Disorders
Capital cross country team raises awareness for eating disorders through Running in Silence at their home Invitational in Washington
October 14, 2018
The Misconceptions and Prevalence of Eating Disorders in Athletes @ Aquinas College
September 13, 2018
Failure Lab
July 20, 2018
Eating Disorders in Sport Conference
David Brower Center in Berkeley, CA
July 9, 2018
Personal Record Podcast With Tim Clarke: Eating Disorders in Sports with Rachael Steil
July 8, 2018
Eating Disorders on Family Health Matters with Shelley Irwin
May 30, 2018
Strong Runner Chicks Retreat in Boulder, CO
April 23, 2018
Concordia University Ann Arbor: Concordia Student-Athletes
April 22, 2018
Concordia University Ann Arbor: WHAC Student Representatives
March 13, 2018
PHIT for a Queen: A Female Athlete Podcast
March 11, 2018
Better Body Image Conference: Shape Self, Celebrating Body
March 2, 2018
Article for the National Eating Disorder Association: “Supporting Athletes in Eating Disorder Recovery Through Change”
February 22, 2018
Article: Lane 9 Project: “9 Miles With Eating Disorder Advocate Rachael Steil”
February 20, 2018
Article: “How Eating Disorders Can Affect Young Athletes”
February 5, 2018
Women in Sports Leadership Conference (Lansing, MI)
January 5, 2018
ITCCCA Coaching Clinic
2017
December 22, 2017
“Break the Silence about Exercise Addiction and Eating Disorders”
December 5, 2017
University of Rhode Island, Kingston
December 4, 2017
Boston University
November 30, 2017
Eating Disorder Talk, Q&A: Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vermont
November 15, 2017
Aquinas College Theory of Coaching class
November 9, 2017
MITCA Cross Country Coaches Clinic
October 30, 2017
Strong Runner Chicks Podcast Interview
October 12, 2017
“No Longer ‘Running in Silence’ (article)
October 11, 2017
New Book ‘Running in Silence Sheds Light on Eating Disorders (article)
October 10, 2017
“Toxic Training: How to Recognize the Signs of an Athlete in Trouble” (article)
October 4, 2017
“Running on Empty: Five Women, Three Colleges, and the Disordered Eating That Unifies Them All”
Rachael is quoted in The Riveter about her eating disorder experience and recovery story.
September 11, 2017
“5 Red Flags That Someone May Have An Eating Disorder”
Rachael is quoted in Women’s Running about her eating disorder experience and recovery story.
August 26, 2017
College Running & Eating Disorders (podcast by Nora McUmber)
June 19, 2017
Women’s Life with Sole Sister Running Group
May 27, 2017
Mental Health Discussion with Running in Silence at Slover Library in Norfolk, Virginia
May 15, 2017
Our Bodies, Our Spirits: Conversations at Park Church
April 16, 2017
“Inspirational Runner: Rachael Steil”(article)
March 20, 2017
West Catholic High School Girls’ Leadership Group
March 2, 2017
National Eating Disorder Awareness Week Running in Silence Presentation & Book Signing at Central Michigan University, put on by the Center of Hope Counseling
January 31, 2017
“West Michigan Author Educates Readers About Disordered Eating”
Rachael is interviewed about her book and eating disorder experience
January 19, 2017
‘Running in Silence’ author to sign in Holland
Rachael is interviewed about her book and eating disorder experience
2016
December 20, 2016
Shelley Irwin Morning Show
Rachael and Shelley discuss Rachael’s debut self-help memoir, Running in Silence
December 15, 2016
Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders presentation and Q&A
Rachael visits CTED to talk with patients about her recovery process and what they can do to strive for recovery.
December 13, 2016
Conversations with Kim Carson: The Story behind Running in Silence
September 14, 2016
Forest View Hospital “Breakfast and Learn”
Rachael gives her presentation on her eating disorder experience and recovery as an athlete for therapists, counselors, social workers, mental health practitioners, physicians, school social workers and school counselors.
September 6, 2016
RunGR Wojinar
Rachael gives her presentation about eating disorders in the running community
June 9, 2016
“Stigmas and Misconceptions Surrounding Eating Disorders” at Grand Rapids Women’s City Club
April 21, 2016
“All-American Runner’s Eating Disorder Unfolds from Blog to Book”
m-Live Sports News interviews Rachael Steil about her eating disorder story and upcoming book Running in Silence
March 16, 2016
“The Longest Yard: ‘Running in Silence’ is Running Toward Publication”
The Saint newspaper interviews Rachael about her upcoming book Running in Silence
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