Rachael Steil, author of Running in Silence, is a nationally recognized eating disorder recovery speaker, cross country and track coach, 2010-11 All-American runner, and the 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 inspires coaches, athletes, or those in recovery to recognize a problem, speak out, and create change.
All proceeds from speaking go to the Running in Silence nonprofit.
~Anonymous
~Lisa Gibson, Registered Dietitian & co-founder of the Oklahoma Eating Disorders Association
2022
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)
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
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
Rachael shares her experiences with anorexia and binge eating in a way that engages athletes from all sports and inspires hope. Her detail of the recovery process and how athletes can recognize struggles in themselves or teammates will inspire many to take that step towards speaking up or supporting those around them.
As a cross country and track coach, Rachael dynamically shares insight into her own experience with an eating disorder, and what coaches can do to help prevent these common struggles and best support their athletes.
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.