On February 20, 2022, I will be running the Austin marathon. Throughout the months of January and February, I will be raising money for the organization Running In Silence. This organization was founded by Rachael Steil, and the purpose of the organization is to encourage individuals in the athletic community to talk about the prevalence of eating disorders, help athletes seek out the help they need, and assist coaches with eating disorder awareness and prevention education. Money raised will go toward funding Running In Silence prevention and awareness speaking engagements, which will help Rachael share information about the prevalence of eating disorders in sports and ways to help struggling athletes with coaches and other athletes.
A little bit about me:
I fell in love with running at a very young age. This love I had for running took me many amazing places, and some of my fondest memories come from meets, long runs, and practices. I decided to continue my running career at Michigan State University, which was an experience I will forever be grateful for, however, there was a side of my relationship with running that I rarely talked about - my struggles with disordered eating and body image.
It took me a long time to recover from my eating disorder and fall back into a healthy relationship with running. Looking back on the progress I’ve made in improving my relationship with running and my body, I feel a lot of pride. This pride doesn’t come from killing a workout or being “super fit,” but it comes from the fact that I am still able to do what I love every single day. Recovering from an eating disorder is not easy. It takes a toll on you both mentally and physically, and it is important to seek out help. I feel blessed that I was able to take a step back a find that love I have for running once again.
While I am grateful to rekindle my passion for running and gain a healthier relationship with food, I realize this is not the case for everyone. It is up nutrition professionals, coaches, teammates, and those closest to athletes to educate themselves and spread awareness about the prevalence of eating disorders in sport and reduce the burden on young athletes. I hope you consider donating to this wonderful organization.
For more on my story & lessons I learned along the way please read my blog on Rachael’s page -https://runninginsilence.org/what-i-learned-as-a-collegiate-runner-majoring-in-dietetics-guest-post-by-maggie-farrell-part-1/
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