In a lot of ways, I was-and still probably am-very, very lucky. I realize now my eating disorder probably started as early as I started running. I am fiercely, irreversibly competitive to a fault. It was never enough to just win, or just PR. I had to win, PR, and beat the second place runner […]
For the majority of my life, I convinced myself that my worth was dictated on the way that I looked and performed in sport. I’ve grown up in the age of social media where I could compare my bodies to other athletes. Even people who I love have influenced the ways in which I think […]
Rachael Steil’s love of running started early. Very early. In fact, she ran her first race in kindergarten where she placed second. This early introduction to the sport was a result of having a mother who ran, and once Rachael got a taste of it, she was hooked. Young Rachael followed training plans her mom […]
My name is Jill, and I am in recovery from anorexia. I want to start by saying I don’t place any blame on the people in my life for the downward spiral that happened. Rather, the lack of education in the system to handle and recognize such issues. I want to share my history because […]
Introduction I’ve been wanting to write something like this for a while. As much as this is a reflection for myself, more importantly it is a message that I feel compelled to get across to other people. This may apply best to a runner, but I think it would offer a great perspective for any […]
My name is Marissa Widener. I am a recent 2020 graduate from Waldorf University. I ran cross country and track there (NAIA level). I am a 3x National Qualifier and 4x Champion of Character recipient. I graduated with honors and obtained my Bachelor of Arts in Health Promotion and Exercise Science; and am now an […]
College athletes, in general, have a certain reputation in the United States. The scholarships, the medals, the records — from the outside, it’s a world filled with privileges and glory. However… all the goal-achieving and gamedays–it comes at a price. Many female athletes in particular share a commonality that is often shrouded in shame, thus […]
If I Can’t Become a Pro Distance Runner, The Least I Can Do Is Try To “Look Like” One: I’ve always have had a strong appetite for movement. My movement started out innocent and I moved my body for all the right reasons. For instance, I played soccer in high school because I loved running […]
I’ve always been a people-person. Hanging out with my friends was how I spent most of my time in middle and high school. Things drastically changed as the years went on… I played soccer since I was 3 years old. I was on town teams as well as club teams, the love for the sport […]
I love my school and wouldn’t want to be anywhere else right now, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t have a really hard time. My first two years in college, I struggled a lot. At the end of my first semester, I was thinking about coming home and thought I wasn’t […]
gamechanger 2020
