About Dr. Stephanie Mundt

My running career started with a lot of promise. By the end of my sophomore year in high school, I had already won an Iowa state championship and a Drake Relays title. As I kept on winning, running became central to my identity – it was a way to cope with the stressors of high school, and it was something I was really good at doing. But as I entered my senior year of high school, things started to fall apart. I had begun reducing my food intake and running extra on my own to run even faster and perform at an even higher level. 
​
I had my first stress fracture in the fall of my senior year, forcing me to swim the last 3 weeks of my season before state. I had my second stress fracture just before state track the following spring and was unable to compete. By this time, I was pretty far gone in a state of disordered eating and exercise dependence. I had committed to running for Arizona State University. I had high hopes of contributing to their team and reaching new performance levels. When I arrived on campus, I still had not had my first menstrual cycle and weighed under 90 pounds. 
​
The next several years of being on the team at ASU weren’t quite what I hoped for – I continued to get stress fractures because my bone density had suffered so much from the eating disorder and delayed onset of regular menstrual cycles. 

Over time and with help, I did gain weight, recover from my eating disorder, and was able to race a few times with the Sun Devil jersey on. Following my college career, however, I continued to experience injuries, including more stress fractures, a hip labrum tear, osteochondral defects, and arthritis in the knees. 
​
Through all this, however, I’ve maintained my love for running and discovered how to train, race, and eat in a way that sustains me rather than burns me out. I completed my first marathon in June 2022 and qualified for Boston 2023, and I am hoping to run many more!
​
Because of my struggles with food, exercise, and injuries, I’m passionate about helping runners prevent and manage injury. Having high-quality care and support when managing these complex issues is crucial, and I hope to be a dependable resource guiding recovery and setting runners up for long-term success.