Brooke Holt Uses Running As a Lifeline For Managing An Eating Disorder

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Today’s guest has recently reached new heights in her running and an argument could be made that she’s really only just scratched the surface of what she’s capable of.

Running isn’t just about races for her, it’s also something that has helped her work through some difficult times in her past.

I am looking forward to going a few easy miles with Brooke Holt today!

If She Can Do It, I Can Do It

Brooke Holt has always been active, but she hasn’t always been a runner.

Food has always been a struggle for Brooke.

She has struggled with anorexia through the years.

Wanting to be active and struggling with fueling her body appropriately has been a challenge that she’s had to deal with.

There was a time when Brooke was so weak that she struggled to run one lap around the local track.

Her cousin convinced her to sign up for a 5k and Brooke was able to finish by doing run/walk intervals.

Brooke ran her next 5k a year later at the same race that her cousin ran a half marathon.

When Brooke saw her cousin cross the finish after running 13.1 miles, she knew that if her cousin could do it, then she could too.

Happy, Healthy, Stronger

It was April when Brooke decided she wanted to run a half marathon.

Her initial plan was to train all summer and run her first half in September.

A friend suggested that she run a half with her less than a month after she finished her second 5k.

Though Brooke knew she didn’t have enough time to sufficiently train, she still signed up.

That first half marathon was challenging both mentally and physically, but the confidence she gained was invaluable.

When she began to run longer distances, Brooke found that she was naturally eating more.

There was no overnight magic fix for her eating disorder, but Brooke loved being able to do things she never thought she was capable of.

Her new goal to be strong and fit was a stark contrast to her previous goal of being as thin as possible.

Moving Up The Distance Ladder

Less than a year after her first half marathon, Brooke was crossing the finish line of her first marathon.

She was officially hooked on running long distances and was eager to see what else she was capable of.

Brooke decided to explore the trails in her quest to keep running long.

Her first trail experience was a marathon on a very muddy and rainy day that resulted in a DNF.

That experience only fueled her to sign up for more trail races and even longer distances.

Brooke has completed one 50 mile race that took place during the pandemic.

She went into the race knowing she was undertrained but her determination pulled her to the finish.

Brooke is just beginning to dip her toes into the ultra world and has big plans to see how far she can go in the future.

Looking Ahead

Brooke has a lot of goals when it comes to her running and what she hopes to accomplish in the future.

Running a marathon in all 50 states is one goal that she is just beginning with 8 states completed.

She aspires to see how far she can go with a 100-mile race being a distance she wants to eventually take a shot at.

Running a PR is always on her list, regardless of what distance she is running.

Her primary goal is to always keep running fun and never have it feel like a chore.

Brooke doesn’t have an end game when it comes to her running.

Running has been her safe place and a place where she has become a much more strong and capable version of herself than she ever imagined.

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Mentioned In This Episode:

• Snoga Athletics
• Marine Corps Marathon

Stay connected with Brooke Holt by following her on Instagram.

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Brooke Holt survived an eating disorder and came out stronger on the other side because of running. Instead of focusing on her weight, her new goal is to see how far her body can take her. Click To Tweet

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As Always, I’d Love to Know What Stood Out to You From this Episode! Let Me Know Your Takeaway in the Comments Below!

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