LOLZLetter 313 | Running as You Age Series

How Holly and Mira found running

Feb 24, 2025

Welcome,

This week we are starting the 2025 running as you age newsletter series! I love this series and sharing stories of how readers got into running, how it's evolved and changed for them, and what running really means for them now (versus before).

Like the previous series, I'll start in the 20s and then each week go up the age groups. I'll go as high as I can, so if you know of anyone who wants to participate have them send me an email at fuelebylolz at gmail dot com. I do need a few more people in each of the age groups including next weeks 30s, so I would love to hear from you. :-)

Anyway, let's get onto the newsletter.

This week, I'm talking to two women in their twenties: Holly, who went from training with a college team to graduating and training alone to hike Rim to Rim, and Mira, who found that running helped her get through an eating disorder and now running has become a family affair.

Holly Huckabee: From Collegiate Running to Grand Canyon Hiking

For 23-year-old Holly Huckabee, running has been a part of her life for over a decade. Growing up in Belton, Texas, she first discovered her endurance potential on the soccer field before transitioning to long-distance track in junior high. From there, she built a strong running career, competing in the 5k and 6k through college.

Since finishing her collegiate career in fall 2023, Holly has been adjusting to life without a team. She always felt her fittest during the cross-country season, training alongside teammates. But spring training was different: more solitary, with less structure. Now, with early morning teaching responsibilities requiring a 4 AM wake-up call, running alone in the dark has been a challenge.

“My college coach always talked about how it would get harder after I wasn’t training with a team. I never felt that until now,” Holly shares. “I thought it would just feel like off-season training, but without a goal or end point, it’s harder to stay motivated.”

For now, her focus has shifted. Holly is training for a Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim hike of the Grand Canyon in May, incorporating more hiking and weighted hikes into her routine. While she worries about losing running fitness, she’s learning to embrace the shift in priorities.

Her advice to fellow runners?

“Run when the sun is out and with others if you can—it makes it much more enjoyable. And most importantly, do what’s best for you. No one should define what kind of runner you are except YOU.

Thank you Holly, for your time!! You can follow Holly on instagram, twitter, and facebook!

Mira Sherman: Running Through Every Season of Life

For 28-year-old Mira Sherman, running has been a steady presence through life’s many transitions. Growing up in a small farm town in south-central Montana, she started running in high school with her mom, choosing trails and backroads over indoor workouts. Though her mom eventually had to stop due to foot issues, Mira fell in love with the sport and never looked back.

But running hasn’t always been simple. Early on, she ran as a way to manage anxiety about her weight. As she healed from an eating disorder, her relationship with running evolved. During undergrad, she ran less, but in grad school, she found her way back through the mountain town trail running scene.

When she moved to the Mojave, running took a backseat while she adjusted to military life, remote work, and managing a household with a frequently absent spouse. Then pregnancy and postpartum brought even more challenges. “I didn’t return to running until my son was six months old, and it was HARD,” Mira shares. “Pushing the stroller felt awkward. My pelvic floor needed rehab, and every downhill run made me pee my pants—so fun!”

But she stuck with it, slowly rebuilding strength and endurance. Running became an essential tool in helping her navigate postpartum mental struggles. “It really helped part the clouds of postpartum mood disorders,” she says.

Mira also manages asthma, which means staying consistent with training is critical. “If I slack off, my capacity for high-intensity exercise drops immediately—thanks, lungs!” she jokes. The biggest challenge, though, is always the mental game. “I’m someone who likes to be comfy and cozy all the time, and running until my lungs start to hurt is the opposite of that. But once I push through, I usually end up having a great time.”

Lately, Mira has found a new way to challenge herself: cycling to improve her running. She does Norwegian 4x4 intervals three times a week, which have made a huge difference in her endurance. “I can control my breathing better on the bike, which translates to more effective sprints when I run.”

She’s also become an expert in stroller running. “My husband is active duty and gone a lot, so anytime I run, I’m pushing a 30+ pound toddler. It’s a whole different beast! If I don’t practice, I gas out after a mile or two.”

Now, running is a family affair. She, her husband, their dog, and their two-year-old all run together, chatting about their day and usually ending at a coffee shop for breakfast. “Our son even gets out and runs the last half mile sometimes. Of all my running seasons, this one is my favorite by far.”

Her advice? “Move your body outside every day—even if it’s just getting the mail with your dog or stretching on your porch. Even if you don’t feel like running, staying intentional with time outdoors is so good for you. Get some sunlight and drink water. You’re really just a houseplant with complicated emotions.”

Thank you Mira for your time. You can follow her on instagram!