Moore than just a “Workout Group”

Hello!  My name is Holly Moore and I’ve been working out with Stroller Strong Moms, Savannah since the end of 2012. My husband Jason and I met in college at Georgia Southern University and we have been married for 12 years. I graduated from GSU with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology. I love to go to the beach, go to GSU football games and spend time with my friends and family.  Jason’s whole family lives here and mine are three hours away so that’s really nice to have them nearby.  Lately, our newest adventure is with our “new to us” camper and we have taken a few adventures in it this past year. We have two children, Mary (8) and Emma Claire (3).

Growing up I was hardly ever involved in any sports and I was very shy.  I gravitated more towards playing musical instruments and hanging out with my friends. I first heard about Stroller Strong Moms when my oldest daughter was three.  At the time, my husband and I worked at an all boys boarding school as house parents.  I was so nervous to join and felt very intimidated. Before joining, I had never run more than a halfmile without stopping. I had never done a burpee and as a matter of fact I had never done most of the exercises the girls were doing. But it really didn’t matter because on my first day everyone was so nice and always told me good job!  As I continued going to classes I felt really good. Running felt especially good and I wanted to get better at it.  A few months after joining in February, I wanted to run a 5K without stopping. My friend, Mandy, and I ran most of the race together with her family, in the rain. I was so proud.  I never stopped the entire time!  Since then I’ve run at least 30 5K’s, one 10K, one half-marathon, and completed Run Across Georgia. I have shaved 17 minutes off of that first 5K with Stroller Strong Moms and I hope to do more this year!

The instructors have really challenged me to do my best.  Something new this past year was a class called Slam the Alarm. The class met at 5:30am.  It was so early but such an awesome workout that I really looked forward to. The S.L.A.M. Challenge is also one of my favorites. It really motivates me to improve my physical fitness and eat better as well.

I honestly don’t know what I would do without each and every one of these ladies in this group.  I’ve gained confidence and I have met some of my best friends in this group. They have taught me courage, strength, dedication, and grit.  

Okay, this is tough to talk about, but my hope is that someone who may be going through this will not feel like they are alone. After my second daughter was born my hormones were extremely out of whack and I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a perfect mom. We decided I would be a stay at home mom so I felt enormous pressure that everything had to be perfect at my house and with my girls. I experienced post partum depression and anxiety.

Having a second child to take care of really and truly rocked my world. It wasn’t that I didn’t love them but I just felt very overwhelmed. Some days were good but a lot of days were very tough. I set a goal that I would nurse Emma Claire for one year.  Instead of it being a beautiful thing which it was in so many ways; I could not leave her for more than a few hours because even when I tried to pump she would never take a bottle.  I really looked forward to working out at Stroller Strong Moms; especially outside in beautiful Savannah, and it would get my mind off of my anxiety.  

My husband works every weekend in addition to week days but the weekends were the toughest times; and I just couldn’t shake these feelings.  Recently I shared this in our Bible Study Group, Believe Like a Mother (BLAM).  The ladies there were so kind, encouraging and listening without judging.  After a lot of prayer and a lot of communication with my husband I am feeling so much better and I’m so thankful my friends didn’t give up on me. Now, I feel like I am on the other side of it and it feels so good and I feel really happy!

I really truly love spending time with the ladies in class as well as outside of class. I have really loved getting to know so many smart, beautiful and strong ladies and I love cheering them on. There’s nothing better than meeting up with a big group before a race and seeing your friends during a race.  Whether you pass them or they pass you, it’s always a smile and “great job girl!” At the finish line I love watching my friends meet their goals or even completing their very first 5K.  It makes me so proud to see the looks on their faces when they are receiving their medals. This year, during the Savannah Bridge Run, my friend Kristie and I ran together.  It’s one of my favorite races because it really tests your endurance and strength. I compare the bridge to climbing a mountain.  It is a huge challenge and you have to remind yourself that you are strong enough to get to the top. This year I struggled, but Kristie did not leave my side. She pushed me to keep going and my time was the fastest I’ve ever run it in the past 7 years.

Lastly this group has made an impact on my children as well. Mary has joined me in three 5K’s and joined Girls on the Run this Year at her school because she saw me having fun with running and wanted to run with other girls, “like mommy does!”  Emma Claire constantly pushes her baby dolls around the house in her stroller and will stop and do burpees and pushups . It’s the cutest thing! Stroller Strong Moms has made an impact on my entire family…and I’m so grateful for that!