Scan,
I question why your L1011 crew would have had difficulty accelerating from holding speed. Seeing as the intent of holding speed is to provide the least fuel flow, while still allowing enough of a margin for control and pilot technique issues, this also means minimum drag speed, or close to it. Ergo, minimum thrust required, and therefore near the maximum excess thrust available. So holding speed should give you very close to the best acceleration possible once you decide to resume cruise.
Hawk