"I want to feel free in my body!"

 

From "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrrior":

"Six months after meeting my initial goals of getting off of a low toilet seat and diversifying the program that Spaulding Rehab had given me, my trainer asked me for my next goals. 

“I want to dance. I want to feel free in my body. I want to take a walk outside…” 

She gathered up her belongings, had her hand on the door knob and I said, “Wait … I have one more goal … I want to run the 2009 Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab as a charity runner.” 

“Well you’re going to need a pair of running shoes!” 

She was totally non-plussed, and sent me off to buy my first pair of running shoes."

This morning wrapped another week in the training cycle on the Road to the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K. Last Saturday, when the alarm went off at 6:30am, I contemplated taking a bye day and heading straight to brunch which is the hard-earned reward for our training run. 

I recalled the words of my shero, Wilma Rudolph:

The reward goes beyond our weekly celebratory brunch. There is an incredible sense of freedom I feel when I run. My pace may be slow and I may not look like a runner, but for someone who was supposed to be in a wheelchair, I go pretty fast. I've come to love and appreciate my body for all it gives me in the wake of all it had endured as a child and adolescent. To navigate the challenges of ontracting paralytic polio and enduring years of abuse at the hands of family members, I dissociated from my body. The diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome was an incredible gift. My personal trainer's willingness to take me from having been in a toe-up leg brace and using a cane to running the 2009 Boston Marathon is a treasure for which I am eternally grateful.

The day got hot fast but we rejoiced in summer's splendor and needing only tank top and shorts. I had the image of rummaging through the winter hats/gloves bag to match up hats when the page turns to the seasons of Autumn and Winter.

I fueled much better this week. I thought ahead of time to bring a handful of pretzels in my fuel belt. I remembered to take that all important Gu waffle at mile 4. 

At about 2 miles, Tom and I each needed a pit stop. Would we overshoot our mileage if we stopped at the bathroom on Castle Island? It didn't much matter. Fortunately we were at 2.47 so went the other .03 and turned around.

At the water fountain to refill our water bottles, another runner was using the cooling spray fountain which we didn't know was there! "Halfway there," she spontaneously said. "Us too." we replied. She is training for the Tree House Half Marathon. We wished each other a great rest of the run. "Stay cool" we said to each other. Other than the occasional runner and families out and about for picnics, Southie was quiet. It was a welcome contrast to the hustle and bustle of last week. It was as though the Universe knew what we needed after a hectic week.

During the last mile Tom and I toyed with maybe just training for the 10K distance. We were hot and tired, but over lunch,overlooking the Harbor in the Seaport area, we shared the mantra "our bodies recover with ease." We reflected on how important stretch goals are especially as we age.  

We have the freedom of making choices every step and every mile on and off the roads in the marathon of life. Just as we chose to go on our training run, we are choosing to see what our bodies can do believing in what we want to achieve. Choosing our training run also gave us the sweet reward of hearing birds' songs and ocean's waves and seeing the splendid scenery of summer that will fade all too soon.

 We spent the afternoon resting and recovering feeling accomplished that our second 5 miler was done and dusted. Sunday was a rest day. Our bodies had, in fact, recovered well as we relaxed and enjoyed time at home. We live in a peaceful neighborhood with a spacious yard. Perspective is everything. Every day is a celebration and we find contentment in life's simple pleasures. Whenever Tom is not at work, we declare it as a vacation day.

Let me pause for a moment and share with you that my right leg and knee have a lot of sensations with this training cycle. In Candace Pert's book, "Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d" she talks about how our bodies respond biochemically to our thoughts. She was a brilliant scientist who used the rigors of research to prove her hypotheses. She specifically made reference to a knee injury. If one believes that a sensation indicates a recurrence of an injury, the body will respond in kind. However, if one interprets the sensations as healing, the body will do what it needs to do to heal. I've coupled the belief with visualization to make space in the joint and rewire the nerve pain. Belief begets belief. I was able to heal my left knee after a serious knee injury in December of 2014. 

In Norman Doidge's book, "The Brain's Way of Healing," he shares the impact that conscious movement has on neuroplasticity and enabling the body to heal. I experienced trauma to my right leg with family violence and was in an ankle to hip cast at the age of 11 for 6 weeks. I notice how that pattern of movement exacerbated the knee symptoms and mindfully move out of that pattern whenever I notice it. There is also a history of overuse of my right leg since my left leg was more affected by polio. I make sure to be mindful of feeling the power equally in both legs.

Rise.Shine.Run on Monday at 6:00am. I love these before breakfast runs with Tom when we throw on shorts and a singlet or t-shirt. It was a pleasant 66 degrees. The clouds and fog made for still water that was a great canvas for the reflection of the trees and vegetation that surrounds the Rezzie. This scene will look quite different in the coming months. There is nowhere I'd rather live than in Boston. As Tom and I were heading up the hill to our house, he said, "Come on Mare. You've got this. Let me see what you can do." I took off in a sprint! When we got in the house I asked him why he gave me that push. Had I slowed down? He smiled and said, "Our neighbor Diane was out there and I wanted you to show her your stuff. You should have seen her stand there in awe!

Tuesday was a rigorous before breakfast 45 minute strength training workout in our home gym.

We had a glorious morning for the last day in this week's training cycle. I often wonder what my life would have been like had I not exercised my freedom after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome and taken the diagnosis sitting down. Or if my personal trainer would have had a different response to my asserting my goal as wanting to feel free in my body and to run the 2009 Boston Marathon. But here I am training for another 10K with my stretch goal of a half marathon distance next year. 

There was a pleasant chill in the air juxtaposed with warm sunshine. What a blessing to see the dawn of a new day and feel free in my body to experience magical morning miles.

With each week of the training cycle, I feel stronger, accomplished, and loving and appreciating my body for all it gives me. I am so grateful that I can feel free in my body!

 In health and wellness - Mary

Visit my website to learn how poetry, optimism, gratitude and the mind/body connection helped me to transform my life. After having been told in December 2006 that I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I went on to cross the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and have many adventures as runnergirl 1953. Be sure to visit the recently updated News and Events Page for links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story.

I was recently the guest on The Optimism Institute Blue Sky Podcast. 
"Mary McManus has never had it easy. As a kindergartner, she was a victim of polio just a short time before the vaccine was introduced. She also faced trauma in her home life but somehow managed to persevere and overcome these and still more obstacles throughout her life. Today, Mary is an inspiring author, poet, motivational speaker, and finisher of the Boston Marathon." Here is the link to the Episode Website. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and on YouTube.

 

My books share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities; what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary and are available on Amazon.  My 6th book, "Into the Light:Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic" and my 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" are selections of the WBZ News Radio Book Club. "Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is also a selection Bill Rodgers Running Center Billy's Bookshelf: Recommended Reads for Every Runner. Visit my Amazon Author Page for book descriptions and rave reviews.

 

 

 

Let's See What This Body Can Do!

As Tom and I did last Saturday's 5 miler around Jamaica Pond, I reflected on a phrase my personal trainer used during my 2009 Boston Marathon training. Many of our training runs happened around Jamaica Pond. When pushing me with speed work or when it would be time tosl increase mileage, she'd say, "Let's see what this body can do." One of her favorite quotes was from Henry Ford. "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right."

I could have easily stayed with the distance of a 5K. On 5/4/24, I did the distance of a 10K after a DNF at the Bermuda Marathon Weekend 10K. One of my running anchor memories though, is running 3 consecutive Bermuda Half Marathons in 2016, 2017 and 2018 after a serious knee injury in December of 2014. The MRI indicated that I would need a total knee replacement in a few years. I was advised to stop running or cap my distance at a 5K. Oh well! 

Saturday's run was hotter than predicted. The week had been stressful at Tom's work and ongoing family stress. We had not slept well Friday night but when the alarm went off at 6:30am, we meditated and psyched ourselves up for the longest run of this training cycle. We were blessed to find a parking spot at the Pond. We always fill up our drinking water bottles with ice. The water fountain at the Pond was warm. How fortunate that we were able to fill up our fueling water bottles with ice water that we kept in the cooler. I always pack pretzels for post-run refueling and salt replacement. Given the higher heat and humidity, I used a handful to get me through the rest of the miles. We enjoyed the natural beauty surrounding us and drew energy from the 200+ runners doing the weekly Park Run.

 

After twice around, we opted for a mile out and back to get us to 5 miles only we reversed our direction. On the way back, Glenn Miller's "In The Mood" was blaring from a stereo system beyond the trees out on the Jamaicaway. It put me in the mood to have a strong finish celebrating that I am once again able to go the distance. I experienced nerve pain down my right leg as we were coming toward the end of our run. I harnessed the power of my mind to have a chat with my leg thanking it for all the miles it has, and continues to give me. It is so easy to doubt and wonder if, at almost 72 years old and all that the medical community has told me about my 'condition' that I'll be able to go not only the distance of a 10K again in Hyannis but go beyond that goal and go the distance of a half marathon again. 

 

Tom and I reviewed our run to both celebrate 5 miles and see what we could do differently next time as we slowly build mileage. The hand tremors  that can happen when I'm tired or after taxing my body were particularly intense at lunch. I was nauseous and it took longer than usual to recover despite the mantra, "My body recovers with ease." I did not have my 2nd Gu Waffle for fueling. We also were not mindful of our pace! And that is why they are called training runs! We took an hour and a half meditation/nap on both Saturday and Sunday afternoon. I've been listening to the newly released soundtrack of "Just in Time." It's a soundtrack from my youth. Watching videos of dancing scenes from the show fire up my mirror neurons from before contracting paralytic polio when I loved to dance ballet. By Monday morning, I was ready for morning miles.

We know that summer is fading fast. We appreciated the lush foliage knowing that soon the vibrant green fades into the oranges, yellow and reds of Autumn. 

 

We had a rigorous strength training session on Tuesday morning. What a gift to trade the air conditioning for breezes through an open window. Tom and I cranked up the playlist (that now includes the "Just In Time" soundtrack) and completely changed around the order of our workout. It was exhilarating and energizing!

 

Thursday morning was the pick of the week for weather, running and joy. Since summer will soon be over, I paused to take more photos than usual AND on the way home, found a 2007 dime! 2007 is the year I took a leap of faith leaving behind my award-winning social work career to heal my life. Dimes signify a 10K. They have special symbolism for polio with FDR's likeness on the dime and his March of Dimes campaign to fund research that ultimately led to the Salk vaccine to end polio in the US and in most countries around the world. 

 

Another week in the training cycle on the Road to the Hyannis 10K is in the books. Tomorrow is going to be another warm day. We will implement what we learned from last Saturday's run and continue to build a solid base for race day while enjoying every step and every mile along the way.

 

Let's see what this body can do!

 

In health and wellness - Mary

Visit my website to learn how poetry, optimism, gratitude and the mind/body connection helped me to transform my life. After having been told in December 2006 that I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I went on to cross the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and have many adventures as runnergirl 1953. Be sure to visit the recently updated News and Events Page for links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story.

I was recently the guest on The Optimism Institute Blue Sky Podcast. 
"Mary McManus has never had it easy. As a kindergartner, she was a victim of polio just a short time before the vaccine was introduced. She also faced trauma in her home life but somehow managed to persevere and overcome these and still more obstacles throughout her life. Today, Mary is an inspiring author, poet, motivational speaker, and finisher of the Boston Marathon." Here is the link to the Episode Website. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and on YouTube.

My books share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities; what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary and are available on Bookshop  My 6th book, "Into the Light:Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic" and my 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" are selections of the WBZ News Radio Book Club. "Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is also a selection Bill Rodgers Running Center Billy's Bookshelf: Recommended Reads for Every Runner. Visit my Author Page on Amazon for rave reviews.

 

 

Resulted In Joy to Realize I Could Live Life Anew

  

A 'chance' encounter on our training run in South Boston last Saturday set the tone and theme as Joy for this week in our training cycle on the Road to the Hyannis 10K. 

Everyone was out and about enjoying the waning days of summer. We spotted the back of a white t-shirt from the Colin's Joy Project 5K. "Live each day with pure joy in your heart." We paused before we passed the elderly couple. Tom made eye contact with the gentleman and said, "Mayor Flynn." Despite being 86 years old and walking gingerly with a cane while holding on to his wife's arm, Ray Flynn's young, spry political self sprung to life. He shook our hands as we introduced ourselves and shared that we are members of L Street which is how we knew about Colin's Joy Project. Mayor Flynn's wife is friends with Colin's mom, Kerri. Colin died just before his 3rd birthday in a tragic accident. His parentsrs  are members of our running club. They turned pain into purpose and passion keeping Colin's legacy alive by bringing joy to children and families. Visit their website to learn more about this incredible organization.

 

Swim Across America was having a fundraiser. With music blaring as swimmers gathered for a cause, the joy was palpable. Families had wagons in tow for family celebrations. We passed a gathering of people holding hands in a circle. One of the women held a baby. We paused our run to ask what the occasion was. "We're getting ready for a baptism!" I asked the gentleman with joy in his eyes if he was officiating. "Yes ma'am!" He introduced himself as Pastor John letting us know that it was a glorious day to celebrate the love that God puts in each of our hearts. The baptism would take place in the Bay. 

 

The sound of the surf filled my heart with joy. It was as though the Universe was in sync celebrating all there is to be joyful for especially at the peak of summer in New England. 

 

What was there to be joyful for as I sat in a leg brace, using a cane and a wheelchair at times for mobility having been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and expect an accelerated decline in functioning as I aged? In February of 2007, I got still and asked for Divine Guidance. The first poem I wrote, "Running the Race", answered that question:

 4.5 miles done and dusted! To celebrate, Tom and I went to the Seaport to walk around and find a place to enjoy post-run fueling. We were fortunate to get a table outdoors at Legal Sea Foods watching boats come and go, listening to the sound of the surf and experiencing the joy of fellow diners.

It was 79 degrees at 6:30am when we got our Monday morning run on. We kept the pace slow and steady. While many complain about the heat and humidity, I know what a gift it is to be getting in early morning miles with my bestie for SOOO many reasons. The reasons at the top of my list are that I have the energy to get up early and go, time unplugged with Tom and being able to get out the door wearing only a tank top and shorts. 

 

I could not resist belting out the joy filled song, "I've got the sun in the morning and the moon at night."

For Tuesday morning's strength training session, I added in extra joy by infusing dance steps into stretching and cranking up the playlist. Our living room/dining room gets transformed into our home gym!

 

On Thursday morning, we wrapped up another week in the training cycle with a soupy, sultry yet solid run given the weather. It was 74 degrees with high humidity and the air quality wasn't great. We managed to pull out negative splits and were soaked to the skin when we got home.

The water's stillness made for the perfect canvas once more of the trees that line the Reservoir. Soon they will be aflame with the colors of Fall, but for now we will feel the joy of every step in every early morning run.

I have no idea if themes will continue to emerge throughout the training cycle or what each week holds in store. On Saturday we up our mileage to 5 miles for the next few weeks as we experience the joy in the journey, not the distant goal of Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K.

 

In health and wellness - Mary

Visit my website to learn how poetry, optimism, gratitude and the mind/body connection helped me to transform my life. After having been told in December 2006 that I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I went on to cross the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and have many adventures as runnergirl 1953. Be sure to visit the recently updated News and Events Page for links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story.

I was recently the guest on The Optimism Institute Blue Sky Podcast. 
"Mary McManus has never had it easy. As a kindergartner, she was a victim of polio just a short time before the vaccine was introduced. She also faced trauma in her home life but somehow managed to persevere and overcome these and still more obstacles throughout her life. Today, Mary is an inspiring author, poet, motivational speaker, and finisher of the Boston Marathon." Here is the link to the Episode Website. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and on YouTube.

My books share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities; what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary and are available on Bookshop  My 6th book, "Into the Light:Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic" and my 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" are selections of the WBZ News Radio Book Club. "Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is also a selection Bill Rodgers Running Center Billy's Bookshelf: Recommended Reads for Every Runner. Visit my Author Page on Amazon for rave reviews.