My Morning Run

 Because of the high heat and humidity in Boston, we've set the alarm for 6am, do a meta meditation, grab our cold water bottles from the fridge and get out the door before the heat of the day grips the region again. 

When we first started early morning runs, my body rebelled a bit wanting to hit snooze and then snooze again. But now my body looks forward to that early morning time and even craves it. The hours of daylight are diminishing and it's fascinating to experience the changes in morning light. We did a neighborhood run on Monday and here are the scenes I took pause to capture:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom and Ruth Anne are training for 3 Half Marathons to once again raise money and awareness for Victory Programs. I run at my own pace while they train at theirs. It's an incredible time for me to connect with the Divine leaving yesterday's problems behind with every foot step and moving forward in joy feeling blessings and gratitude wash over me.

Fifteen years ago at this time, I had no idea what my future would look like. I wrote poetry and visualized a future very different than the one the doctors predicted for me. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair possibly needing a feeding tube and to expect an accelerated decline as I aged. 

Whoa! That was quite a prognosis. I know that a prognosis is based on what typically happens to a person with a certain diagnosis. I decided to not be typical and refused to take the diagnosis sitting down.

What an incredible journey this has been. I know deep in my heart and soul that every step is a gift and every mile is a blessing. I am not racing anymore although my daughter keeps encouraging me to find a slow runner friendly 5K. I am thrilled to be support crew on the roads and with fundraising for Ruth Anne's journey which Tom, at age 70, has signed on to be a training and running partner.

The streets were quiet except for a few of our neighbors walking their pups. We greeted each other with a nod.  

Wednesdays are rest days for Tom and Ruth Anne. It was the geese and me around the small Reservoir yesterday. I savored my time of solitude opening my heart to gratitude with every step I took. I was anticipating a run in the rain yesterday. It would have been a welcome relief from the drought we are having in Massachusetts. Before I went to bed, I reflected on how long it had been since I experienced a run in the rain with that sense of unbridled joy splashing in puddles (something I couldn't experience as a child in the wake of polio) feeling refreshing rain on my face. But the sun was out! I changed what I planned to wear. We would often feel grateful that it wasn't raining on a run day but given the drought conditions, I didn't feel the joy of having another day of sunshine. Yet I did thoroughly enjoy my wonderful Wednesday morning miles:

I marveled at how the light played on the water and tuned into the sound of the waves lapping against the shore. There were moments of stillness when the water served as a canvas for nature's masterpiece and other times when the wind kicked up again.

Fifteen years after the diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular condition, I celebrate the miracle of healing, embracing infinite possibilities, releasing all cares and worries that were once ingrained in my body, mind and soul feeling exhilarated after my morning run.

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

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