Running, Redemption and Freedom - One Moment in Time

 

 

Sixteen years ago, I was given a life changing diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disease that led me to the sport of running. I got still and asked for Divine Guidance in February of 2007. The answer to my prayer came in the form of a poem, "Running the Race." A flurry of poems flowed out of me helping me to heal my past rife with trauma, and create a future very different than the one predicted for me by the medical community. I was not destined to spend my life in a wheelchair. I experienced a miraculous journey of transformation through the sport of running. That poem foreshadowed my 2009 Boston Marathon run.

As with any journey, and as is true for life, there were many ups and downs on and off the roads. But my dedication to my health and wellness routine remained steadfast. In the Spring of 2021, as my pace slowed way down despite my best efforts and I began experiencing a range of symptoms that began after I received the 2nd COVID injection, my passion for my running and racing waned. I was content to be support crew for Tom and Ruth Anne as they built speed and endurance. I accepted where I was, grateful to be able to do as much as I was able to do.

BUT at the end of November, I realized that I had not come this far only to go this far. Ruth Anne had been saying how much she missed doing a race with me. I suspect she also missed seeing that exuberance I felt when I conquered myself on the roads. In early November, we found the First Run 5K/10K in Lowell that many of our runner friends had done in past years (minus the COVID years). I was planning to be the spectator for Tom and Ruth Anne doing the 10K. (See yesterday's blog with more details about events leading up to race day along with a race report.)

After my race, many of the quotes about running came back to me such as

and

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I recalled how I felt after I crossed the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and what I said to the reporter at the end of my interview for Channel 7 News:

It was a moment of redemption! And I knew that the moment was so much bigger than I was. I have been inspiring audiences of podcasts and radio shows and at race expos with my epic journey. After my 3rd Bermuda Half Marathon in January of 2018, I needed time to reset and take time off from racing. I did virtual races during the pandemic but, until Sunday, coincidentally New Year's Day, I had not experienced my body actually racing pushing myself to see what this body could still do.

I am still feeling the thrill of that 5K. I felt a oneness with all that is and, as George Sheehan said, found something perfect inside of myself; perfection beyond all that I have lived through, most recently experiencing a reaction to the vaccine.

What freedom lies in transcending once perceived limits. How miraculous that I was able to once again harness the power of the mind/body connection to heal on a deeper level, and rekindle my passion for the sport that I discovered at the age of 53. I have always felt the passion for the sport watching a race but it pales in comparison to feeling the exhilaration of being off of the sidelines once more. 

 

 

It was one moment in time among many other miraculous moments in time that I will add to my collection of treasured times since the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome now a little over sixteen years ago. 

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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