Going the Distance - Again!

 

Before the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006, I am not someone you would think of as being a risk taker. Growing up in a household rife with substance abuse and violence, I needed to experience a sense of safety and security in my life. As Helen Keller said, "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."

After the diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disease and having been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I realized that life is a daring adventure or nothing at all. I took a leap of faith leaving behind my award winning social work career. It was exhilarating and scary all at once. In February of 2008, I declared to my personal trainer that my fitness goal was to run the 2009 Boston Marathon despite never having run a day in my life. I love how Michelle Obama uses the word "despite" in her latest book, "The Light We Carry."

Despite a serious knee injury in 2014 that I was told would sideline me from running and to prepare for a total knee replacement in a few years, I went on to run three Bermuda Half Marathons in 2016, 2017 and 2018. My body was feeling very beat up after those three consecutive half marathons. I believed that the days of being a part of an event farther than a 5K were behind me. 

Being a part of any event was out of reach for everybody with the pandemic. I did virtual 5K's. I had a lot of time to reflect on whether or not I wanted to continue being a part of in person events and decided that I was content with being on the sidelines. Ruth Anne kept prodding me to consider doing another in person race as we emerged from the pandemic. I was experiencing a major setback in my running journey due to symptoms that I attributed to a reaction to the 2nd vaccine. 

I decided that I had not come this far to only go that far. On January 1st, I experienced the thrill of racing against myself in the First Run Virtual 5K. I was mentally and physically preparing myself to find a back of the packer friendly 5K race. Despite continuing to experience symptoms of nerve pain and joint pain, I knew I needed to have a goal to motivate me.

Before I knew what happened, Ruth Anne found direct flights to Bermuda from Boston for January Race Weekend, I was sending Facebook messages to our friends in Bermuda and was communicating via email with the Race Director to see if it would be safe and fun for this back of the pack runner to do the Bermuda 10K walk.

My training plan calls for a once a month run on Heartbreak Hill. Saturday's 3.5 miler was the longest distance I'd done on Heartbreak Hill since we trained for the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon. It was rainy and warm. We were fortunate that the downpours held off until later in the day. We chose to do the part of Heartbreak Hill that was the most challenging, starting at Boston College and going out Comm. Ave. Because Tom and Ruth Anne have been training for Half Marathons for Ruth Anne's fundraiser for Victory Programs, I had been left to do solo miles on Heartbreak Hill. What a joy to share the miles with Tom and Ruth Anne again.

The rain and wind could not dampen the joy we feel at training together again AND the joy that I am choosing to go the distance again! We captured the beauty of a late Spring day. I always say that if I am going to hurt, I want to hurt on the side of healing, getting stronger, defying the odds of having been told that I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and returning to Bermuda, our happy place surrounded by friends we have made through the years but haven't seen in four years.

I took a hot shower and stretched after the 3.5 miles on Heartbreak Hill feeling a wondrous sense of accomplishment, visualizing how it is going to feel when I cross that finish line while enjoying every step and every mile on this glorious journey. I am firing up my courage and  the power of endurance to go the distance.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon 

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series  to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On the Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56