On the Road to Bermuda 10K - The Body Achieves What the Mind Believes

 

After last Saturday's four miler and with the new sensations that come with training for an event after a 5 year hiatus, I asked myself the question, "Can this almost 70 year old body go the distance again?" I wasn't sleeping well Wednesday night awakened by nerve pain and muscle spasms. Even before the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome, I knew about the power of the mind/body connection with Dr. Bernie Siegel. I'd gotten pregnant with twins, dissolved a breast tumor, stopped an adverse reaction to anesthesia with the help of an amazing anesthesiologist at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and knew the power that the mind has in healing one's life through stories that Bernie shared in his lectures and books.

The nerve pain and muscle spasms began two years ago, the night after I received the 2nd COVID vaccine in 2021. The sensations have come and gone during the past two years. When I first started training for the 10K, they had stopped completely but something 'got tripped' after last Saturday's four miler. 

When I first set out on my healing quest after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, I came up with an image that God is my Master Electrician helping me to rewire the 'damage' from childhood polio and trauma. My story is shared in Dr. David Hamilton's Book, "The Tenth Edition of How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body."

 

 

In the synopsis of my journey, David shared how I was able to harness the power of visualization to heal a left knee injury in December 2014, going on to run 3 Bermuda Half Marathons despite warnings from the medical community to stop running and prepare for a total knee replacement in a few years.

The fantastic part about setting the goal of the Bermuda 10K is that I am rededicating myself to my healing journey. I know I can completely resolve the nerve pain and muscle spasms harnessing the power of my mind and upping my self-care game. When I did not have an event to train for, I was focused on being support crew for Tom and Ruth Anne and was not as focused on self-care. I now take my rest days very seriously; fortunately Ruth Anne and Tom are totally on board with this. They are so excited to have me join them out on the course.

 

When I don't sleep well, I use the time to meditate and feel my connection to the Divine. Yesterday morning, the alarm went off at 6:15 am and I was so excited for early morning miles. With the meditation in the wee small hours of the morning (cue the music from "Sleepless in Seattle") fears dissolved and were replaced with a deep stirring in my soul that I've got this. I've got nothing to prove in terms of time but instead am going to give my best effort during training runs. I remembered how, when training for the 2009 Boston Marathon, I would lie awake at times experiencing what I called phantom pain (ie traumatic memories) from childhood paralytic polio and trauma. When I went for a run, the pain dissolved into the ethers of the Universe. 

 

The plan was for Tom and Ruth Anne to run 3 miles together and I would do my two miles at an easy pace. Ruth Anne thought we were all running together so she didn't bring her garmin or 'prepare' for 3 miles. Tom suggested that Ruth Anne and I stay together and he would do his miles solo since he needed to get in a really good training run.

The morning light was magnificent and we felt bathed and blessed by the Divine. The day was quickly heating up with humidity; we were so glad we had set the alarm for 6:15. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Ruth Anne feeling good in my body. As if right on cue, we spotted a shiny penny on the hill heading home:

 We ended up with a negative split which happened without feeling the pressure of having to achieve a certain time. Tom met up with us for the final portion of his run and we cooled down together.

I love how breakfast of Heritage Flakes with banana, orange juice and toast tastes after a satisfying run. The endorphins were kickin' and I allowed myself to be bathed, mind, body and soul in a renewed belief that the body achieves what the mind believes.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my ***NEW*** 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.

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

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