Reflections on the Los Angeles Marathon Weekend - As Though Everything is a Miracle!

I prefer to live my life as though everything is a miracle. Ruth Anne and I experienced magnificent magic and miracles during our Los Angeles Marathon Weekend adventure. I shared many of them with you in the two previous blog posts. There is another miracle to share. As my regular blog readers know, I was diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease in December of 2006. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and expect an accelerated decline as I aged. Last Christmas I celebrated my 70th birthday!

When Ruth Anne wanted to book a trip to run the LA Marathon, we were wondering how my body would fare with the 6 hour plane ride, the time change and all the walking involved when one is support crew for a marathoner. The magic and joy of meeting a nurse who worked with Joe Stetz, my beloved camp counselor who was an earth angel in my life after I contracted paralytic polio, infused my body with feel good chemicals. I pulled my carry on luggage up a ramp at the LA airport and hoisted it onto the shuttle bus stepping up and down a big step with ease.

Despite the time change, Ruth Anne and I transferred over to LA time eating dinner at 5 although we did go to sleep at 7pm after a very long day of travel and excitement! We waited to unpack until the morning. After a good night's sleep, I unpacked and organized the room in anticipation for race day. While Ruth Anne went to practice yoga in Santa Monica, I walked up and down the Avenue of the Stars scoping out where the stop was for the shuttle buses to the start and to the finish line. I walked around the Mall, had lunch and Ruth Anne and I  returned to the Mall when she returned to get her lunch.

When we arrived at Dodger Stadium, the cab driver wasn't able to drive us to Gate G, the site of Expo and Bib Pick Up. We walked up hills and down hills and down a staircase until we finally arrived at Bib pick up and the Expo. There were a few raindrops followed by a torrential downpour. We found shelter in the Volunteer Tent. Once the downpour passed, we called for an Uber only to discover that we would have to hike up a huge hill to get to the upper parking lot since cars were not allowed at Gate G. 

Ruth Anne kept asking me, "Are you okay? How are you doing mom?" All that training for the Bermuda 10K held me in good stead while trekking up that enormous hill. 

Ruth Anne needed to get off of her feet for her marathon on Sunday and I had done 13,300 steps for the day. Our feet and clothing were soaked and it was 6pm. Rather than walk again to the Mall we took hot showers and got comfortable while we ordered in room dining that I must say was the most exquisite chicken and salmon dishes we have ever enjoyed!

Saturday was a feet up by the pool day but we also did a shake out walk for Ruth Anne to see the finish line and the shuttle bus stop to the start. We socialized with fellow runners and made sure to use plenty of sunblock so we wouldn't go into Marathon day with a sunburn! We walked to Eataly at the mall for our carbo loading. 

It was a miracle that I was able to wake up at 3:45am on Marathon Day! I was ready to greet the day full of energy and vitality. I walked Ruth Anne to get the shuttle to the start, organized our room, had a quick bite for breakfast at Lumiere and headed to the finish line. I sat on the bleachers able to stand up and sit down with ease to cheer on runners. I walked down the bleacher stairs using the handrail on the right navigating around the crowd, walked back to the hotel, back to the finish line, back to the hotel and met Ruth Anne halfway between the finish line and the hotel. We walked to the Mall to get Ruth Anne a smoothie and have a light bite. We walked back to the hotel, took showers and walked around the Mall to decide where to have our celebratory dinner. The Mall is a two-level 1,300,000 square feet outdoor mall!

You can imagine how well we slept on Sunday night!

On Monday, we swam and packed up getting ready for our return flight on Tuesday. 

Yesterday we went out for a 5K despite the rain!

 It was smiles for miles for Team McManus as we continue to celebrate the magic and miracles in our lives. I expressed deep gratitude to my body for all it has and continues to give me. I was in awe of my resilience, strength and endurance during the Los Angeles Marathon Weekend. Coincidentally, runners of the LA Marathon support the McCourt Foundation whose mission it is build a healthier world. They support research for ALS, MS and Alzheimers. 

What a blessing to be able to fully participate in an amazing adventure with Ruth Anne. The more I challenge myself and move beyond a once devastating diagnosis, the more I am blessed to experience everything as a miracle!

 

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 with links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story.

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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.

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.

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Be sure to download and subscribe to the AdaptX podcast. Here's the link to my wonderful conversation with host Brendan Aylward sharing my journey of transformation and healing in the wake of polio, Post-Polio syndrome and trauma.