Breaking Through - Breaking Free!

Ever since I began this journey to heal my life in the wake of childhood paralytic polio and trauma, I worked to break free from the messages that were imprinted and embedded in my mind and body. Writing poetry was a powerful way for me to transform all that went before harnessing the power of my mind and the bidirectional mind/body connection. As I transformed my thoughts, my body healed and as I healed my body, it became easier to transform limiting thought patterns.

Running became a powerful source of healing in my life. As George Sheehan eloquently said:

After running 3 Half Marathons in Bermuda in 2016, 2017 and 2018, I thought that my distance running days were behind me. I had shaken off the limits placed on me by Western Medicine after a serious knee injury in 2014 to achieve those miraculous feats and felt content with all that I accomplished as a most unlikely runner. I was running 5K's and during COVID did Virtual Races. 

On 5/5 of 2021, I had the booster shot for the 2nd vaccine. Despite doing all the right things with meditation, crystals, hydration, fueling, visualization and consulting my dear friend and mind/body luminary,  Dr. David Hamilton about the safety of the vaccines, I woke up in the middle of the night with excruciating nerve pain down my right leg accompanied by muscle spasms. I kept going with my regular workouts and runs until I had to curtail my activities due to pain and weakness. 

At the end of 2022, Ruth Anne said I had to do something; that I had not come this far in my journey to only go that far. She was right. I had to, in the words of Dr. Joe Dispenza, think greater than my circumstances. It was counter-intuitive to do more when I was in pain and struggling with fatigue again but I knew that's exactly what I needed to do. 

I ran the 2023 First Run Virtual 5K and would have been able to compete in the live race based on my results and the results from the event having finished about ten runners before the last runner. Ruth Anne decided that we needed to do something epic now that the pandemic was over and I was getting ready to celebrate my 70th birthday! Although my plan for the 2024 Bermuda 10K Walk event did not end the way I had trained for and visualized, I was still able to reach my goals of celebrating all I accomplished in my healing journey and in my life and spread a powerful message of healing, hope and infinite possibilities. The stress leading up to Race Weekend combined with a bout of COVID in December resulted in 'calling it' at 3.06 miles. 

But, as I wrote about in yesterday's blog, I had a gnawing feeling that I needed to go the 10K distance again. On Saturday, I let my heart and my mind lead the way. I made no announcement on social media since it was such a spontaneous decision. I knew this was more than a 10K and it was about so much more than me and my goals. 

I keep sharing my story and keep writing my story to let people know what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary. While no one expected me to just go out and do a 10K at the age of 70 years old and having had a DNF in Bermuda after a bout with COVID, recovering from a setback in 2021/2022, I needed to go out and see what this body could do.  When others who may be facing difficult challenges see my age, strength, tenacity, resilience and determination, it uplifts them on their journeys. It certainly uplifted me on mine as I embrace and delight in the soreness. I thank my muscles that did me proud in going out and just doing a 10K without building up the mileage again. I give thanks for the miracle of healing and all that my body lets me do on any given day. As Ruth Anne said to me when we finished the 10K, "You still got it ma."

Today is the 70th anniversary of when Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile. No one before him believed it was possible. But once he demonstrated that in fact it WAS possible, others tried and succeeded. There is always a ripple effect that occurs when one breaks through a previously perceived limitation or barrier.

In the beginning of my book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior", I reflect on how, when my mother was the age I am today, she was in an Assisted Living Facility.  My family of origin liked their comfort yet paradoxically struggled and suffered with addiction and mental health challenges. Even though I had run the 2009 Boston Marathon, many 5 and 10K's and several half marathons, Saturday's 10K was a liberating run. I broke through my own barrier of going the distance of a 10K again. I broke free from generations that had a very unhealthy lifestyle while staking claim to my passion and purpose of spreading a powerful message of healing, hope and infinite possibilities!

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. My interview with the amazing On the Runs podcast team of Erika Hamel and Eric Knuuttunen is Episode 56. Be sure to subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Proud to BU is a podcast highlighting the illustrious achievements of Boston University Alumni. Here is the link to my episode.

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

***COMING MAY 25, 2024***  "A Most Unlikely Runner: Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" Book Release Party 6/3  7-8pm at Livite Brookline in Washington Square