Ten Years Later - A Full Circle Moment with Marathon Sports

 I received this message from Marathon Sports on my Instagram account:

Hi Mary! I hope you’re having a great start to your week. We would love to share this photo + caption in our newsletter for Mother’s Day - would you be okay with us utilizing your content? Thank you!

Ruth Anne and I were in town the Wednesday before this year's Boston Marathon. "Come on mom. We've got to go into Marathon Sports. It's our Boston Marathon Tradition!"
Me: "Sure okay!"
Me observing woman stacking cowbells in her arms:
"Excuse me. May I ask who you are buying those for?"
Woman: "Sure it's my team. I work for a biomedical company that helps trauma victims with our product. There's a runner who benefited from our product and we're here to cheer him on. He's amazing. He just ran Tokyo."
Me: "Um is that Jared Ewing?"

She was as shocked as we were. Woman: "How do you know him?" 

Ruth Anne: "My mom was on the same podcast as he was - On the Runs. She's a polio survivor and ran the 2009 Boston Marathon."
Her name is Alicia and she had no idea Jared was on the podcast. I told her that my daughter practically pulled me into the store. Alicia said, "Well I was outside but decided to come back in and get the cowbells!"

Yesterday, Ruth Anne was inspired to bring flyers for my upcoming Book Release Party. It's happening two doors down from Marathon Sports at Livite.

The women working there were wow'ed by the flyer and my journey. I got goosebumps to think I was standing in the very spot where I bought my first pair of running shoes - ever - at the age of 53 to train for the 2009 Boston Marathon. It was in February of 2008. I had never run a day in my life, yet my personal trainer was totally non-plussed when I told her my next health and fitness goals were to come out of my toe-up leg brace, to take a walk outside, to feel free in my body, diversify my health and wellness workouts...And as she was getting ready to leave I said, "Wait...I have one more goal!" "What's that?: she asked. "I want to run the Boston Marathon next year for Spaulding Rehab." "Well you are going to need a pair of running shoes." 

 

She sent me to Marathon Sports Brookline where Spencer Aston spent a good half hour helping me to find the right running shoes for my most unusual gait. He even fitted me with an orthotic for my left shoe. So began our relationship with Marathon Sports.

In July of 2008, I ran my first 5 mile road race, the Marathon Sports 5 Miler.

It was an evening race. It was hot and there was a fast field. I wanted to quit. What was I doing and what was I thinking that I could possibly run the 2009 Boston Marathon? But Tom wouldn't let me quit and the support from the Brookline Marathon Sports staff who knew my story were so supportive that I soldiered on through the heat. When I crossed the finish line, the staff blew the air horn and honked the horn on the truck making me feel as though I had broken the finisher's tape!

 

Fast forward to April of 2014 when I approached Brookline Marathon Sports store manager about the possibility of having the book release party for "Coming Home:A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" at the store. Ellen was all in. She helped to make the evening more memorable than I even imagined it would be as I wrote in my blog, "Everything I Imagined and More."

Thirty people gathered to celebrate the launch of my what I thought would be my one and only book and to support the One Fund. I met Meghan and her mom Maura at a Boston Marathon L Street water stop. Maura, a professional photographer, took these amazing photos:

I've been so blessed to have many adventures as a most unlikely runner as runnergirl 1953 and to chronicle those in my Trilogy of Transformation that includes "Coming Home", "Going the Distance:The Power of Endurance" and "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953." During the pandemic I wrote "Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic" and "Into the Light: Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic." "Into the Light" and now "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" are selections of the WBZ Book Club.

Back in April, when Ruth Anne pulled me into Marathon Sports, I had no idea that I was in the middle of a full circle moment about to happen. That's part of the mystery and magic of how the Universe works. Always remember to go where the Universe leads.

When I took that leap of faith on 5/25/2007, I had no idea where the path would lead. The path has led me on the most incredible adventures, meeting the most wonderful and amazing people and having the opportunity to spread a powerful message of healing, hope and infinite possibilities! I never dreamed that instead of being jeered after contracting polio, I would be cheered and celebrated by the running community. I wonder what adventures are in store on and off the roads as I celebrate the spectacular seventies!

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