A Phenomenal 5K

 

Tom and I were support crew for Ruth Anne's 15 miles on the road to the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab on Friday. She had a recovery run scheduled for Saturday and we were going to do a 5K together but her body needed more recovery time. She encouraged me to go ahead and get in my 5K and she would be support crew with Tom. It was cold and there was a lot of ice to navigate but what a thrill to be celebrating 18 years of healing in the wake of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome at 71 years old.                                              

The hills were alive as they will be from now until Marathon Monday. There were solo runners, clusters of 'qualified' runners and charity teams. The rhythm of runners' feet inspired my own running cadence. 

As I passed the Johnny Kelley statue, there was ice that was going to be too difficult to navigate. As I looked out onto Comm. Ave., I heard, "Hey you." It was our dear friend Amanda who is running Boston once again for Camp Shriver. 

"Stay there, I'm coming out to the street."

I'm still in awe of the amazing people I've been blessed to meet throughout these past 17 years.

Amanda gives the best hugs. She told me to congratulate Ruth Anne on her 15 miler and said recovery is so important. (Amanda is a physical therapist). Two questions asked and answered on the Hills in February is "How far you going today?" and "How is fundraising going?" Amanda did 17 miles and she is almost to her fundraising goal.

We took a selfie:

Amanda spotted two of her running friends. "Oh I'm just over here taking a selfie." She introduced me and let her friends know she would share my story with them when they got back. We took a group selfie. There is no such thing as strangers when it comes to the running community. After meeting in person, we connect on social media as the village grows and grows. 

After feeling the warmth from fellow runners, I went on my way. I cut back into the carriage road. For the last mile of my run, I was treated to dry ground and no hill. Tom and Ruth Anne gave me high fives. I usually need to do an out and back run since we have to get back to our car. Doing a point to point run on the Boston Marathon course was exhilarating. I recalled that day in April of 2009, when we went from Hopkinton to Boston representing Spaulding Rehab and ultimately raising $10,535 for the hospital where I took the first steps on my healing journey!

 So what made Saturday's run a phenomenal 5K? 

Seeing Amanda and realizing how the running community continues to embrace my journey warms my heart and soul. Being out in the elements, when once I experienced cold intolerance due to symptoms of Post-Polio Syndrome,  and pushing my pace, reminded me of the body's tremendous capacity to heal. It was the first solo run I'd done in awhile where I did not need to be support crew for Ruth Anne. I LOVE being support crew for Ruth Anne on her road to the Boston Marathon, but it was phenomenal to have Tom and Ruth Anne be support crew for me. Every step is a gift and every mile is a blessing that I never take for granted but some days, the blessing and gift gets amped up to phenomenal as it did this past Saturday. 

From my heart to yours

In health and wellness - Mary

Visit my website to learn how poetry, optimism, gratitude and the mind/body connection helped me to transform my life. After having been told in December 2006 that I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I went on to cross the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and have many adventures as runnergirl 1953. Be sure to visit the recently updated News and Events Page for links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon  My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is receiving rave reviews and is a selection of the WBZ News Radio Book Club.

 

Only Those Who Risk Going Too Far...

 

 

 

 

 

This May 25th marks 18 years since I took a leap of faith leaving behind my award-winning social work career to heal my life after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and expect an accelerated decline as I aged. I refused to take the diagnosis sitting down. In February of 2007, I got still, asked for Divine Guidance and discovered the gift of poetry in my soul. Writing poetry opened the portal to heal, harnessing my imagination and firing up the power of the mind/body connection.

My life transformed through the sport of running despite all appearances to the contrary. Here I am celebrating 18 years of healing and aging strong.

Throughout my journey, I have risked going too far. I write about it in my 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner: Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior." I continue to risk going too far as I get ready to go the distance of a half marathon again this year.

A week ago Sunday, Ruth Anne had a 3 mile recovery run for her training for the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital. 

Because of the recent snow and ice, we took to the Newton Hills. We had to turn around at one point because the carriage road was covered with ice and snow. There is a HUGE hill just past where we park our car. We could have done repeated out and backs but instead, I risked going too far and took charge by charging up the hill! Might I also add that we miscalculated the mileage and ended up doing 3.2 miles. 

What a thrill and sense of accomplishment pushing myself out on the hills in the cold, snow and ice. Whenever I am out on the Hills, I recall the anchor memory of training for and then running the 2009 Boston Marathon!

Another snowstorm was in the forecast for last Sunday. We were all set to go around the BU indoor track but I had this deep yearning to be outside in the elements. I remembered one particular training run on the road to the 2009 Boston Marathon when it was snowing hard. There was no ice so it was safe to run albeit it was quite the challenge. BUT there was a sense of unbridled joy and freedom. I felt as though I was dancing with the snowflakes.

Our street had been plowed so we had a stretch of dry ground to get in what I thought was going to be 3 miles. Ruth Anne suggested that, since we were already outside, and she had 4 miles on her training plan, why not do 4 miles?

Rather than going up and down our street, Ruth Anne suggested we run on the hills that were clear. Sure, why not add in a bit more adventure and see just what this body would give me. It gave me 4 fabulous miles in the snow with hills!

 

The smiles and the rosy cheeks express the joy and exhilaration of pushing myself to see just how far I could go. I am celebrating 18 years of healing in the wake of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome and seeing what this body can do at 71 years young! 

Isn't it a miracle that at 71, I am still testing myself and risking going too far especially after a setback in 2021/2022 when I thought I would have to return to the sidelines. But, as one of my favorite quotes says:

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

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon  My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is receiving rave reviews and is a selection of the WBZ News Radio Book Club.

Falmouth Is Our Happy Place!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Ruth Anne reached out to Julianna Coughlin, host of the Runnah podcast. Julianna and I have been social media friends for years. This past summer, Tom and Ruth Anne met her in person at the Cape Cod Marathon Weekend. Julianna gave Ruth Anne an enthusiastic response to having her as a guest on her podcast to talk about her Boston Marathon journey, her running journey and fundraising for Spaulding Rehabilitation. She extended the invitation to include having me as a guest since our journeys are intertwined. When she asked if we could come to Falmouth to record the episode, I jumped at the opportunity. We decided to make it a girls' mid-week mini vacation. We made a reservation at the Falmouth Inn; our go to place for decades. One of our dear friends introduced us to Falmouth and his friends in the Sea and Surf Anglers Club. They would compete in fishing tournaments against the Blue Waters Anglers Club of Bermuda. They began the international fishing tournaments because Black men were not allowed to compete in international fishing tournaments.

We left in the morning on Wednesday to have plenty of time to relax before recording the podcast at Falmouth Community Television. There is a sense of joy and deep exhale of relaxation when we crossover the Bridge.

Our first stop was to see the breathtaking views of Nantucket Sound along Falmouth Heights Beach.

 

We went to Main Street for lunch. Devine Pizza was closed for vacation. We went to Maison Vilatte and had exquisite sandwiches, French Onion Soup that was THE best French Onion Soup I have ever enjoyed and Ruth Anne had a hot cocoa.

 

 

 

We freshened up and easily found our way to Falmouth Community Television. 

Julianna was an incredible host and helped us to feel at ease during the interview. The mic and camera melted into the background as we had a free and easy conversation among 3 runnah friends. After the recording, we sat and chatted with Julianna before we headed to the Falmouth Inn to check in.

After a rest with meditation, we headed to Shipwrecked for dinner. The stars shined brightly above the Sound and the sound of the ocean was medicine for our soul.

Thursday morning we woke up at 7am without an alarm. We decided to go on a pre-breakfast run!

There was a strong headwind and the temperature was 27 degrees but it didn't matter with the spectacular views and the joy of running together in our happy place. We went back to the Falmouth Inn fueling with our oatmeal at the continental breakfast, and headed back in town to Maison Vilatte for croissants and tea.

 

We checked out of the hotel and went back to the Beach. We took a long drive winding along the beach, windows open to breathe in the sea air and feel the fresh cold air on our faces.

 

We went back to Shipwrecked for lunch. Ruth Anne checked her email and received a message from the manager of the Black Dog. They had generously donated a mug and coffee to her thankful Thursday gift giveaways and were delighted to make another donation for her Spring Fling Gift Giveaway.

After a delicious lunch at Shipwrecked:

 

we headed in town to collect Ruth Anne's gift giveaway gifts at the Black Dog and thank Scott Ghelfi for his donation of a $25. He gave her a sample of their signature almond bark:

 Such an amazing 48 hours in Falmouth which continues to be our happy place. We can't wait to return.

Julianna edited the Runnah Podcast and it dropped one week after we recorded it!

Here is the link to watch it and subscribe on YouTube.

Be sure to subscribe to Runnah pod on your favorite podcast platform. Here is the link to Spotify and Apple.

We are deeply grateful to Julianna for being the hostess with the mostess; for her mad podcast interviewing skill, editing, content creation and the gift of her friendship.

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

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon  My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is receiving rave reviews and is a selection of the WBZ News Radio Book Club.