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.