Before I begin the recap of the celebration on Boylston Street, in the Mandarin Hotel and in the week that followed, I want to take you back to Hopkinton for a moment. Before Ruth Anne went to her corral, she texted me this photo:
A week or so before the Marathon, Ruth Anne was inspired to make a button with a photo of me coming down Commonwealth Avenue smiling when we ran the 2009 Boston Marathon as Team McManus. I was so touched that she wanted to do that. She said that if the going got tough, she would look down and remember all I'd overcome and that even though it took us 7 hours and 49 minutes, we crossed that finish line together!
The celebration began as soon as Ruth Anne texted me with "Here I come." She was surprised at the finish line with Caitlin Doherty, her best friend friend from L Street Running Club who took these amazing photos:
Walking like a boss after conquering the Newton Hills for Spaulding Rehab.
With Sasha
Receiving the coveted Unicorn
How amazing to celebrate this moment with Cait, the first person Ruth Anne met at the L Street Running Club's Jim Kane Race in 2015.
Erin, Dr. Carter and I went upstairs to wait for Ruth Anne, Tom and Sasha to walk around to the Mandarin. We didn't know Cait was coming to the finish line, otherwise we would have bought her a ticket to the party at the Mandarin. She was just so happy to be at the finish line to celebrate Ruth Anne's second Boston Marathon finish; her first solo one.
The party was supposed to end at 6 but there were still a lot of people there, many of whom were waiting to celebrate Ruth Anne. I've known Nikki Mansfield through the Facebook Race for Rehab group. She is the heart and soul of the team, showing up for events, and always saying that Race for Rehab is the best team. She had followed Ruth Anne's journey and when I met her in the Mandarin, she gave me the biggest hug. She reassured me that Ruth Anne would do great and helped to calm my jitters along the way. She had gotten to the party at 1pm. I thought for sure she would have left the party but she wanted to see Ruth Anne cross the Race for Rehab finish line at the Mandarin. Steven Patrick, VP of Development told me that it could be up to 20 minutes before she got back to the Mandarin. Cara Brickley, VP of Operations and Director of Inpatient Services said that she needed to have a crowd gather for when Ruth Anne walked through the doors. I knew Ruth Anne was with Sasha and Tom so I could finally let out a big exhale and celebrate what Ruth Anne and, what we as Team McManus had just accomplished. Cara directed Ruth Anne to the "finish line" door and directed Tom and Sasha to enter the ballroom through another door. Erin did a video of this iconic moment of celebration for the last runner on the 129th Boston Marathon Race for Rehab team to finish:
We also took photos to document Ruth Anne's inspiring Boston Marathon finish:
With Nikki and Dr. Carter
Team McManus with Erin Foley, Ruth Anne's OT of 5 years at Spaulding. Ruth Anne write about how Erin has been a vital part of her recovery on her fundraising page.
Melissa Gleaton and I have been running friends for years. I was so excited to learn that she joined Spaulding Rehab's Development Team about a year ago. She helped me to stay calm throughout the day understanding the jitters of a mother waiting for her daughter to finish the Boston Marathon and captured the day with incredible photos. She took this photo of Ruth Anne hugging me after she walked in the room. Here's a selfie with Melissa after Ruth Anne received a post-race stretch from Spaulding PT's and a shower at the Mandarin Spa.
After everyone congratulated Ruth Anne and the party wound down at around 7:00, we took an Uber home still buzzing with the excitement of the day.
Tom had a vacation day on Tuesday. The sun was shining and so was Team McManus. There's only one thing to do the day after the Boston Marathon when you live in Boston; go back downtown to Copley Square to celebrate! Our first stop was at Eva Boston to celebrate:
Runners were wearing medals, finisher jackets and the unique energy that surrounds the Boston Marathon continued to permeate the City. We applauded the Six Star Finishers and conversations spontaneously started from table to table. It was time to get Ruth Anne her Finisher's Jacket at Marathon Sports. While we bought swag at the Expo and at Marathon Sports before she ran Boston, we were superstitious about buying the finisher's jacket. The sign above the Unicorn went from Countdown to Congratulations!
Wednesday through Friday were rest and recovery days. On Saturday, Caitlin asked Ruth Anne to join her for a celebratory brunch at Central Perk. Despite a rainy day, their spirits could not be dampened. Cait shared with Ruth Anne that she can cross the finish line for the next year until the eve of the Marathon. She, however, could not be on the finish line because she did not run Boston this year! Here are the photos of their celebration time together:
Caption for this last photo -- Boston was her victory! Moment met!
You can still donate to Ruth Anne's fundraising page to support Spaulding's life saving work. A BIG thank you to our amazing village for your donations, for being out on the course on race day, gift giveaway sponsors, the outpouring of love and support throughout Ruth Anne's healing journey, Race for Rehab especially Amanda Shuman who works day and night to ensure the Team's safety and well-being, and most of all, Spaulding Rehab. Last June, Ruth Anne experienced a sudden onset of alarming symptoms. She couldn't swallow, walk or talk. She had 4 ER visits with symptoms that would wax and wane accompanied by severe migraine headaches. Fortunately she was diagnosed with a neurology team at the Brigham who immediately referred her to Spaulding Rehab for Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapies. As she recovered from the Functional Neurological Disorder, she knew it was time to fulfill her dream of the past 5 years; to run the Boston Marathon as part of the Race for Rehab Team. We are forever grateful to Spaulding for helping Ruth Anne to find her strength and move forward in her life.
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 are available on Bookshop
that share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities;
what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary. Be sure to
visit my Author Page 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 .
I woke up at 4:30am without the alarm which was set for 5:30. I had butterflies as I often have on Boston Marathon Monday ever since we ran it in 2009 only these were butterflies on steroids. I meditated and kept clearing thoughts of catastrophic "what ifs" to what if I imagine a perfect day. Ruth Anne and Tom got up with the 5:30am alarm. It was go time after Ruth Anne's 17 week training cycle for the 129th Boston Marathon.
We had our plan and were ready to execute it. When we arrived at the Beaconsfield Stop on the "D" line, we took photos to document the day:
We asked a group of runners who were waiting for the T that you can see
in the photo with Ruth Anne, who is running? The group separated and
said she is. Ruth Anne asked if she BQ’ed. “Yes I did but I’m nervous
because I have an Achilles issue.” I had watched a Patreon teaser from
the On The Runs podcast. I was a guest on Episode 56. They are a unique running podcast that I follow and support as a Patreon. I asked her “What is your name?” pretty sure I already knew the answer.
“Allie.” To which I said, "As in the Allie G show?" She has her own podcast under the umbrella of Monday Night Media which includes On the Runs. We all hugged and took a photo:
The train came. Allie's pit crew wished her well and told her they loved her. Team McManus smiled reflecting on the amazing Unicorn magic aka synchronicity that happened at the train station. You could feel the excitement of the runners and spectators vibrating on the train. The only other time I'd been up that early on Boston Marathon Monday was when we drove to Spaulding Rehab to get the bus to Hopkinton. The BAA no longer allows separate buses for charity teams.
The sun was shining when we arrived to Boylston Street where Ruth Anne and her bus buddy Fadi would meet up.
Ruth Anne used the bathroom at Tatte while we waited for Fadi and she grabbed a croissant since she didn't make her smoothie before we left the house. They walked to where the buses would be loading to take them to Hopkinton. Fadi was hoping that they would be able to get on a bus earlier than the scheduled time given their start times as he had last year. Unfortunately, they waited an hour to get on a bus. Nothing was going to dampen their spirits for the day:
Tom and I walked to the T at Arlington Street passing throngs of lines of runners waiting to board their buses on the Common.
After Fadi and Ruth Anne left, Tom and I stopped in Tatte to fuel ourselves knowing we had a very long day ahead of us. There was a woman seated next to us who was scrolling furiously on her phone. We asked her if she needed help with anything. A look of relief came over her face. Her boyfriend is a qualifier and she was trying to figure out how and where she was going to see him during the day but being from Seattle and this being her first time in Boston, she had no idea what to do. We gave her the information she'd need along with which apps to download. We exchanged information in case she needed further help during the day. When we got on the train to head back to our usual spectating spot at Dean Road and Beacon Street, there she was sitting on the T. We laughed at the synchronicity. Tom started a conversation with a couple standing next to him who were from Virginia. There daughter is a student at Virginia Tech where Tom works. The Unicorn Magic was everywhere!
Ruth Anne texted me photos from Athletes Village. Just as Ruth Anne trained for the Marathon, I trained as a spectator training myself to trust and stay as calm as possible in between texts and tracking information but those pesky butterflies kept flitting around inside of me.
While Fadi and Ruth Anne were getting ready to toe the starting line, Tom and I made our way back to the spot where we have watched the Boston Marathon for years, at the corner of Dean Road and Beacon Street. Neighbors came up to us to ask how Ruth Anne felt.
We left to go back to the Mandarin at around noon knowing that Ruth Anne was beginning her journey back to Boston. We had to wait for several subway cars to pass because they were full. We debated about whether or not to change trains and go to the Prudential stop or walk from Arlington Street since it was such a gorgeous day. We thought it would be good practice for walking Ruth Anne back to the Mandarin after she crossed the finish line since there was tightened security and she would have to walk behind Boylston Street to get there. What would ordinarily be a 10 minute walk took about an hour and a half. We were so hungry but fortunately Spaulding Rehab had an amazing spread at the party.
I tried to not focus on the tracker and Find My Phone but it was as challenging as Ruth Anne running the Boston Marathon. Ruth Anne told me afterwards that at mile 2 she was tired given how she was on her feet for an hour waiting for the bus and then she had almost a mile walk from Athletes Village to the Corrals. But she knew there was no turning back and knew there was a lot of love, orange slices and pretzels waiting for her once she got to mile 10. She got a boost when Marathon Panda Maurice called out to her at the start of the race and took time to take a selfie with her:
He's part of the On the Runs pod fam!
We've been friends with Paula Romero Dunbar since 2013. Her husband Walter was a first responder on 4/15/13. She always had a dream to have her own celebration boutique and is the womanpreneur at Paper Fiesta (see previous blog post). She was delighted to bring oranges and pretzels for Ruth Anne as Tom and I had done when we were support crew during her training cycle. She took these amazing photos as Ruth Anne was coming into Mile 10 and Paper Fiesta and as she was heading back out on the course. She texted me and let me know how strong Ruth Anne looked at Mile 10!
We met Shawn Whalen at Boston Logan Airport on our way to Bermuda in January of 2016. We've been friends ever since. We knew that he would be at Mile 12 where he has volunteered for years. We asked him if he could bring oranges and pretzels for Ruth Anne to mimic her fueling on long runs. Not only did he enthusiastically agree but said he would peel the oranges because one time during a race, the juice from the orange squirted in his eye and burned. He also asked what kind of pretzels she would like and what would be easiest for her to carry!
Ruth Anne took a selfie with him at Mile 12:
When Ruth Anne saw the Wellesley sign she knew she was approaching the halfway mark and Caroline, her advisor from Boston College Woods College of Advancing Studies. Ruth Anne had been registered for her last class to finish her Masters Certificate but it was an in person evening class. When Ruth Anne asked Caroline for advice about whether or not she could take it in the summer and focus on training, she said absolutely yes! She told us exactly where she would be in Wellesley and had hugs, oranges and a sign to greet her.
A bit farther into Wellesley, Ruth Anne heard someone call out her name. It was Michelle Bopp from our L Street Running Club. Another boost of love as Ruth Anne made her way to Newton and the Hills.
I was so grateful for the texts from Ruth Anne with updates, and our friends saying how strong and happy she looked!
She slowly and steadily made her way toward Boston keeping plenty in the tank for the Hills. Unlike many runners when they get to the Hills, Ruth Anne was ecstatic when she got to the Firehouse where the party atmosphere was in high gear.
At mile 18 she saw Candace, another member of the On the Runs pod fam who gave her a big hug. At mile 19point2 she was welcomed by the On the Runs Cheer Zone, given a bag of oranges and sent on her way but oh wait -- There was a surprise guest from Ohio, Patrick Leber, whose book she read and who was incredibly generous during Ruth Anne's thank you to her donors gift giveaways. She turned around and went back taking a selfie with the group.
One of our dear friends, Beth Singleton Craig, who made Boston Marathon History being the first daughter-mother duo greeted Ruth Anne at the top of Heartbreak Hill. Along the way she was greeted by Wendy Wheeler, a dear friend of many years from Church and Ilene Fabisch, a friend we met through the running community. I was so grateful for the texts and photos.
Fortunately, Ruth Anne's Occupational Therapist from Spaulding, Erin Foley arrived at the Mandarin. The tracker froze at 18.3 miles. We were tracking Ruth Anne with "Find My Phone" which eased the anxiety a bit and Erin agreed that tracking can be more stressful than running.
At Mile 21, Ruth Anne was greeted by Boston College students and the two women we met at the Mile 21 Spaghetti Dinner the Monday before the Marathon. She thanked them for all they did, high fived the BC students and was on her way to Cleveland Circle.
She was disappointed at first that the people who said they would be at Cleveland Circle weren't there but understood that it was getting late and they had children. BUT she did have a big surprise when Willa and Lily, the 13 year old twins who are our neighbors and who have known Ruth Anne their whole lives were there to greet her. A week or so before the Marathon, we bumped into them in CVS. Ruth Anne shared with them that she was running the Marathon. They said they would be out there to cheer her on. She said she probably wouldn't be there til 5 or 4:30 at the earliest and they said they didn't care. True to their word, they waited. Lily greeted her first with pom poms and then Willa chased her down Beacon Street to make sure she got a selfie with her (Willa may have gone to the bathroom).
It was just the boost she needed to get through those final miles!
We kept refreshing the tracker even though we had Ruth Anne on "Find Your Phone", and got a notification that no one ever wants to receive. "Location Not Detected. This means that the runner has either left the course or data is not available." I hopped on Facebook to let people know she was fine and heading toward the Kenmore. I was so happy when Ruth Anne texted me this photo of the Citgo Sign:
We exchanged the following text: Dr. Carter is the Race for Rehab Team Psychologist and photographer.
The police officers were amazing. It was almost 6:00pm which is
when they would open up Boylston Street but they were going to let her
get to the finish line. "Who are we waiting for?" one of the officers
asked. "Our daughter Ruth Anne." Tom ran up to Hereford Street and
yelled out for her. He ran back as she ran toward the finish line for
what she called the big finale.
Erin took this photo:
And here she is at the finish line:
There is still time to donate to support Spaulding Rehab and the life saving work they do. You can read Ruth Anne's incredible journey on her fundraising page by following this link.
To be continued...
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 are available on Bookshop
that share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities;
what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary. Be sure to
visit my Author Page 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 .
