Sweat and Rain on The Road to Hyannis 10K

 

Last week's theme for training runs on the road to the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K was signs. Coincidentally, on Tuesday evening, we were dining al fresco in our yard. We had finished our delicious BBQ and were savoring the summer evening, when my gaze was drawn upward. There had been no rain yet there it was:

It was such a spectacular sight that I asked Tom to please capture it with his iPhone. I thought to myself, "Well that makes sign number 4 for the week." I feel the gifts from the Divine's presence as I train for my next event.

This week's theme is cleansing. It was hot and humid on Saturday and Monday; for Thursday's run we had pouring rain. As George Sheehan said, "Sweat cleanses from the inside. It comes from places a shower will never reach." I was sweating so much after Saturday's 4 miler that I could not even reapply sunblock. It was wonderful to sit on the beach and enjoy a bit of a sea breeze while Tom and I refueled with peanut butter sandwiches, pretzels and sparkling water. My soul always settles by the sea. We expressed gratitude for the blessings in our lives; that we have been gifted with the sport of running for the past 17 years. Tom had been a runner in his younger days but stopped once we had twins. At first he didn't really believe me when I said that I was going to run the 2009 Boston Marathon despite never having run a day in my life and still wearing a toe-up leg brace but he humored me. Once he realized I was serious and determined, he was totally on board to support my mission.

Tom was tired on Monday morning and had a full week of work ahead. There was also a heat advisory but I got up when our alarm went off at 6:00 to get in my miles. I am delighted that I bought new singlets this year in honor of my new training cycle. Brooks had a sale. 
             

The "Run Happy" singlet was the perfect choice for Monday's run. In retrospect, it would have been smarter to adjust my pace. I ended up with a negative split on my last mile. Sweat poured from every pore and continued to pour once I got home. Although I felt a bit nauseous, I felt stress had melted away. I was refreshed and ready to start a new day and a new week. Thank goodness for air conditioning!

 

I lay in bed during the early hours of Thursday morning having awakened to bolts of lightning and thunder claps. "Oh no," I thought to myself. It's our early morning run day and I am in a serious training cycle. I meditated and must have fallen back to sleep since I was awakened by the alarm at 6:00am. No signs of lightning or thunder. Check the weather app. Only rain forecast for the entire day. It's a go!

 

As a child who contracted paralytic polio at the age of 5, wore a full metal leg brace until I was 7, was in physical therapy until 13 and just to intensify the challenge, experienced trauma in my home life, I never knew the unbridled joy of being able to run free in the rain, splashing in puddles getting muddy and messy. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006, I went back into a toe-up leg brace, used a cane and at times a wheelchair for mobility. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and expect an accelerated decline in functioning as I aged. In February of 2007, I got still and asked for Divine Guidance only to receive the answer to my prayer as discovering the gift of poetry in my soul. My pen became my Divining rod for healing. Early on in this wild and wonderful healing journey I had a dream about coming out of my leg brace and dancing in the rain barefoot and free like Gene Kelly did in Singing in the Rain (only he wasn't barefoot). The next morning I wrote the poem, "Come Out and Play" that is on one of the photo's from today's run at the beginning of the post. Whenever I run in the rain, I reflect on that magical moment in my journey. As Carl Jung said, "The unconscious prepares the way for the future."

 

Tom and I had a joyful run as rain soaked us to the skin. We sidestepped puddles when we could; when we had to go straight through them we laughed. I once read a quote that said, "Running in the rain makes me feel as though I can handle the whole world." Another great running in the rain quote is "Running in the rain. Exercise...Therapy... and a Shower all at the same time."

 

There was majesty and beauty that surrounded us with lush green trees, tall grass and the smell that is unique to a rainy day in Boston in summer.  When we got home dripping wet, we peeled off our jackets and hung them in the shower. It was a bit challenging to get out of my sports bra as I was literally soaked to the skin but channeled my inner Houdini. Tom and I smiled as we refueled with breakfast that always tastes so delicious after a run. We marveled at how I am celebrating 18 and a half years of healing and how, in our 70's we are training for a 10K, living life to the full, feeling joy and gratitude fill our hearts and souls.

Another week of training in the books on the road to Hyannis. I am enjoying reflecting on the week's training as much as I am doing the training runs and strength training workouts. Tom and I do our strength training on Tuesday mornings before breakfast. We were doing them during his lunch hour but really enjoy doing workouts and runs before breakfast. What a great way to kick start the day. 

 

I am cleansed, refreshed and renewed after the sweat and rain on this week's training runs, looking forward to a well-deserved rest day tomorrow.

 

"Anyone who thinks that sunshine is pure happiness has never run in the rain." ~Unknown

 

 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.

I was recently the guest on The Optimism Institute Blue Sky Podcast. 
"Mary McManus has never had it easy. As a kindergartner, she was a victim of polio just a short time before the vaccine was introduced. She also faced trauma in her home life but somehow managed to persevere and overcome these and still more obstacles throughout her life. Today, Mary is an inspiring author, poet, motivational speaker, and finisher of the Boston Marathon." Here is the link to the Episode Website. Be sure to subscribe on your favorite podcast platform and on YouTube.

My books share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities; what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary and are available on Bookshop  My 6th book, "Into the Light:Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic" and my 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" are selections of the WBZ News Radio Book Club. "Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is also a selection Bill Rodgers Running Center Billy's Bookshelf: Recommended Reads for Every Runner. Visit my Author Page on Amazon for rave reviews.