When I looked at the long-range forecast for Christmas Day and compared it to last Saturday's forecast, I knew that I would celebrate turning 72 a bit early with 7.2 miles. It was a glorious day with wall to wall sunshine. Friday was in the 50's with wind and rain. We were concerned that as the temperatures fell along with a forecast for sleet falling overnight, that we would be unable to do our two Reservoir run. I had my mental game prepared for the two Reservoir run and had to make a shift Friday night with an out and back on Beacon Street while also putting out a powerful intention that, for my longest run since the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon, we would be able to do the run we originally planned.
When we got up Saturday morning, the streets were miraculously down to bare pavement. Except for doing a brief weather check, I was off all devices before our run. I mindfully ate my breakfast. I had packed our fuel belt and running backpack the night before and filled our water bottles. With a fiery determination in my heart and soul, we headed out the door to the Route 9 Reservoir for 3 times around. Fortunately, the path was dry and clear. I had the run chunked into 4 miles - a stop at our home for an aid station - and the final 3.2 miles with once around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. The run went exactly as I had visualized it including the celebration photo that Tom took as we were heading into the final stretch.
I 'just happened' to capture 6 geese a laying in a photo and smiled when I realized what I'd done. I felt strong and confident throughout the 7.2 miles. At a bit over the 6 mile mark, I felt a little dizzy realizing that I had not taken my Gu Waffle at mile 6. Once I had a half of the waffle, I was ready to finish strong. We refueled at Johnny's Luncheonette in Newton Center. I was craving, of all things, their lox, egg and onion scramble with a toasted bagel. Tom enjoyed their eggs benedict hold the hollandaise sauce.
This quote from Kristin Armstrong captures the essence of how we were feeling as we relished our post-race meal! After peeling off our sweaty clothes and getting changed into sweats, we took a 2 hour nap. As I drifted off to sleep, I meditated on how my body recovers with ease and feeling overwhelming gratitude for how well my body served me to go the longest distance I'd gone in years!
Sunday was a rest and light chore day. Tom's vacation would begin after he finished work on Tuesday and we were already in vacation mode feeling satisfied and accomplished with our long run. We were grateful that Monday was a strength training day since arctic temperatures returned to Boston.
Even though Western Medicine told me, after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, that if I used it I would lose it, based on their limited understanding of what happens in the wake of paralytic polio, I knew I needed to get moving. My subconscious lit the way when I started writing poetry in February of 2007 after getting still and asking for Divine Guidance. The first poem I wrote foreshadowed my 2009 Boston Marathon run. I am, as we all are, born to run or at the very least move! During our joyful and playful strength training workout, I could feel strength building on the strength from Saturday's long run.
I woke up at 4am on Tuesday. I meditated and fell into a deep sleep. When the alarm went off at 6am, as I shook my head to clear the fog from a dream I was having, I thought about how wonderful the cold air would feel on my face as Tom and I got in our morning miles especially after Saturday's triumphant run. Neighbors' Christmas lights brought smiles to our faces and hearts. We were treated to a sky layered with pink, blue and gray hues at the Reservoir. Compared to recent early morning miles, when the temperatures were in the teens, it felt relatively mild. There was no wind or precipitation although it did feel like snow was in the air which was forecast for later in the day.
What a treat to be able to sleep in, have breakfast and go on a mid-morning run on my birthday on Thursday. I felt overwhelming gratitude for the gift of the year past and excitement for what the next year will bring. I reflected on how grateful I am for Tom being the best training and life partner anybody could possibly hope for. I am forever grateful to him for telling me it was a no-brainer in 2007 to leave behind my award-winning social work career to heal my life from the once devastating effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma. It's been an amazing 19 years of healing filled with adventures, trials, tribulations and triumphs. I am so excited to celebrate Tom's 74th birthday and our 48th wedding anniversary (49 of being together) in Hyannis.
On our run, I shared my memory of sitting at a round table in a cramped conference room with the physiatrist, OT, PT and Speech Therapist letting me know the results of their findings that were consistent with Post-Polio Syndrome and what the future held for me. It was grim to say the least. One of the therapists slid a thick binder across the table to me that held information about adapting my Cape home or finding a ranch, durable medical equipment, support groups and resources to manage life as a polio survivor with Post-Polio Syndrome. Tom chimed in with how I used to use weighted utensils to eat and had a tub chair, cane and toe-up leg brace. We used PeaPod or Tom would do the groceries. But then we remembered the day we put all of the adaptive equipment on the curb in front of our house with a "FREE" sign!
What a wonderful way to wrap up an incredibly successful week of training. Training
for the Hyannis 10K was not on my bingo card a year ago nor was
training with this kind of passion, purpose, consistency and joy on the
horizon for me. I am so grateful for this training cycle that began
around the time of my half birthday in June! This is 72!
In health and wellness - Mary
Visit my ***NEW*** 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
Trilogy of Transformation chronicles my journey from having been told
to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair with the
diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by
Western Medicine standards to a woman transformed through the sport of
running. Take a journey into a world of healing, hope and possibilities
with my 7 books, available on Amazon. My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely
Runner: Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is a selection of the
WBZ News Radio Book Club and Bill Rodgers Running Center Billy's
Bookshelf: Recommended Reading for Every Runner. You will be inspired by
my strength, courage, resilience, determination and overcoming the
inevitable setbacks that come with a journey to health and wellness.
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.
Reach out to me at maryamcmanus@gmail.com if you'd like me to speak to your organization or group to inspire them with what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary; how one finds strength, resilience and determination in the face of seemingly impossible odds.
I was recently the guest on The Optimism Institute Blue Sky Podcast. 
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