This Week in Training: The Year of the Horse

We were told to pretend we were horses galloping around the indoor gym with its parquet floor lined with green benches around the perimeter. I loved feeling free in my lithe, strong body whether in gym class or in ballet class with my beloved teacher Miss Patricia. But on that day in early June, my body collapsed and my life was forever changed when I was 5 and a half years old.

 

During this week's training cycle, as we ushered in the year of the Horse, I remembered that day in gym class and how horse imagery has been an integral part of my healing journey after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. In addition to visualizing the "Run Forrest Run" scene as he breaks free of leg braces, I let the images of horses running wild and free fuel my mirror neurons.  I used the metaphor to ignite a sense of running free in my body; to heal a neuromuscular system that was once ravaged by the effects of childhood paralytic polio and enduring abuse at the hands of family members.

 

"The Thoroughbred" was one of my earliest poems harnessing this powerful imagery:

As we set out on Saturday's 4 mile training run, we quickly realized we were not going to be able to run three times around the Route 9 Reservoir as originally planned with the ice and snow covered sidewalk as we walked out our front door. We headed to the Cleveland Circle Reservoir. Bitter cold wind came off the frozen water of the Reservoir. When we faced a solid patch of snow and ice, we reversed direction realizing we would need to #dothemath and do an out and back on Beacon Street. As we got to our turnaround point at 2.4 miles, a very strange thing happened to me. I hit the wall! I wanted Tom to get the car and take me home. I didn't tell Tom about this until we'd finished the run and were on our way to lunch thawing in our warm car. As I observed myself hitting the wall, I thought of the image of the thoroughbred. I harnessed the power of my mind to remember my strength and the champion I was always meant to be despite how others would treat me differently. I was delighted when I got my second wind and took off at the last mile. "Whoa girl," I said to myself and reined in my pace as Tom also said, "Hey where you goin' there?" I felt totally badass running up the last hill to the 'finish line.' Tom and I figured out that there were several factors that resulted in my hitting the wall so early in our run. We were out of bagels. My usual pre-run breakfast routine was not as hearty as when I have a cinnamon raisin bagel with my oatmeal, juice and banana. Despite the sunshine, the bitter cold wind coming off the Reservoir was an energy drain. Extra energy was also used being mindful of snow and ice. Changing our route midway through our run threw a wrench in my ability to get into the zone and rhythm of the run. Getting a second win and surging through that last mile gave me a tremendous boost for race day.

Monday morning marked the start of a new week, new day and new year with the same habit of Monday morning strength training. Getting up at 6:30am in the dark to work out in our home gym is made easier with my partner on the roads and in life. Since we are going to see Hamilton the Musical in April with a trip to New York,  I've added more songs from the soundtrack to get us pumped when we work out. 

 

On Tuesday, Tom and I weren't sure if we would get in our early morning miles with Monday night's snowfall. We were so grateful to our Town for plowing and salting our streets to make it safe for today's training run. It was a very Robert Frost-like training run. As I watched the sky transform from night to dawn, I felt my heart open and a connection to all that is. Writing poetry, 19 years ago next month, is where this journey as a most unlikely runner began. I felt I was poetry in motion on this morning's run. We passed a few other runners and exchanged a heartfelt "Good morning!" These early morning runs unplugged, breathing in cold crisp fresh air and being out in nature is a sacred time for Tom and me as we age strong and live well.

On Thursday, Tom and I could have easily done another strength training session but opted to wait for the warm sun to make it safe for us to get out and get in our miles during his lunch hour. It was a runderful runchie that required mindfulness with every step. Before setting out, I reminded myself that it was still cold outside despite the warmer temperatures given the ice and snow covered ground. We did take a moment or two to luxuriate in feeling the warm sun on our faces. Our cross training that incorporates balance work held us in good stead when we hit a patch of ice on a sidewalk. Thank goodness for bike lanes! It's hard to believe that 19 years ago 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. I was warned that going out in winter could be perilous for me as a polio survivor with presumed osteoporosis. The sun and fresh air helped to clear our minds and open our hearts given the horrific events of the past 24 hours in Minneapolis and the chaos that is being wrought by this Administration. Our time together unplugged in Nature is a gift and we give thanks for the freedom and spaciousness we felt on today's run.

Another week of training is in the books! The weather made for challenging runs, but each mile takes us one step closer to the starting line of Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K.  Last year's Year of the Snake symbolized wisdom, intuition, elegance, and transformation, representing a time for deep thought, strategic planning, and shedding old habits for renewal. It was a year of inner work for me that was a year of letting go and making space for wondrous new connections and experiences that I carry forward with me into this New Year. The Year of the Horse signifies energy, freedom, independence, and perseverance. I'm off to a great start of 2026!

 

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.