The Vicarious Thrill of Cape Cod Marathon Race Weekend!

As Kara Goucher once said, "When it comes to running, participation and spectating go hand in hand. Watching the world's best compete, fires you up to achieve your own feats of greatness." I may  not have been watching the world's greatest competing at the Cape Cod Half Marathon, but I was tracking Tom and Ruth Anne as they set out on their quest to finish the Half Marathon in 3 hours or less. I chose to stay home with our newly adopted cat MoMo. We didn't feel comfortable leaving him home along after only 3 months of his being in his furever home.

Ruth Anne and Tom texted me photos from bib pick up and their pre-race dinner at The Flying Bridge along with photos from lunch with our beloved cousin Kathy. She has been on her own marathon of healing. She was in a rehab facility for recovery from complications from a heart attack. She worked so hard in PT to make sure she would be out in time to have lunch. I followed Cape Cod Marathon on social media and the excitement was palpable. On Saturday morning I set my alarm along for 6am so I could join Tom and Ruth Anne as they prepared for race day. I had butterflies and #allthefeels of pre-race jitters. We all took time for meditation to 'get in the zone'. I had exchanged messages with the social media coordinator with whom I have been friends through the years. We had lost touch in recent years. It was a joy to reconnect with her. I asked her about the strict 3 hour time limit and she assured me that she would be there past the 3 hour mark calling the runners in. She knew about what Ruth Anne had to overcome with her journey with Functional Neurological Disorder since July. She has had her own health challenges and her compassion and kindness transcended cyberspace.

I got ready for my Saturday morning 5K. I was planning an easy loop around the big Reservoir at Cleveland Circle. As I checked the tracker for Tom and Ruth Anne, I got fired up. There was no way I could do an easy pace while they were out there giving it their all. I am training for the 45th Bill Rodgers Somerville Jingle Bell 5K happening on December 15th. My goal (and remember that for someone who was supposed to be in a wheelchair I run pretty fast) is to do it in under an hour. There are a lot of hills and who knows what the weather will be but I have every confidence I can meet or exceed my goal.  I've already conquered the distance of the 10K again in May and did a 4 miler last month. It's a matter now of working on speed. I've been doing two speed workouts during the week so I do try to keep my pace easy on Saturdays. I was too fired up to not see what this body could do while Tom, Ruth Anne and many of my friends were out on the Cape Cod Half Marathon course.

It was a glorious day here on Saturday. I started out with short sleeves and a pull over but after a mile I was in short sleeves. I had to pause for a water stop and to savor the beauty of nature in all of her glory:

I was disciplined and focused on my miles feeling the connection to those running in Cape Cod. It was windy with white caps on the Reservoir. Ruth Anne sent me a video of a view along the course and it was very windy on the Cape with white caps on Nantucket Bay. I pushed myself and was delighted with negative splits and and a 19:48 pace. My total time was 1:01. I visualized my December race during my run while checking in to see how Tom and Ruth Anne were progressing along the course.

I refueled and debated about whether or not to watch the live feed from the finish line. As the tracker told me they were getting close, something nudged me to go to the YouTube channel. It's always a thrill to hear the race announcer beckon runners to the finish line with great enthusiasm. I could see Ruth Anne and Tom heading toward the finish line when oh no....Tom tripped and fell. Thank goodness I was watching the finish line because I got an alert on my phone from Garmin connect that Tom had an incident followed by a text and an email since I was his emergency contact. With the help of the medical team he got up and crossed the finish line. The only thing that was hurting was his wrist and a bruised ego. Ruth Anne got their medals and they were able to relish their epic Half Marathon with a time of 3:01 which was exactly their goal pace.

We all shared an incredible runners' high together in the evening via Face Time. We shared that feeling of the shift in mind, body and soul that happens after an all out effort, being with our runner family in real life and on line. Tom and Ruth Anne exchanged shout outs with runner friends who passed on the out and back route.

Even Tom's visit to Urgent Care on Sunday that indicated he has a hairline fracture of his wrist could not dampen the joy of what we all accomplished together. It was a thrilling weekend that extended into Sunday. The festivities of Cape Cod Marathon weekend continued with the 5K and full marathon. I tracked friends and a family member running in Chicago. As Bill Rodgers loves to say:

In health and wellness,

Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page with links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements, where you can find my incredibly inspirational story and upcoming events.

Proud to BU is a podcast highlighting the illustrious achievements of Boston University Alumni. Here is the link to my episode.

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.

Risk Going Too Far! Celebrating a Half Birthday!

 

In "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior," the theme of taking a risk is woven throughout my story. Transformation is an ongoing process. After a major setback in 2021/2022, it was time to risk going too far again. It can be so easy to become complacent and surrender to 'what is' as I did after an adverse reaction to the COVID vaccine. I honestly thought my racing days and distance days were behind me. But how dull my life would be just resting on what I'd done as a most unlikely runner rather than continuing to challenge myself and see what this body can do over and over and over again.

I just celebrated my half birthday on 6/25. I've been pushing my pace in training runs and love sweating, feeling nauseous and how strong I am becoming despite having once been diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease. 

This was my Facebook post after my strength training session on Monday: 

 

From atrophy to activity and amazingness! During this morning's strength training session with Tom McManus, as we did our weighted leg lifts, I blurted out "I am getting stronger. From atrophy to activity and amazingness!"

17 years ago I was still in my leg brace and had messages from Western Medicine that said, "Prepare to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair. If you use it you will lose it." Initially I needed to slow down, leave my award-winning social work career and use a leg brace and cane and energy conservation techniques.

But something deep within me stirred as I wrote poetry harnessing the power of the mind/body connection. Optimism, faith, gratitude and feeling connection to Source fueled my healing in the wake of the devastating diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. 

To celebrate my half birthday, we went to Cape Cod. I switched up my training plan for the week. Strength training on Monday. A run on Tuesday. A walk on Wednesday. Now it's time for two rest days before a 2 mile race on Saturday. 

I noticed the improvement in my strength and endurance from when we visited Cape Cod last year. Having gone out on May 4th to finish the unfinished business from Bermuda gave my body a confidence boost. I believe that it sent my body a powerful healing message. I risked going too far that day because I had not yet built back my mileage and my body was recovering from travel and the DNF but I found out how far I can go!

Every day is a celebration of life and having my half birthday was a great excuse to enjoy and celebrate in our happy place on Cape Cod. Enjoy these photos that highlight the joy:

 

I've made lifestyle changes to support my desire to risk going too far. While we were on the Cape, I had no ice cream or desserts. The only sweet treat I consume these days is FlavaNaturals. I consume no alcohol or red meat and love fish with occasional chicken. I know nutritionists and trainers say don't deprive yourself but truth be told, the way that I feel when I focus on healthy eating habits far outweighs any feelings of deprivation. Dr. David Hamilton speaks to the power of neuroplasticity when we want to change habits. We can retrain our brains to eliminate cravings for foods that we tend to over indulge in or even foods that don't feed our bodies well. I've also eliminated pizza which was a regular part of my diet. I feel lighter and healthier. David explains that our wiring is like a path in a field. We keep going over the same path in the field because it's the easiest path. It takes a lot of work and effort to go down a new path BUT what happens is the new path becomes known and familiar and the old path gets overgrown along with the desire to go down that path again. Initially it takes discipline and effort to make changes but the rewards are so worth it.

In 2007, I took a risk with a leap of faith leaving behind my award-winning social work career. In 2009 I risked going too far by running the Boston Marathon. Throughout my adventures as runnergirl 1953, I risked going too far. Once again in my healing journey, I am risking going too far. I've intensified strength training effort and pushing my pace. My goal race for this year is the Somerville Jingle Bell 5K on December 15th. Next year, I will risk going too far and train for another half marathon.

In health and wellness,

Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page with links to podcast interviews, speaking engagements and where you can find my incredibly inspirational story. My interview with the amazing On the Runs podcast team of Erika Hamel and Eric Knuuttunen is Episode 56. Be sure to subscribe and download on your favorite podcast platform and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Proud to BU is a podcast highlighting the illustrious achievements of Boston University Alumni. Here is the link to my episode.

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.

 

The Healing Power of Running!

Seventeen years ago, I sat in a toe up leg brace, using a wheelchair at times for mobility facing a devastating diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. I had just started writing poetry that lit a spark of hope within me as I harnessed the power of the mind/body connection to heal my past and create a future very different than the ones the doctors predicted for me of spending the rest of my life in a wheelchair and expecting an accelerated decline as I aged.

I was led to the sport of running although I had never run a day in my life when I declared to my personal trainer in February of 2008 that I wanted to run the 2009 Boston Marathon.

Last year, I began a comeback from a major setback in 2021/2022. Although I was unable to finish the Bermuda 10K, I experienced the healing power of running during my training cycle. It feels absolutely glorious to be off of the sidelines again and feel the ongoing transformation of continued training. I am going to do either a virtual or in person 10K that doesn't have a strict time limit and am so excited for the AdaptX Unified 5K.

Last Thursday, Ruth Anne asked if we could go to Cape Cod to get in our miles and have a ladies lunch. It had been several years since I had the confidence to drive to the Cape but since training for the 10K and my ongoing training runs and strength training sessions, I had total confidence in being able to 'go the distance.'

The weather was windy and cold with periods of rain showers. But Falmouth Heights Beach is our happy place whatever the weather.

 

 

We let the waves be the soundtrack for our two miles and laughed in the face of the wind. There was unbridled joy and a sense of freedom as we were out in the elements. The wind howled and we felt the presence of God's protection in the mystical miles.

We went to Shipwrecked and savored delicious clam chowder and French Onion Soup in a crock with fresh salads.We were tempted to stop for an ice cream to top off our delightful day on Olde Cape Cod but chose to drive by the ice cream shops on Main Street. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, I made radical changes in my diet. I cut out coffee, ginger ale and other sodas and refined sugar. I also stopped eating red meat. I know that sugar can wreak havoc with inflammation. Ruth Anne and I agreed that the momentary pleasure is not worth the unpleasant after effects.

  

 

Ruth Anne had her last run of 8 miles on Saturday before we head to Los Angeles. Ruth Anne started her training cycle with Heartbreak Running Club for her first 8 miler. It was only fitting for her to end the training cycle with an 8 miler with the Hearbreakers. We got up at 6am to meet up with the group by 7:45 allowing for meditation, bathroom time and a hearty breakfast. Ruth Anne went on her way to meet up with the group and Tom and I set out for our 5K on Heartbreak Hill.

The hills were alive with the sounds of runners training for the Boston Marathon and other Spring Marathons. There was even a flock of turkeys that were running or flying over the hills. It's an incredible time of year to be out on the Newton Hills. Runners pass each other and say "lookin' good" or "you got this!" I shared with Tom that I am still in awe of where my healing journey has taken me 17 years after taking a leap of faith and leaving behind my award-winning career as a VA social worker to "heal my life."

Since training for the Bermuda 10K, I can feel the healing power of running again in my life. I often use the hashtag every step is a gift and every mile is a blessing. For someone who was supposed to be in a wheelchair according to Western Medicine, I know how blessed I am to be able to do a 5K and feel the delicious soreness that comes with consistent training and living a full and vibrant life at the age of 70.

There were several times I could have succumbed to conditions happening in my body. The first time was receiving the diagnosis. The second time was after running the 2009 Boston Marathon. The third time was after a very serious knee injury in December of 2014 and the fourth and most recent time was after an adverse reaction to the 2nd COVID vaccine which resulted in a major setback in 2021/2022. But every time I chose to find a way to come back to the sport that saved me and to continuously tap into the healing power of running!

In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page with 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

Thank you to Mike Reilly for featuring my story on Stories From the Finish Line Sponsored by CURAD Performance Series to inspire others.

Be sure to subscribe to the On The Runs podcast for stories of individuals who are fierce and determined to overcome challenges, set goals and crush them. Here is the link to my Episode 56.

Be sure to subscribe to their new YouTube Channel to enhance your podcast listening experience!

Be sure to download and subscribe to the AdaptX podcast. Here's the link to my wonderful conversation with host Brendan Aylward sharing my journey of transformation and healing in the wake of polio, Post-Polio syndrome and trauma.

Spontaneity - Where Should We Run Today?

 Most Saturday mornings we ask the question, 'Where shall we run today?' South Boston was having a race. We weren't feeling a trip to Wollaston Beach. We pondered heading over to Jamaica Pond or just heading out the door to run the Rezzie. Ruth Anne spontaneously said, "Why don't we go to Falmouth?"

We slept in until 8:00am still recovering from the rigors of fundraising, and Tom and Ruth Anne's Half Marathon training. By the time we finished breakfast after meditation, stretched and got dressed, it was around 9:30. Ordinarily, I would have said we'd get there too late to start our run or ask questions that would have put the brakes on the idea. Instead, we got into gear and packed up for a day trip to Falmouth that would include our 5K run. It was hot here in Boston and we were dressed to run in the heat but knowing there can be a sea breeze, we grabbed sweatshirts along with fueling and hydration. We had no plans for where we would have lunch and opened ourselves to experiencing where we would be guided throughout the day.

There was no traffic going over the Bourne Bridge; a scene that will be quite different in two weeks when it will be the start of summer here in New England.

We enjoyed delightful conversation reminiscing about trips to the Cape in years past giving thanks for a dear friend who introduced us to the beauty of Falmouth many years ago. Coincidentally, we were remembering the time when we were going with our friend to Martha's Vineyard for a day trip. When we were in Falmouth, the sun shined brightly and we left our sweatshirts in the car. As we departed on the Island Queen for the Vineyard, dense fog encircled us. We were so cold by the time we got off of the boat that our first stop was at a souvenir shop to get sweatshirts!

We wondered if perhaps we should have worn warmer running clothes as we saw the fog along Vineyard Sound:

Fortunately, the fog was moving out and radiant sunshine blessed our 5K run:

The next big Saturday question after our run is "what's for lunch?"

Shipwrecked, the restaurant across the street from the beach had a 45 minute wait. We'd driven by the Black Dog Heights Cafe several times on our day trips to Falmouth. The menu looked wonderful and we had eaten at the Black Dog Cafe on Martha's Vineyard back in the day. 

The lunch just cleared out when we arrived. We had our choice of outdoor seating. The staff at the Restaurant was delightful and attentive. The food was phenomenal!

Ruth Anne had the Farro Salad and bought a bag of granola to bring home. I had a chappy salad wrap with cole slaw. A white wrap can often taste chalky but this tasted like flaky pastry crust. The filling of veggies, chicken and melted fresh mozzarella was melt in your mouth delicious. I am very particular about how I like my cole slaw. The Black Dog delivered! Tom had the lightly fried Cod Sandwich pictured below.

After lunch we headed back to the beach where a parking spot was waiting for us. Ruth Anne spotted a penny and then a dime and another penny:

We allowed the sounds of the sea, the laughter of a group putting up a volleyball net and the banter of beach goers around us to fill our hearts with gratitude and joy.  Such a special and sacred place to celebrate 16 years of healing after taking a leap of faith from my award winning social worker career on 5/25!

We unpacked the car, fired up the grill and savored grilled salmon with leftover sliced potatoes and a big salad to top off a perfect 10 day fueled by spontaneity!

 

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

Visit my website to be inspired by my journey. May it ignite a spark within you to go farther than you ever believed you could. Be sure to visit the News and Events Page.

My books that pack powerful messages of healing, hope and possibilities are available on Amazon  

 

 

Ready - Set - Recharge

 

Last week, Team McManus knew we needed to have a daycation; a day where we unplugged, did something different for cross training and treated ourselves well with dining out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We had not been to our once happy place, Falmouth, since Memorial Day of 2021. With Tom and Ruth Anne training and fundraising and Tom doing contract work, we didn't see our way to having more time than a few days in Hyannis celebrating the twins' 35th birthday in August. We knew it was vital for our mental and physical well being.

"I don't know if I want to swim in the ocean if we aren't going to have any place to change," Ruth Anne said. "I'd love to get into a pool before summer is over."

I'd been thinking about this quandry and had toyed with the idea of getting a room at The Admiralty Inn and Suites where we stayed for years. There is usually a two night minimum stay for Labor Day Weekend on Cape Cod. I checked their website and it looked as though  there was a room available for Sunday night. I didn't give it more thought until last Thursday when Ruth Anne expressed concerns about being in our 'crusty' bathing suits all day.

"Hello Admiralty Inn and Suites."

"Hi I was wondering if you have a minimum night stay for this weekend."

"I'm sorry but we're booked for the weekend."

"Oh I thought I saw a room available for Sunday night on the website."

"I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. When you said weekend..." 

"Oh no it's my fault. I should have been more specific. With whom am I speaking? Is this Eric?"

"Yes it is. Whose this?"

I gave him my name and he said, "Well let me get you set up with a great room. We've recently renovated the property and I'd love for you to see the new courtyard room. ... Let me get you in for a great rate."

I explained that we weren't going to stay overnight but wanted to use the property's amenities and to shower and change after beach and pool time. "Absolutely," he said. "We look forward to welcoming you back!"

We left very early Sunday morning to avoid traffic. Everyone says how you feel the magic of stress release driving over the Bridge:

We all agreed that we would take pictures but not post on Facebook or be on line for the entire day.

Our first stop was Crabapples, our favorite breakfast place in Falmouth:

We checked out The Admiralty Inn and let the front desk staff know that we knew our room wouldn't be ready but Eric let us know that we could use the pool. "Absolutely," she said and added, "Let me have your phone number so I can call you when the room is ready."

There was a family that had taken over a section of the pool deck playing loud music. We didn't want to disturb them or ourselves and headed for the beach.

We spent the entire morning on the beach. I meditated, read, put my toes in the water and took videos to enjoy when winter comes around. Tom rested, read and meditated. Ruth Anne frolicked in the waves and swam feeling unbridled joy free from the constraints of a training plan feeling the healing power of sun and sea. She put down beach towels and fell asleep to the sounds of the waves.

When lunchtime came, we were going to go to Shipwrecked but the Universe had other plans. There was a long line along with the smell of deep fried food. We dried off and headed to Main Street. There were long lines at most places. "Why don't we go to the Quarterdeck Restaurant?" I suggested to Tom and Ruth Anne. During the pandemic we wouldn't have dared to venture inside of what is a crowded bar and restaurant but since COVID is now considered endemic, we were delighted to get a lovely table with wonderful service.

It was Ruth Anne's first visit to The Quarterdeck restaurant and we reminisced about Cape Cod Marathon Weekend when we met Tommy Leonard. We all enjoyed reminiscing about previous trips to Falmouth as a family. After we finished lunch we had a big question to ask... Do we or don't we?

We did! What a treat to walk up and down the bustling sidewalk and shops of Main Street with barely a trace of the pandemic.

It was time to head back to the Admiralty Inn for swimming, relaxation, more meditation and showers. Our Courtyard Room opened up to the pool area and we had a private patio. Ruth Anne and I went into the pool to swim and stretch while Tom rested in the room since he was our designated driver.

What a treat to have a place to shower, change and relax after a day of fun in the sun and get ready for dinner.

The last time we were at The Flying Bridge, Memorial Day of 2021, we couldn't stay for dinner. It was a rainy day and the plastic enclosure from the winter was still in place. The scent of hand sanitizer, seeing a sea of empty tables and weary wait staff left us feeling sad wondering if we would ever be able to return to our beloved restaurant on beautiful Falmouth Harbor.

There was a line out the door but only a 20 minute wait. We saw members of a wedding party arrive. It was a perfect end of summer evening. We took a walk while we waited to receive the text that our table was ready. Waitstaff were taking a break outside and Tom asked them how their summer was. They said it was their best season ever!

Drinks and plates overflowing with the traditional Flying Bridge fare were served with flair and joy. Friends and families' conversations were animated as laughter echoed throughout the harbor. Patrons were packed close together. There was a rhythm and ease to the service despite the number of customers eager to enjoy their drinks and food. 

We heard a spontaneous eruption of applause as the bride and groom walked along the harbor walk to have their photos taken. There was so much to celebrate beyond a wedding and end of summer. Celebration for the end of the pandemic was palpable. 

As we drove across the bridge heading home, I felt recharged and renewed ready to begin a new season. I reflected on the stark contrast between the summer of 2021 and Labor Day 2022. Ruth Anne and Tom are training for three half marathons. At the end of our Hyannis vacation, Ruth Anne set a new running and fundraising goal for Victory Programs. We are excited for so many job prospects open to her. Tom transitions from contract work to employee. When he took his leap of faith leaving Boston College, we knew we would land on our feet as we always have but couldn't possibly have imagined he would be hired for a job he loves with an incredible manager and co-workers who truly value him as a professional and as a person. My opportunities to share my incredible journey of transformation continue to expand and I am thrilled to be finishing up the manuscript for "Into the Light: Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic." While the hours of daylight may be diminishing, I am filled with hope that light in our world is expanding.

Into the Light

 

In winter’s darkness

as pandemic “rages” on

turning inward

rhythm of my beating heart

radiates warmth

beaming Love to heal weary world

harping on darkness.

 

Love beams spark hope

harbingers of lightness and ease

focus on Source if you please

gratitude flows for miracles on horizon

be in the flow

this too shall pass.

 

Let burdens be lifted

shift to a new perspective

bright and bold

declaring all is well

confidently

deftly

running into the light.

 

From my heart to yours,
In health and wellness,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at https://marymcmanus.com to learn about my journey to health and wellness in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma

Visit the News and Events tab to listen to my inspiring and uplifting interviews

My books to motivate, uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon