Ten Years Later - A Full Circle Moment with Marathon Sports

 I received this message from Marathon Sports on my Instagram account:

Hi Mary! I hope you’re having a great start to your week. We would love to share this photo + caption in our newsletter for Mother’s Day - would you be okay with us utilizing your content? Thank you!

Ruth Anne and I were in town the Wednesday before this year's Boston Marathon. "Come on mom. We've got to go into Marathon Sports. It's our Boston Marathon Tradition!"
Me: "Sure okay!"
Me observing woman stacking cowbells in her arms:
"Excuse me. May I ask who you are buying those for?"
Woman: "Sure it's my team. I work for a biomedical company that helps trauma victims with our product. There's a runner who benefited from our product and we're here to cheer him on. He's amazing. He just ran Tokyo."
Me: "Um is that Jared Ewing?"

She was as shocked as we were. Woman: "How do you know him?" 

Ruth Anne: "My mom was on the same podcast as he was - On the Runs. She's a polio survivor and ran the 2009 Boston Marathon."
Her name is Alicia and she had no idea Jared was on the podcast. I told her that my daughter practically pulled me into the store. Alicia said, "Well I was outside but decided to come back in and get the cowbells!"

Yesterday, Ruth Anne was inspired to bring flyers for my upcoming Book Release Party. It's happening two doors down from Marathon Sports at Livite.

The women working there were wow'ed by the flyer and my journey. I got goosebumps to think I was standing in the very spot where I bought my first pair of running shoes - ever - at the age of 53 to train for the 2009 Boston Marathon. It was in February of 2008. I had never run a day in my life, yet my personal trainer was totally non-plussed when I told her my next health and fitness goals were to come out of my toe-up leg brace, to take a walk outside, to feel free in my body, diversify my health and wellness workouts...And as she was getting ready to leave I said, "Wait...I have one more goal!" "What's that?: she asked. "I want to run the Boston Marathon next year for Spaulding Rehab." "Well you are going to need a pair of running shoes." 

 

She sent me to Marathon Sports Brookline where Spencer Aston spent a good half hour helping me to find the right running shoes for my most unusual gait. He even fitted me with an orthotic for my left shoe. So began our relationship with Marathon Sports.

In July of 2008, I ran my first 5 mile road race, the Marathon Sports 5 Miler.

It was an evening race. It was hot and there was a fast field. I wanted to quit. What was I doing and what was I thinking that I could possibly run the 2009 Boston Marathon? But Tom wouldn't let me quit and the support from the Brookline Marathon Sports staff who knew my story were so supportive that I soldiered on through the heat. When I crossed the finish line, the staff blew the air horn and honked the horn on the truck making me feel as though I had broken the finisher's tape!

 

Fast forward to April of 2014 when I approached Brookline Marathon Sports store manager about the possibility of having the book release party for "Coming Home:A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" at the store. Ellen was all in. She helped to make the evening more memorable than I even imagined it would be as I wrote in my blog, "Everything I Imagined and More."

Thirty people gathered to celebrate the launch of my what I thought would be my one and only book and to support the One Fund. I met Meghan and her mom Maura at a Boston Marathon L Street water stop. Maura, a professional photographer, took these amazing photos:

I've been so blessed to have many adventures as a most unlikely runner as runnergirl 1953 and to chronicle those in my Trilogy of Transformation that includes "Coming Home", "Going the Distance:The Power of Endurance" and "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953." During the pandemic I wrote "Hope is a Garden: Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic" and "Into the Light: Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic." "Into the Light" and now "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" are selections of the WBZ Book Club.

Back in April, when Ruth Anne pulled me into Marathon Sports, I had no idea that I was in the middle of a full circle moment about to happen. That's part of the mystery and magic of how the Universe works. Always remember to go where the Universe leads.

When I took that leap of faith on 5/25/2007, I had no idea where the path would lead. The path has led me on the most incredible adventures, meeting the most wonderful and amazing people and having the opportunity to spread a powerful message of healing, hope and infinite possibilities! I never dreamed that instead of being jeered after contracting polio, I would be cheered and celebrated by the running community. I wonder what adventures are in store on and off the roads as I celebrate the spectacular seventies!

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

***COMING MAY 25, 2024***  "A Most Unlikely Runner: Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" Book Release Party 6/3  7-8pm at Livite Brookline in Washington Square

 

When We Find Ourselves in a Strange New World

 

We are emerging from the cocoon of our "bubbles" and the insular world we inhabited during these past 14 months. We are on a journey of transformation as we find our wings and freedom in this strange new world where science guides us about the risks of different behaviors based on the trends of the COVID-19 virus.

After approximately 10 to 14 days as a chrysalis, the butterfly is ready to emerge. When the butterfly emerges from its chrysalis, its wings are small and wet, and the butterfly cannot yet fly. The butterfly must pump fluids from its abdomen through the veins in its wings, which causes the wings to expand to their full size. Next, the wings must dry and the butterfly must exercise flight muscles before it can fly. ~from Butterfly School

The time of transition from lock down to quarantine to easing of restrictions albeit with a lot of precautions and fear still running rampant to this time of decreased infections, deaths and hospitalizations with increased vaccination rates feels like the butterfly's wet wing phase of transformation. 

Yesterday we 'celebrated' Mother's Day by going to Gillette Stadium for our daughter Ruth Anne to receive her 2nd vaccine.

In years past we would go to Cape Cod for a day trip and eat out at one of our favorite Falmouth restaurants. We took a selfie to document we are all vaccinated wearing double masks:

and of the giant screen at Gillette that indicated the number of vaccines administered to date at Gillette:

We ate outdoors at a restaurant for the first time in 14 months! There were strange new rituals such as no menus but a code to put in the phone to access the menu. Our waiter and all the staff wore masks, and patrons wore masks except while eating or drinking.  Silverware was wrapped in a linen napkin and the waiter was careful to keep them wrapped as he placed them on the table. There were no salt and pepper shakers or ketchup bottles. A small plastic container of ketchup with a lid was served with our meal. Since it was our first time dining out at a restaurant in 14 months, Tom took a photo to mark the occasion:

The CBS Sporting Club restaurant, previously known as CBS Scene was our go to place before the annual July 4th celebration Finish at the 50 race. We were struck by how strangely quiet it was for a beautiful Spring Mother's Day in May and the usual excitement and hype for summer concerts, upcoming New England Revolution games and the Finish at the 50 race were strangely absent. The steady stream of cars were headed to the East and West vaccination clinics.

During this morning's meditation, I reflected on the strange new world I encountered after June 5, 1959, the day I contracted paralytic polio. One of the many many silver linings of this pandemic is that I have been able to more deeply heal the wounds from having contracted paralytic polio despite having had 5 vaccines. It seems that there is such a thing as "breakthrough cases" of COVID in people who have been vaccinated though it is extremely rare. That might be an explanation for how I contracted polio as I was playing with my best friend whose mom was not vaccinated and we contracted it on the same day. As I lay paralyzed on the couch time stood still for me. My friends finished kindergarten year and had a graduation ceremony. When I returned to 1st grade, I returned to a strange new world wearing an ankle to hip leg brace and using crutches for mobility. My beautiful long hair was cut into a pixie cut because my mother and grandmother felt it was too much for them to have to take care of my long hair on top of the other demands for providing care for me. I was a stranger to myself from the lithe ballerina who was active and joyful to one who struggled with each step. 

I honed my intellectual prowess and graduated as high school valedictorian. After receiving my MSW from Boston College, I had an award winning social work career at the VA until my world came to a screeching halt after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006. 

I entered a strange new world of rehabilitation and prognostications of what life would look like for me as I aged, and decided that it was time to get still and ask for Divine Guidance. What an incredible journey of transformation I experienced through the sport of running becoming a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher, poet, published author and motivational speaker.

It can be overwhelming and frightening when we find ourselves in a strange new world. We are making the transition from wearing face masks whenever we were out in public to being able to do outdoor activities mask-free.  We are making plans for the first time in 14 months. Tom and Ruth Anne gave me tickets to Jagged Little Pill for the October 24th matinee for my Mother's Day present:

We decided to drive to New York rather than take the train despite being fully vaccinated so we can enjoy the ride without masks. We will need to present proof of vaccination and I imagine that New York City will have a different post-pandemic vibe.

There is discomfort in experiencing the strangeness of our times. But it is also an extraordinary opportunity for growth and transformation and to experience a deeper and richer appreciation for life.

We find ourselves in a strange new world awakened to the preciousness and fragility of life, our vulnerability, the need for social change and justice and to change our habits if we are going to preserve our precious Mother Earth. We find ourselves in a strange new world filled with hope, resilience, infinite possibilities and opportunities for creation and innovation.

 When we find ourselves in a strange new world always remember to:

Keep the Faith from "Hope is a Garden:Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic":

 

When challenges arise

keep the faith

close to your open heart

be grateful.

 

See blessings

on horizon wonderful happenings

waiting for you.

 

See signs

as angels guide

guardians of your Well-Being

always by your side

believing is seeing

joy in journeying

navigating turbulent waters

powerful oars to negotiate rapids

deliciousness in Oneness

strength of Source deep within.

 

Feel the rush

ride the waves

heart pounding

keep the faith

safely arriving on shore.

Here's to embracing the strangeness of our times and finding ourselves uplifted and inspired when we come out on the other side.

 From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary

For more information about my journey from childhood polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond, visit my website.

"Hope is a Garden:Poems and Essays From the 2020 Pandemic" along with all of my books to inspire and uplift you is available on Amazon.