Race Report: My 2024 Goal Race

 

Team McManus was trained, poised and ready to toe the starting line of the 45th Annual Bill Rodgers Somerville 5K Run and Walk. We had a wonderful time at bib pick up. On Wednesday, Ruth Anne went to Urgent Care and was diagnosed with an infected cyst on her back. She was on antibiotics and we thought we would be fine to run the live event. Tom had recovered enough from his wrist fracture and received the all clear from his surgeon. As we sat around the dinner table on Thursday evening, basking in the glow of time spent with Bill Rodgers and engaging with other runners, we realized that given the intensity of these past two months with Tom's healing and Ruth Anne's recovery from Functional Neurological Disorder combined with frigid temperatures, we would shift to doing our own Virtual 5K.

The temperature was 14 degrees but there was bright sunshine. I had trained really well for my goal race of the year. I had tapered for a week and my body really needed to get out and run. One of the cold running tips that I love is to put Vaseline on my face and feet. 

 I hummed "Let It Go" to myself and thought of the phrase:

Oh wait a minute. It sure did as I wrote about in "Courage & The Joy of Winter Running."

 Besides -- it's true that it's only cold if you're  standing still. As the temperatures began to drop here in Boston, I have a habit of opening the door first thing in the morning and allowing my body to embrace the elements. Race morning on Saturday was no different. I felt invigorated by the frigid air.

 

 

To simulate the hills of Somerville, we opted to go to the Newton Hills. I knew that Boston Marathon training was getting underway and that the energy of other runners would be inspiring and invigorating.

Everything was going smoothly. Just as we were about to head out, I realized something was 'off'. Lo and behold, I had on my slippers and forgot to put on my running shoes. Ruth Anne and I had a good hearty laugh about that.

As we were heading out to do the first half of the race, we spotted Jack Fultz, 1976 Boston Marathon Champion with the Dana Farber Marathon Team table. He told us they have 500 runners on the Team. He was thrilled that Ruth Anne is running Boston this year for Spaulding Rehab.

 My legs felt fresh and well trained. I reflected on how, during taper time, I felt sluggish; quite a contrast to how exhilarated and energized I felt pushing my pace, being in the moment, feeling the unbridled joy of the sport I came to know and love after the diagnosis of a progressive neurological disease 18 years ago.

My goal pace for my goal race was 1 hour. Mile 1 was 19:49; a good warm up pace but I knew I was going to need to push the pace in order to hit my goal time.

Runners passed us in the opposite direction, cheering us on and sharing smiles through the miles. They asked us what race we were running and many commented on our festive attire.

We took the obligatory selfie at the halfway point:

My pace for Mile 2 was 19:19. The sun warmed the day through the barren trees, as it always does in Winter on the Newton Hills.

 

 

 

 

 

We paused at the Johnny Kelly statue to take another selfie and paused to document ourselves along the course.

My pace for mile 3 was fairly consistent at a 19:22 pace. Very impressive going up the famous Heartbreak Hill.

As we approached the 'finish line' at the car, I pushed to finish strong for a 17:02 pace for the final .11 of our 5K. 

Total time: 1:00:26 with average pace of 19:25. I was thrilled. I've come to embrace my pace as a soon to be 71 year old. As someone who was supposed to be in a wheelchair. I run pretty fast!

I had the runner's cough and felt exhilarated with what I had just done. 

 

I came within 26 seconds of my goal pace on a frigid Winter's day on the Newton Hills.

My 2024 goal race was done and dusted!

On my Christmas Birthday, I will see how many miles I can do in 71 minutes to celebrate turning 71 years young.

During the early part of 2025, I will continue to work on pace and look for an all pace friendly 5K. My stretch goal for 2025 is to build up to the Half Marathon distance again. As I like to say, "It always seems impossible until it's done!"

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.

On January 15th, I will be speaking at Cohasset Elder Affairs to share my journey and have a book signing.

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.

 

 

 

Rise---Shine---Run! Life With The Volume Turned Up!

 

The melodic tones of Barry Manilow's "I Write the Songs" pierced the darkness as my 6:15am alarm went off on Saturday morning. What a contrast to when we would get up at 5:45am during the summer to go on a training run before the heat of the day took hold and the light of a new day peeked through the curtains. Ruth Anne and Tom are training for the Los Angeles Marathon. Ruth Anne recently joined Heartbreak Hill Running Company's running club, The Heartbreakers. They meet for group runs at the store on Heartbreak Hill at 8am. 

Ruth Anne opened the door to check the weather. "Mom...come here..look at this!"

"Let me grab my phone," I said after I saw what caused her to gasp.

"You won't be able to do it justice."

I did a pretty good job capturing the fiery glow of the dawn as the sun was low in the sky casting a masterpiece of pink and blue hues. We agreed that it was an incredible gift to be able to see a stunning sunrise despite needing to get up early on a Saturday morning.

This time of year can often pose a challenge with what to wear. Without rain or wind in the forecast and moderate temperatures for this time of year, we were able to select outfits that perfectly suited us for the day.

I orchestrated the organization of water, fuel and fuel belts, and post-run fueling. We packed up the car at 7:45 having gone to the bathroom and arrived at Heartbreak Hill Running Company right on time for Tom and Ruth Anne to meet up with the group. I went on my way for a solo 4 miler.

The day was overcast. The trees were past peak foliage. I wondered if there would be anything to photograph on my run. As always, the Newton Hills never disappoint.

 

 

 

As I passed the Johnny Kelley statue, I remembered the magical encounter we had meeting Johnny's nephew Tommy and his wife Dottie. We went to Puerto Rico to get a respite from the brutal winter cold of 2009 while training for Boston. Ruth Anne 'just happened' to be sitting next to Dottie and Tommy on the return flight. We became instant friends. We have a beautifully handwritten letter from Dottie dictated by Tommy who lives with Parkinson's Disease and a framed photo of Johnny Kelley's Boston Marathon years that now graces our living room.

Tom, Ruth Anne and I briefly exchanged texts checking in with one another. Runners and walkers passing by exchanged pleasantries and smiles. For the majority of my run, however, I was with my thoughts visualizing my day out on the Bermuda Triangle Challenge 10K course. I made it so real that I cried when I thought about coming into the Stadium. My Bermuda friends were there to cheer me into the finish as the clock read 2:10. I feel all the feels and goosebumps as I write this. 

I stretched, hydrated and refueled when I got the finish line - ahem our car - and waited for Tom and Ruth Anne to finish their 8 miles. We hugged and celebrated while sharing how incredibly sore we felt; the sign of a great training run. We chatted with other Heartbreakers who finished up their runs. We shared our next races and the excitement of upcoming races whatever the distance and whatever the pace.

It was the first long Saturday run that we were up and out the door by 7:45.  We had the rest of the day to shower, stretch, refuel with a wonderful homemade brunch, read and relax. I spent time on social media making sure I had my friends and niece in my NYC Marathon app to be able to track them all on Sunday.  I felt that deep sense of accomplishment that comes with a solid training run and relished being part of the remarkable running community. It was a luxury to be in sweats by mid-morning feeling that delicious ache that comes after a good run. What a blessing to rise, shine and run! Running is definitely life with the volume turned up!

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 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.