1,099 Days

 

"As marathoners we know about pacing, about hard days, about broken dreams and yet we keep showing up. We hang onto hope.  We can beat this current storm. We will win this race. And the after party will be glorious!" ~Anonymous

And what a glorious after party we had at the 126th running of the 2022 Boston Marathon on 4/18/2022. It had been 1,099 days since the tradition of the Boston Marathon, run on the 3rd Monday in April took place. 

Ever since I ran the 2009 Boston Marathon, the 3rd Monday in April has been a part of our lives. In 2011, Tom ran Boston for Childrens Hospital. In 2013 we returned to the Mandarin and joined our Race for Rehab Team. Unfortunately the day did not end as a typical Marathon Monday but on the third Monday in April in 2014, Boston ran again and Meb won! We have our special spot to spectate on the corner of Dean Road and Beacon Street just before Mile 23. Except for 2018, we watched the race in person tracking and cheering on our friends with signs and #morecowbell.

We knew that the energy would be unlike any we had known with the hiatus of Boston running in April. The weather was spectacular. Tom and Ruth Anne had a shake out training run scheduled as they prepare for their Providence Half Marathon on May 1st. We debated about whether or not to get our seats secured or if they should first do their run. We were wise to postpone their run as Beacon Street spectators were out bright and early.

We had a front row seat to see Daniel Romanchuk in the lead:

We turned to the spectators around us and as if we were of one mind, marveled at how he had such an incredible lead. There was no other racer in sight. There was a six minute difference between 1st and 2nd place in the wheelchair division!

I wasn't able to capture the men's lead pack but did capture Race Director Dave McGillivray on his infamous scooter:

We were hoping to see American women lead the field but Olympian Molly Seidel had to leave the race at mile 15 due to a hip impingement. Nell Rojas once again took top American woman for the 2nd year in a row. She finished 10th overall for the women's race. Desi Linden always receives a roar of cheers from the crowd.

It was a thrilling fight to the finish for the top two women, Peres Jepchirchir and Ababel Yeshaneh, separated by only 4 seconds after Peres Jepchirchir broke the finisher's tape. We could see from our vantage point that it was a tight race:

We had a bit of a breather after the lead runners passed through before the real challenge of the day began; finding our runner friends among the throngs of runners heading to the finish.

 

Ruth Anne was ready with her signs as we tracked our friends on the BAA racing app:

 

 

 

Erin Foley was Ruth Anne's occupational therapist at Spaulding Rehab. She has a gift in helping those who have experienced life-altering injuries or illnesses to help them regain their independence and find their strength. Even after discharge last September, she maintains a relationship with Ruth Anne. They have a very special bond that transcends the patient/OT relationship. We were  Therable to cheer on friends and give shout outs to the Spaulding Race for Rehab Team. Tom followed Erin on the map so we knew when she would be getting close to our spot. Ruth Anne spotted her halfway down the street screaming "Erin! Erin" jumping up and down with her sign. We knew she was struggling as many runners often do by the time they reach mile 23. She was walking but came over to give us high fives and a big smile. She took off running down Beacon Street to the finish. She told us later in an email that seeing us there gave her such a boost of energy. She knew what Ruth Anne has overcome in her marathon of healing and the critical role she played to help Ruth Anne regain her independence and quality of life. When she first worked with Erin in November of 2019, Ruth Anne couldn't stay awake throughout the day, manage her money or meds or perform simple activities. Ruth Anne worked so hard under Erin's guidance and it was a magical moment on Marathon Monday when Ruth Anne gave Erin the boost she needed to get through the last several miles of her lifelong dream to run the Boston Marathon!

We did not see our dear friend and supporter Kathy, but we did see Henry Richard. We didn't realize it was Henry until we saw the Boston Marathon stories on the news but cheered loudly for the MR8 singlet he wore as he ran by. He fist pumped the air and smiled to acknowledge our cheers.

One of the spectators next to us asked if we had seen Adriane Haslet and Shalane Flanagan come by. We weren't aware they were running! We tracked them and somehow missed them (they may have been running in the middle of the pack) but what a moment of redemption for Adriane after she crossed that finish line as expressed in this CBS News Story.

Today is the 13th anniversary of when Team McManus ran the 113th Boston Marathon. 

There are always so many inspiring stories that embody the Spirit of the Marathon. After 1,099 days, the running of the Boston Marathon itself symbolized endurance, resilience, strength, patience, pacing and the ability to keep going the distance despite the challenges and heartbreak that arise. 

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

The Magic of Gratitude

 

In the midst of challenging times, when anxiety overtakes the mind and body, it can be difficult to shift the focus to gratitude. And yet that is just the time we need to focus on gratitude. When I look back over the past several years, it is easy to feel anger and outrage at how my daughter's condition was misdiagnosed and mistreated but instead, I focus on the earth angels who finally came into our lives to help Ruth Anne to heal.

As I waited for Ruth Anne at Spaulding Rehab while she had her appointment with Erin,  her earth angel Occupational Therapist, my heart opened with gratitude for her healing and recovery. 

As I saw the plexiglass partitions on the Constitution Cafe's tables, the signs about Infection Control, the need for all staff to be vaccinated by October 15th, the therapeutic pool devoid of aquatics classes and the empty gift shop, I felt the sadness and grief that hung in the silence. The Front Desk Ambassador, Margaret, who we have known from when I took aquatics at Spaulding and then going to appointments with Ruth Anne told us that they were hoping to open the pool in September but now, "Who knows?"

There's hand sanitizer and masks when you first enter the building and there is no more public access to the cafeteria or the pool. The hustle and bustle of staff gathering in the cafeteria, patients and family members moving out and about the first floor and garden area and the sense of Spaulding's community is noticeably absent.

It's so easy to focus on all that is missing in our lives right now, especially after our sense of freedom and ease in the early days post-vaccination. But focusing on what's missing drains me of my energy and tends to turn on the biochemistry of negative "what if's."

I sat down near the lobby of the hospital since it was raining outside, took a few deep, cleansing breaths and this poem flowed out of me:

Magic of Gratitude

Like a magic wand
gratitude whisks away all fear
conjuring a delicious recipe for life
open heart
bubbling over with joy
salty tears trickle
eyes feasting on simple pleasures
sunrises and sunsets
lingering luscious scent of summer
rippling of waves an aural delight
sun’s warmth from Source kisses skin
a taste of heaven

Grateful for precious gift of life
Love greater than fear
sprinkle sparkling eyes everywhere I go
reflecting blessings
kindle kindness and compassion
pass the torch of thankfulness
spread seeds of hope
let the magic begin! 

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness,
Mary

My books to uplift and inspire you are available on Amazon.

Visit my website to learn more about my journey of transformation in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond.

Be sure to visit my News and Events tab on my website to hear interviews that will open your heart and mind to a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities.