I've known challenges and obstacles since contracting paralytic polio at the tender age of 5 1/2 years old in one of the last polio epidemics in the United States. I lived in Westchester, NY and was fortunate that one of the leading experts in rehab medicine, Dr. Eugene Moskowitz dedicated his practice to helping those affected by polio. He had Miss Holly, a physical therapist ahead of her time in his practice. As I began to walk again without crutches and a heavy metal leg brace, my father became alcoholic. My mother had been addicted to prescription pain medication for years. I relied on my father and paternal grandfather for care. Imagine my terror when he became abusive with nightly drunken rages until he ended his life when I was 17 years old, one month before I would begin my freshman year at Boston University.
I persevered through it all eventually getting an MSW from Boston College and having an award-winning social work career at the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic. Eventually the years of dissociating mind from body to survive polio and trauma caught up with me. For ten years I became more and more debilitated until in December of 2006 I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome. 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. Rather than succumb to the diagnosis, I refused to take the diagnosis sitting down.
I continue to challenge myself to see just what this body can do despite or maybe because of all the obstacles I have faced and continue to overcome in my life.
This week in training was a taper week. The weather for my birthday on December 25th is looking iffy. Tom and I decided we would give myself an early birthday gift and do my 7.2 mile birthday run for 72 years next Saturday.
Saturday was a bright sunny cold December day. Last week, during our early morning training run, we saw two swans on the ice on the Reservoir. They weren't moving and we thought they had succumbed to the cold. As we approached the Reservoir, Tom spotted the two swans swimming in a part of the Reservoir that was unfrozen! I learned from Google that swans are able to maintain their body heat by putting their heads underneath their wings. They are able to adapt to the cold. Seeing them added to the joy of our fabulous 5K. They were too far out into the water to get a picture of them. The sun peeked through the clouds reminding us that gray skies can be transformed into a moment.
There was a flock of migratory birds that swam under a patch of ice and emerged into the open yet unfrozen water. Tom and I marveled at Mother Nature. The lush green trees and beautiful flowers of Spring and summer yield to a delightful kind of magic if one looks beyond the barren trees and the need to layer up before heading out the door.
As I get ready to turn the page to a new year of life, this quote from George Bernard Shaw resonated with me as Tom and I had a solid 45 minute strength training woorkout on Monday.
Despite the frigid temperatures in the forecast for Tuesday morning, Tom and I knew that we wanted to stay true to our early morning run schedule. "The cold never bothered me anyway," iykyk but that's not quite true. As I've mentioned in previous posts, one of the hallmark symptoms of Post-Polio Syndrome is cold intolerance. Through visualization and meditation, I 'fixed' my thermostat so that the cold doesn't bother me especially when I get my mindset in the right place firing up my overwhelming gratitude that I can do this. We had laid out all of our clothes Monday night to minimize the time it would take us to get out the front door. We were treated to a glorious masterpiece on the canvas of the early morning sky by the Master Artist:
There were heart wrenching tragedies in the past few days. I am grateful that I did not allow the tragedies I endured in my life to harden my heart or dim my Spirit. Tuesday's morning's miles were invigorating as the frosty air and Mother Nature awakened all of our senses. I am deeply grateful for the gift of running in our lives that nourishes and sustains us reminding us of the Source of all that brings light into even the darkest of times.
When we walked into our warm home expressing gratitude for the gift of early morning miles, heat and electricity, Tom and I exchanged high-fives. We did it! One step closer to the starting line in Hyannis and time to taper for Saturday's 7.2 miles.
My training takes much more effort than someone who has not had assaults to their nervous system by the polio virus and enduring years of abuse at the hands of family members. I embrace the effort, the persistence and perseverance it takes to pursue and achieve my dreams and goals while healing mind, body and soul along the way. As the training cycle progresses I need more rest. I’m making more demands on my body than I’ve made since 2018 when I trained for the Bermuda Half Marathon. Since I had that success, I know I can do this because "it''s only 7.2 miles and then a 10K" ... for now. I do need to continue to transform old beliefs and flashbacks to the polio/trauma body. One of my favorite techniques to use is conscious movement, a term I learned when reading Dr. Norman Doidge's book, "The Brain's Way of Healing." I didn't realize there was a name for what I was instinctively doing until I read the book. Conscious movement is bringing mindfulness to how one holds their posture and how they move. Rather than fall into old habits of movement or habits that took hold due to illness or injury, it's a way to rewire the connections between muscles and nerves using thought and movement. In some instances, Dr. Doidge used music to help promote miraculous healing and recovery. I remind myself that I am healed and embody myself as a powerful thriver knowing that the greater the obstacle, the more glory there is in the overcoming of it.
The weather looks good for Saturday. These next few rest days are being used to meditate, visualize, celebrate all the training we've done thus far, release any niggles of doubt, and do the necessary preparations to go the longest distance I've gone since training for the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon. What a great way to celebrate 19 years of healing, getting ready to celebrate and commemorate my birthday and celebrate all the obstacles I have overcome.
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.
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.
