This Week in Training: Difficult Roads - Beautiful Destinations

 

At the age of 5 1/2, I encountered the difficult road of contracting paralytic polio. I was blessed with a gifted physical therapist, Miss Holly and a physiatrist, Dr. Eugene Moskowitz who specialized in treating the after effects of polio. My childhood and adolescence was fraught with challenges beyond recovering from polio but there were always earth angels at the ready to support and encourage me.

At the age of 53, at the height of my award-winning social work career at the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic, I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. 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. I was just 3 years shy of when I was eligible to retire and had my retirement plans all in place...or so I thought. My destiny was waiting for me as a most unlikely runner, poet, author and motivational speaker.

Saturday morning 7am:
Me: {still in bed after meditation} Tom can you check the weather please?
Tom: Sure. It says it's snowing and will be stopping in 45 minutes.
Me: Oh well. That's okay. I remember when it snowed a few times when we ran Hyannis.
Tom: Let me look out the window and see how everything looks....It's not snowing! There's no snow on the ground.

And so began the day for our fantastic 5 miler to start another week of training on the Road to Hyannis. 

We did a 2 1/2 mile out and back route from our house breathing in the clean crisp air and savoring the sights of nature. Tom and I agreed that these times unplugged out in Nature are a sanity saver these days. With all that is going on in our country and the world, and a stress-filled week for Tom at work, running is the gift that keeps on giving for physical and emotional well-being.

It's a gift that I am deeply grateful for knowing that if I would have succumbed to the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome 20 years ago, my life would look drastically different today. I'm not even sure if I would have been alive today given Western Medicine's view that Post-Polio Syndrome is a progressive neuromuscular disease. Jean Baker Miller,MD with whom I worked as a social worker at Charles River Hospital, suffered for years with debilitating symptoms and died from complications of Post-Polio Syndrome.  

This training cycle has been filled with the kind of joy that comes with challenging oneself experiencing discomfort and pushing limits. 

On Sunday, as my social media news feed filled with photos and videos from Bermuda Triangle Challenge Weekend, I reflected on another difficult road that led to an astonishingly beautiful destination.

In December of 2014, I suffered a serious left knee injury. My left leg was affected more by the polio virus than my right leg. When I went for the MRI, it showed an atrophied gastroc muscle, torn cartilage, degenerative changes from osteoarthritis and changes from when I had reconstructive leg surgery. There were bone spurs and a fatty lipoma. As the physiatrist shared the results with me, he noted there was nothing we could do about the atrophied gastroc muscle, a result of polio. Arthroscopic surgery to repair the torn cartilage was not an option. I should have never started running in the first place as a polio survivor, and should stop running or cap my distance at a 5K. I'd need a total knee replacement in a few years. 

In February of 2015, I was blessed to meet Ryan J. Means, a chiropractor healer who believed, as I did in the body's tremendous capacity to heal. We partnered together using chiropractic, a new strength training regimen and, as I had done after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, harnessed the power of the mind/body connection using visualization.

These photos are from the Bermuda Triangle Challenge Weekend Half Marathon in January of 2016 and the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K in February of 2016. Six weeks from today, Tom McManus and I once again toe the starting line of the 2026 Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K!

Another snowstorm came through the area on Sunday. Tom and I were so grateful that Monday was an indoor workout day and the holiday that commemorates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. My heart was warmed by how quotes and dedicating our lives to honor his legacy filled my news feed throughout the day. Tom and I started the new day and a new week with a 45 minute rigorous strength training session. I was inspired by this quote:

Before the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006, as I experienced debilitating symptoms of chronic pain, fatigue, the limp from polio returned, difficulty swallowing and breathing, my zest and enthusiasm for life began to wane. In February of 2007, I discovered the gift of poetry in my soul. I imagined a future very different than the one Western Medicine predicted for me of expecting an accelerated decline in functioning as I aged, and prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair! I saw life through the lens of the words that were pouring forth from my heart and soul. My pen lit the spark within me that was dimmed but could never be snuffed out.

Black ice lined the street on Tuesday morning. Tom and I opted for a 2nd day of before breakfast strength training. We got ourselves pumped up with our playlist and feeling incredibly excited to return to our favorite race weekend of the year.  This quote from Amby Burfoot was a great reminder that our training is more than the miles and more than crossing that finish line, although we are psyched for the bling!

Training in Winter in Boston for the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K requires flexibility and perseverance. According to weather reports, the polar vertex will arrive on Saturday with feels like temperatures below zero. A major storm is forecast for Sunday. 

Tom and I usually do an easy 2-3 mile shakeout run on Thursday to wrap up our week of training but, given the weather forecast, we decided to do Saturday's 5K today. We were grateful there was only a 5K on the training plan this week so we could fit it into Tom's work day. The day warmed up quickly and we could easily navigate around slush and ice. We did an out and back route down Beacon Street after taking back roads to the Reservoir. It was inspiring to see the grey sky transform into a sky with blue streaks.

I am so grateful for all my body gives me with every run and workout remembering how, in December of 2006 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! Talk about a plot twist; how a difficult road led me to this beautiful destination of the sport of running being out in Nature living life to the full with my bestie. 

That's a wrap on another week of training for Hyannis. We got in solid 5 mile and 5K training runs working around what Mother Nature decided to do with the weather. Strength training is always a great option to complement our running. Taking a bye day is always an option but Tom and I will do whatever we can to stick to our only rest days on Wednesday and Sunday. Five weeks from today, Tom and I pack up and head to Hyannis. I will be at the Expo on Saturday inspiring runners and doing a book signing. Dinner reservations are secured at Colombo's, our favorite Hyannis restaurant, and we have our room reserved at the host hotel, The Cape Cod Irish Village at the Emerald Resort and Conference Center. It's almost go time!

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.

My Trilogy of Transformation chronicles my journey from having been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair with the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine standards to a woman transformed through the sport of running. Take a journey into a world of healing, hope and possibilities with my 7 books, available on Amazon. My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner: Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is a selection of the WBZ News Radio Book Club and Bill Rodgers Running Center Billy's Bookshelf: Recommended Reading for Every Runner. You will be inspired by my strength, courage, resilience, determination and overcoming the inevitable setbacks that come with a journey to health and wellness. 

 

 

 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.

 

 

This Week in Training: It's a Celebration!

Next month marks 19 years since I received the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome when 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. I reflected on this milestone last Saturday as Tom and I kicked off another week of training on the Road to Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K. The weather was gray and rainy but fortunately temperatures were relatively mild for late November here in Boston. I asked Tom if there was some place new we could run for our 4 mile run. He said he had just the place. As we made our way to the Charles River, Tom was turned around at first thinking there was parking just off the main road that would lead to the running path. After the 2nd time of not finding the spot, I suggested we go back to the Reservoir. But, he wanted to try one more turn. He found it!

 

We stretched,  fueled and hydrated and set off on a wonderful adventure along the Charles River. Tom used to run along that path but it was unfamiliar territory for me. Tom pointed out it was great training for race day since I'll be running along a course I have not run in 10 years. Tom was able to capture a photo of geese taking off from the water.

I was curious to see if geese can be considered an animal spirit since I see them so frequently. When I think of the geese around the Reservoirs, I am usually only focused on avoiding stepping in goose poop. I googled the meaning of geese as an animal spirit. As an animal totem, the goose symbolizes community, kindness, communication, loyalty, bravery and guidance. It represents the ability to synchronize with others, balance leadership and teamwork, and the importance of family and protecting loved ones. The goose signifies endurance, vigilance, freedom, and the ability to know when to lead and when to follow. When the trees are mostly bare and it's a seemingly gray and dreary day, Tom and I consciously sought out finding the beauty despite the weather.

 

As I've mentioned in previous blogs, at this time of year, our conversations often turn to how far I've traveled on my healing path since I was first diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome. One of my favorite sayings is, "I still remember the days I prayed for the things I have now." 

I had to hug the staircase when I walked from the first to the 2nd floor of our Cape home. Forget going into the basement and doing laundry. I depended on my family to get the laundry done. We either used PeaPod delivery service for groceries or I would use a scooter in the grocery store. I used weighted utensils to eat, drank water through a straw and could not talk while I ate because of the risk of aspirating food into my lungs. I used a tub chair because I did not have the endurance to stand for a shower. Going for a walk outside even with a toe-up leg brace and cane was not even a possibility. I felt as though my nose was pressed up against the pane on the window of life and I was watching the world pass me by. 

This is why I have such a profound appreciation for every step and every mile, regardless of the weather or season. This is why I say that every day is a celebration. The joyous feelings of celebration enable me to surf the waves of discomfort and pain. As I said when I set out on this quest to heal my life, I knew there was going to be pain and discomfort so why not experience it on the side of health and well-being rather than atrophy and decline.

Gratitude and celebration go hand in hand. Monday's strength training session was a celebration of all our bodies can do especially being in our 70's. 

It was a wonderful way to start a new day, new week and the week of Thanksgiving. Tom had worked on Sunday. We were a bit tired when the alarm went off but by the end of the workout we were energized and exhilarated that it was Tom's Friday since Tuesday would be comp time. It always feels so good to push through and get to the other side of the workout.

Since Tom didn't have to work on Tuesday, we got a later start to our morning miles but still got our miles in before breakfast. The still water made for a beautiful canvas of the trees and the Boston skyline in the distance. My perception of the geese shifted and I appreciated their special place in the Universe. After breakfast, Tom and I worked on getting things ready to celebrate Thanksgiving. What a treat to have unscheduled time together. Since every day is a day of celebration and gratitude, I don't experience a build up to the holiday as many people do. I focused on the gift of being present and enjoying the moments with Tom.

 

 

 

What a treat to finally see the sun on our before breakfast, before putting the turkey in the oven miles! There were many runners getting in their miles before the feast. Tom and I joked that they were probably also getting their ya-ya's out before getting together with the family. It seemed as though celebration was the theme of everybody's morning run as we exchanged smiles and Happy Thanksgiving when we passed each other.

What a glorious day to wrap up another week of the training cycle focusing on all there is to c elebrate and be grateful for.

We turn the page on the calendar on Monday to the last month of the year and the beginning of my birthday month. I'm gearing up for 7.2 miles on my 72nd birthday on December 25th. It will be the farthest I've gone since the Bermuda Half Marathon in 2018. Celebrating my journey of healing and having a heart overflowing with gratitude lights and fuels the miles on and off the roads!

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.

My Trilogy of Transformation chronicles my journey from having been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair with the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine standards to a woman transformed through the sport of running. Take a journey into a world of healing, hope and possibilities with my 7 books, available on Amazon. My 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner: Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is a selection of the WBZ News Radio Book Club and Bill Rodgers Running Center Billy's Bookshelf: Recommended Reading for Every Runner. You will be inspired by my strength, courage, resilience, determination and overcoming the inevitable setbacks that come with a journey to health and wellness. 

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.

 

The Heart of a Champion

 

As Tom and I got ready for last Saturday's 5.5 miler on the Road to the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K, I wondered to myself, "What is stoking the flames of this training cycle? After all, I'll be 72 on Christmas Day and have absolutely nothing to prove. Why am I doing this and where does my motivation come from?" 

 

Daniel Pollack-Pelzner, the author of the captivating book, 'Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist' posted a prompt on Instagram asking us to consider who was our Ms. Ames; one of Lin's most influential mentors. I shared my Joe Stetz story.  I had contracted paralytic polio at age 5. My first day camp experience was horrible. Fortunately, my rehab medicine doctor, Dr. Moskowitz, suggested my parents send me to Badger Day Camp known for their philosophy of inclusion and premier swimming program. They even held an end of year Olympics. The first year I went was wonderful. The counselors were supportive and emphasized my strengths rather than my limitations. I sat out the end of year Olympics. Towards the end of my second summer at Badger, my swimming counselor, Joe Stetz, with the dark hair, wide smile and soulful brown eyes, standing at the far left of the Olympic contenders in the above photo, asked me to compete in the end of year Olympics. I thought he must have been talking to someone else. He wanted me to compete in of all strokes - the Butterfly! There were only two other campers willing to compete in the Butterfly. They needed at least 3 campers to compete or there would be no event. I was guaranteed a place on the podium. 

 

Joe kept his promise that he would work with me one on one supporting me as I overcame my fears and physical limitations. On the day of the Olympics, he reminded me to swim my own race at my own pace. "Don't look at the other swimmers. It doesn't matter that you might finish last, you are a champion by stepping up to the starting block and finding the courage to overcome your challenges." When I finished long after the other two competitors, he extended a hand to me as I got out of the pool. He walked me to the podium and proudly looked on as I received my Bronze 3rd place plaque.  His words and actions stayed with me during these past 61 years. When I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006, I once again felt his presence. Despite having been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and expect an accelerated decline in functioning as I aged, I took on the 2009 Boston Marathon. Whenever I faced a setback, I called upon what Joe instilled in me to have a strong come back. You can learn more about Joe and his extraordinary life in my blog post, "A Penny From Heaven."

 

This week's training cycle theme has been the heart of a champion.

 

Saturday was a spectacular end of September day. Seeing the seagulls glide effortlessly as they landed on the water reminded me of how free I felt in the water and freedom I feel when I am out on a training run. I knew there was a race happening in South Boston on Saturday and suggested Tom bypass the probable road closure. Instead, we ended up taking a detour dictated by the road closure. "I wish you would have listened to me," I said. "I wish you'd listen to me," Tom said as he pulled into a parking space.

"Watch this," he said. It's always a great idea to mix up training run routes. We enjoyed the new route that eventually took us back along the beaches.

 

The new route finished in an uphill like the finisher's chute in Hyannis. We visualized how we would feel coming into the finish line. I stretched at the car. As we build the miles, I can feel the pain that accompanies any training cycle. As I told my personal trainer when I first set out on this journey to health and wellness, I'd rather experience pain on the side of health and wellness rather than the pain of atrophy, decline and disuse. 

 

After our Sunday rest and recovery day, we woke up on Monday to our 6am alarm that now goes off in the dark. After meditation, we put on our water belts and head out the door. What a gift to see the dawn of a new day. What joy to rise, shine and run and be kissed by the light of the new day's sun. The cadence of Dr. Seuss is imprinted in my heart and soul thanks to Miss Holly, my physical therapist who tenderly ministered to me after I contracted paralytic polio. She'd have me recite Dr. Seuss in tandem with her to distract me from the pain of coaxing muscles and nerves back to health; a healer ahead of her time.

 

Tuesday was strength training day for this champion and Tom, my life and training partner. We set the alarm for 6:30, meditated and cranked up the playlist. Cooler air means open windows and no a/c but we still worked up a good sweat. 

 

 Wednesday was another rest and recovery day that included a lot of stretching and rolling out with foot roller and ball. I savor these new yet very familiar sensations in my body as we build a solid foundation.

 

Thursday was the first taste of October and Fall. Capris and layering for tops were perfect. I felt a powerful connection to Source seeing the sun rise and the dawn of a new day. My heart overflowed with gratitude for this sacred time with Tom, unplugged, out in nature knowing how fortunate we are to be doing this.

 

The magical magnificent morning miles were exhilarating. We even did negative splits. Hot oatmeal, toast, a banana and cold OJ tasted so delicious as we wrapped up another week in our training cycle. I am feeling strong, resilient, blessed and grateful, and determined to go the distance having the best time with my heart of a champion leading me each mile along the way.

 

In health and wellness - Mary

Visit my 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.

 

Looking for great books to curl up with this Fall? My books share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities; what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary and are available on Amazon.  My 6th book, "Into the Light:Emerging From the 2020 Pandemic" and my 7th book, "A Most Unlikely Runner:Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" are selections of the WBZ News Radio Book Club. "Inspiration From The Heart of a Warrior" is also a selection Bill Rodgers Running Center Billy's Bookshelf: Recommended Reads for Every Runner. Visit my Amazon Author Page for book descriptions and rave reviews.