A Word (or many words) About Mirror Neurons

Shortly after writing the poem, "Running the Race," I watched the scene from Forrest Gump over and over in which he breaks out of his braces after being taunted by the bullies. I did not know that I was firing up my mirror neuron system to encourage healing the effects of the polio virus I contracted at age 5. At the time, I was in a toe-up leg brace, using a cane and at times a wheelchair for mobility.

I'd been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and to expect an accelerated decline in functioning as I aged. I'd been advised to leave behind my award winning career at the VA as the stress only exacerbated the symptoms of the progressive neuromuscular disease. After getting still in February of 2007 and asking for Divine Guidance, poetry began flowing out of me. I had to have pen and paper, or my iPhone with the Notes app open to keep up with the poems. My pen became my divining rod for healing as my imagination fueled the power of the mind/body connection. The runner within me was born in my imagination fueled by the mirror neuron system.

In Dr. David R. Hamilton's recent Better You.Backed by Science Newsletter, he writes about the research of the mirror neuron system. He presents research on the Science of Action Observation. Here's how it works: "When you observe an action, your MNS fires up and simulates the movement in your brain – as if you were doing it yourself. That’s what the “mirror” part of “mirror neuron system” refers to.

It’s not just in your head either. These simulated movements activate the neural circuits that control your muscles. And when those circuits are repeatedly activated – even passively – they strengthen the muscles too."

Early on in this training cycle on the Road to the Hyannis Marathon 10K, I had a stunning moment of embodying how I felt when I took ballet before contracting paralytic polio. I wrote about this in depth in my blog, "From Atrophy to Astonishing!" I reference the song "At the Ballet" from A Chorus Line.

When I was 21 years old, I sat in the front balcony of the Shubert Theater mesmerized by what was happening on the stage below me as the Original Broadway Cast of "A Chorus Line" made what we  now know is theater history. I carried many of the songs with me as the soundtrack of my life remembering the stunning choreography of the show. July 25th marked 50 years since "A Chorus Line" opened. The weekend was filled with celebrations and remembrances that ignited so many wonderful memories within me. 

Ellen Langer's book, "Counter Clockwise" came to mind as I imagined myself as a dancer reliving movements and songs in my mind. I used to dance around the living room to my vinyl of the Original Broadway Cast. Dr. David Hamilton references her book in a recent Better You.Backed by Science Newsletter, "How to Slow Ageing." Research has shown that when we immerse ourselves in a time when we were younger, we can actually slow the ageing process! My mirror neuron system was activated as I watched scenes from "A Chorus Line" on social media and dusted off my vinyl. I added the soundtrack to my strength training workout playlist visualizing the magical moments of "A Chorus Line" as I worked out this morning. I felt much younger than my 71 years!

 

"All I ever needed was the music and the mirror and the chance to dance for you." In June 1959, my world crumbled around me as I contracted paralytic polio but the dancer within me never died. This morning, she came to life as I incorporated the movements and the rhythm of dancing into my strength training workout to the soundtrack of "A Chorus Line." She was resurrected through my poetry. Here are two of my favorite poems that reference the dancer within me:

While I was familiar with the power of the mind/body connection through the work of Dr. Bernie Siegel, after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006, I immersed myself in the understanding of the various aspects of the mind/body connection. It's fascinating to learn that things that I did instinctively to heal are actually backed by science! 

 

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.

My books share a powerful message of healing, hope and possibilities; what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary and are available on Bookshop  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 Author Page on Amazon for rave reviews.

  

A Runner's High Spectating & Volunteering

17 years ago I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease and told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. I went through a miraculous journey of transformation and became a most unlikely runner. The running community has become an integral part of my life. This past weekend I was blessed to be support crew for Tom and Ruth Anne at the Squirrel Run. The proceeds from the race support the Angel ALS Fund for research at UMass Medical Center. The Kennedy family, of Kennedy Physical Therapy has been particularly hard hit by ALS. One of the brothers whose nickname was Squirrel died at the age of 31. Jake Kennedy, a near and dear honorary member of our L Street Running Club died in 2020. Their father died from ALS. Another brother, Ratt has been diagnosed with ALS and is doing well thanks to an experimental drug trial funded by the Angel Fund. As he said during the pre-race announcements, "I am able to stand here thanks to the amazing work of Dr. Brown" whom he then introduced. 

Our running club turns out to support this race. We had quite a turn out. It was a wonderful reunion for us with running family who we had not seen in awhile.

One of our friend's, Sean Long's sister was recently diagnosed with ALS. He will be running the Falmouth Road Race in her honor raising money for ALS Research!

 

Even though I was support crew for Tom and Ruth Anne, I felt a runner's high cheering the runners and a Squirrel at the start and into the finish. Ruth Anne paced Tom to a third place finish in his Age Group! 

At the post-race celebration we had love filled conversations and talk about 'what's next.' It was as though no time had passed for the bonds that runner family form transcend time and place.

When Ruth Anne ran the LA Marathon, we had an amazing moment of synchronicity at the concierge desk when we met Jen Reidy, partner of Brian McCourt, President of the McCourt Foundation. She told us about the McCourt Foundation Boston Waterfront 5K. "We could really use volunteers," she said. Ruth Anne quickly replied, "We'll do it."

Sunday morning we headed to Black Falcon Terminal on the Pier of South Boston for our t-shirt pick up volunteer assignment. The vibe for this race that raises money for the McCourt Foundation is off the chart!  Their mission is: Striving to cure neurological diseases one event at a time and empowering communities to build a better world! They focus their support on ALS, Alzheimer's, MS and Parkinson's Disease. The McCourt brothers' mother lived with Alzheimer's for a decade and their father died from MS at the age of 41! Their story is phenomenal and their passion to make this world a healthier place gives me goosebumps.

Here are photos from our adventure in volunteering:

We had a reunion with Jen who told us what Brian was wearing so we could find him in the crowd. We loved doing t-shirt pick up and laughed at how some people tried to get extra shirts or were particular about how the shirt fit! We laughed as Tom, Ruth Anne and I exchanged stories about the excuses people gave for getting an extra shirt -- at a fundraiser! My favorite story of the day. "Excuse me, Can I please get a second t shirt?" "You can purchase one at the finisher's store." "What if I told you my last name was McCourt." "Well then I'd ask you to see Brian." "That's cool," he said. "Brian is my Uncle. You did good there." He extended his hand and introduced himself as Andrew. I told him how we knew his Uncle. He thanked us for volunteering.

A magical moment happened when our beloved friend Tina who we know through L Street Running Club since we ran Boston in '09, spotted us. She and her husband Michael were doing bike 'duty' as she likes to call it as part of race day safety. Ruth Anne and Tina had to take a selfie together:

She was sorry she missed the Squirrel Run this year but she had a conflict. She shared with us that a member of L Street is the Race Director for the McCourt Foundation! 

Despite needing to walk back to our car in the pouring rain, my heart overflowed with gratitude that I have been blessed with healing from the once devastating diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. Being in the running community, whether spectating, volunteering or running, I get a runner's high fired up to continue to build strength, endurance and speed on my own health and wellness journey. The friends we have made through the years have become family and our family continues to grow in love, passion and compassion to use running as a way to make a difference in the world!

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  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.

Focus on Mental Preparation: The Brain Cannot Distinguish...

 

“Does your brain distinguish real from imaginary?” is a question posed by Dr. David Hamilton in his October 2014 blog. David and countless other mind/body luminaries have written and shared researched about how the brain cannot distinguish real from imaginary. One of my favorite stories from Meb’s book, “Run to Overcome” is when he shares how he visualized his race before going to sleep. He had one of his worst performances because his body believed he had already run the race. Billy Mills won Gold in the 1964 Olympics through the power of visualization. He had read in a college textbook, “The subconscious mind cannot tell the difference between reality and imagination.”

In David’s blog post, he cites one of his favorite studies about the power of the imagination and its effect on the body.
 
Volunteers were asked to play a simple sequence of piano notes each day for five consecutive days. Their brains were scanned each day in the region connected to the finger muscles. Another set of volunteers were asked to imagine playing the notes instead, also having their brains scanned each day.

The top two rows in the image show the changes in the brain in those who played the notes. The middle two rows show the changes in those who simply imagined playing the notes. Compare this with the bottom two rows showing the brain regions of the control group, who didn’t play nor imagine playing, piano.

When I share my journey of transformation as a motivational speaker, I start out by asking members of the audience to imagine eating a lemon. (I bet you started feeling sensations in your mouth as you read that sentence!) I could see by the pursed lips in the audience that I made my point. Through visualizing, the brain undergoes changes that in turn create changes in the body.

Throughout this training cycle, I’ve used my imagination experiencing how I am going to feel crossing the finish line of the Bermuda Triangle Challenge 10K. I’ve used  intermittent visualization about being out on the course. Now that the intense physical training has peaked, it is time for me to harness the power of my imagination for race day. I need to hone in on the details of race weekend from start to when I cross the finish line and of course the post-race celebration. I am whisking away the what if’s of travel and pre-race jitters to create my perfect race-cation in my mind’s eye. It’s time to stoke the flames of my imagination and snuff out the doubts, fears and worries. As the holiday music fills the air and I prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas, I anticipate celebrating all that I have accomplished, all that I am and all that is yet to be. I am topping off the tank of training during these next several weeks feeling physically prepared to take my victory lap on the beautiful Bermuda 10K course. Now it’s time to focus in on mental preparation because, during these past 17 years of healing, I have learned that the brain cannot distinguish between what is real and what is being imagined.

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.