Celebrated My Body....

 

 

As Tom and I were out on our 4.5 miler in South Boston last Saturday to start another week in the training cycle on the road to the 2026 Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K, I reflected back to "Running the Race," the first poem I wrote in the wake of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. In the last couplets I wrote:

There wasn't much about my body to be celebrated in February of 2007 when I wrote that poem. But it flowed out of me after I got still and asked for Divine Guidance. I knew I was at a crossroads in my life after receiving a devastating diagnosis in December of 2006. I knew the story of Evy McDonald who healed from ALS by celebrating and loving her body despite initially withering away in a wheelchair. The most fascinating part of that poem is that I was winning a 10K race in my mind! 

Tom and I ran in the opposite direction from where we typically run when we go to South Boston. It was a refreshing change of scenery and sea breeze.

 

 

 

What was supposed to be a 4.5 mile run turned into a bit over 4.6 miles. {I stopped the Garmin at 4.6.} I needed to make a pit stop. I suggested to Tom that we recalculate the mileage since we didn't make a pit stop on our way out. In his infinite wisdom (smile) he said, "Oh no. I think we may even come up short." 

"Where are we?" Tom asked as we were heading toward the car's finish line.

"4.1" I answered knowing at that moment we were in fact going to go over 4.5.

"What? Wait. I thought we'd still be at like 3.8 or something." We both laughed. 

"I can see the car though. It's all the way down there. Do you want me to go get it when we hit 4.5?"

"No. I'm fine." 

It reminded me of when I ran an Accidental 5K . You just keep going until you finish! 

The theme of celebration continued with our Monday morning miles. Tom's on vacation and we had the luxury of setting the alarm for 6:30am instead of 6:00am. 

 

There was haze over the sun because of smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The air quality caused us to slow our pace. Yet as I say in my bio, "Every day is a celebration of life." What a gift to be able to join the Universe with the dawn of a new day. 

Tuesday was strength training day when I get to celebrate all my body gives me. Staycations are the best! We took extra time for our workout and a leisurely breakfast in the yard.

 

Wednesday was a rest day that we used to get work done around the house that we never seemed to have time to get to. I LOVE decluttering with my bestie. 

 

With the calendar page flipping to August this week, hearing the crickets' song when we sit out in the evening watching the sun set earlier and earlier, I am keenly aware of the fleeting nature of early morning summer runs. A t shirt or singlet and shorts will be replaced with capris and long sleeves followed by hats, jackets and gloves. As we set out for our Thursday morning run, we set the intention to celebrate the summer we've had and celebrate the remaining days of summer.

  

We were treated to angel slides and wildflowers. The still water of the Reservoir made for a perfect canvas to reflect the lush green trees.

 As we continue on this training cycle on the Road to the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K, I will continue to celebrate. I will celebrate my body with its creaks and groans but no longer a need for a brace. I am celebrating this amazing life I get to live in the wake of a once devastating diagnosis! 

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 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.

  

Courage Of A Most Unlikely Runner

 

In the Foreword to, "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance," the 2nd book in my Trilogy of Transformation, Jacqueline Hansen wrote:

"In fact, another Eleanor Roosevelt quotation reminds me of Mary: “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.’ You must do the thing you think you cannot do.” 

When you read about Mary’s life experiences you will wonder how does she not only endure, but lives her life with positivity in abundance. My closest friend in life lives by the motto “Be relentlessly positive,” which is written on her office door. Mary exudes this same attitude. You will not encounter a more positive person than Mary, despite all the challenges she has endured in life. 

Try to imagine what it must have been like to be diagnosed with paralytic polio as a child. Try to imagine suffering child abuse at the hands of those very family members who are charged with your upbringing. Try to imagine them together. It’s unbearable to think about. Then imagine surviving the unthinkable, and in adulthood being diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome. This is a story that needs to be told. This is a story of challenge, of resiliency, and a story of heart, tremendous heart. 

I am fond of using the word “heart.” When coaching young athletes, which I have done my entire adult life, I often tell them to “run with heart.” As I explain to them, I can coach them on skills, on running form, on race strategy, on everything to do with their running, except I cannot create “heart.” This is something that only they can produce from within. I go on to say that “you have to want this (running or racing) more than I do – more than I want it for you.” “Always run with heart.” I am here to tell you that Mary McManus always runs with all her heart."

Just for a moment, let’s ponder the word “heart.” The Latin word for heart is “cor.” Cor is also the root of the word “courage.” I would attribute both heart and courage to Mary. Even Mary herself has said that 'It takes incredible courage to heal trauma . . . healing both paralytic polio and trauma.'"

 

We wrapped up another week of training on the Road to the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K. Last Saturday we went to Jamaica Pond for a fabulous 4.5 mile run. Jamaica Pond was our go to place when we trained for the 2009 Boston Marathon. It's also where Bill Rodgers used to train back in the day! When we ran by the rocks that had been snow covered as we trained through one of the most brutal New England Winters, I remembered how the winter's scene inspired me to write the poem, "Courage." 

 

I was defying the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome and the Post-Polio Team's warning that if you use it, you will lose it. They also told me that I should be VERY cautious about going out in winter. If I fell, I'd be at risk for a hip fracture since polio survivors were prone to osteoporosis. There I was training for the Boston Marathon ignoring the well intended yet somewhat misguided advice from Western Medicine. The prognosis and cautionary tales with Post-Polio Syndrome did not take into account the body's capacity for  neuroplasticity and healing. Was I afraid when I took a leap of faith leaving behind my award-winning social work career in May 2007? Was I afraid as I tackled the monumental challenge of training for and running 26.2 miles on the Boston Marathon course? Do I have moments now of feeling afraid as I train for the Hyannis 10K with the goal of going the half marathon distance again next year? YES but as Franklin Delano Roosevelt said:

 Building back my mileage is both a challenge and a joy. Tom and I reminisced about favorite Boston Marathon training moments around Jamaica Pond while being present in the splendor that is Jamaica Pond and the Emerald Necklace. We loved going on a trail we hadn't trained on in many years. We know that soon the leaves will turn and the rocks will once again be snow covered. We celebrated needing only a singlet or t-shirt and shorts.

Every time I toe the starting line of a race, I feel that delightful mix of courage and nerves. It takes courage to be a back of the pack runner. It takes courage to be unapologetically me as an older runner who looks like a most unlikely runner. Yet I love the joy and exhilaration of celebrating my hard won victory of healing defying the odds time and time again. It is great to be off the sidelines building a solid base of miles. 

 

What gives me courage? Ever since I contracted paralytic polio at age 5, I felt a connection to Source. Every morning before checking my phone, Tom and I turn on a meditation to connect to Source within and around us. After Sunday's rest day, we got up at 6am on Monday to get in our run to beat the heat of the day. We were treated to beautiful angel slides and an angel in the clouds that reflected on the water:

Despite the cloud cover, it was a hot and humid morning. Even though we left on the air conditioner, sweat continued to pour as we savored our post-run breakfast. 

Tuesday was our strength training day. Rise and shine at 6:30am and head to our living room which gets converted into a gym every Tuesday morning.

 

When I was first diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, I knew that if I were to heal my life, I had to shift out of feeling like a victim of my past to build something new in my life. Every strength training session takes me closer to the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K building strength and confidence that my body can go the distance once again.

 

Thursday was another hot and steamy morning. 

It is always a gift to be able to see the beginning of a new day. We appreciate the sights and sounds of summer knowing these days are flying by. In case you didn't notice, gratitude and being present are themes of my life; wisdom I garnered after being given the diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disease.

 

Tomorrow we pack up the car for a destination to be determined for another 4.5 miler on the Road to the Hyannis Marathon 10K. I'll be running with heart and courage in my soul to embrace my passion and my purpose forging ahead one mile at a time as a most unlikely runner. 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can You Believe It?

 

During this training cycle for the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K, I've been reflecting on my healing journey in the wake of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006.  I'd known about the healing power of the mind/body connection through Bernie Siegel,MD  since the 1980's. One of my favorite examples of the power of the mind/body connection happened after abdominal surgery. In his books and talks, Bernie talks about giving hypnotic suggestions to his patients while under anesthesia. When I met with the anesthesiologist at my pre-op visit, he was familiar with Bernie's work. I told him how I always got sick after anesthesia. He said he'd be happy to give me a suggestion to help me wake up feeling comfortable and pain free. When I woke up in the recovery room, as I felt as though I was going to be sick, the wave of nausea stopped. I had a sudden craving for a BBQ hamburger and asked for one out loud. The anesthesiologist had told the Team the suggestion he made and I heard laughter reverberate in the room! Can you believe it?

There have been times when I have used deliberate focused intentions to address healing a condition in my body. In April of 2007, I had an abnormal mammogram and used visualization to dissolve the tumor. Creating poetry that harnessed the power of the mind/body connection focused on rewiring my nervous system with love after polio and trauma. The runner within me was born in my imagination in the first poem I wrote, "Running the Race", that foreshadowed my 2009 Boston Marathon run. After a serious knee injury in December of 2014, I used chiropractic, KT tape, a revised strength training regimen and visualization to dissolve bone spurs, grow a new gastroc muscle, repair torn cartilage, and reverse degenerative changes due to arthritis. That total knee replacement that I was told I'd need in a few years never happened. I was told to stop running or cap my distance at a 5K. Well not so much. I went on to run 3 Bermuda Half Marathons in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and the Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K in 2016. Can you believe it?

There have been setbacks and comebacks along the way that I met with my profound belief in the body's tremendous capacity to heal. By falling in love with the process and trusting the results would come, I celebrate, thriving in the wake of polio and trauma aging strong.

While many of my healing moments were driven by intentional visualizations with allowing the incredible Intelligence within us to heal, there is one that teaches us about the Divine Intelligence that happens as a result of nature's incredible design. In 1992, I had a femoral osteotomy on my left leg to correct the alignment in my left leg. My leg was bowed as a result of childhood paralytic polio causing the knee joint to wear down. Doing a total knee replacement in my late 30's was not ideal. My surgeon, Donald T. Reilly had invented the procedure. A year after the surgery, we both agreed on removing the hardware. It was uncomfortable especially in cold weather. I was non-weight bearing for 6 weeks after the surgery while the holes from the screws that held the plate in place filled in with new bone! I truly did not give it a second thought as Dr. Reilly was totally confident about nature's healing process. When I returned for my post-op visit, he took an x-ray and sure enough I could toss aside the crutches and be weight bearing since the bone healed! Can you believe it?

As I share my healing journey, my hope is to inspire others with what's possible despite all appearances to the contrary. I can believe what's possible because others shared their healing stories. Two stories in particular that inspired me on my journey are Wilma Rudolph and Evy McDonald. Of particular note is that when I set out on a quest to heal my life, I did not know what the outcome would be. I loved the song "Dancing Through Life" from Wicked and was determined that whatever the outcome, if I were to spend my life in a wheelchair, I would dance through life. Yet I fell in love with myself, the process of healing and what miraculous results happened beyond my wildest imaginings. Can you believe it?

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.

 

 

 

After a Run...

 
 

Another week in the training cycle for the 45th Annual Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K is in the books. Last Saturday, we decided to switch up the location for our fabulous 4 miler. Despite getting up early, it was a hot run along the banks of Boston's Charles River. There were throngs of runners and cyclists along the path that hugs the Charles with kayakers and crew teams out on the water. We hadn't done a river run in several years. Going over the Mass. Ave. Bridge reminded me of an anchor memory in my running career. The Tufts 10K for women was my first 10K race in October of 2008. In 2014, I ran a PR at the race finishing strong despite having had serious pre-race jitters. The race name changed and there is now a time limit for the course but it was great to revisit those memories as Tom and I paused to take photos of our beautiful City.

Fortunately there were water fountains available for us to fill our water bottles. Everyone's faces and bodies were shimmering with sweat. The water fountains were like the office water cooler where everyone splashed water on themselves as we gathered briefly chatting about how far we were going and asking what races (if any) we were training for. Despite running hot, everyone was running happy as smiles were exchanged as we passed runners going in opposite directions.

 

I hadn't slept well on Friday night. When we got back to the car with the a/c on high, rehydrating with water from our cooler and refueling with a banana and pretzels, I thought about the poem I wrote, "After a Run." It set the tone for the next two training runs this week. There's no escaping stress and challenges in life but after a run I feel energized and strengthened to tap into my reservoir of resilience and strength. Spending time with Tom unplugged, connecting with Source, feeling the energy of the water and connection with other like minded souls who enjoy exercise brings clarity and serenity. That time of moving, conversation and appreciating being in the present moment while reflecting on and celebrating joys from the past fuels our gratitude and optimistic way of being. After Saturday's run I felt cleansed from the inside out. I emptied myself of worries and sorrow and loved the feeling of being hungry as we drove home. Tom prepared pita pouches with eggs, ham and spinach which we devoured. After a run, I appreciate how delicious food tastes and have a deep appreciation for all my body gives me; all I want to give back to my body as a statement of love and appreciation. 

 

Sunday was our rest and recovery day with a leisurely breakfast in our yard. Meditation time, afternoon naps and prepping for the week ahead were the order of the day.

 

Rise.Shine.Run. with a Monday morning 6am alarm. 

 

Many years ago I was blessed to know Kathy, a wonderful woman living with cancer who I met through Bernie Siegel's Forum. When she was in hospice care, she told me that whenever I saw a turkey, she was stopping by to say hello. Check out what we saw on someone's lawn as we were heading to the Reservoir:

 

Feeling the connection to something greater than myself is one of the great treasures that the gift of running has brought into my life. We took it nice and easy as I'd been pushing the pace on our shorter runs and on Saturday, we increase the mileage to 4.5.

 

This morning's training run continued with the theme of gratitude since, after all, it is thankful Thursday. I felt joy bubble up from the depths of my soul this morning. Tom and I celebrated my healing and we celebrated all that we've done as a couple to arrive at this moment in our lives. We each came from dysfunctional families where we never knew how it felt to be free or run free. My situation was compounded by having contracted paralytic polio at age 5. Freedom is a spiritual, physical and emotional gift that neither one of us takes for granted. Tom grew up in Spain when it was under Franco's rule. I love the metaphor of sweat being a font of joy and freedom. We know that Labor Day will be here before we know it; we focus on living fully in the present moment appreciating summer's splendor:

 

After a run. breakfast tasted so delicious as sweat continued to trickle down the small of my back. We have a simple breakfast of cereal or oatmeal. I have toast and OJ. Tom fills his cereal bowl with fruit and has coffee. 

 

After a Run

After a run troubles melt away 
a once tight chest filled with dread and fear
opens 
overflowing with joy and gratitude.

Thoughts tossed and turned
restless night
greatest feat 
first step 
crossing front door threshold

Exhaustion exhumed
vibrancy returns
hitting my stride
connection to Source
bathed in sunlight
beads of sweat 
a font of joy and freedom

After a run 
troubles melt away as sweat pours from pores
all that remains 
sweetness of summertime
a reminder
born to run
free! 

 

Tomorrow is a rest and recovery day as we get ready to up our mileage on Saturday to 4.5 miles. We will figure out where to run based on the weather and where Spirit leads us. My joy and gratitude for this training cycle continues to grow as I celebrate 18 years of healing since I took a leap of faith, leaving behind my award-winning social work career to set out on a quest to heal my life.

 

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.