Before I take a look ahead to what's next for me on my health and fitness journey, I'd like to take a moment and pause and look back to where I was 10 years ago at Christmas.
Yep - that's a photo of me a year after having been diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome earlier in the year. In May of 2007 I left my award winning career as a VA social worker to heal my life from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma. I had no idea what that meant at the time. I just knew that something had to shift in my life. I was NOT going to take the diagnosis sitting down. In October I hired a personal trainer to see if perhaps I could get a little stronger. I couldn't even pass the initial assessment but by February not only did I pass the assessment but met my initial health and fitness goals. When asked about my goals for the next 6 months of training I told Janine, "I want to walk outside unencumbered. I want to feel free in my body. I want to dance (I was a ballerina prior to contracting paralytic polio at age 5). I want to diversify my workouts. Janine wrote down the goals and gathered up her belongings. And then Spirit spoke.... "Wait. I have one more goal. I want to run the 2009 Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital. I can do it as a charity runner."
Janine put down her belongings and was totally non-plussed about what I had just said. "Okay but you're going to need a pair of running shoes." Until then I was wearing these:
My journey of a lifetime began training for the Boston Marathon raising $10,535 for Spaulding along the way!
Here I am today poised and ready to run my 3rd half marathon in as many years after a serious knee injury in December of 2014 almost sidelined me:
As 2017 and my 63rd year of life draws to a close, (on Monday I turn 64) it's natural to think about my next goals in life and in running. I'll be writing "The Adventures of Runnergirl1953". One of my favorite moments during my running adventures was running the BA Event Promotions Jingle Bell 5K in December of 2010 as I wrote about in this blog. I'm feeling the itch to ditch distance for shorter fun races and see what this body can do again.
I've been having dreams about running 12 minute miles. Last night I had a dream I ran my 2nd marathon. All things are possible. I've certainly proven that to be true during these past 10 years of healing.
I want to work with a personal trainer after we run the Hyannis 10K in February. I "just happened" to bump into Richard Mendez on my way into Boston Sports Club at Fenway. He is a personal trainer with years of experience and is certified in:
NASM Certified Personal Trainer
NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist
NASM Golf Fitness Specialist
NASM Womans Fitness Specialist
I got a wonderful vibe from him during our brief encounter. I told him that I didn't want to change anything before running Bermuda in January but then want to focus on building strength, balance and trying out new things on my health and wellness journey. I know I can improve my speed and agility working from the inside out and getting a boost from the outside in.
For 3 years I've been training to go the distance with a half marathon and it's been a wondrous and blessed journey. I have had a wonderful training regimen that I created with Ryan J. Means, DC who is a healer, chiropractor and taught Boot Camp well versed in what people of all ages need to heal. He now lives in China and I will also consult with him about taking the next steps on my journey to health and wellness.
My number one and two health and fitness goals for 2018 are to have fun and challenge myself.
I've been releasing the heaviness and burdens of my past through the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza using his readings, meditations, videos and teleclasses to support me on my journey to transform from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma.
I've done a yeomen's job of healing during these past 10 years.
I'm very excited for my next decade of healing and my new year of life eager to see and experience where Spirit leads me.
To going the distance with strength and courage
From my heart to yours,
Mary
Be sure to visit my website by following this link.
My books are available on Amazon.
Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life
Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing Hope and Possibility that chronicles the first 7 years of my healing journey:
And my latest and greatest book - Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):
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