Celebrating Ten Years of Running: I Exceed All Expectations

In February of 2007, I sat in a leg brace and used a cane for mobility. At times, I used a wheelchair and was told by the Team at the Spaulding Rehab International Rehab Center for Polio and Post-Polio to be prepared to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and expect a rapid deterioration in neuromuscular functioning. When I got still and asked for Divine Guidance, the answer came in the form of a poem, "Running the Race" and then many many more poems in which I imagined myself healthy, whole, healed, strong, running my life and running on the roads free and unencumbered.

The last stanza of that first poem reads:
I'm now off the sidelines, no need to sit and whine
so much gratitude fills my heart and love and beauty shine.
After all these years I can join the loving human race
I exceed all expectations and now I set the pace.

I have exceeded all expectations that were set forth by the Post Polio Team. I have exceeded expectations of what a polio survivor should be capable of doing as one ages.

I am so grateful that I came across this article by the physiatrist who treated me in New York:
Caution and Hope On Polio 'Signs'
Published: March 3, 1985
I read with interest the article entitled ''A Group for Polio Survivors Who Have New Symptoms'' (Feb. 10).
Having supervised the rehabilitation of poliomyelitis patients at Grasslands Hospital during the epidemics of the 50's and 60's, probably including the ''then'' infants mentioned in the article, I would like to add a word of caution and even hope as an afterthought.
Firstly, there is no reason to suspect deterioration in the nerve cells in the spinal cord. After 30 years, one must accept some loss of endurance, increased fatigue and even some discomfort induced by other unrelated medical problems. This is true in the athlete with repeated injuries, in the obese person with back problems and even in the jogger with foot ailments.

Any individual with paralytic disability in an extremity will experience the normal process of ''wear and tear'' except that it may be more difficult to adjust to it. Just as one learned to compensate for the initial impairment so must one adjust to the later, more subtle changes rather than develop an emotional hangup of being a ''polio victim.'' ~EUGENE MOSKOWITZ, M.D. Mount Vernon

The Post-Polio community was not pleased with what he wrote:
The Westchester Post-Polio Group is grateful to Dr. Eugene Moskowitz (Letters to the Editor, March 3) for providing the public with a concrete demonstration of the negative and patronizing attitude many of us have encountered from physicians. If Dr. Moskowitz finds ''no reason to suspect deterioration in the nerve cells in the spinal cords,'' we suggest that he read ''Proceedings From the First Annual Symposium on the Late Effects of Poliomyelitis,'' in which highly respected members of his own profession advance excellent medical arguments and research reports in support of exactly that theory.

In December of 2014, I was told that I needed to stop running or cap my distance at a 5K or 5 miles AT MOST! I exceeded expectations and went on to run 3 Bermuda Half Marathons in as many years. My knee never bothered me after the initial recovery from the knee injury. My right hip, back and groin did experience pain and spasms. I continue to make an excellent recovery.

As Walt Disney said:


Sunday is my race-i-versary - the 10 year anniversary of the first road race I ever ran - The Corrib Pub 5K Classic. Even though I could easily run the race at my pace, I'm going to be mindful of my continued recovery from Bermuda and instead enjoy the joy of being part of the running community cheering on Tom. I'll know when the time is right to register for another race.

When I do go out and run as I had this past Saturday and Monday, I feel the absolute unbridled joy of having exceeded all expectations and feeling free and unencumbered in my body. I leave Post-Polio Syndrome and childhood trauma in the rear view mirror deeply grateful that I can celebrate ten years of running.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: When people look at me....

When I was a child and people looked at me, they saw a long metal leg brace, a pixie hair cut, buck teeth, crutches and red polio shoes. As I wrote in my first poem, Running the Race after receiving the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006:

I always wore those 'special' shoes the kids they poked and teased
With no support and much abuse with childhood I wasn't pleased.
But put nose to the grindstone and learned all that I could
I couldn't kick a ball but my grades were always good.

My brother, his friends and my peers would deliberately run away from me and then make fun of me when I tried desperately to catch up to them.

I was called "Easy Out Alper" in gym class.

When I gave the high school valedictorian speech no one saw the invisible scars of rape and nightly beatings that took place from the time I was 8 years old. When people looked at me on the podium no one saw what it took for me to get straight A's in the middle of a household rife with violence and drug and alcohol abuse.

I was inducted into the Jesuit Honor Society, Alpha Sigma Nu at Boston College where I received my MSW in 1984. When people looked at me they saw a woman passionate about social justice and doing good in the world.

When my Team at the VA looked at me shortly after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, they thought I had Parkinson's Disease. They also looked at me and thought I was crazy for leaving my award winning career just 3 years shy of when I would have been eligible for retirement.

When the Team at the Post-Polio Clinic looked at me, they saw a woman who was going to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair, possibly needing a feeding tube, a sleep apnea machine and who would experience a decline in functioning.

I saw a challenge!

After completing intensive outpatient physical therapy with an earth angel of a physical therapist, (who saw my potential beyond the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome) I hired a personal trainer to see if we could build on the home program I was given at discharge. Six months later, in February of 2008, I declared that I would run the 2009 Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital even though I had never run a day in my life. When my personal trainer looked at me she could have easily told me I was crazy to set that for my goal; instead she sent me to get fitted for my first pair of running shoes.

When I discovered the gift of running in my life, I began to transform from the inside out. I felt connected and whole. I looked at myself through a different lens than the one I used as a filter as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma. And, when people looked at me they saw my strength, my courage, my power of endurance, my invincibility, my heart and my soul.

Tom and I had a wonderful 5K run on Saturday despite the heat. It was my fastest time since we crossed the finish line of the Bermuda Half Marathon in January. I'd been taking it easy while a hip/groin/back issue healed. I was pushing hard and did not think it would be reflected in my time given the heat. I made sure that I hydrated well and paused for our "water stops." I felt nauseous after the run with a great sense of satisfaction that, after ten years of running, I love the sport of running and I love challenging myself out on the roads.



When people look at me after we post our "runfies" on Facebook, I want people to see a message of healing, hope and possibility. I want people to see that we are not our diagnosis and we have a tremendous capacity to heal mind, body and soul.

When people look at me, I want them to see the joy and gratitude I feel to be alive, to feel healthy and vibrant and to know that whatever the challenge, once we tame the dragon there is a wonderful gift that awaits us all.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):

A Celebration of Healing: Spotlight on Chiropractic Care

Eleven years ago tomorrow I left my almost 20 year award winning career as a VA social worker to heal my life from the effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma. Throughout my life, I have been blessed to meet earth angels to help me overcome adversity and challenges in my life. During these past 11 years, I've explored and experienced many different healing modalities. I bless each and every one I met along with the invaluable soul lessons I learned along the way.

After a serious knee injury in December of 2014, I was introduced to the benefits of chiropractic care. After my chiropractor left to practice in China, I didn't pursue chiropractic care as part of my health and wellness regimen. Last year, while at a Business Networking International meeting, I "just happened" to meet Dr. Lizzie Sobel. I was most impressed with her presentation at the meeting about her style of chiropractic care, her passion for her work especially as she talked about a technique she uses to help turn babies who are presenting as breach to allow for a vaginal delivery. While she specializes in family chiropractic care - pregnant moms, post partum moms and their babies, she is dedicated to helping people of all ages in all phases of life experience their health and wellness best.

Since last July I have been partnering with Dr. Lizzie on my health and wellness journey. I was able to run the Bermuda Half Marathon in January uninjured and enjoy every mile along the way. My body is recovering well with the help of weekly chiropractic treatment sessions. As a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma, I've been running and working out with a lot of imbalances in my body. As we align my body each week, reset my nervous system, encourage spinal fluid to flow I am healing the effects of paralytic polio and trauma. I am in awe of the art and science of chiropractic care. I had throbbing pain in my scapula for a few days prior to my appointment. Dr. Lizzie noted that the scapula on my right side was 2 inches higher on my left side. It was pulling on the muscle attachment causing pain! As she used her instruments to encourage the bone back to its natural alignment and used soft tissue manipulation to ease the pain, the scapula was able to return to its natural alignment in line with my left side. The adjustment held and the pain was gone!

Each week I let Dr. Lizzie know what areas need attention although she goes through the entire body with her keen hands and eagle eyes to adjust areas that could lead to injury or pain. Her gentle touch, her balancing out of the body and paying attention to specific "trouble" spots leave me feeling relaxed with a sense of peace and comfort being in my body. That is quite a testimony for someone who has experienced over 25 surgeries, a spinal cord injury and severe trauma as a child. Dr. Lizzie also prides herself in providing education to her patients about their bodies, the work and for self care practices at home.

Tomorrow marks 11 years since I left the VA to heal my life. I am delighted to shine the spotlight on chiropractic care that has become an integral part of my healing journey. Eleven years later -- I celebrate healing!

Be sure to visit Dr. Lizzie's website by following this link. She has offices in Copley Square Boston and Walpole.

If you are on the South Shore, be sure to check out Seaside Chiropractic by following this link.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

Hear my interview with Kendra Petrone on Magic 106.7's Exceptional Women Show by following this link

My books are available on Amazon and at Paper Fiesta in Natick on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon route.

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: On Difficult Roads

On May 25, 2007 I went through the clearing out process leaving behind an almost 20 year award winning social work career at the VA to heal my life from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma. In October of 2007, I hired a personal trainer to see if I could get a little stronger and build on the rehabilitation program that Spaulding Rehab gave to me after I was discharged from their outpatient program. In February of 2008, as Janine asked me for my next health and fitness goals I said, from "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility":

“Well I want to feel free in my body. I want to dance. I want to be able to walk outside and feel unencumbered when I take a walk.”

Janine wrote feverishly and we worked out a plan. She gathered up her belongings and had her hand on the door knob.

“Wait. I have one more goal.”

Janine stopped and turned around.

“I want to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital. I know they have a Race for Rehab team and I want to do it next year.”

Janine was non-plussed. I don’t know what kept her from turning tail and getting as far away from me as she could. She came back into my house and put down her things. She said that the first thing I would need is a pair of running shoes. She told me that Marathon Sports on Beacon Street would be able to help me. She laid out a cursory training plan and said that we would begin indoors to build up my cardio endurance. As soon as the weather got a little warmer, we’d go outdoors and I would learn how to run.

What had I just done?


When I first presented to the Spaulding Rehab International Rehab Center for Polio and Post Polio in October of 2006:

The buzzing hum from the fluorescent lights echoed the buzzing in my nervous system. I sat waiting for my first appointment at the post polio clinic at the IRCP. My complexion was as white as the paper that covered the exam table. I felt as fragile and vulnerable as that piece of paper that gets ripped off and tossed away after the exam. Every inch of my body hurt. I was exhausted. I was sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I hadn’t really cared whether or not I woke up in the morning but I had a husband and twins that needed me. Ironically enough I was at the peak of my career as a VA social worker. I couldn’t sleep. I felt depressed. My award-winning career as a social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs no longer fueled my soul. Somewhere deep inside of me there was a feeling that there had to be a way out of the hell I was living in.

The symptoms began in 1996. I had episodes of feeling fatigue and muscle burning. I was anxious. At times, I noticed that the limp from paralytic polio returned. In 1992, I had reconstructive leg surgery to correct the deformity of my left leg and to avoid a total knee replacement at the young age of 39 years old. Here I was 7 years later feeling as though my body was beginning to deteriorate and my life falling apart.

It was a difficult road leading up to finding the courage to acknowledge something was happening to me mind, body and soul, and then take action. With my voice quivering, I contacted the IRCP to schedule my first appointment. It was rough terrain when I was poked and prodded, and went through painful tests including an EMG which is administering electric shocks to determine what nerves the initial polio virus affected. Seven tubes of blood to rule out other possible causes for my symptoms, an MRI to evaluate cervical spine pain and numbness and tingling in my jaw and down my arm, evaluations by a physiatrist, OT, PT and Speech and Swallow pathologist, being fitted for a leg brace, a cane and being told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair was treacherous terrain to navigate.

Writing poetry led me to beautiful destinations in my mind that inspired mind, body and soul to heal beginning with my very first poem, "Running the Race."

The sport of running transformed my life. I met people who cheered me on rather than jeered at me as I had known as a survivor of paralytic polio. I was celebrated for my courage, my strength and inspirational story.

I have been to the beautiful destination of the Island of Bermuda where I ran three Bermuda Half Marathons in the past 3 years:



My favorite destination is discovering my beauty and that I am worthy of being healed, healthy, whole and strong. What a beautiful destination to wake up every morning and no longer feel the weight of my past bearing down on me. What a beautiful destination of living a life surrounded by loving like hearted people who provide unconditional love and support. What a beautiful destination to discover that at 64 years old I can live a healthy, vibrant and joyful life leaving the difficult road of the past in the rear view mirror and looking forward to many happy and healthy miles on the open road before me.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: That Felt Soooo Good

It's been a very stressful 3 months as our daughter continues her struggle with her mental health. This past week was extremely challenging for her and hence for us as a family. My training schedule got shifted around. I usually run with Tom on Saturday, we swim on Sunday, run early morning Monday, I swim on Tuesday and we strength train on Wednesday. Between what was happening with our daughter and Tom's work and a chiropractic appointment early on Wednesday, I decided to strength train on Tuesday, take Wednesday and Thursday off and go to the pool on Friday.

When the weather looked great for a run on Friday, I decided to get out and do a solo run.

It was chilly with a strong wind. There was something invigorating about running in the chilly wind. The baby goose was grazing with its family and the colors of Spring seemed especially vibrant as the sun shined on the leaves on the trees. It was quite a contrast to what I was feeling when I first set out on my run. My heart felt heavy and my breathing was labored but with each foot strike, I released my burdens and worries to the Divine.

The presence of the Divine surrounded me with bird calls, gentle laps of the waves of the Reservoir on the shore and the songs that came up from the mix on my playlist. I felt a sense of being alone that transformed into a sense of solitude that became a sense of One with all that is.

There were moments of struggle, of ease, of freedom and feeling the need to turn everything over to the Divine. I felt powerless to be able to do anything to help my daughter - that it's her journey and yet I felt empowered to be able to get out and run and be with the Divine sharing my deepest most thoughts, fears and hope.

It was, for the most part, a hard run but those are the runs where we are blessed to meet ourselves on the road.



I don't know what I did before the gift of running came into my life 10 years ago. Eleven years ago the effects of childhood paralytic polio and severe childhood trauma reared its head in the guise of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. The medical community said if you use it you will lose it. My Spirit said, through the power of my pen, my divining rod for healing in the form of inspirational poetry - get moving and run the race set before you with endurance. Running is my medicine, my therapy and a vital part of my life whatever the distance and whatever the pace. I am so grateful that I can get out on a run and leave my troubles on the road.

While I kicked off my kicks, hydrated and had a banana, I sat back and took a deep breath saying to myself, "That felt soooo good."


To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: It's Counterintuitive

During the winter of 2014 we had serious ice dams with water flooding our home from the ceiling. We had a roofer come who came to rescue us with a very fair price cleaning the snow off of the roof and explaining to us what we needed to do to prevent ice dams in the future. I will always remember his quote, "It's counterintuitive to the laws of physics."

Although the physiatrist, PT's and OT's I met after being diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine standards told me that if I used it I would lose it, I knew deep inside of me that I needed to use it - all of it - or I would lose it and any quality of life I hoped for. I understand the science they used to make the determination that anyone with a progressive neuromuscular disease needed to "preserve" the functioning they had. Eleven years ago the concepts of neuroplasticity and regeneration of nerve cells was fairly new.

It was counterintuitive to move when I was in so much pain and suffered from chronic fatigue.

Once I got started with a consistent health and wellness regimen, I gained momentum in healing the effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma.

But I still have my days when the alarm clock goes off that I don't want to move.

I made a promise to myself early on in my healing odyssey that I was going to experience pain whether or not I got moving and worked out. I decided that I would rather hurt on the side of health and wellness than experience the pain that comes with disuse and atrophy. Allison Lamarre-Poole was an earth angel sent to me shortly after my diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. She did not subscribe to the philosophy of "If you use it you will lose it" and gave me confidence and guidance to begin healing the breach in my mind/body connection. At my last session with her I told her that I would never go back to where I was when I first started working with her.

As I continue to use new muscles living as active and vibrant a life as I possibly can, engaging in new exercises and new activities, I develop pain and soreness.

Yesterday was one of those days when I felt sore and tired. It was counterintuitive to bring out my home gym equipment and get into a 40 minute strength training workout. Yet once I did, the blood was flowing, the energy moving and I must tell you that breakfast always tastes better after a workout.

I am learning to trust my body's wondrous and vast capacity to heal after overdoing it or pushing myself during a run. I used to live in fear of my body but now I play in that wonderful space of being outside my comfort zone yet inside the injury zone.

It's counterintuitive ('to the law of physics') that I ran the 2009 Boston Marathon, healed my left knee after being told I'd need a total knee replacement in a few years after a serious knee injury in December of 2014, grew a new gastroc muscle that had atrophied in the wake of paralytic polio and that I am not in a wheelchair, needing a sleep apnea machine and a shower chair and the list goes on and on, as the doctors and therapists predicted in January of 2007 at my Team Meeting at the Post-Polio Clinic.

It's a miracle of healing that I have been blessed to co-create with the Divine Intelligence within and around me.

Even though there are times when I feel tired and in pain and it's counterintuitive that moving will help me feel better, once I get moving the pain recedes in the background and I move forward in my health and wellness journey!



To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: Momentum

Shortly after crossing the finish line of the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon, I coined the phrase "Just for the health of it." I focused on cross training on the bike building up speed and endurance and went for a leisurely 5K outdoors when the weather was good enough to get outdoors.

As the weather improved, I couldn't spend another day in the gym on the bike and Tom and I did twice a week 5K's. We returned to the joy of getting up early on a Monday morning, doing core work and heading out the door to experience the glorious return of Spring to New England.

On Saturday the forecast called for rain. We were going to postpone our run until Sunday and run Sunday and Tuesday but running in the rain is so good for the mind, body and soul. We packed our ponchos in our runner backpack and went around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir incorporating a couple of hills along the way. The run began and end with rain showers.


Wee did what runners do, we don't wait for the weather to be perfect before going out on a run.



I've been receiving a lot of emails and Facebook invitations for upcoming races. My body is itching to get out there to be a part of the racing scene again but I know that I need more recovery time to prevent a full blown injury and allow the irritation and inflammation that happened during my Bermuda training to heal.

This morning I felt a shift from "just for the health of it" to I need to have a chat with my body about healing and getting 5K race ready again. This is the first time in 3 years that I am not training for a Half Marathon and I am thrilled to be on this endurance hiatus. During these past 11 years as I healed the effects from childhood paralytic polio and trauma that came in the guise of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease, I have harnessed the power of the mind/body connection to gain momentum on my healing odyssey.

During this morning's run around the Route 9 Reservoir, I felt a fire light up again within me as I thought about all the upcoming races that are happening this Spring and Summer. I will be a spectator for now as I ride that edge of listening to my body yet also working with my body to once again achieve my personal best. It's always a delicate balance! Being able to unplug and go out on a run with Tom is a gift and a miracle that I always deeply appreciate for I know how close I came to losing the gift of mobility 11 years ago.

The apple blossoms, purple wildflowers and baby geese against the backdrop of newly bloomed green leaves on the trees were a feast to delight the senses and tickle the soul.

I was running from the inside out being aware of just how far to push myself. It was the first time I'd hit a sub 18 minute/mile pace since last December. I was overdressed - a common occurrence at this time of year and was grateful to have gotten on a really good sweat! I reminded myself (as I have been reminding myself during my 3 times daily meditations) that I am worthy of healing, that my body recovers with ease from any challenge I present and I run swift, at ease and unencumbered.



I feel a turning point again in my running adventures as I celebrate 10 years of running. I'm getting the itch to get back into racing form and feel momentum as I begin the next decade of my running adventures.


To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: I'd Rather Finish Last in a Race....

Yesterday's memory on Facebook brought me back to my first 5 mile race in 2008. It was an evening race and it was hot and humid. I was in the very early phase of my running career and healing from the effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma that manifested in the guise of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. My first road race was the Corrib Pub 5K which was a fun, non-competitive race; quite the contrast to the Marathon Sports 5 Miler a month later in July.

Heat, humidity and an evening race were an intensely challenging combination for a neuromuscular condition. It was a fast field and I was intimidated from the competitive energy at the starting line. I remember asking myself what was I doing there and why did I ever say I was going to run the 2009 Boston Marathon.

As the sun set and Tom and I were winding our way through the back roads of Weston, I couldn't tell where my tears ended and sweat began. I profusely apologized to Tom for holding him back and desperately wanted to quit the race. The volunteers at the water stops and those directing the runners were incredibly supportive but I could hardly let in their words of encouragement. I felt haunted by childhood memories of lugging my long leg brace trying to keep up with my peers to no avail. They would run off and leave me in the dust having no interest in compassion or kindness for what I was living through.

How healing, by contrast, to have Tom by my side telling me there was no reason to apologize for my pace and to just keep going mile by mile until we got to the finish line. Five miles seemed like an eternity to me that night.

As we came into the finish line on the field, the organizers of the race were blowing their air horn and honking the horn on their sweep vehicle. Everyone involved in the race congratulated me and cheered me on as I ran in to cross that finish line.
Tom instinctively knew (and so did I despite the intense discomfort I felt) that if I would have not finished that race, I would not have gone on to train for and cross the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon.

I've crossed a lot of finish lines since then and in many of them, I was the last person to cross the finish line. I now sign up for races where there are shorter and longer distances on the same race course which gives me a more enjoyable race experience.

I don't care that I run slow ... and what is slow anyway because


There are so many wonderful memories of trials, tribulations and triumphs that I've collected during these past 10 years of my illustrious running career. After being told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair, I decided I was not going to take the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome sitting down. I could never compete in athletics (or so I thought) as a survivor of paralytic polio at the age of 5 but went on to run the Boston Marathon at age 55. It's a great time to celebrate all that I have overcome as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma and I'm delighted to have you along for the journey.

I'm writing my next book, "The Adventures of Runnergirl1953" that is a compilation of my 11 year healing odyssey of going the distance on the roads and in my life overcoming challenges at every turn.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):