The Meaning of My New Pair of Kicks!

As a survivor of paralytic polio, I always struggled with finding shoes that fit me never mind being able to wear "stylish shoes." This is a stock photo but easily could have been a photo of me after I contracted polio at the age of 5 years old:


Ten years ago, after being diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, "a progressive neuromuscular disease" by Western Medicine standards, I needed to wear these shoes with a toe up leg brace:


But then, just like Cinderella at the ball, I was transformed through the power of running.

I met my "Prince Charming" of running shoes in March of 2008. Spencer Aston at Brookline Marathon Sports was enthralled with my journey and my desire to go the distance at the 2009 Boston Marathon. I had never run a day in my life!

He spent so much time with me fitting me with my first pair of running shoes - ever!

The discomfort and shame I used to feel around trying to buy shoes was magically whisked away by Spencer's care and attention to detail.

The staff at Brookline Marathon Sports has been helpful throughout these past 10 years as I went through different stages of running shoes. I found my way into minimalist shoes and now I'm wearing Altra Intuition.

Every time they changed the model of the shoe it was a wait with baited breath. Would the new style serve my unusual gait pattern and differences in my feet. I am not alone in this hold your breath when our favorite running shoe is upgraded but it does take on special significance for me.

Marathon Sports is no longer carrying Altra Intuition and my 3.0's that had seen me through two Bermuda marathons were about ready to bite the dust. I scoured the internet for any 3.0's or even a 3.5 without success. I went to Altra's on line store and decided to try the Intuition 4.0.

They arrived yesterday and I LOVE THEM!

I realized that I don't have to be concerned anymore about finding the right shoe. The Universe supports me in every imaginable way with everything I need to go the distance.

A man once said to me that there is nothing sexier than a woman in stilettos. He caught himself after he said it and said, "Well of course I wouldn't expect you to be in stilettos."

I smile in response to that comment now. For what could possibly be sexier than a woman sporting a pair of running shoes, fierce and focused, going the distance and giving it her all; pouring sweat - the essence of perfection and poetry in motion.

I LOVE my new kicks! And I plan to conquer the 13.1 distance in Bermuda in January...and the world!

To going the distance with strength and courage!
~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):

Countdown to Bermuda: Running the Race - I'm Now Off the Sidelines

Nine years ago on a cold dark February day as I experienced my mind, body and Spirit crying out for healing in the guise of post polio syndrome, "a progressive neuromuscular disease," I got still and asked for Divine Guidance. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair; that the "best" we could hope for was to stabilize my functioning where it was.

The answer to my prayer came in the form of a poem in the cadence of Dr. Seuss; a throw back to when my physical therapist Miss Holly read Dr. Seuss to me before every painful physical therapy session after contracting paralytic polio and had me recite the lines in tandem with her as she coaxed my muscles and nerves to function again.

From my memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility," available on Amazon




And then I felt a stirring in my second chakra (only then I didn’t know it was my second chakra – I thought it might have been something I ate). I went over to my laptop in the corner of the living room and I wrote this poem foreshadowing my 2009 Boston Marathon run:

Running the Race
Early summer 1959 my kindergarten year
Everyone around me filled with nervous fear
Despite the Salk vaccine hope polio would disappear
The polio virus crept right up and knocked me in the rear.

Dancing all around the gym feeling free just like a bird
I dropped to the ground just like a stone and no one said a word.
The pain it was so searing-the diagnosis even worse
"It's polio" the doctor said...he was abrupt and terse.

Called one of the 'lucky ones' I had a 'mild case'
But with the other athletes I could never keep their pace.
Miss Holly physical therapist, curly hair and a warm, broad smile
It tempered the pain of being apart - to walk I'd take awhile.

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.

Years went by and no more thought to polio did I give
I accepted the limp and everything else and decided my life I would live.
But symptoms of weakness and muscle pain did grow
I kept a stoic face hoping no one else would know.

Life no longer was my own I struggled through each day
Suffered in silence, isolated from friends- trying to keep depression at bay.
And with the grace of glorious God my world it opened wide
I discovered there was a Post Polio team and they were on my side.

Using wheelchair to travel, set limits on what I could do,
Resulted in joy to realize I could live life anew.
Celebrated my body- creaks, groans and need for a brace
While in my mind I focused on winning a 10K race.

Sought out paths for healing and my spirit flew free
For the first time in life, I could truly be me.
The chains are gone and possibilities abound
I'm a tree with my roots planted firmly in ground.

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.

Nine years ago I was sidelined facing a rather grim and uncertain future according to Western medical science with the diagnosis of post polio syndrome and it's been an incredible healing odyssey. One year ago I was on the sidelines with a knee injury the result of not cross training, not taking enough rest and recovery time between races and working with a massage therapist who not only did not know how work with a runner but went on to set the intention of "Right now your right leg is leading the dance and I'm waiting for your left leg to speak to me." I'm so grateful for the knee injury and all that I learned from working with that massage therapist because it led me to this moment now in my life! I am off the sidelines and right smack in the middle of my glorious life!

One week from today I board a plane for Bermuda; my first trip in 8 years and instead of a wheelchair waiting for me on the tarmac, wearing these shoes that I wore the last time I was in Bermuda:



I'll be bounding down the stairs in my Altra running shoes

enjoying the countdown to when Team McManus toes the starting line of the Bermuda Half Marathon.