Celebrating Ten Years of Running: It's Not How Many Times You Fall....

Facebook reminded me that yesterday was the anniversary of an epic fall I had three years ago while training for the Bermuda Half Marathon 2016.

It's a moment I capture in the soon to be released "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":

I Ran a Quarter of a Marathon Today
August 15, 2015

There’s a wonderful photo of a dog with its shadow. Its pointed ears and outline of its body looks like Batman. The caption reads, “Holy crap! I’m Batman.” It’s all about perception and what we believe to be true about ourselves and our capabilities. I sure needed to harness my superhero powers to get my run on today. It was a hot and humid 86 degrees at 8:30 in the morning. I suggested to Tom that we park at the beach and that we bring our bathing suits to enjoy nature’s very own ice bath after our run in the cooling waters of the Atlantic. We packed provisions and off we went after doing our planks, crunches and clams with weights.

When we turned onto East Broadway in South Boston, emotions overwhelmed me as they had last week.

"Geez what is it about turning on East Broadway that you go into a meltdown?" Tom said with love and tenderness.

Last week I had the realization that when I turn 62 in December, I will no longer be on social security disability but receive straight social security.

"It was so hard to accept being disabled, having to leave my job at the VA and all the rest of it.” I sobbed and then laughed all at the same time. It was like a sun shower.

As uncontrollable tears and laughter once again bubbled up inside of me I asked, “Do you mind the fact that you could get in a 6.5 mile run in an hour but instead you have to be out so much longer when you run with me?”

"Are you serious? It's not about the time or the distance. It's about us being together."

More sobs and laughter ... “Okay I’ve got to pull myself together. We've got a run to do.”

We started out with a nice easy pace honoring the heat and humidity. We enjoyed the water views and being out running together. I reminded myself that I am free now. I am not responsible for what happened to me and I certainly did not deserve what happened to me. In the wake of those wonderful feelings, thoughts and fears bubbled to the surface. I felt my left leg tighten and swell. I flashed back to when I was injured last December; the admonitions and warnings from my former massage therapist, the physical therapists and the doctor played in my mind. I was going out on my longest run since the Tufts 10K last October. I AM going to run the Bermuda Half Marathon in January!

Despite all of my mental training through meditation, I could not shake those thoughts and feelings. Like a bolt out of the blue, all the voices of the naysayers took over. Rather than letting them be and letting them drift away, or reaching out to Tom for help, I engaged in battle. " None of you were right. I AM going the distance this time.”

The next thing I knew I was flying through the air. It was like a slow motion kind of experience.

And landed on the ground ....

I instinctively knew I was fine. Tom tried to pick me up and I said, "I'm fine. Just let me get up."

I could feel how strong I was. I was able to use my upper body strength to ease the fall. Yes I was bleeding but it was only superficial scratches and scrapes.

Passers by were aghast. "Oh my God. Are you okay? Do we need to call 911?”

I looked pretty bad to someone who was not a runner.

"Yes I'm fine."

There were a few lifeguards inside the pool at Harbor Point.

"Is that where you tripped?" and they pointed to an uneven surface on the sidewalk. “We’ve seen many people fall there and reported it to the manager here.”

They presented me with ice packs from their first aid kit.

I cleaned off using Tom's t shirt, drank water and said I wanted and needed to finish the 1.5 miles for our run.

I felt something shift within me. I felt my guardian angel had eased my fall along with my strength. It was an absolute miracle that I did not break anything and only had a minor chip to my front tooth. I had "road rash" and scrapes but that was it! I knew the Universe was giving me a gift.

Ever since I was 5 years old, I harbored a heart trembling fear about not being able to trust in my body. One day I was a healthy 5 year old and the next minute I dropped paralyzed to the ground. Three years later I experienced horrific acts of violence against my mind and body which needless to say did not do much for developing a loving relationship with my body. I dissociated and developed my intellectual prowess. Something loosened up within me when I hit the pavement today. My left leg felt open and free. The very thing I feared the most happened and not only did I survive it but I went on to finish my run. I have superpowers within me. We all do. It’s by totally trusting in the love of the Divine that we harness these superpowers. Even though I fell, I felt invincible. I needed to show and tell my body that we were fine after a hard hit on the pavement. I felt my strength and resilience! I was told that I had severe osteoporosis of my hip and spine. I was warned that if I fell I was at risk for a fracture. I took only one dose of the medication that was supposed to prevent fractures and strengthen bones. I had an adverse reaction to it. My body knew it would not serve me. Recent research has shown that the drugs to treat osteoporosis are not efficacious. I landed flat on my hip without a fracture. We completed our 6.5 miles and waded into the ocean for a cleansing ice bath. The cold salt water brought instant healing to my body. Tom and I dove in and went for a swim. We hydrated and refueled with our snacks, went in for another swim and stopped on the way home for a delicious post run lunch at the Kukoo Cafe in Brookline Village.

I took another ice bath with Epsom salts and a hot shower. We bought band aids to protect the scrapes. I used Vaseline to promote the healing of the scrapes on my nose and upper lip. I used the affirmation that I use every week after our runs, "I trust in my body's capacity to recover from runs and workouts." I experienced a deep connection to the Divine and the angels that have been there to help me create the miracle of healing in my life.

I ran 6.5 miles today! A quarter of a marathon and half the distance for the 2016 Bermuda Half Marathon. I believe with my whole Being, deep in my heart and soul that I am going the distance. It's time to take off the boxing gloves. It’s time to stop shadow boxing with the demons from my past. I can settle down and settle into the person I have become...whole, healthy, transformed, a runner girl. I claimed the superhero within me.

With today’s fall I can honestly say, “Holy Crap! I’m Batman!”

Throughout these 10 years of running and life, I have had to pick myself up many many times. I've slogged through difficult runs and breezed through runs that I felt as though I could run forever. I've had to navigate my way through my own health concerns and the mental health issues that has plagued my daughter for the past 4 years.

Yet through it all, I keep moving forward and know that no matter how many times I may fall or face what seems to be an insurmountable challenge, I am resilient and can always harness my superhero powers to make it through.

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

My healing journey is going to be featured in David R. Hamilton's soon to be released book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body." It's available for pre-order on Amazon.

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:


Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):

My Running Chronicles: Superpowers - I Ran a Quarter of a Marathon Today!

I sure needed superhero powers to get my run on today. It was a hot and humid 86 degrees out at 8:30 in the morning. I suggested to Tom that we park at the beach and I bring my bathing suit this time so we can go for a nice swim and ice bath after our run.

We packed up the provisions and off we went after doing our planks, crunches and clams with weights.

When we turned onto East Broadway heading to the beach emotions overwhelmed me as they had last week. "Geez what is it about turning on East Broadway that you go into a meltdown?" Tom said with such love and tenderness. Last week I had the realization that in December when I turn 62 I will no longer be on social security disability but receive straight social security. "It was so hard," I said to Tom and started sobbing and then laughing all at the same time. It was like a sun shower when it pours rain but the sun is shining.

This week I asked him if he minded the fact that he could get in a 6.5 mile run in an hour but instead he has to be out there a lot longer with me. Uncontrollable tears and laughter bubbled up inside of me again.

"Are you serious? It's not about the time or the distance. It's about us being together."

More sobs and laughter ... okay I gotta pull myself together. We've got a run to do.

It was hot and humid so we started out nice and easy. We enjoyed the water views and just being out running together.



I reminded myself that I am free now. During a meditation I realized that I am not responsible for what happened to me and I certainly did not deserve what happened to me.

During the run I could feel a lot of thoughts and fears bubble to the surface. I felt my left leg tighten and swell and I flashed back to when I was injured last December; the admonitions and warnings from my former massage therapist, the physical therapists and the doctor played in my mind. I was going out on my longest run since the Tufts 10K last October and AM going to run the Bermuda Half Marathon in January and the Newport Full Marathon next October.



Despite all of my mental training through meditation, I could not shake those thoughts and feelings. I talked with Tom for a bit doing affirmations and then each of us got into our running zones. All of a sudden, like a bolt out of the blue the intention that my previous massage therapist set for me by saying, "I don't quite know how to say this but your left leg is still encased. I'm waiting for it to speak to me," roared in my head. Rather than letting it be and letting it drift away, I engaged in battle. "Oh no. None of you were right. I AM going the distance this time.

The next thing I know I am flying through the air. It was like a slow motion kind of experience.

And landed on the ground ....

I instinctively knew I was fine. Tom tried to pick me up and I said, "I'm fine. Just let me get up."

I could feel how strong I was and how I was able to use my upper body strength to ease the fall. Yes I was bleeding but it was only superficial scratches and scrapes. Passers by were aghast. "Oh my God. Are you okay?"

"Yes I'm fine."

There were a few lifeguards inside the pool at Harbor Point and Tom asked if I could get into the sprinkler and wash off. They said I'd have to walk all the way around the complex but they were kind enough to give me an ice pack.

"Is that where you tripped?" and they pointed to an uneven surface on the sidewalk. They commented that many people have fallen there.

I cleaned off using Tom's t shirt. Drank water and said I wanted and needed to finish the 1.5 miles for our run.

I felt something shift within me. I felt my guardian angel ease my fall along with my strength. It was an absolute miracle that I didn't chip my tooth or break anything. I have "road rash" and scrapes but that's it! And I knew the Universe was giving me a gift.

Ever since I was 5 years old, I harbored this fear about not being able to trust in my body. One day I was a healthy 5 year old and the next minute I dropped to the ground paralyzed. Three years later I experienced horrific acts of violence against my mind and body which needless to say did not do much for me developing a loving relationship with my body. No - I dissociated and developed my intellectual prowess.

When I hit the ground, something loosened up within me. My left leg felt open and free. I realized that the very thing I feared the most happened and not only did I survive it but I went on to finish my run. I have superpowers within me. We all do ... it's by calling upon and totally trusting in the love of the Divine that we harness these superpowers. Even though I fell, I felt invincible and knew that I needed to tell and show my body that we are fine. I felt my strength and resilience! We completed our 6.5 miles and took our runfie:


We went into the ocean for a cleansing ice bath:



The cold salt water brought instant healing to my body. Tom and I dove in and went for a swim.

We hydrated and refueled with our snacks, went in for another swim and stopped on the way home for a delicious post run lunch at the Kukoo Cafe in Brookline Village.

I came home and took another ice bath with epsom salts and a hot shower. We bought band aids to protect the scrapes and I am using vaseline to promote the healing of the scrapes on my nose and upper lip. I use the affirmation that I use every week after our runs, "I trust in my body's capacity to recover from runs and workouts."

These past few weeks have been filled with synchronicity and incredible events. Today's training run was a continuation of my feeling a deep connection to God and the angels that have been there to help me create the miracle of my life.

I ran 6.5 miles today! A quarter of a marathon and half the distance for January....

I believe with my whole Being and deep in my heart that I am going the distance. I learned today that it's time to take off the boxing gloves and stop shadow boxing with the demons from my past. I can settle down and settle into the person I have become...whole, healthy, transformed, runnergirl...I deserve to claim the superhero within me...and with today's fall I can honestly say and feel, "Holy Crap! I'm Batman."





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On Superheroes, Metorological Spring and Venturing Back to the Roads

Happy March 1st everyone; the day known as Meteorological Spring. Even though the temperatures were in the teens and low 20's, yesterday felt like the first day of Spring along the Beacon Street portion of the Boston Marathon route. Runners dressed up as their favorite super heroes and ran along the course for their training run. There were 7 feet high snow drifts and patches of ice but all that mattered was the sun was shining and runners could abandon the treadmill to run outside!

Next weekend is Daylight Savings Time.

The long, cold brutal winter of 2015 is almost behind us and my time to return to the roads beckoned to me yesterday.

The last time I ran was at the Miss Holiday Santa 5K back in December. My knee decided that I needed a wake up call to take a break from running and to build core, quad and hip flexor strength. I've been on my recumbent bike, doing a home workout on Sunday mornings, a plank a day, and in the pool at Aquatics Therapy at Spaulding Rehab. I looked at Tom yesterday morning and said, "I have to get out there today. I have to see if I'm ready." We decided on a 1.4 mile very easy paced race walk from Cleveland Circle to Marathon Sports and back.

I layered and wore my 2009 Boston Marathon jacket. What medicine for my soul to be out again on the roads among the running community. We high-fived and cheered on runners as we passed or as they passed us. The intensity of marathon training waned in the wake of sheer joy and feeling that Spring will arrive in Boston. I just happened upon this video posted by Kevin Koncilja who is running Boston for TeamMR8 that captures the spirit of the day:

Post by Kevin Koncilja.

"A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a young boy's shoulders to let him know that the world hadn't ended." ~Batman in the Dark Knight

We were all celebrating that the world hadn't ended despite words like snowmaggedon or snowpocalypse to describe what we had lived through this winter. Everyone was polite as they announced whether they were passing on the right or left and one runner put his hand gently on my arm and said, 'thank you' as he ran by. Everyone was energized living in the moment leaving the winter of 2015 behind and moving forward to the Boston Marathon and Spring. Despite the toll that this winter took on everyone, runners kept the Unicorn in their sights and the causes that are near and dear to their hearts and went the distance.

I felt as though I could have kept on going past the 1.4 miles we chose for my entry back into running. I'm a month ahead of schedule feeling strong in my body. The combination of cross training and my work with Joseph at Sollievo Massage and Bodywork is paying dividends as I return to the sport and community I adore.

Yesterday is a day I won't soon forget. I'm so glad that I listened to the promptings of my body, my heart and soul to get back out there and to take my first run along the Marathon course.

Superheroes and Springtime pack a powerful punch to the doldrums that old man winter brought this year.

Journey well!

"Journey Well" and all of my inspirational books are available on Amazon.

"Journey Well" is a book about resilience, strength, courage and how we are able to journey well no matter what conditions life hands to us. I profile the people who are Boston Stronger and share how 4/15/13 was a wake up call to me to return to my healing path from contracting paralytic polio at age 5 and 9 years of domestic violence as a child and adolescent.



50% of all book proceeds are donated to AccesSportAmerica where people of all ages and abilities achieve higher function and fitness through high challenge sports and training.