Run Bermuda! Run Happy! You know you can go the distance when...

You wake up in the morning on the day of your long run and the room is spinning. You're sweating. Your stomach feels queasy and you have a headache. It'd been an incredibly stressful week but let me add that I am learning it is not the stress but how I respond to it. Sometimes stress builds and it's hard to get footing!

My entire schedule was thrown off. There were things that were triggers for me from the summer of 1971 going forward after my father's suicide, and as I lay in bed I remembered similar sensations from when we were training for the Boston Marathon.

We were scheduled for a 16 miler. It was shortly after my brother spent Christmas at our house. It was not a warm and fuzzy family visit and when I woke up on the day of our long run I remember feeling nauseous and dizzy and wondering how I was going to be able to get the training run in. I even wrote a poem about it as I did during so many junctures on our road to the Boston Marathon to help inspire me and get me fired up.

Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Sixteen Miles
Polio, post polio, cancer scare and more
Mind, body, spirit memories that inside cells did store.
Personal trainer, energy healer, a faith deep in my soul
Teachers You have sent to me to help me now be whole.

Brother here for Christmas and a change in our routine
The past alive in conversation - need to keep my soul pristine.
Focusing on goodness and see only love and light
Dispelling past and future keep the moment now in sight.

Sixteen miles – a training run – not feeling at my best
Wanted to just stay in bed and get a little rest.
Temperatures were mild but strong headwind in our face
I felt Your Loving Presence and surrounded by Your grace.

Dizziness came over me the first time 'round the track
Hydration and dig deep within to bring the present back.
Release the doubts, the fears inside-time for wounds to heal
Fulfill my highest purpose – my power now I feel.

Listen to my iPod the shuffle songs my friend
Hear You speaking to me – to Your Voice I now attend.
The power of the wind is strong, but I am stronger yet
My mind and Spirit drive me, my determination set.

As Team McManus journeyed on,we felt You as our guide
Guarding every foot step,running by our side.
And when this run was over, we saw the Truth so clear
We can run the Boston Marathon, the finish line is near!

Well that day I completed the training run and felt an incredible sense of accomplishment.

Drawing on my strength from that day and taking time to meditate before anybody else in the house got up using the tools that Dr. Joe Dispenza shares, I knew that I needed to think greater than my circumstances. I remembered Dr. Candace Pert's book, The Molecules of Emotion. I knew that everything stirring within me emotionally was contributing to my feeling queasy and unwell.

I called a Team meeting and explained to Ruth Anne and Tom what was going on with me. Ruth Anne lovingly and compassionately asked me if we should switch up the long run with our cross training day tomorrow. I knew that was not an option. Together we asked for God's strength to get us all through the training run but especially me. I shared some tears and some fears and then we got to work.

Core work and a good breakfast helped to revive me along with hydration and reminding myself that:



I thought about my friend Thor who is running the Fenway park Marathon with Chronic Lyme disease and I thought about all of my overcoming physical sensations in my body and healing the effects of paralytic polio and trauma. We set intentions for the run and planned out our route. We decided that we are going to train by going out the front door and creating routes around our neighborhood and beyond that do not require getting in the car before our run.

You know you can go the distance when you log onto Facebook and see a photo of Geoffrey Smith, Boston Marathon champion who is the record holder for the Bermuda Marathon Weekend 10K with Race director Anthony Raynor and Clarence Smith who joined us for lunch a few weeks ago at the Falmouth Road Race Expo:



I wrote this post: #runbermuda #runhappy A wonderful motivation for today's 7.5 miler! Thanks Geoffrey Smith and Race Director Anthony Raynor! Have a great weekend in Falmouth! See you in January at Bermuda Marathon Weekend!

A member of our runner family, Jacqui Kennedy replied, "Sending loads of positive thoughts, good vibes and prayers out for you today! Happy 7.5! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️"

For a little extra motivation, I went to my Youtube channel and chose to post this video on Facebook:



I knew that would generate energy and well wishes.

Once on our run, I began to feel better. There was nobody around the small reservoir on Route 9 and it was so peaceful to just run. We decided we would do 6 loops around and then finish up on the street in front of our home.

"Wait - it's a sign," Ruth Anne called out.

She's been finding money reminding Team McManus that God is guiding our journey as She had in 2008-2009 on the road to the Boston Marathon.

There in the dirt Ruth Anne noticed a figure that matched the route of the Bermuda Half Marathon:



During our first 3 miles, clouds prevailed but then the sun broke through and there was 86% humidity.

I kept thinking about my post run ice bath while also paying exquisite attention to hydration and fueling.

After the run we were feeling oh so accomplished having deposited 7.5 miles in the Bank of Bermuda:


This morning, this photo was in my memory news feed about why hard days are the best shared by my dear friend and an elite runner, Reno Stirrat:



You know you can go the distance when you believe, when you know you have a village cheering you on and a great Team to train with every week. You know you can go the distance when you think greater than your circumstances and keep your eye on the prize - a threepeat of the Bermuda Half Marathon.

Go 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):

Going thee Distance: Pre-Race Report: The Hazelwood 5K Run

With the Bermuda Half Marathon 2017 on the horizon, I was not planning on running another race.

Until Jacqueline Hansen posted this on Facebook:
Kudos to my colleague Geoffrey Smith for saving the historical Hazelwood Women's 5K in New Bedford, MA from extinction. As well, there will be a separate men's only race. Pretty unique.
Check out their website and FB page for more information.

I'd seen Geoff's post about the race on Facebook but dismissed the possibility of running the race because of my training for Bermuda but after seeing Jaqi's post, I was moved to email my friend and race director Geoff Smith to see if it was an all paces race. Geoff immediately responded that it was!

The Hazelwood Women's 5K is one of the longest-running women's road races in the country.

It is a celebration of women and their participation in running.

The timing is exquisite as yesterday marked 32 years since Joan Benoit Samuelson won Gold at the 1984 Olympics and as the Olympic Games in Rio had their opening ceremony.

Joan's Olympic Marathon run was, as Jaqi eloquently writes about in her book, "A Long Time Coming."


The sport of running, while a competitive one for the elite runners, also offers a level playing field for us mid and back of the pack runners where the elite runners want everyone to experience all that the sport has to offer.

On October 15th, I will be toeing the line taking my place in a women's only race. It is a way for me to honor the pioneers like Jaqi who fought for equality for women in sports dispelling such myths like if a woman runs a marathon her uterus will fall out.

During these next two weeks all eyes will be on Rio as the best of the best compete in the XXI Olympiad.

The road was paved for women like Shalene, Desiree and Amy to compete in the Marathon representing the very best that the US has to offer in distance running. On the men's side, Meb will be going for the Gold.

Running is about so much more than running and racing and winning although it is indeed a beautiful spectator sport. Running is about a lifestyle and about who we are and I am so excited to be running the Hazelwood 5K Run in October. Hope you can join me.

To your health and wellness,
Mary

Going the Distance: Never Give Up! Never Surrender!

Today's Facebook feed was filled with the theme of never giving up.

My dear friend and elite runner Reno's post popped up in my news feed:


It's so easy to return to negative thoughts and old habits of thinking and being. I woke up this morning feeling tired, tight and sore. Well it's no wonder! Family stress, juggling work and caregiver needs and maintaining a rigorous training schedule do add up. But oh how amazing that I am the caregiver rather than needing to be cared for having left the diagnosis of post polio syndrome in the dust.

I reminded myself that I am strong, healthy, whole. My left leg is factory new despite sometimes sensations to the contrary.

I practiced my affirmations and opened my heart to gratitude.

Tomorrow Team McManus toes the starting line of the Narrangasset Bay 5K. We did bib pick up today and were blessed to meet Champion Steve Jones and reunite with Champion Geoff Smith:



As I was doing research about Steve Jones, I found this video:



It's been quite the 10 year healing odyssey. I am so grateful and blessed that I did not give up and did not surrender despite many setbacks, working with less than honorable and competent body workers and the trauma of my nephew's suicide and the tragic events of 4/15/13. I shudder to think about all the adventures I would have missed and all the amazing people I never would have had the chance to meet.

It's quite the miracle that I continue to experience positive momentum and once again tomorrow I get to experience the joy of the running community, and running with Champions.

To your health and wellness,
Mary

Camp Hyannis Marathon Weekend 2016 - Three Running Greats

Even though I do not eat pasta the night before I race, Tom and I still attend the pre-race pasta dinner to hear running greats speak.

We had an early dinner at the Roadhouse Cafe


I've discovered that I need to eat salmon before a race. We both had fish with garlic mashed potatoes and their classic Roadhouse salad with their home made Roadhouse salad dressing. It was warm and cozy but the energy was electric as everyone was asking everyone else, "Are you running tomorrow."

We entered the Hyannis Resort Conference and Convention Center Ballroom. I remembered the first time we walked in back in 2009, the night before my very first half marathon race. Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter were there and I met Ric Beaudoin and the gang who connected Team McManus with L Street Running Club and the Merrimack Valley Striders. There's something magical that happens when you walk into that ballroom for the pre race pasta dinner and this year was certainly no different.

We looked around and saw some familiar faces and then we lighted upon Tony and Mary who have been faithful campers like we have been throughout these past 7 years. They were seated with Bill Rodgers, Geoff Smith and Jacqueline Hansen and they invited us to join them. Mary and I exchanged the warmest and longest hug and we got caught up on the past two years. Tony and Mary are like brother and sister from another mother and mister. They come to Hyannis together as best friends. Instead of sitting around a campfire we gather together at a round table.



The subject turned to running stories. Jacqueline shared with us how she was the guide for the Olympic Trials course in LA. She knew that Shalene and Amy Cragg were going to make the team because they asked to see the course twice. We were spellbound as she talked giving us the inside view of the Olympic Trials. LA is her home town.

Bill was delighted to hear of my running comeback.

Geoffrey Smith mentioned that he was there to promote his upcoming races and Paul Collyer, Event Director invited him to stay for supper and talk. He said he is never one to turn down a free meal. I asked him how he was feeling since his return from his home in Liverpool and he said he is slowly getting back on schedule. We talked about his upcoming races and recent controversy around race directors in Rhode Island.

Tony invited Jacqueline, Bill and Geoff to speak first individually about their running journeys and also speaking to life as older runners and then they came together to answer questions from the runners:



I was mesmerized at how Jacqueline shared with us that she was inspired by a runner named Cheryl Rogers who ran a 2:50 marathon. She mentioned that she and Cheryl remained friends for all these years and Cheryl married a man named Flanagan. Their daughter is Shalene and she hosted Cheryl during the Olympic Trials. She gave us more of the inside scoop about Shalene and said she would be fine.

Runners were hungry for advice from these three running greats. Bill Rodgers offered that we are all explorers. The cool thing is we are all here. Let's celebrate! Bill also asked the runners, "Has anyone dropped out of Boston more than me?" He shared with us at the table that a DNF is very smart! We took our annual photo together and he whispered to me, "You run with your heart. I've always said you run with your heart."



I was able to ask Bill at the starting line, how is it that with baseball or football fans can't get anywhere near the big names in the sport but here we are standing together receiving expert advice and support from the best of the best. "That's why we are the greatest sport," Bill replied.

As people asked Geoff Smith for training advice he was quick to offer that the most important part of any program is rest. Consistency is the only key to success. "The worst invention was the Garmin," Geoff said. Everyone is individual and you have to figure out what is optimum for you. He did share that you break into spread training through running hills. "It's a lifetime commitment. It's about going out and having fun. Leave the Garmin at home," Geoff advised in his wonderful British accent.

Jacqueline had this beautiful energy and aura around her. She is incredibly humble and fielded questions about Title IX as well as providing practical training advice and shared wonderful anecdotes about her experiences as a woman distance runner.

I felt as though as I was infused with a new perspective about my own running; that it's a beautiful sport where everyone discovers for themselves what is going to work best. There is no one formula that fits all and we are all explorers finding out what works best for us. This wisdom and knowledge would hold me in very good stead on race day.

After the talk, Tom and I went to buy Jacqueline's book, "A Long Time Coming."


I was moved to briefly share my journey with her and gave her my blogger business card. I was held in this beautiful space by her clear loving eyes. She told me there is a woman in Europe who is looking for women over the age of 50 who are blogging about their running journey and she was going to share my blog with her.

I left the Ballroom feeling so blessed to reconnect with dear friends at Camp Hyannis and to feel touched by grace to meet Jacqueline Hansen, reconnect with Bill Rodgers and spend time with Geoffrey Smith who we flew to Bermuda with for the Bermuda Marathon Weekend...but more about that in tomorrow's blog - Race Day - Redemption Weekend.