Celebrating Independence Day!

Every year on July 4th, America celebrates its Independence. It's a wonderful time to pause and reflect on the meaning of independence and freedom in our lives.

As a survivor of paralytic polio and severe childhood trauma, my freedom is dear and precious to me. During the summer of 1971, my mother and I were held hostage in our home by my father's alcoholic rages. Even though my parents were separated, he would stalk us in the evening. By 5pm we had to be in the house with the curtains and blinds closed. I pleaded with my mother to not let him in the house but she was strung out on narcotic pain medication and would let him in. On August 1, he ended his life.

Ten years ago I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life confined to a wheelchair.

It would be easy to feel trapped and confined by circumstances, by a sense of outrage, harbor a sense of victimization and have chosen a very different path than the path of liberation I choose to live.

Like Forrest Gump, I've learned to break free from the shackles - both literal and metaphorical of my past and like Forrest Gump, running set me free!

Today Team McManus went on a 5K run on our road to the Bermuda Marathon Weekend. I know how blessed I am to have the gift of running in my life! I know how blessed I am to celebrate my independence and freedom from some of the most horrific circumstances any human being should have to face.



Today I am celebrating Independence Day with my beautiful family through the gift of running and the gift of quality time together.

Let freedom ring!

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 the Distance: On Motivation, Momentum and Accountability

When the alarm went off at 6:00am this morning, day 5 of my 5 day training cycle, I wanted to roll over, go back to sleep and take a day off. In a heartbeat one can go from positive momentum to negative momentum.



It looked like there may have been some black ice outside. Tom is in taper mode for the Hyannis Half this weekend. I debated about whether to go to Wave Health and Fitness, get on the treadmill at home or go outside. During the debate, after our morning meditation, I decided to get my core work done.

After getting the blood flowing with a plank, clams, bicycle and knee to elbow, I was ready for an early morning run. That's what was on the schedule and so an early morning run is what I was going to do. I gave myself a push to maintain the positive momentum I've been blessed to experience. How many mornings could I physically not get out of bed without pain everywhere and feeling that fatigue to the bone regardless of how many hours I was in bed? How many times could I not do core work or run or run on a treadmill experiencing heaviness throughout my body? Since meeting Dr. Ryan J. Means and reminding myself that I AM the placebo following the works of Dr. Joe Dispenza, I am moving forward with great intention and power.

My plan is to allow for the fullness of expression of my journey of transformation from a survivor of paralytic polio and childhood trauma to a woman who fully embodies her potential as a runner; as one who challenges herself with strength training, swimming, cross training and running to achieve my fullest potential on my health and wellness journey.

Writing a blog and being "out there" on Facebook holds me accountable to my plan.



After I posted this photo on Facebook celebrating the completion of another 5 day training cycle:



I received an outpouring of likes, loves and "wow's" along with private messages about how I inspire people!

When the day began I did not feel like getting my workout done. I know how blessed I am with this miracle of healing I have created in my life.

To those who have been given much, much is asked of them. It is my moral imperative to stay motivated, maintain positive momentum on my health and wellness journey and be accountable to those who look to me for inspiration and hope.



To your health and wellness,
~Mary



"Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance" is now available on Amazon.

Running Happy! Training for the Boston Volvo Village 5K to Benefit the MS Society

Brooks' slogan is "Run Happy."

Running does not come easily to me as one who lives with the late effects of paralytic polio and healing the residuals of violence in my body. While I may not be able to run easily or fast, I can run happy.

It was 30 degrees yesterday but the sun was shining on a beautiful November fall day. I had to watch out for patches of icy leaves on the ground. There was a strong headwind. I was fully equipped with my cold weather gear from Brookline Marathon Sports but when we first set out, my face froze and my fingers were numb. I moved up my neck gator and used the thumb hole from my shirt to help warm me up. As my core temperature rose, it spread warmth to my face, hands and legs. My smile and happy attitude brought a psychological warmth to my Being that translated into physical warmth. I felt capable in my body.

I was running side by side with my life and running partner, Tom. I felt a lightness and ease in my body and a sense of joy in movement. As soon as I saw another runner in the opposite direction, I picked up my pace and waved as we ran by each other. I knew this was my last intense training run before the Boston Volvo Village 5K on Thanksgiving. I was energized from attending Fashion Plates on Friday.

I am hoping for a PR time of anything better than 46:53 which was my time at the Bill Rodgers 5K. It will depend on weather conditions and what my body can give me on the day. I can work to create mind/body conditions that stack the deck in my favor on race day. Running as Team McManus, the dynamic duo, fills my heart with joy and gratitude. Running for a cause lights a fire within me despite my own challenges. The thought of Alain Ferry being at the finish line brings a smile to my face and a kick to my run.

I wanted to allow myself plenty of time to recover from my last intense training run before race day. I'll be doing twice/week Aquatics Therapy this week and will get in the pool Tuesday before the race. I'll have one more massage treatment this Thursday at Sollievo Massage and Bodywork before race day. I'll be pacing household chores and making sure I get plenty of rest in the days leading up to the race. We've run the course several times in snow, in wind and in sun. Next Saturday we will walk the course to shake out my legs and to help me visualize the race I want to run.

I feel a new found strength and freedom as a runner deep in my soul. In last Thursday's treatment at Sollievo with Joseph, I told him that I wanted to work on shifting the energy of confinement. During the treatment many body and emotional sensations came to the surface. Perhaps the most powerful experience was when my left leg got hot from the inside out and the outside in. My left side was more profoundly affected by the polio virus. I sobbed and Joseph supported me as my mind/body processed the memory of having hot woolen blankets on my legs as part of the physical therapy treatments. Emotionally and spiritually, I processed the moral dilemma of how one manages the rage of violation and being battered. The wisdom of Nelson Mandela



joined with my own awareness to help release me from the prison of my past. My work is not in destroying those who tried to destroy me but rather in destroying the hold they had on me. At one point I felt, "So much happened to me it boggles my mind." Spirit responded, "Don't try to figure it out. Be here now. Let the Universe take care of it. Let go of anything that is not love."

Tom and I incorporated many hills and speed work into yesterday's run. I ran from the inside out. At one point, I knew I had more in the tank and left it there for race day. It was exhilarating to feel that I could have pushed but was able to pace myself and hold back. This intimate connection with my body is a blessing.

As we were coming up our final hill there was a runner getting ready to go out on his run. Tom helped me give it all I had and we smiled and waved as we passed him wishing him a good run.

As we came toward the end of our run, Tom had me kick it into high gear. I was running hard. My legs were feeling the effects of running in the cold. I was wheezing; the cold takes a toll on my respiratory system. None of that mattered. I was running happy!

What is even more important to me than a PR is exceeding my fundraising goal to help create a world free of MS. You can read about my passion for running for MS and make a donation to support my run on my personal fund raising page.


The first 7 years of my healing odyssey are chronicled in Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility available on Amazon. I donate 50% of royalty payments to The One Fund Boston to help survivors and their families who were affected by the tragic events of 4/15/13.



My 2nd book, "Journey Well," is coming soon. 50% of book proceeds will be donated to AccesSportAmerica to help them continue their life changing programs:

A Day of Remembrance - My Hope for Today

Thirteen years ago today I was seeing a patient in my office at the VA Outpatient Clinic on what was a glorious New England September morning. Upstairs, the Drop In Center had on the TV as they did every morning while veterans gathered with coffee and donuts to shoot pool and be part of a safe, therapeutic milieu to help them heal.

When I came out of my office to see if my next patient had arrived, everyone was gathered together looking for leadership or guidance of what we were to do next. They filled me in on the scant details we knew at the time. We shared our building on Causeway Street with State employees. They evacuated. As federal employees we were ordered to stay in place.

The phone lines were busy but eventually I was able to get through to my husband who fortunately was at home for the day. He would be available to our 8th grade twins. My job as a clinical social worker was to be available to the veterans to provide support and crisis intervention.

Last Saturday I was interviewed on The Jordan Rich Show. Jordan asked me how did I not become angry and bitter after living through 9 years of unrelenting violence; sexual and physical assaults at the hands of my father and grandmother. He went on, thinking out loud, you turned it inward didn't you?

Indeed I did until my body, mind and Spirit cried out for healing in the form of post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease.

Gratitude and forgiveness became the cornerstones of my foundation for healing. I looked to the wisdom of those who went before me who also suffered man's inhumanity to man to find comfort and healing.



On this, the 13th anniversary of 9/11, my hope is that we can experience healing.

I'd like to soften never forget into always remember...always remember and hold dear in your heart those who died. Love never dies and they are with us today to bless our lives with the legacy and memories they left behind.

Always remember the bravery of those on the flights and those who lost their lives saving others. Always remember the kindness, caring and compassion that followed 9/11 and let us remember that we don't need a tragedy to be kind, caring and compassionate to ourselves and to each other.

Always remember that love is stronger than fear and darkness never wins.

My hope for today is that when we face a person's wrath, we can maintain equanimity within ourselves. When life circumstances shake us to the core, my hope for today is that we do remember who we are and be soft