Celebrating Ten Years of Running: When My Mettle Was Tested

As a survivor of paralytic polio and severe childhood trauma, I developed my intellectual prowess in order to survive the horrors of my childhood and adolescence. My body was something I lugged around with me. After the diagnosis of a progressive neuromuscular disease in the guise of Post-Polio Syndrome, I realized that I was at a crossroads in my life at the age of 53.

I did not have a conscious thought about becoming a runner. Once I got still and asked for Divine Guidance about what direction I was to take in my life, poetry and running collided through the power of my pen, what I came to call my Divining rod for healing. The first poem I wrote, "Running the Race" foreshadowed my 2009 Boston Marathon run.

Although my mettle was tested daily as I endured violence and the effects of paralytic polio, I suffered in silence battling through the days and nights as best I could.

In running, my mettle was tested and I was embraced by a community of love and support as they cheered rather than jeered my efforts on the roads and in my life.

Two mettle testing moments that are forever imprinted on my heart and soul happened at the Marathon Sports 5 Miler in July of 2008 and in January 2017 at the Bermuda Half Marathon.

The Marathon Sports 5 miler was my first 5 mile road race. It was hot and an evening race; not a good combination for someone in the early phases of recovery from Post-Polio Syndrome. We were dead last and had no idea where we were going as darkness fell on the back roads of Weston neighborhoods. It was a hilly course and I wanted to quit as sweat and tears mingled together. Tom would not let me quit and encouraged me every step of the way.


He knew ... and he was right that if I quit that race I would never be able to go the distance for the Boston Marathon.

When we came onto the field, the Marathon Sports staff who knew my story beeped the horn on the sweep truck and cheered me as though I was the one who broke the tape.

At mile 10 in the 2017 Bermuda Half Marathon, I experienced serious cramping in my back and side. As we stopped along the way to stretch every which way I could think of, a lovely woman stopped asking if I was okay at mile 12. "Do you need anything? Water? Fuel?" We said I was just cramped up and I would be okay thanking her for her kindness. By the time I made it to mile 12, I could barely stand. I dumped water on my head and willed myself to keep on to the finish line. Tom suggested I put my arm around him so he could brace my hip and take some of the stress off of my body.

From the soon to be released, "Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
As we moved slowly toward the finish line, the angel from mile 12 appeared.

"Come on. Put your arm around me. I'm going to help you."

She could tell I was stunned. "They did it for me when I cramped up in Chicago and Philadelphia actually. It's okay. This is what we do for each other."

With Tom and the earth angel from mile 12 flanking me on either side, I powered up Bermudiana Road and then down the final hill toward the finish line!

I kept saying thank you amidst the conversation we had to keep me distracted from what was happening in my body. I cried and shared my story. She reassured me that I would finish this race. She acknowledged my strength and my courage. She told us a bit about herself and her running comeback after a slipped disc. Tom and our earth angel kept me focused on my single minded goal: to cross that finish line.

"I'm going to step aside right before the finisher's chute so I'm not in your finish photo," this angel said to me.

I was never so happy to see a finish line in my life! As we planned and visualized so many times, Tom and I had hands held high (even though I was leaning to my left) with huge smiles on our faces. We celebrated that I ran my second consecutive Bermuda Half Marathon. It wasn't pretty but I got it done.



I could have sat behind my desk and rode out my tenure at the VA as an award winning social worker for 3 years when I was "eligible for retirement." I would have remained in the comfort zone of what I had done for over 25 years harnessing my intellectual prowess and my compassion for those who survived trauma and care for the elderly and their caregivers. Chances are I would have rode out that tenure in a wheelchair as was the predictable course for someone who survived childhood paralytic polio.

And yet I couldn't do that; to my veterans and their families or to myself.

It's been quite the 12 year healing odyssey with many many more years to come. My mettle will continue to be tested as I get older and challenge myself on the roads and in my life. I was born to run and born to live a full vibrant life and that is exactly what I plan to do for however long I am blessed to be in my physical body.

From "Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life" available on Amazon

"Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars, and see yourself running with them." -Marcus Aurelius

Born to Run

Born free
born to run
run free
unencumbered untethered unshackled
pouring energy into my running form
liquid gold once fired in the crucible
now my treasure born of my Spirit molded with alchemy
refining
my precious treasure once buried
the map safely tucked away
X marks the spot
a new starting line.

Poised and ready
to go the distance
all out without hesitation
all is healed at last
my pace swift
Mercury and Hermes pace me on winged feet
I AM
born to run
running free
joyfully crossing the finish line with ease.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

My healing journey using the power of visualization is featured in David R. Hamilton's book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body-Anniversary Edition." It's available 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):


***Coming Soon - The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953***

“The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” takes you on Mary McManus’ healing odyssey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006, Mary got still and asked for Divine Guidance tapping into the powerful connection she experienced to the Divine from an early age. She harnessed the power of her mind to heal her body, feverishly writing poetry in which she imagined herself healthy, whole and free from the shackles of her youth. Mary’s quest to heal her life led her to the sport of running. Her story is one that will leave you cheering for the underdog, discovering the meaning of different ability and experiencing the stunning view from the back of the pack of a race. You will have the privilege of bearing witness to how Mary overcame every challenge that life presented to her. The sport of running provides the backdrop for her journey of transformation from a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members to a woman who embodies faith, grace under fire, courage, determination, endurance and resilience. Running became a way of life for Mary that tested her mettle while forging friendships to last a lifetime. As you’ll discover in “The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” nothing, not even a serious knee injury in December of 2014 could stop her on the roads or in her life.

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: Never Tell Me The Odds

My journey of transformation from Christmas 2007 to the 2009 Boston Marathon and the 2016 Bermmuda Half Marathon:




From the soon to be released "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":

C-3PO is rattling off the odds while he stands over Han Solo’s shoulder in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. C-3PO has calculated the unlikely and grim odds of Han being able to avoid hitting an asteroid. Han Solo quips back, “Never tell me the odds.”

The odds of becoming high school valedictorian after contracting paralytic polio and fighting for my life every night were quite slim. The odds of being selected for Alpha Sigma Nu, the Jesuit Honor Society at Boston College were quite slim. It took me 4 years to complete my Masters degree in Social Work. I nearly lost the use of my right arm due to a misdiagnosed staph infection and had a 6 week hospitalization.

I was told I shouldn't run again after a serious knee injury in December of 2014. What were the odds I would go on to run 3 consecutive Bermuda Half Marathons? It takes dedication, hard work, perseverance, fierce determination, strength and courage to beat the odds. At times, it was a messy and uncertain journey that required trusting The Force with all of my heart and soul.

The deck was stacked against me. Without warning, on June 3, 1959, I dropped to the ground in Kindergarten class. Thus began the life long challenges I would need to overcome. Three years after contracting paralytic polio, shortly after coming out of my leg brace, my father became alcoholic. Nine years of emotional, physical and sexual assaults followed until he died by suicide when I was 17 years old. In December of 2006 I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome and told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair.

In many ways, my life has been like an adventure movie. I battled evil, and fought for my life. Every time somebody told me I shouldn't or couldn't do something, I turned around and said, "Watch me now."

Never tell me the odds!

“Out of our deepest wounds we find our greatest strength, our most beautiful treasures and the knowledge that love is far greater, and more powerful than any experience we endure.” ~Mary McManus

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

My healing journey using the power of visualization is featured in David R. Hamilton's book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body-Anniversary Edition." It's available 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):


***Coming Soon - The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953***
The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953 takes you on Mary McManus’ healing odyssey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006, Mary got still and asked for Divine Guidance. She harnessed the power of her mind to heal her body, feverishly writing poetry in which she imagined herself healthy, whole and free from the shackles of her youth. Mary’s quest to heal her life led her to the sport of running that tested her mettle while fueling her journey of transformation from a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members to a woman who embodies faith, grace under fire, courage, determination, endurance and resilience. Running became a way of life for Mary. As you’ll discover in “The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” nothing, not even a serious knee injury in December of 2014 could stop her on the roads or in her life. Mary’s story is one that will leave you cheering for the underdog and discovering the meaning of different ability as Mary overcame every challenge that life presented to her.

Celebrating Healing: On Courage and Synchronicity

After recovering from the shock and fear of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, and as a whole new world unfolded before me, I knew that I was going to inspire others with a message of healing, hope and possibility.

I've been on many radio talk shows, done YouTube videos, been interviewed on Channel 7 News and by Phil Lipof, Boston News Anchor after the Bill Rodgers 5K to benefit Prostate Cancer.

I was blessed to have my story accepted for David Hamilton, Ph.D.'s Tenth Anniversary Edition of "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body."



I listened to David's companion radio show on Hay House Radio UK.

I felt a stirring in my soul to ask him to be a guest on his show. He had read a story from the book on air and I thought wouldn't it be awesome to chat with one of the people whose story he shared in the book?

And then a most unusual thing happened ... I got cold feet.

Old feelings of unworthiness crept in...I mean after all this is Hay House Radio we are talking about and well yes my story was in the book but this would be a really big deal for me. Not me as in me personally but a wonderful venue to touch the lives of others with my story hearing it in my own voice.

I let it go...

David did a Facebook Live on feelings and vulnerability. He shared a story from his book, I <3 Me: The Science of Self-Love about his own journey to self love and feeling empowered and worthy to be his authentic self sharing his wisdom. He was waiting to go on stage at a Hay House Event and experienced a panic attack. He had this overwhelming sense of unworthiness to be among the Hay House thought leaders such as Wayne Dyer. It led him to an exploration of why he felt that way and most important, how to heal those feelings and shift into a state of self-love and compassion.

Right after I heard the Facebook Live talk, I emailed David.

He was delighted to have me be a guest on his show.

We had a wonderful conversation although I must confess I had to push through my nerves. I was star struck talking with David although deep down inside I know that I too am a star for all I have overcome in my life. He was gracious, kind and his passion about my journey healing the effects of paralytic polio and childhood trauma was infectious.

I had a notification on my Author Page on Facebook for both a post on my page and a message.

It was from a woman in London who is struggling with symptoms of Post Polio Syndrome. She heard me on David's show and wanted to learn more about my journey. We became fast friends across the Pond. She is taking the first steps on her healing journey and "just happened" to find David's work. What were the chances?

We've been messaging back and forth and she is going to see David at one of his talks in London. She connected with David on Facebook. She called me her earth angel delivering a message of hope!

If I would not have mustered the courage to reach out to David after receiving the nudge from the Universe via Facebook Live, this woman (and who knows who else) would not have had the opportunity to receive my message of healing, hope and possibility.

It's vital to be able to get over ourselves and live our highest purpose! The Universe will orchestrate the rest of the symphony.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

My healing journey using the power of visualization is featured in David R. Hamilton's book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body-Anniversary Edition." It's available 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):


***Coming Soon - The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953***
The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953 takes you on Mary McManus’ healing odyssey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006, Mary got still and asked for Divine Guidance. She harnessed the power of her mind to heal her body, feverishly writing poetry in which she imagined herself healthy, whole and free from the shackles of her youth. Mary’s quest to heal her life led her to the sport of running that tested her mettle while fueling her journey of transformation from a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members to a woman who embodies faith, grace under fire, courage, determination, endurance and resilience. Running became a way of life for Mary. As you’ll discover in “The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” nothing, not even a serious knee injury in December of 2014 could stop her on the roads or in her life. Mary’s story is one that will leave you cheering for the underdog and discovering the meaning of different ability as Mary overcame every challenge that life presented to her.

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: On Perseverance and Finish Lines

As I edit "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953," I am in awe of how many finish lines I've been blessed to cross and how each one brings with it a distinct memory.

The first finish line I ever crossed was in June 2008. It was a hot day and I hadn't run for more than 40 minutes at a time in my training program on the road to the Boston Marathon. I had no idea what the sport of running and especially racing was all about. I received a wonderful joy filled albeit challenging introduction to my first 5K race. We took this photo back at the car:


The Marathon Sports 5 Miler tested my mettle. I didn't think I was going to finish the race. It was a highly competitive, hot, evening race. We finished dead last and were celebrated as though I broke the tape. Here's a photo of us at the back of the pack winding our way through the back roads with the sweep truck behind us:


My first half marathon was the 2009 Hyannis Half. While I don't have any finish line photos, I slogged through 13.1 miles of cold and sleet to cross the finish line of my first half marathon race. My story was shared in the Cape Cod Times:

Mary McManus, 55, of Brookline completed her first half-marathon after making a remarkable recovery from a life-long battle against post-polio syndrome.

She spent time at the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and began running just last February. She competed in her first race in June 2008, finishing a 5K.

“It’s like having a new lease on life,” said McManus, who ran yesterday’s half-marathon with husband Tom. “I was limping my way through life, but then decided to do something about it.”

My greatest finish was crossing the iconic Boston Marathon finish line:


I had to take time off to recover from Boston and there was a question mark about whether or not I would return to the roads given my body's history of paralytic polio and severe trauma. I transformed the question mark into a ....to be continued.

In June of 2010, Tom and I celebrated my comeback at the Charles River Run 5K:


Tom pushed me as we jingled all the way to a PR in the Jingle Bell 5K:


I persevered through elevation and heat to run my first trail race on Spectacle Island. What a spectacular finish for Team McManus:


I trash talked my way to a PR at the Bill Rodgers 5K Run/Walk to Benefit Prostate Cancer. What a celebration after I crossed that finish line:


While feeling the exhilaration of a PR is an incredible experience at the finish line, sometimes crossing that finish line is the manifestation of perseverance and endurance.

In December of 2014 I suffered a serious knee injury that the medical providers said would sideline me from running for the rest of my days. They said I never should have started running and that I should prepare for a total knee replacement in a few years. I turned to holistic healing with chiropractic care, and doubled down my efforts with all that I'd done to get me to that point in my journey harnessing the power of the mind/body connection.

Tom and I crossed the finish line of the 2015 Finish at the 50 5K that marked a new starting line for me:


I decided to go the distance again and signed on for the 2016 Bermuda Half Marathon:


Since I had a solid base of mileage and felt triumphant after Bermuda, Tom and I ran the 2016 Hyannis 10K. Smiles for miles as we crossed the finish line together:


Rather than be a "one hit wonder" I took on the challenge of the 2017 Bermuda Half Marathon. At mile 10 things went south for this runner girl but I would not quit. Although every step was a challenge and by mile 12 I could not straighten up, I put one foot in front of the other steadily moving forward to that finish line. An earth angel at mile 12, Jamie-Lee Wright and my husband supported me until I joyfully and triumphantly crossed that finish line:


I have had to dig deep to persevere through the miles on the roads and in my life working hard to overcome the ravages of childhood paralytic polio and trauma at the hands of family members. But the thrill of crossing that finish line makes all the hard work worth every ounce of blood, sweat and tears it took to get me there.

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

My healing journey using the power of visualization is featured in David R. Hamilton's book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body-Anniversary Edition." It's available 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):


***Coming Soon - The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953***
The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953 takes you on Mary McManus’ healing odyssey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006, Mary got still and asked for Divine Guidance. She harnessed the power of her mind to heal her body, feverishly writing poetry in which she imagined herself healthy, whole and free from the shackles of her youth. Mary’s quest to heal her life led her to the sport of running that tested her mettle while fueling her journey of transformation from a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members to a woman who embodies faith, grace under fire, courage, determination, endurance and resilience. Running became a way of life for Mary. As you’ll discover in “The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” nothing, not even a serious knee injury in December of 2014 could stop her on the roads or in her life. Mary’s story is one that will leave you cheering for the underdog and discovering the meaning of different ability as Mary overcame every challenge that life presented to her.