Celebrating Ten Years of Running and Blogging!

On October 22, 2008 I posted my first blog on Healing, Hope and Possibility. I have chronicled my healing odyssey and my running journey through the years transforming my blog from Healing, Hope and Possibility to Welcome to a New World and now Going the Distance.

I used to be a daily blogger but now I've been blogging less frequently. I'm focused on finishing my next book, "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953" and exploring avenues where I can share my journey with a wider audience.

In 2018 I was blessed to have my story included in Dr. David Hamilton's Tenth Anniversary Edition of How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body.



I was blessed to be a guest on David's radio show that complemented the release of his book on Hay House Radio. You can find it in the archives of Hay House UK 10/22 show.

I can feel that it is time to turn my attention to other projects now.

It's been a great run!

I've run the 2009 Boston Marathon and had wondrous adventures on the road to Hopkinton.

I experimented with different healing modalities and am now blessed to partner with Dr. Lizzie Sobel using chiropractic care to supplement my mind/body practices to continue to heal from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma.

I suffered a serious knee injury in December of 2014 and blogged during that time of uncertainty of whether or not I would be able to return to the sport I'd come to love after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006. What a joy filled journey as I went on to run 3 consecutive Bermuda Half Marathons.

I blogged about businesses, fund raisers, and my daughter's struggles with mental health.

I am deeply grateful for my readers during these past 10 years and my followers on Google.

It's a great time to take a break from blogging to follow Spirit to other adventures on the roads and in my life.

You can follow me on Twitter @runnergirl1953, Facebook and of course my website.

My books are available on Amazon.

Thank you again to all of my faithful fans and followers and I'll look forward to when our paths cross again!

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: Where Has Running Taken Me?

This morning on Facebook, this photo popped up in my memories:


It was a magical moment at the starting line of the Bermuda Half Marathon in 2016.

Running in Bermuda was on my bucket list and then life happened and I didn't think about it again.

In December of 2014, I suffered a serious knee injury that the physiatrist and PT's said would put an end to my running career; admonished me to cap my distance at a 5K or at most 5 miles and to prepare for a total knee replacement in a few years.

I knew about the mind/body connection and the body's tremendous capacity to heal. With the help of a wonderful chiropractor, I got back on my healing path. With kinesiotape, motivation, inspiration, prescription for cross training and recommendations for reading "You Are the Placebo," "Everything You Need to Know to Feel Go(o)d" and watching "What the bleep do we know," Dr. Ryan reminded me to set goals not limits. Shortly after we worked together, he moved to China to practice chiropractic in an integrative medicine setting but not before he left a lasting imprint on my heart and on my healing journey.

At my 2015 comeback race, the Finish at the 50, the Bermuda Marathon Weekend "just happened" to have a table at the Expo. After several years of walking by their booth at different Expos we attended, Tom decided to stop at their Booth while I slowly walked on. As I overheard their conversation, I stopped and I inched closer and closer to their Booth as I started wondering if perhaps I would be able to go the distance again in Bermuda. The Race Director, Anthony Raynor suggested that if I could go the distance of a Half Marathon, I would much prefer the Half to the 10K which is all hills.

I knew it was time to put running in Bermuda back on my bucket list.

It was an incredible thrill to be a part of an International Race Weekend while meeting friends from Massachusetts. Ann Kucharski stopped me at the pool at The Rosedon Hotel and started a conversation. We had been on the same flight. We discovered that we had many runner friends in common. She ran the 10K and on Sunday morning came to the starting line to cheer us on. She shouted to us and snapped the photo that popped up in my memory feed.

Running has taken me to meet so many wonderful, kind, generous, inspiring people that I would not have met were I not a part of this incredible sport.

Running has taken me to the very edge of what I think I am capable of and then a little bit farther.

Running has taken me away from feeling stuck with a life problem and revealing the answer on a run.



Bill Rodgers once said to me, "Life is hard...that's why we run. When we learn we can tough it out on the roads, we know we can tough out anything that life sends our way." Running has taught me that I can indeed meet every challenge on the roads and in my life.

Running has taken me from seeing myself as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma to a woman who goes the distance with the power of endurance. Running has been my redemption from my past and transformed me from a disabled person to a champion of my life.



Where has running taken you?

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

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: It's My Race-i-versary!

In December of 2006, I was diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome and was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. "If you use it you will lose it," was the admonishment I received. I got scared - very scared and then I got still and asked for Divine Guidance.

The answer came in the form of a poem:

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.

And then I got curious. Why was I writing a poem about running a race when I'd never run a day in my life, was using a leg brace and cane and at times a wheelchair for mobility and was told I "had" a progressive neuromuscular disease. Poetry started pouring out of me as though a spigot was turned on in my soul inspiring mind, body and soul to heal from the once devastating effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma.

I completed outpatient rehab at Spaulding Rehab and then went on to hire a personal trainer in October of 2007. From Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility
At my six-month evaluation in February, I had dramatically improved in every area of the assessment. I had come out of my leg brace and I knew that I was on a healing path. Janine asked me what my next health and fitness goals were.
“Well I want to feel free in my body. I want to dance. I want to be able to walk outside and feel unencumbered when I take a walk.”

Janine wrote feverishly and we worked out a plan. She gathered up her belongings and had her hand on the door knob.

“Wait. I have one more goal.”

Janine stopped and turned around.

“I want to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital. I know they have a Race for Rehab team and I want to do it next year.”

Janine was non-plussed. I don’t know what kept her from turning tail and getting as far away from me as she could. She came back into my house and put down her things. She said that the first thing I would need is a pair of running shoes. She told me that Marathon Sports on Beacon Street would be able to help me. She laid out a cursory training plan and said that we would begin indoors to build up my cardio endurance. As soon as the weather got a little warmer, we’d go outdoors and I would learn how to run.

My first 5K was on June 1, 2008 - The Corrib Classic 5K Road Race:



Before gun time as people were milling around on Billings Field, I had my first introduction to the running community. It's easy for strangers to become friends while waiting for a race to start. I instinctively shared my story with different people we encountered and was absolutely astounded by their response to me. As we ran through the streets of West Roxbury, Tom shouted - first road race ever. She's a polio survivor! People cheered and I ran through the hoses that people sprayed the runners with, with a sense of play and freedom although each step was a challenge for me especially the last long hill. I hadn't run for 40 continuous minutes yet in my training program so I had to stop and walk for awhile. I had only been running outside since late April. But it didn't matter. I was on the road to the Boston Marathon and this was my first time being cheered rather than jeered as I ran. My nickname in gym class was "Easy Out Alper" and I was always picked last for teams.



It was the most incredible experience of my life. The time on the clock didn't matter. All that mattered was that I finished and felt a sense of accomplishment like nothing I had ever felt before in my life. Each step I took without a leg brace was a miracle. Crossing a finish line of a 5K race was a miracle and the beginning of 10 years of running races of different distances at different paces making treasured friendships along the way.

In 2014, I was blessed to celebrate my race-i-versary at the Corrib Classic with Tom and two very dear friends, Julie and Margo Feeney

As promised before the starting gun went off, Julie, Margo and Tom let me set the pace. I felt good in my body and wasn't concerned in the least about my finishing time. We all wanted to enjoy each other's company and the day. I love how Margo said, “When you go at a slower pace, you really get to enjoy the race.” We talked about their Boston Marathon run, books, songs, and movies and drank in the neighborhood feel to the race. There were no mile markers. I didn't have my NikePlus on. I listened to my body. I stopped for water and made sure I kept myself well hydrated and cool. The sprinklers were out in full force. Margo said what a privilege it was for her to run with me and how running at a slower pace lets you enjoy the race experience for a longer amount of time. The only time that truly matters is the time well spent with loved ones on a beautiful summer's day running through neighborhoods and feeling a part of something much bigger than myself.



Every time I get out there and run, I know that I inspire others with my journey.

Every time I go out and run I celebrate the miracle of healing in my life.

It's a great day to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of my first road race and feeling excited for what the next 10 years will bring!

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

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):

Bermuda Marathon Weekend: We're Off!

After the Town Crier's proclamation, Team McManus crossed the starting line of their 13.1 adventure through Bermuda.

We were not going to make the same mistake as last year of going out too fast. We ran by the Blue Waters Anglers Club and stopped at Mile 1 for our water stop. We went up that first big hill and settled into the Team McManus rhythm that we'd experienced on our training runs. We'd received so many well wishes from Facebook in the days leading up to the race. I felt everyone's energy and the energy from the Divine whisking us along.

We heard the crow of the roosters and loved experiencing the course with Ruth Anne. Unlike last year, we did not freak out as cars passed by. We went single file and felt that we owned the road even though we were at the very very back of the pack. I knew that every step took me closer to the finish line while savoring the sensational scenery along the way. Tom made sure he was out in front so that I didn't accelerate my pace. He could feel my nervous energy wanting him to go faster but he held the pace and I am so happy he did. I still had those whispers of thoughts and feelings from when I was in a full leg brace trying to keep up with my friends after contracting paralytic polio. Rather than give in to those feelings I observed them and held myself with tenderness and compassion.

I loved Ruth Anne's reaction when we turned the corner to see John Smith's Bay Beach:


"Oh my God," she gasped ... and stopped along the route to take photos:


We came to the 2nd water stop and the volunteer and I both gasped. We had met at the Front Street Mile last year and remembered each other. We hugged and chatted. Her foot is still bothering her but she has an indomitable spirit. She embraced me as though we were dear old friends. She hugged Tom and Ruth Anne. I told her that we were having a very different race experience this year taking time to enjoy every moment and make sure we paid attention to pace, hydration and fueling. She offered us water, gatorade, candy....oh take out those orange slices for them. She handed us a big bottle of water to take with us.

Back out on the course we were moving and grooving!



We passed the halfway point and what a surprise to see Jamie-Lee Wright, my earth angel from mile 12 last year on her bike. She asked if we needed water. She was making sure that everyone was hydrated and had enough water. She took both of my hands and told me how wonderful I looked. She is recovering from an injury and didn't run this year but true to who Jamie-Lee is she had to be of service to the runners.



What a boost it gave me to see Jamie-Lee and then once again to see the locals lining the streets along the course.

We heard clapping and cheers from a house on a hill. We stopped to talk for a few minutes. We hadn't seen any portapotties along the route and Ruth Anne and I needed one. Ruth Anne was moved to ask if we could use their bathroom.

"Of course you can. Come on in."

Well coming on in was a little bit more of a challenge since they lived on this hill but Ruth Anne supported me as we made it to the top. We chatted for a few minutes with the mother and daughter while Tom stayed outside. He got to see the first two marathon lead runners pass by and chatted with the head of the household. He had visited Boston the day after we were hit with a major snowstorm. There are special bonds between Boston and Bermuda.

Feeling relieved and refreshed we journeyed on...

To be continued....

To going the distance with strength and courage!
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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):







"

Bermuda Marathon Weekend: Inspire

Two years ago in Bermuda I met Denise Holbert McMillin. Her husband Mack was seated in the row that Tom and I were seated in on our Delta flight to Bermuda, and Denise was in the row behind us. They are from Kentucky! We found out that he is her race concierge and she was running Bermuda as part of her 55th birthday celebration. The next day we bumped into them on Front Street in Hamilton. We chatted for a few minutes.

I posted a photo on Facebook from The Royal Gazette with #runbermuda #runhappy


On race morning I had what I thought was the worst case of pre-race jitters ever (nothing that compared to this year's pre-race jitters that I'll be sharing in a later post). I was about to crawl out of my skin when Denise came up to Tom and me declaring that she was intent on finding us on race morning.



Denise recounted the story when we met at The Pickled Onion for dinner Thursday night after Tom, Ruth Anne and I attended the Bermuda Marathon Weekend kick off party. We were invited by Anthony Raynor, Race Director and you never say no to a Bermudian.


We hadn't planned on going into Hamilton on Thursday but once we received the invitation shortly before we left for our trip, we knew we had to change our plans. On a whim I messaged Denise and suggested we meet for dinner at The Pickled Onion after the reception. Denise and her "running wife" Lanette were staying in Hamilton.

Overlooking Front Street Denise shared the story of how she found me via Instagram even though I wasn't active on Instagram, only Facebook.

"There I was looking for the hashtag run bermuda." She inserts her own music while tapping her fingers on the table. She realized that we were the couple she met on the plane and bumped into on Front Street. "What are the chances that our numbers would be in sequence." She 'followed me to Facebook' and when she read my story she was moved to tears. She prayed for my health that night and knew she had to find me the next morning.

I recount the story in "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance":
We woke up at 5:45am on race day. The Rosedon Hotel, our home away from home, had a continental breakfast starting at 6:30. They usually don't serve breakfast until 7:00 but as happened throughout the weekend, everything we needed was set before us. There was wonderful energy in the main house as runners were getting ready to walk down to the starting line. This was our first international race and our first destination race yet one that we had imagined over and over and over again while we trained. We saw the sunrise over Hamilton Harbor and felt the excitement of race day! I was feeling serious pre-race jitters feeling like I might throw up before the race. We rushed our breakfast because we were in a hurry to get to the starting line. I took a lot of deep breaths and engaged in positive self talk as Tom and I walked around taking pictures of this miraculous moment.

"Hey there. I was determined to find you this morning. What are the chances that we would have our bib numbers in sequence?"

I was a little stunned to say the least. On the flight from Boston Tom and I met Denise and her husband from Kentucky. He was her support crew. We also bumped into them on Front Street on Saturday.

"I was on Instagram and looked for the hashtag #runbermuda. I saw the pictures you posted."

"What? I deactivated my Instagram account yesterday because I was frustrated and couldn't figure out how to use it."

"Your Instagram account is linked to Facebook so what you posted there automatically went to Instagram," Tom explained to me.

"So I saw your photos and I found out about you and I said prayers for your health last night and wished you a wonderful run but I was determined to find you this morning."

A sign from God that I could relax and let go knowing that my body knew exactly what to do to run 13.1 miles.


After we ordered our drinks and dinner amidst laughter and joy in awe of what brought us together, Denise went into her bag.

She presented me with this wristband:


As she told me the story of how she submitted my story to get a Wristband to bring with her to Bermuda, the tears streamed down my face.


BECAUSE
"I met Mary on a plane from Boston to Bermuda in 2016. She overcame unspeakable trauma as a young girl, post polio syndrome as an adult and yet trained to run the Boston Marathon as a mobility impaired runner. She is now training for her 3rd Bermuda Half Marathon. She blogs about running, volunteers for local Boston races and I plan on seeing her again in Jan. 2018 in Bermuda as we both tackle that race. I recently bought her a RTB shirt to take to her. She's truly an inspiration to anyone that is lucky enough to cross her path."

Denise went on to say that she hoped one day we would come to Kentucky to RunTheBluegrass and she would host us. She brought us RunTheBluegrass T shirts and a coffee mug for Tom.

Hours passed by as we dined on delicious food, shared stories, laughed and talked about all things running and life. Despite being up since 4:30am to travel, we were all energized by the love, the gratitude and the inspiration that was the weave of the tapestry that created strong bonds for us as running family.



We said good night and that we'd see each other on Sunday morning before the Half.

To be continued....

To going the distance with strength and courage!
From my heart to yours,
Mary

Proud to be a part of Friends of Blue Diamond Athletic Displays, Inc.

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: Slowing Down and Savoring the Moments

This morning on Facebook, Jamie-Lee, my earth angel at mile 12 of Bermuda Marathon Weekend 2017 posted this photo along with the caption: "How did you start your day? #oneofmyfavouriteplaces"


We chatted about the photo and she said that when we come over we should visit John Smith's Bay if we hadn't already visited there. It is in fact along the Bermuda Half Marathon course. I remember saying "Oh my God - this is breathtaking" when we ran Bermuda in 2016. Jamie-Lee nailed down the exact location for me along the course for me and added, "Cue the omg's."

Last year I was so focused on my time that I didn't take time to take in the magnificent vistas that are Bermuda. I had a whole different vibe last year going into race weekend. I was tired from the way I was handling or should I say not handling stress in my life. I had an attitude of I have something to prove by running a second CONSECUTIVE Bermuda Half Marathon. I went out way too fast and by mile 10 suffered cramping that got worse as time went on. However the grace in that experience was that I got to meet Jamie-Lee and healed a memory from when I was a polio survivor.

After I got excited seeing Jamie-Lee's photo and chatting with her on Facebook, I reflected on Bermuda Marathon Weekend 2018. We amped up our miles early on in the training so that we could make adjustments to accommodate the weather. I can train through any weather once I set my mind to do it but I wanted and needed to hit our 12 mile run outdoors before snow and ice hit Boston. We have been very blessed to be able to get outdoors for every training run except one on the treadmill last Wednesday. Saturday we may need to go indoors for a 5 mile run since it looks like the weather is going to be raining and cold. I feel better prepared mentally having run outdoors. We braved the bitter cold and pouring rain for double digit long runs. We ran in heat and humidity, rain and last week snow showers. We have our fueling and hydration plan set. I have our list of things to pack and to do list on the fridge. I open my heart knowing that the Divine is with us every step of the journey.

The hay is in the barn and I am going to savor the moments of taper time. I know in every fiber of my body and Being that Team McManus is trained and ready for 13.1 miles on the beautiful Island of Bermuda. As Ruth Anne said while we were training for 7 miles on Heartbreak Hill last week, "You know what ma? If we do the half in 5 hours who is going to care? All that matters is we have a good time and we finish." Interestingly enough, my pace on all hills was one of my fastest times during our training!

This year's trip to Bermuda is a vacation with a half marathon on Sunday. Team McManus has been through A LOT during these past 3 years and we are looking forward to time together on the beach, by the pool and in the sun eating delicious food and being with dear friends.

Rather than stressing over getting in that last long run around Christmas, we only have 5 miles on tap for this weekend, I can enjoy the holiday and celebrating my birthday as my body recovers from these months of intense training. It's our first Christmas celebration together in 4 years! Presents are wrapped and under the tree, the menu is planned, the house is cleaned and we have a beautiful day planned with a delicious breakfast, Christmas music playing in the background, playing cards, checkers, puzzle time and perhaps renting a movie. It will be a day to celebrate the miracle of healing in our lives and how we have gone the distance in overcoming physical and emotional challenges.

Tom is on vacation next week. It's an ideal time for us to get our clothes organized and check off items on our Bermuda to do list while spending quality time together. We get to pause and take a breath giving thanks for our abundant and beautiful life.

While I'm excited to have received invitational entries for Team McManus to run the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon Weekend and to enjoy 13.1 miles with a full complement of Team McManus, my focus is on slowing down and savoring the moments.

To going the distance with strength and courage
From my heart to yours,
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):