Celebrating Ten Years of Running: Mile 10 Connections & The Paper Fiesta

When I walked through the door of The Paper Fiesta I feasted my eyes on a unique gift shop experience. The natural light bathed the beautifully arranged array of items. You'll find all your paper goods for your party, gifts and beautiful stationery items such as the journals and note pad I purchased:


I was impressed by how owner Paula Romero-Dunbar, who took a leap of faith leaving her 21 year job at Party Favors to start her own business, and her Boston EMS husband, Walter have woven in the Boston Marathon/Boston Strong theme into the store. There is a special place noting that their store is on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon:


“Every runner in the 123 year HISTORY of the Boston Marathon RAN past where YOU STAND.”-since 1897

4/15/13 brought us together as we each attended One Boston Day on 4/15/15 at Old South Church. There is a sense of healing and moving forward as survivors and thrivers in the wake of 4/15/13. Paper Fiesta is a space for reflection and celebration!

Paula commented how much she loved seeing us out running when we were training for Bermuda.

"Do you know you're in my next book?" I asked. "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953." I talk about what a boost you gave us when you honked at us crossing Route 9 and when you went a little way with us the year before when it was freezing out in December."

"When will it be out?" Walter asked.

"As soon as I finish editing it!"

Walter explained how he would like to have events at the store with local artists and authors. I told him I am totally on board and would love to have my book launch at the store!

While paying for my purchases, Paula asked, "How was your ride out?"

"It was horrible. Route 9 has construction and Siri took me via Route 27," I answered.

"Well you can take Route 135 straight in and go along the Boston Marathon route!"

I gathered the gifts I bought for myself, hugged Walter and Paula and went on my way.

I got goosebumps as I drove through Natick and the rolling hills of Wellesley heading into Wellesley College. I vividly remembered 4/20/2009 as I made my way from Hopkinton to Boston; an unlikely runner to be sure! I had never run a day in my life before February of 2008 when I declared that my next health and fitness goal shortly after coming out of a leg brace and wheelchair was to run the Boston Marathon.

I smiled and celebrated myself as I drove from mile 10 and Paper Fiesta, carrying the message of "Strength. History. Spirit. and Hope" with me.

As I got to Wellesley Center, I remembered looking down and finding a penny.

From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
As we crossed to the Dunkin' Donuts on Beacon Street, our neighbors were waiting with a sign to cheer us on to the finish.

Speaking of signs ….

Bernie Siegel, MD, one of the pioneers in mind/body medicine, and a dear friend since the 1980’s, sent me an email telling me to look for the penny. It would be from him and God telling me everything was all right. I found a penny in Wellesley.

I felt the exhilaration of Marathon Monday after passing the halfway point in Wellesley knowing that I'd done the rest of the route many many times during training runs.

I veered off of Washington Street to take Route 9 home but in my mind's eye I could still remember taking the turn onto Commonwealth Avenue, conquering the hills and crossing the finish line receiving my prize for a year of training and defying the odds as a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and trauma:


Paula took a leap of faith to create this enchanting gift shop in Natick Center. It's a place where memories are treasured, and many beautiful connections will be made. Their Grand Opening is happening tomorrow from 1-4pm with cupcakes, cannolis and connections.

From Walter & Paula:
We love putting smiles on people’s faces! Paper Fiesta is Natick’s new family celebration store specializing in party supplies, gifts, cards and balloons. We don’t believe there should be any “ordinary” special occasions, let us help you make all your celebrations extraordinary! Paper Fiesta is located in the corner pocket of historic Clark’s Block along MILE 10 (rt 135/rt 27) of the legendary Boston Marathon route. Our staff and our store are built upon the foundation of what it means to be Boston Strong. Come by and connect with us. We love what we do.

They sure do love what they do and I'm so excited for their new adventure!

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 Miracles and Hope

The woman walking gingerly up the ramp to exit the pool turned to me and said, "I'm sorry I'm walking so slowly."

"Oh no need to apologize," I said. I had seen her working with her physical therapist in the pool. "It's hard work isn't it?"

"I just want to feel like myself again," she said as her eyes filled with tears.

Her knees hyperextended when she experienced a fall last year and she hasn't been able to regain her mobility.

I felt compelled to share my story with her.

Her eyes filled with tears. "Oh my goodness. You created about 4 miracles in your life!"

I shared with her how I ran Boston in 2009, the ups and downs in my journey and then my latest miracle in December of 2014 after a serious knee injury that blew out my left knee. I was told I wouldn't and shouldn't run but if I did - no more than a 5K and then went on to run 3 consecutive Bermuda Half Marathons. I shared with her the resources and methods I used to heal and what I continue to do to heal the effects of paralytic polio and trauma.

I grabbed pen and a piece of paper from the lifeguard's office and wrote down information for her. I recommended Dr. Joe Dispenza's book, "You Are the Placebo," and encouraged her to go on line to find meditations that would help her to heal. I told her about Dr. David Hamilton, Ph.D.'s work and how my story is going to be included in the next edition of "How the Mind Can Heal the Body." I suggested she visit my website and blog.

She told me I was her guardian angel and she has been blessed to meet many angels in her healing journey. She found a wonderful surgeon in Needham who told her that she'd support her efforts to try everything she could to avoid total knee replacement surgery. After I shared with her my experience with chiropractic care, she was inspired to contact her chiropractor and resume treatment!

I told her how deeply blessed and honored I felt to be a part of her journey; how I was blessed to have so many angels come into my life just when I needed them throughout my life.

She asked me when I swim and I told her Tuesday mornings; she'll be there for her physical therapy sessions in the pool.

"I can't believe what hope you've given me. I mean here you are -- 11 years after being told you should prepare to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair and all you've accomplished."

I shared with her how I appreciate the miracle of healing that I co-created in my life; how I appreciate every pain free step and feeling free in my body.

I am grateful for the gifts of polio, trauma and Post-Polio Syndrome in my life. Without them I would not be the person I am today and would not be able to inspire others with miracles and hope.

I am deeply grateful that I can celebrate 10 years of running and share this miraculous journey of healing, hope, possibility and miracles!

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):

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: In Tune and In Step

The weather forecast called for rain and thunderstorms on Sunday. The pool at our gym closes with the threat of thunderstorms even though it is an indoor pool. We weren't concerned about the possibility of running in the rain on Sunday so we decided to swap our run day for a pool day. Tom and I had an amazing one hour workout on Saturday as I continue to enjoy being in my body after years of struggle due to the effects of paralytic polio and trauma.

When we woke up on Sunday morning, I felt this incredible pull to go to Jamaica Pond for our run. Ordinarily, if there are no parking spaces, we choose another venue but I suggested to Tom that we park at a little parking lot down the hill from Jamaica Pond. A little extra mileage would be fine.

Our run began with a steep uphill. The good news about having a steep uphill at the beginning of a run when you are doing a loop is that it means a downhill at the end of the run!

As we got on Jamaica Pond's path, I said to Tom, "Can you believe the last time we were here was in January shortly after Bermuda? We had to abort the run because the ice was too thick and there were not enough clear patches to get in a safe run. The temperatures were also in the teens without the wind chill."

I went on to marvel at the lush green trees that were once bare and how, as runners, we get to be in tune and in step with the seasons.

As runners, we are also in tune and in step with the Universe.

As we made our way around the Pond to the Boathouse we saw a gathering of people. Last year we saw a wedding and thought it might be another wedding.

We debated whether or not to stop and ask what was going on but we were swept up in the gathering and felt compelled to ask. The sister of the brother who started the organization, Boston for All explained to us that Boston for All holds different events and donates the proceeds to different organizations. Today's Run for All2 was supporting MIRA, Massachusetts Immigration and Coalition Agency. The woman who greeted us had a powerful elevator speech about the organization and reassured us that if we signed up for their mailing list, they do not sell it to anyone else. There was no pressure to do anything.

We decided to pause our run and sign up for their email list and when we got home went to their website:

Boston For All is comprised entirely of friends and neighbors concerned about the direction that the current politics of our time has taken our country. We came together after digesting the shocking results of the 2016 presidential election seeking to find some way to answer the question, "What can I do to help my nation be what I believe it should be?"

With our fundamental question in mind, we decided that we would work for inclusion of all people in our community and our nation through raising money for worthy causes. It is our mission to make giving fun and simple - just show up, enjoy some great times with others in your community, and open yourself up to possibility and inspiration. Check out our listings below to see what we've done so far and what's coming up.

We do not keep any money at all that is raised during our events. Thanks to our wonderful sponsors, we have very minimal expenses to cover. After that, it's all profits directly to the good people preserving the dignity of our nation through their hard work!

The gentleman wearing a Run for All tshirt with a gold Staff sticker on the shirt


asked us if we were from Jamaica Plain.

"No, we're from Brookline," I commented.

"Well most of us are teachers in Brookline," he said.

"Our kids went to the Brookline schools," Tom said, and I added, "A very long time ago!"

"Well I've been there awhile," he said. "What's your last name?"

He immediately remembered our son Tom (who now calls himself Autumn) who was in one of his first classes at the high school in Honors Geometry as a freshman in 2002 and that he came to our house for the twins' high school graduation party in 2006. He shared with us how our son always marched to the beat of a different drummer. He recalled with fondness how our son visited him at the High School after he came back from volunteering in the Lower Ninth District in New Orleans now ten years ago!

"How is he doing now?" he asked cautiously knowing how many millenials are struggling these days.

His only concern was that whatever path Tom decided to take that he is happy now.

We told him that yes indeed he is happy although he is working 80 hours a week. He has a passion for farming and to supplement his farming income, he works in IT.

"Interesting combination," Craig replied.

We talked about Boston for All and went on our run.

We passed members of Boston for All, including Matt O'Malley, City Councillor for the City of Boston and kept saying, "What are the chances that we would 'run' into this today and see one of our son's former teachers."

It gave us a boost of hope for the world and reminded me that through the sport of running I am in tune and in step with the flow of the Universe.





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:


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


Coming soon *** The Adventures of Runnergirl1953 ****

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: Redemption!

In December of 2006, I experienced the dark night of my mind, body and soul. My award winning career as a social worker at the VA no longer fueled my Spirit. I was at a crossroads in my life. My life force was withering away and manifested in the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine Standards. I got still, asked for Divine Guidance and the answers came through what became my divining rod for healing, my pen in the form of poetry. The first poem I wrote was called "Running the Race" despite being in a leg brace


using a cane and at times a wheelchair for mobility, and having been told I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. It foreshadowed my 2009 Boston Marathon. I wrote poetry throughout my training that fueled my journey to run 26.2 miles on the road from Hopkinton to Boston. What a journey it was!

During an interview for Channel 7 news, I noted that after crossing the finish line it was a moment of celebration. It was a moment of redemption that here I was a polio survivor...I crossed the finish line of the Boston Marathon.




At the book launch for Dave McGillivray and Nancy Feehrer's book, "Dream Big", Dave gave a powerful speech about his hope for how the book will inspire children to Dream Big. Dave was always the last pick in gym class (as was I) and he discovered the sport of running in his life. He wants children to know that they can overcome rejection and, through perseverance, feel success and self-confidence.

"When people used to ask me what I did for a living, I'd say Race Director. They'd say what do you do put a chalk line in the road, say on your mark, get set, go and then serve beef stew afterwards? Now I say I help raise the self-confidence and self-esteem of tens of thousands of people in America...." Paraphrasing, Dave went on to say how you have to have the guts to sign up for a marathon, put in the work, run the race and then you get a medal. You go home feeling good about yourself!



Coincidentally, Dave was the one to give us the oral command of "Runners take your mark. Get set. Go." at the mobility impaired runners start of the 2009 Boston Marathon.

I started running in April of 2008. With every mile I shed the image I had of myself as a woman who had suffered irreparable damage as a result of having contracted paralytic polio at the age of 5 and then beginning at the age of 8, enduring years of violence and neglect at the hands of family members. I was transformed into a woman who felt empowered with the strength that I had within me to have come through those years of horror and terror.

While there were many times when I wondered how many of the people who called me "Easy Out Alper" ran the Boston Marathon or 3 consecutive Bermuda Half Marathons in 3 years, the inner redemption and transformation I experienced during these past ten years of running has been the greatest gift in my life.



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:


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


Coming soon *** The Adventures of Runnergirl1953 ****

Celebrating Ten Years of Running: Momentum

Shortly after crossing the finish line of the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon, I coined the phrase "Just for the health of it." I focused on cross training on the bike building up speed and endurance and went for a leisurely 5K outdoors when the weather was good enough to get outdoors.

As the weather improved, I couldn't spend another day in the gym on the bike and Tom and I did twice a week 5K's. We returned to the joy of getting up early on a Monday morning, doing core work and heading out the door to experience the glorious return of Spring to New England.

On Saturday the forecast called for rain. We were going to postpone our run until Sunday and run Sunday and Tuesday but running in the rain is so good for the mind, body and soul. We packed our ponchos in our runner backpack and went around the Chestnut Hill Reservoir incorporating a couple of hills along the way. The run began and end with rain showers.


Wee did what runners do, we don't wait for the weather to be perfect before going out on a run.



I've been receiving a lot of emails and Facebook invitations for upcoming races. My body is itching to get out there to be a part of the racing scene again but I know that I need more recovery time to prevent a full blown injury and allow the irritation and inflammation that happened during my Bermuda training to heal.

This morning I felt a shift from "just for the health of it" to I need to have a chat with my body about healing and getting 5K race ready again. This is the first time in 3 years that I am not training for a Half Marathon and I am thrilled to be on this endurance hiatus. During these past 11 years as I healed the effects from childhood paralytic polio and trauma that came in the guise of the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease, I have harnessed the power of the mind/body connection to gain momentum on my healing odyssey.

During this morning's run around the Route 9 Reservoir, I felt a fire light up again within me as I thought about all the upcoming races that are happening this Spring and Summer. I will be a spectator for now as I ride that edge of listening to my body yet also working with my body to once again achieve my personal best. It's always a delicate balance! Being able to unplug and go out on a run with Tom is a gift and a miracle that I always deeply appreciate for I know how close I came to losing the gift of mobility 11 years ago.

The apple blossoms, purple wildflowers and baby geese against the backdrop of newly bloomed green leaves on the trees were a feast to delight the senses and tickle the soul.

I was running from the inside out being aware of just how far to push myself. It was the first time I'd hit a sub 18 minute/mile pace since last December. I was overdressed - a common occurrence at this time of year and was grateful to have gotten on a really good sweat! I reminded myself (as I have been reminding myself during my 3 times daily meditations) that I am worthy of healing, that my body recovers with ease from any challenge I present and I run swift, at ease and unencumbered.



I feel a turning point again in my running adventures as I celebrate 10 years of running. I'm getting the itch to get back into racing form and feel momentum as I begin the next decade of my running adventures.


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):

Countdown to Bermuda: Goooo Team - We don't know how to quit!

Before we set out on our 11 mile training run which we knew was going to be in very cold weather conditions, I saw this post on Facebook:


Ruth Anne and I read it out loud together.

We were planning to go to Jamaica Pond as I wrote about in Friday's blog. I said that I was psyched to take on the cold weather. Little did I know just how psyched I would have to get to make it through the training run. It was more than a training run - it was an experience!

There were no parking spaces at Jamaica Pond despite going three times around to find a parking space. I am a master at manifesting parking spaces so I took that as a sign that we needed to figure out a plan B. As it turned out - as it always turns out it was a blessing because we wouldn't have had access to a bathroom if we would have stayed at Jamaica Pond. We also had more sunshine when we arrived at the Chestnut Hill Reservoir.

When we began our run, Ruth Anne had us put our outstretched hands together and do a "Gooo Team!"



The stinging cold wind on our faces and the cold air even when the wind would briefly die down seemed unrelenting. It was record setting cold with the wind chill for November 11th. We hadn't trained in cold weather like yesterday's cold since we trained for the Boston Marathon 2009. We did our last long run -- 21 miles in 17 degree temperatures. But that was after training through a bitter cold New England winter. After last week's 11 miler in 50 degree weather yesterday's weather was quite a shock to the system.

At 6.5 miles the going got really tough for me. At mile 7, Tom kept asking me if I was okay. My right knee was hurting and swollen. As often happens when this happens to my right knee (and as I had done during Bermuda Half Marathon I), I say, "I have created this. I can uncreate it." I focus my healing energy and remind myself of the power of healing within me; the power that comes from Divine Intelligence within me and around me. I thought about how I have healed so much in my body and reminded myself that I can channel my thoughts toward health and well being or disease and disability.

The pain resolved. Yet I wanted to quit and say that we have enough miles in the Bank of Bermuda - why put ourselves through this?

I asked God for help when I felt as though I couldn't take another step and that I didn't want to experience the pain and discomfort of it all. I could feel the presence of the Divine and knew that I/we needed to keep moving forward. I know my body well enough to know that I wasn't risking an injury by soldiering on. I solely wanted to avoid the discomfort of the moment.

From ilovetorun.org:

Keep going. That pain you feel? That’s fear melting away. Like wax off a candle. That’s weakness washing out of your pores like a monsoon. That’s the old you being shed away like dead skin. That’s the new you, rising out of the ashes of your former self.

There is magic that happens when you don't quit and go beyond perceived limitations.

I surrendered to the now - the present moment and felt the power of Team McManus both on the roads and in life.

Ruth Anne would spontaneously initiate a Gooo Team gesture from time to time!

I kept my focus on our goal - 13.1 Bermudaful miles on January 14th -- a victory lap and a celebration in so many ways; Ruth Anne's miraculous recovery from severe depression and trauma and my miraculous recovery from Post-Polio Syndrome, healing the effects of paralytic polio at age 5 and unrelenting childhood trauma for decades.

We arrive in Bermuda on January 11th exactly two months from when we were pounding out the miles in the freezing cold.

Team McManus was in sync yesterday and despite the severe weather conditions, there was an ease to our run. We even all had to go to the bathroom at the same time. Fortunately the MDC ice rink was open with easy access to the bathrooms.

We had our fueling food at the car and were able to calculate loops and miles so that we would arrive at the car at the time we needed to refuel. Our bodies are running more efficiently and we required less fueling than we had on previous runs. That was surprising given how much extra effort we had to exert to keep our bodies warm and keep moving forward.

After we calculated our route to be sure to finish our run at the car, all that was left was an out and back 2.4 miles.

After the winds died down and the air had warmed up with the sun smiling upon us, we all felt a sense of serenity and peace descend. What a metaphor for life. I felt the total grace in that moment. There had been a lot of challenges in the past few weeks with Ruth Anne's providers. It was a stormy and uncertain time in her recovery. The issues are now resolved. The sweet spot of grace that I experienced as we were in the last 2 miles of our training run, mirrored the grace I feel in our lives. I kept thinking that I would have felt so much better physically if my body hadn't been so beaten up during the early miles by the wind and cold but I transcended those thoughts and feelings by focusing on those precious moments of grace where the warm sun and the beauty of the Reservoir erased those moments of discomfort.



I felt transformed and despite the pounding I put my body through, I felt healing happening on a deeper level.

As we exited the Reservoir to enter the back road where we had our car parked with just a half mile to go, Ruth Anne jumped for joy and fist pumped her hand in the air. "YES!" she said expressing a sense of victory on so many levels.



I am reminded of a quote from one of my s-heroes, Wilma Rudolph, a most remarkable woman having overcome the challenge of polio and many childhood illnesses to go on to become a Gold Medal Olympian:



If we would have chosen to stop at 6.5 miles or at any point along the way of yesterday's training run, I know that my friends would have totally understood the decision. We are well along in our training plan and the reason I upped the mileage and loaded the front end of our training with higher mileage was so, if we did encounter a day like yesterday, we could be totally confident that we would be ready to run Bermuda Half Marathon III.

It was so much more than a training run - it was an experience.

We felt the love and the Spirit of Team McManus that has overcome so many challenges especially during these past 3 years. We felt the power of what happens when two or more are gathered in His name to achieve a goal. And we discovered that, as Team McManus, we do not know how to quit in the face of what some would say are insurmountable odds.



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

Be sure to listen to my interview with Keith Cartwright, "From Polio Survivor to Boston Marathon Finisher" by following this link.

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):