Run Bermuda! Run Happy! A Good Ache - On Training Together and A Choice I Made 11 Years Ago

The miles are building and so is the soreness. When the alarm went off at 6:30 this morning I reminded myself that we have 10 miles on tap for Saturday's long run on the road to Bermuda Marathon Weekend. Strength training is vital to preventing injuries and keeping the mindset sharp for going the distance.

Team McManus had an energizing 30 minute strength training workout. Training together boosts my energy and confidence. Tom mirrored me as we did the upper body strength training circuit. Ahhh the power of mirror neurons to help my muscles and nerves fire up creating new neuromuscular pathways with each workout.

We find ways to make the workout fun while acknowledging the pain, the sweat and the trembling that accompanies training to go the distance.

This morning on Facebook I just "happened" to see this article about chronic fatigue syndrome. I wanted to throttle my computer as I read how the CDC is reversing its advice about exercise and psychotherapy for those who suffer with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Almost 11 years ago this December I was told that if I use it I would lose it. I was told a cautionary tale about managing the symptoms of Post Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. Conserve your energy. You have a limited number of nerve cells available to you because contracting the polio virus at the age of 5 wiped out your nerve cells and they continue to die off as you age...It's only going to get worse unless of course, as was implied, you stop living your life and live in fear of the progression of your symptoms.

They told me that I needed to quit my job if there was any hope of stabilizing the symptoms where they were. I was an award winning social worker at the VA just 3 years shy of retirement. I knew I was at a crossroads in my life and had to do something radically different if I were going to have any quality of life.

I asked for Divine Guidance, and after poetry began pouring out of my soul in which I visualized myself as healthy, whole and running free without a leg brace or cane or wheelchair, dancing in the rain, I took a leap of faith leaving my almost 20 year career to heal my life.

After intensive outpatient rehab at Spaulding Rehab Hospital and an angel of a physical therapist who inspired me to heal, I left the VA on 5/25/2007.

I began to feel a little better and as Divine Intervention would have it, I met a personal trainer in October of 2007. I asked her if she thought I could improve in my functioning. I couldn't get off of a low toilet seat or couch. I couldn't pass her initial evaluation to measure conditioning and strength. She said to me that I was too young (at age 54) to be as debilitated as I was. She told me of success stories she was having with clients with Parkinson's Disease, cardiac disease and clients who had never run a marathon before running Boston.

Well I sure as heck had no plans to run the Boston Marathon in the state I was in.....

Our finisher's photo from the 2009 Boston Marathon:


After my first training session with Janine, I could barely move. I had muscles I had no idea existed in my body.

But after that first session I made a choice.

If I was going to experience pain, I may as well hurt on the side of health and wellness.

And so it began....

In December of 2014, I suffered a very serious knee injury. It was a blessing as it lit a fire under me to rededicate myself to my healing journey.

I was incredibly blessed to meet Dr. Ryan J. Means. He is a chiropractor, a healer, a Boot Camp fitness instructor and well versed in the world of quantum healing. He turned me onto the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza. I went back to all that I had learned from Bernie Siegel. Harnessing the power of the mind/body connection I had dissolved a breast tumor through thought alone, so why couldn't I grow a new gastroc muscle, heal my knee injury and continue to heal from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma?

I was going to take a hiatus and not run the Bermuda Half Marathon in 2018.

I see that God had other plans for me using Race Director Anthony Raynor as one of his earth angels as it is vital that I continue to spread my message of healing, hope and possibility to anyone and everyone who needs it.

Training together, Tom, Ruth Anne and I provide emotional and moral support to one another and for me, encourages the physical healing of my body.

I am sore and have that good ache and feeling tired which will ease once I get to my two rest and recovery days before taking on double digits on Saturday.

That choice I made 11 years ago - the vow I made to hurt on the side of health and wellness is as powerful today as it was then. Listen to your body, heart, and soul - not what anyone else tells you about what you should or should not do based on a diagnosis.



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):

Run Bermuda! Run Happy!: Running is My Therapy

"Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing." - George Sheehan



After a very serious knee injury in December of 2014 which indicated on MRI that I had shredded cartilage in my left knee, an atrophied gastroc muscle as a result of paralytic polio, bone spurs, degenerative changes from multiple surgeries, a fatty lipoma underneath the knee cap, and osteoarthritic changes in the knee joint. The recommendation from a Western Medicine physician was to stop running, get physical therapy and wait until the joint deteriorated enough to require a total knee replacement. By his calculations that would have been in about two years. The knee was "too far gone" to benefit from any possible surgical intervention. He knew that I wouldn't give up running so he told me to cap my distance at a 5K or at the very most a 5 miler and begrudgingly sent me off with a script for physical therapy.

I was blessed to experience the physical therapist from hell whose clinical style was rough shod at best and whose bedside manner left a lot to be desired.

Despite the messages I was receiving from Western Medicine, my non-runner friends, Aquatics Therapy staff and the massage therapist I was working with at the time, I just knew I had to find a way to get back to running - to going the distance in my healing journey from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma and on the roads.

Why you may ask? Why was I so passionate about being a part of the sport I feel in love with at the age of 53.

There's magic in running shoes.



For years I was a prisoner in my body, trapped by the residuals of having contracted paralytic polio at age 5 followed 3 years later by unrelenting violence at the hands of family members.

Running set me free. It didn't matter that I couldn't run fast; what mattered was that I could run, be a part of races and, when once I experienced jeers and taunts as a polio survivor, I now can experience cheers!

I asked the Universe for help and what I had written about in my poems about running unencumbered and free, being free from the shackles of my past and reclaiming my life from those who tried to take my life began to come into physical manifestation thanks to Dr. Ryan J. Means, a chiropractor.

He turned me onto the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza. Rather than fearing my body wouldn't be able to heal from the knee injury or that I would reinjure myself if I dared to go the distance again, I rediscovered the power of Divine Intelligence within me. It was that same Intelligence that I used to dissolve a breast tumor shortly after being diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine standards almost 11 years ago. It was the same Divine Intelligence that we used to grow a new gastroc muscle.

It's the same Divine Intelligence that I focus on during my morning and evening meditation seeing myself as healed, healthy, whole and free from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma and it's the same Divine Intelligence that enabled me to move beyond feeling ill two weeks ago before our scheduled long run.

Today I wrapped up another week of training on the road to the Bermuda Marathon Weekend.

It's been a different kind of training week with Tom off on a business trip in Las Vegas.

On Sunday, Ruth Anne and I went to the Newbury Street Boston Sports Club. Unfortunately there was no Arc Trainer available so we did 20 minutes on the Bike, took a break and did another 30 minutes on the bike getting in our rigorous 50 minute cardiovascular workout.

We did our usual strength training on Monday and yesterday did a terrific Tuesday tempo run. With cooler temperatures we were able to pick up our pace:



Ruth Anne is scheduled to run with a friend on Wednesdays and Tom and I do our run. I switched it up since Tom wasn't here and was planning to cross train in the pool. However, Ruth Anne's friend was unable to run with her this morning due to a sore hip. Since I was up early anyway, I decided to go on an easy run with her. It was the first time I've run two days in a row in the longest time.


A light rain fell and we watched the sky shift as the weather moved out of the area. We had a wonderful time talking and embracing the start of a new day, leaving our troubles on the road and feeling incredibly accomplished that we wrapped up another successful week of training.

I can't imagine my life without running in it. Having big goals like the Bermuda Half Marathon in January 2018 followed by the Hyannis 10K in February keep me motivated and happy. Running is my life - running is my therapy

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):

Run Bermuda! Run Happy! The Joy is in the Journey: The Joy of Healing

Last week presented many challenges and I found myself in high stress situations. Of course we all know that it's not about the events themselves but how we respond to them. I meditated on peace, equanimity and balance, saying the serenity prayer over and over again. Yet it was difficult for me to get ahead of my feelings and, as always happens with stress, I felt it in my body on Thursday and Friday.

A myriad of physical symptoms surfaced and I knew I needed to take charge of myself.

I returned to the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza and rededicated myself to my healing journey with a passion knowing that I have marked a major milestone -- 10 years -- in my healing journey and I'm training for my 3rd consecutive Bermuda Half Marathon.



I reminded myself that I AM the placebo. My beloved friend, healer and chiropractor, Dr. Ryan sent me this photo early on in our work together in March of 2015. I have it posted on my refrigerator:


I read Candace Pert's book, "Everything you need to know to feel Go(o)d":


Throughout the book, Candace, known to her fans as the "Goddess of Neuroscience" and a major contributor to the field of mind/body medicine, talks about how we talk to our bodies influences our bodies at the cellular level. She just happened to give the example of what happens if you've had a knee injury. You experience pain and your first thought can either be, "Oh no. I am injured again." OR "I love how my body is healing. I can embrace this pain as a sign of healing."

At the end of the book, Candace writes, "Trust. Breathe. Let go. God is in control."

In her Epilogue, she reflects on fear.

"The root of fear, I concluded, is more about being alone, feeling unconnected to others and not realizing that we're all one. As my long-term massage therapist Adam Helfer poetically put it, 'If you're connected to the divine, you'll always feel fine.' Adam had also told me he thought the best universal advice to 'feel good' is to remain in the present moment as much is possible.'"

Throughout my healing journey I have called upon the power of Divine Intelligence that is within and around me. When I first set out on my journey, I imagined God as my master electrician helping me to rewire my body in the wake of paralytic polio and trauma. I harnessed the power of my imagination thinking beyond my circumstances of having a diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease using a leg brace, a cane and a wheelchair at times for mobility.

I have documented my journey through poetry and in two memoirs (see below) sharing how the power of my imagination and harnessing the teachings of Dr. Bernie Siegel, Dr. Joe, Candace Pert, and What the bleep do we know helped me to transform my physical state and alter the course of my diagnosis.

Since last Friday I have given myself more time for meditation going deep into that space that Dr. Dispenza notes is where we are able to create our physical, mental and spiritual reality.

I dismiss thoughts of injury and bathe myself with healing light knowing in every fiber of my being that I am and continue to heal from the effects of paralytic polio and trauma.

The road I have chosen is a difficult road. I could have easily succumbed to my diagnosis and my beliefs that were so deeply ingrained in mind, body and soul.

I experience so much joy when I am able to experience my power of self-healing; to transcend ingrained beliefs, move beyond habitual responses and open my heart and soul to feelings of gratitude for my strength, my courage and willingness to partner with the Divine to go the distance. The joy is in the journey and there is so much joy in experiencing and bearing witness to the miracle of healing in my life.

To going 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):

A New Decade Begins - Team McManus' Hyannis Adventures - Part III -Celebration!

Team McManus had so much to celebrate after Sunday's 5K race. We crushed the course thanks to a flat, fast course and perfect weather conditions but more than the time, we celebrated Team McManus' reunion. We celebrated my anniversary of 10 years of healing after the diagnosis of Post-Polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine standards and being able to run strong and healthy. Instead of being in a wheelchair, needing a sleep apnea machine, possibly needing a feeding tube and experiencing a rapid physical decline as I aged, I was feeling whole, vibrant and free!

We celebrated these last two years of quantum healing and steady, positive momentum in my healing journey after 8 years of experiencing a relapse of symptoms and injuries. We talked about how Dr. Ryan J. Means, a healer chiropractor got me back on my healing path after a serious knee injury in December of 2014 that Western Medicine said would be the end of my running career and that "they" said was the resurgence of Post-Polio syndrome. Dr. Ryan turned me onto the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza and the fire within me for self-healing partnering with a healer to go the distance was re-ignited. Dr. Ryan primed the pump for me to go the distance.

After the race, we went to a Hyannis classic restaurant, The Egg and I for brunch. It was great to greet other runners wearing bibs and medals on Main Street as we congratulated each other on another finish. One runner said, "There's nothing like starting the day off with a 5K race."

Our first server was having a VERY bad day and we were about to leave when this young man with exuberant energy came over to save the day. He was a student at Lasalle College in Newton not far from where we live. Food always tastes amazing after a run and even more amazing after a race!

We went back to the Hotel where runners for the Great Hyannis Road Races 10K and Half Marathon were coming into the final stretch of their run. While we waited in the parking lot to get the all clear to go, we cheered on the runners spotting one runner, Mary who is a regular at the Hyannis Marathon Weekend, aka Camp Hyannis every year and gave her a rousing shout out!

We decided to spend the rest of the day in Falmouth. The benefit of a 7:30am race start is that you have the whole day ahead to celebrate.

The sun was shining but there was a cool breeze which kept a lot of the Memorial Day beach goers away from Falmouth Heights Beach.



There is a delicious fragrance to the air in Falmouth that evoked so many wonderful memories of summers past in Falmouth. We reminisced about great times at different hotels on the Cape, walked on the beach, watched kites fly and continued to bask in the glory of our race.

We went into Town to do some shopping on Main Street. As we passed the 7/11, we remembered when we'd go to Falmouth when the Sea and Surf Anglers Club of Boston and Blue Waters Angler Club from Bermuda had their annual fishing tournament. The Bermudians were a lucky lot winning money on scratch tickets they bought at the 7/11.

We poked in and out of the quaint shops and enjoyed walking up and down Main Street soaking up all that is Memorial Day Weekend on Cape Cod.

It was time for a celebratory lunner (lunch and dinner) and there was only one place we were going to go ... The Flying Bridge! So many incredible memories of meals relished on the deck overlooking the harbor while we created new memories to last a lifetime.



Sharing is caring especially since we couldn't decide between different dishes. Salmon, a seafood stew and a seafood sampler were our final choices and satisfied our palates:


It was time to bid farewell to Olde Cape Cod and return home with beautiful race swag, medals, full and happy bellies and wonderful memories to kickoff a new decade of healing.

Team McManus is building a strong base with running, cross training and strength training because next month, we begin training for my 3rd CONSECUTIVE Bermuda Half Marathon and Team McManus' first endurance event since Boston 2009.

To going 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 Pain, Patience, Practice and Process

I am incredibly blessed and grateful that two years ago I found my way to Dr. Ryan Means. Dr. Ryan is a chiropractor and a healer in every sense of the word. When he practiced in Cambridge, MA, he had Thomas Edison's quote on his website. Rather than focusing on fixing me, he partnered with me to help me unleash my body's natural capacity to heal. During his training, he heard Candace Pert, Ph.D. speak which led him to go "Down the Rabbit Hole" exploring the world of quantum healing. He told me I just HAD to read Dr. Joe Dispenza's book, "You Are the Placebo." While I was waiting for my copy to arrive, he sent me a photo from a page in Dr. Joe's book, "Changing the body by thought alone."

I was so excited to think and to believe that I could grow a new gastroc muscle, dissolve bone spurs, reverse osteoarthritis and heal the devastating effects of paralytic polio and trauma!

There are many people who email me or call me who see the results I am experiencing and much like that scene from "When Harry Met Sally" say, "I want what she's having."

They don't see the pain, the process, the patience or the effort of practicing new beliefs and new behaviors until the new habits become stronger than the old habits and beliefs.

In Candace Pert's book, "Everything you need to know to feel Go(o)d," another book recommendation by Dr. Ryan, she talks about how we interpret pain in our bodies. The way we perceive and interpret pain is the way that our bodies will respond to the pain. She talks about if a person is experiencing knee pain and they focus on the pain and believe that it's a recurrence of an injury, then the body responds as if in fact it is a recurrence of an injury. However, if the person believes that the injury is healing and the pain is a sign of healing then the body responds with doing what it needs to do in order to heal.

I refer to the pains I experience in my body as "phantom pains." I used to experience a lot of phantom pain - pain that wasn't happening in the here and now that needed medical attention but pain that had been hard wired into my body as a result of polio, trauma and numerous surgeries. Running has been a game changer for me in alleviating those pains in my legs.

There are times when we need to seek out assistance from physicians but we also need to be mindful of the miracle of our bodies. Divine Intelligence created us and resides within us; a most powerful Force that helps us to ride the waves of pain, be patient as our bodies do what they do naturally to heal, believe in the power of the Force and practice becoming someone new and different from the memorized self.



To your health and wellness!
~Mary