What's In A Name? From Journey Well to Going the Distance

The phrase journey well was coined the weekend before the 1st anniversary of 4/15/13 by a massage therapist I was seeing at the time. The phrase resonated deep in my soul at the time and served me well this past year and a half. Everything changes - everything should change otherwise we find ourselves in a state of stagnation. We need momentum in our lives. We need to move forward. During my meditation this morning I realized that I needed to change the name of my Facebook page and the title of my blog to Going the Distance. I changed my profile and my bio on social media.

I've known challenges since I was five years old beginning with contracting paralytic polio and then enduring nine years of violence at the hands of family members. But those early challenges helped me to grow into the woman that I am today. Paralytic polio and trauma made me stronger. In 2007 after receiving the diagnosis of post polio syndrome, a "progressive neuromuscular disease" by Western Medicine standards, I took a leap of faith leaving my award winning almost 20 year career as a social worker at the Department of Veterans Affairs to heal my life. I landed right smack in the middle of the glorious life I lead today.

We can go the distance whatever the challenge and whatever the goal.

It's a great ride! Come with .....

My New Jobs

I used to drive my husband crazy when I wrote down that I was a retired social worker. He pointed out that I am more busy in retirement than I was when I worked as a social worker at the VA.

It took me awhile to transform and embrace this phase of my life moving from a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma who had to retire to a woman who is vibrant, whole, happy and healthy working as an author and training as an athlete.

Recently I updated my website and my profile on Google and Facebook to reflect these changes.

I updated my author page at Amazon Central and realized that yes I am an author and a writer.

I'm also a motivational speaker as Tom Grilk commented on Facebook after I wrote about Sunday's BAA 10K.

Pretty easy to see why Mary is a motivational speaker. Her words are humbling and gratifying.

I have new business cards on the way:


I receive emails and reviews about my books ...

After reading just 60 pages of her memoir, one reader sent this email to me:

"It was great seeing you again a few weeks ago. I was so happily surprised that you remembered me.

I wanted you to know that I just bought your memoir and read about 60 pages of it. I find it so incredibly inspiring. I have decided that I want to take on some big growth challenges in the next few months. Seeing how you handled the combination of post polio symptoms, PTSD, and caretaker burnout, helps me feel a bit more secure about successfully completing the challenges. Thank you so much for writing your memoir and selling it at Marathon Sports."

Alma MacDermott, aka Mrs. Mac had this to say about Coming Home: "Mary is a fellow member of my running club, the L Street Running Club in South Boston. After reading her self-published life story, I have to salute the courage and strength she displayed in working through extreme trials which a young girl should have never had to endure, and which led to the beautiful and generous person she has become today. Mary, you are a survivor and I salute you!" You can read the full review on her blog.

Another reader told me how he was healing his childhood trauma reading my memoir and Journey Well and feeling inspired that he too could create a life after the VA. He had just retired and reached out to me letting me know he had been struggling with retirement. He bought my books and felt a boost of energy and hope.

Lee Woodruff - yes that Lee Woodruff had this to say about "Journey Well":

"A book that will undoubtedly make an impact...Journey Well by Mary McManus. It will inspire you to live each day in a stronger way..."

and gave "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" 5 stars on Goodreads.

I'm no longer running as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma; I am running and I am an athlete. My job is to train for races and for next year's Newport Marathon. I run for my own health and well being but I also run because I was told I shouldn't run any more. I run for the joy of it all, to share running with Tom and my running family and to create ripples out into the Universe of what is possible when we harness the power of our thoughts, fire up our will and determination.

So there you have it!

I am not retired at all but claim my two new jobs --

As an author:


I'm working on "Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems" and "Going the Distance" which will chronicle my road to the Newport Marathon 2016 following a knee injury last December.

And an athlete in training enjoying every mile of this delicious journey!



They told me I was crazy when I left the VA 8 1/2 years ago to heal my life and follow my passion as a writer and they told me I was crazy to run another marathon. Call me crazy - and I'll see you at the finish line!

Cheers! To life! Love yourself well!