Remember to Remember & Live As If Your Prayers Are Already Answered

During this morning's meditation, the phrase "Remember to remember" came to me. Remember who we are at our very essence and to remember to tap into that connection when things look like the wheels may be falling off the wagon.

There is going to be a replay of Project Coherence next Sunday and I'm looking forward to tapping into the Divine and the feelings of expansiveness that I was able to access during the meditation feeling the beauty, wonder and awe of being connected to 4000 souls across the globe. Whenever I meditate and whenever I meditate with Tom or a community I remember something far greater than myself yet that is the Force that is right inside of myself and each of us that we can all tap into when we step aside and allow the magic to happen.

During my meditation I remembered an incredible moment with Dr. Ryan Means or Dr. Ryan as he likes to be called. He was helping me recover from my knee injury earlier this year and was using the Graston Technique on my feet. I made a strong nonverbal comment and he asked me if he was using too much pressure.

"No," I said emphatically. "I just remembered how it felt to train for and run a marathon."

Ryan smiled and his eyes sparkled.

His hands reignited the spark within me to set goals not limits.

I remembered!

And here I am steadily moving forward to the Bermuda Marathon Weekend in January.

By all appearances I should have hung up my running shoes or capped my distance at a 5K. After working with Ryan and now Ryan sending me positive energy from across the miles in China, meditating with gratitude and runner affirmations, the love and support of my village along with me reminding myself to remember to remember, I will soon be in double digits in miles.

It's easy to get swept up in the fear and the nay sayers of the medical community. It's easy to forget the power that we have inside of us.

But when we remember to remember, all things are possible despite outward appearances.

Through my poetry, through my unconscious speaking through the power of my pen - my divining rod of healing - I was creating health, wholeness, running unencumbered and free and reclaiming my life. I did not know the who,how, when, what or where it was going to happen but I lived as if my prayers were already answered - and now they are!

I was searching on YouTube for the song It's Possible from Cinderella and instead this clip from a talk by Dr. Joe Dispenza popped up:



Remember to remember! The Universe is always speaking to us especially when we live as if our prayers are already answered.

Who Knew 9.5 Miles Could Hurt So Good: 68 Days and Counting to Bermuda Half Marathon

This time last year I was an injury waiting to happen. I wasn't doing core work or cross training. I was receiving nay sayer messages both from an Aqautics Instructor at Spaulding Rehab and my previous massage therapist. He said to me this time last year, "Your right leg is doing all the work and your left leg is just going along for the ride. I'm waiting for your left leg to speak to me." And so it sure did to the tune of swelling to the point where I could no longer bear weight on it. It turned out to be an incredible blessing.

How blessed am I to have found my way to Dr. Ryan J. Means, in March of this year, a chiropractor extraordinaire who reminded me about what I knew to be true; that we are the placebo and I can harness the power of my mind for healing partnering with like minded and like hearted professionals who can support my body's natural ability to heal.



It's been a slow and steady building of miles and today Team McManus hit a new milestone! 9.5 miles - the longest distance we have run since we ran the 2009 Boston Marathon. I woke up this morning feeling like it was Christmas getting ready to unwrap the gift of a long run.



When we arrived to Castle Island the wind was brutal and the air was much cooler than the predicted highs of 60 degrees. We modified our plan and started our run farther down Day Boulevard in South Boston where we had some protection from the wind and cooler air. Note to self always bring extra layers, head gear and gloves because after all, this is New England in November. The sun popped out from behind the clouds and the buildings insulated us from the wind.

In mile 2 I commented to Tom that I couldn't talk comfortably while we were running and given that we are now going the distance, we should slow down the pace. As I reviewed our pace/mile, we were doing a 14:00 minute mile for the 2nd mile. Way too fast for an endurance run. I could feel my hamstring tighten but once we slowed the pace and I was warmed up, we found a wonderful comfortable rhythm. We ran along the ocean and I imagined what it is going to feel like when we are in Bermuda.

There was a lot of wind and Tom suggested we lean into the wind rather than resist the wind. Great advice on the roads and in life. He said that the wind would be at our backs going back but the wind changed direction and became a head wind again. We smiled and I thought to myself that this is great resistance training and will build strength.

The miles seemed to fly by relishing our unplugged time together enjoying the view.

Bermuda Marathon Weekend's hashtags are #runbermuda #runhappy #letsdothis!

I ran happy. I ran long, strong, unencumbered and free. I've got this and my heart is full of gratitude.

Here is Team McManus with selfies in Southie:


One of the big questions that comes up during every long run is, "What's for lunch?"

We decided to go to The Paramount where my craving for a good veggie burger and Tom's craving for an omelet could both be satisfied. And it just so happens they have the most amazing sweet potato fries which I just had to sample to go with my burger.

I came home and had my ice bath, a hot shower, and a light dinner.

As I write this, a feeling of deep contentment stirs in my soul. I am tired, sore and filled with hope and excitement for how my body is responding to this training plan.

And yes 9.5 miles hurts so good. I have total trust in my body's ability to recover, to meet every challenge of training and to cross that finish line in Bermuda healthy and happy.

The Power of Words - Healthy Living with Dr. Bernie Siegel

I was blessed to share an hour with Bernie Siegel, MD aka bernie and my CD (Chosen Dad) last week on his radio show, Mind Health Matters on Healthylife.net radio.

I first heard about bernie from an earth angel nurse at Brigham and Women's Hospital where I was hospitalized for a bone infection in my shoulder joint back in the 80's. He has been my coach and my Chosen Dad (a phrase used by a woman whose life he helped save through Love) since then he has been my coach through many challenges.

We hadn't talked in quite some time but as happens with dear friends, it was as though no time had passed.

We reminisced about marathon stories and signs. He ran the NYC Marathon for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Initially when he was asked to raise money and run a marathon he said he would make a donation but his friend was rather persistent. So true to bernie, as he lined up on the Verrazano Bridge, he found a quarter. He thought to himself, if I find another penny I know that I'll have enough to go the 26.2 miles. When he got to Brooklyn, he spotted a penny in the street. He went off to the side to make sure he wouldn't get trampled and at just the right moment, he picked up the penny. Before I ran the 2009 Boston Marathon, he told me to look for the penny. It would be a sign that he and God would be with me. Sure enough in Wellesley at the halfway point of the marathon, there was my penny from bernie and God.

I was so honored and warmed to hear bernie read excerpts from my poems and to be able to share with him the power of poetry in my life and where I am today in my journey; how last December I was told I shouldn't run anymore and how I was blessed to meet Dr. Ryan Means, a chiropractor who told me I must read "You Are The Placebo," by Dr. Joe Dispenza. Coincidentally bernie writes on the back cover of Dr. Joe's book, "From my experience with patients with life-threatening illnesses, I have learned the truth as shared in You Are the Placebo. The body experiences what the mind believes...We all have the potential for self-induced healing built into us. The key is to know how to achieve your potential. Read and learn."

We talked about the potential that each of us possesses.

Words are powerful. They can be used to create and as I sat in a leg brace using a wheelchair at times for mobility, through the power of my pen I created a runner even though I had never run a day in my life. I wrote the poem Running the Race. Poetry poured out of me as I imagined, dreamed and visualized myself as healthy, happy and whole.

My poems asked the question how will I ever reclaim my life and expressed a profound desire to run unencumbered and free.

I was searching for someone who would be able to partner with me to heal everything that went before and found my way to Dr. Ryan J. Means, a healer chiropractor.

Through the power of his skilled positive touch and powerful intention with words that heal, I AM healing all that went before - all the horror, all the violence - all of it so I can run unencumbered and free and live a life overflowing gratitude with miracles.

bernie asked me how, after being abused, I was able to trust again and let in the power of positive touch. I shared with him my journey from body worker to body worker until I finally found my way to Dr. Ryan. God saved the best for last.

In one of my poems I write about Our Greatest Teacher:

Our Greatest Teacher

It’s easy to attach to pain
the angst
the anger
the suffering
squeezing Spirit into smaller and smaller spaces
losing sight of light
embodying pain
nerves frayed
teeth on edge chattering with fear
descending deeper and deeper into the abyss

a healer appears
a spark of love to illuminate
to heal
but first to learn

Pain – our greatest teacher
accept the sorrow
release the shame
courage and strength to face death
emerge from the shadows
surrender
allow pain to be
this too shall pass

with each blow my heart breaks open like a piñata
the soul’s treasures found
naked and vulnerable
fully clothed in Divine Love

appreciation and a grateful heart
sweet rewards in this delicious delightful life
peace joy and freedom
when the test is finally past.

bernie and I talked about the tests I had to pass to arrive in this moment and how poetry and positive touch have been powerful healing agents in my life. We blessed each other and felt deep gratitude for the time we spent together. It was sacred time,inspired time and I know a time that touched the hearts and lives of all who listened.

It's Going to Be Bermudaful

As I was helping one of my veterans with a life review putting together his Fishing Club book which chronicled the history of the Sea and Surf Anglers Club of Boston and the Blue Waters Angler Club of Bermuda, I was in awe of the beauty of the Island. My veteran, Herb, told me that I had to visit the Island. I explained that with twins we were hard pressed to take a vacation. He said all we needed to do was pay for the airfare and stay at an all inclusive resort and his friends on the Island would take care of everything else. It was love at first sight from coming in over the Island and seeing the blue waters to the pink sands and lush tropical flowers on the Island.

The first place we stayed was the Grotto Bay:



Vince Cann, fisherman extraordinaire and cab driver and tour guide made us feel welcome with incredible hospitality. It would be our first of many trips and friendships forged as we would welcome them when they came to fish on Cape Cod and travel to Bermuda when the annual fishing tournament was held in Bermuda. I'll save the back story of the fishing tournaments for another post.

We made countless trips to that beautiful Island. After being diagnosed with post polio syndrome in December of 2006, I traveled to the Island in a leg brace and used a wheelchair to get around the airport.

After recovering from post polio syndrome and running the 2009 Boston Marathon, I put it on my bucket list to go back and run the Bermuda Marathon for my 60th birthday but life happened and I forgot all about my bucket list item until the Harvard Pilgrim 5K Race Expo. We were swept away by reconnecting with the Bermudaful Island accent, a map of the Island and having those Island memories rekindled.

And before I knew what happened, plane and hotel were booked and race registration confirmed.

We will return to the Rosedon Hotel



but what a different experience it will be from when I needed a cane to support me wearing my black tie shoes and a toe up leg brace:



To toeing the line on Front Street in my Altra running shoes:



We leave the Thursday before Sunday's race and will have plenty of time to soak up the Island sun, relax by the pool and get ourselves psyched to run our first 13.1 distance since April 2009.

This weekend we take on 9.5 miles - the longest distance I've run since the Boston Marathon. I'm confident. I'm strong and I have my eye on the prize, wearing the bling from the Bermuda Half Marathon. I am so excited that we are coming into the belly of the beast in terms of miles as we train for the Bermuda Half Marathon and crossing this off of my bucket list two years after I thought about it. It is going to be a Bermudaful time.

Holy Bermuda Batman - I'm Training for a Half Marathon! Goals Keep Us Honest!

On Monday I was feeling tired during my workout in the pool at WaveHealth. And then I had a light bulb moment...we are just a little over two months away from when Team McManus toes the line at the Bermuda Half Marathon on Sunday January 17th.

One of my favorite phrases from Dr. Joe Dispenza is "Focus on the wave not on the particle."

Instead of focusing on feeling tired, I thought about Bermuda and the thought came to me, "Holy Bermuda Batman - you are training for a half marathon girl."

I suddenly realized that every workout counts.

I haven't had a goal like this in 6 years. I was always focused on limits. I had to be careful to not overdo. My joints were not going to take another long distance goal. And so my body became a reflection of those limits.



Yesterday was an incredibly full and fulfilling day including a magical and magnificent interview with Bernie Siegel on Healthylife.net. He read my poetry from Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life,



and we reconnected with love, warmth, sharing wit and wisdom and having incredible synchronicity with our poems and journeys. We reminisced about our marathon runs, signs that we would and could and did go the distance. This morning the alarm went off at 6:00am. It was time to rise and shine and go for another training run.

I was tired and wanted to hit the alarm clock and snuggle in bed with Tom and Jamie, but I remembered that I am training for a half marathon now and there is no time for excuses!

So we did our plank, our crunches, had toast, a banana and water and out the door we went.

I pushed myself hard knowing that I want to be in the best possible shape when I toe that line in Bermuda. It was a gorgeous morning. Such a gift of warm sunshine for November 4th. Team McManus did hills, and a tempo run and while I was training my body, I was also training my mind to focus on the wave not the particle and allow my body to do what it does best.



I was pleased with my time and this week's physical and mental training.

On Saturday I will run the longest distance I have run since 2009 - 9.5 miles. Holy Bermuda Batman - I am training for a Half Marathon and I need to keep momentum, focus and a powerful positive attitude knowing yes I can go the distance. And this goal of 13.1 happening in just a couple of months is keeping me honest to be my best possible physical and mental self and to inspire others to go the distance whatever the goal, whatever the challenge.

Project Coherence: The Power of One - The Power of Many

For the past two weeks I was notably out of sync more than I was in sync but the Universe always showers grace upon me. Of course we have to open our hearts and hands to allow the Universe to support us and be willing to "break the chains from the past," as Dr. Joe Dispenza reminded us during his Project Coherence telecast yesterday.

Coherence, in any system, from the human body to social affairs, refers to a logical, orderly and harmonious connectedness between parts of a system or between people. When we speak of heart-rhythm coherence or physiological coherence, we are referring to a specific assessment of the heart’s rhythms that appears as smooth, ordered and sine-wavelike patterns. From a physics perspective, when we are in a coherent state, virtually no energy is wasted because our systems are performing optimally and there is synchronization between heart rhythms, the respiratory system, blood-pressure rhythms, etc. Among the many benefits of personal coherence are increased composure, more energy, clear thinking, enhanced immune-system function and hormonal balance. from HeartMath Institute

I saw the event on Facebook for Project Coherence. Dr. Joe Dispenza's book, "You Are the Placebo" was the first rung on the ladder of my healing journey after my knee injury last December. I decided to sign up for the event knowing that connecting with his energy and reconnecting with his teachings would be a powerful healing force that I needed.

After a dance celebration party, Dr. Joe had everyone settle down and asked everyone in the room to turn to the person next to them and say, "I am a genius and a citizen of this magnificent earth."

He presented teachings from "You Are the Placebo" which underscore the need to move out of survival mode and emotions and move into expansive emotions and affirmations such as:

I feel whole
I love my life
I am spontaneous
I am clear
Open your focus
Go into the nothing space and your brain becomes more organized
Unity
Order amongst disorder
Peace kindness compassion
Gratitude
Joy
Inspiration
Freedom
Clear intention and elevated emotion
Joining the Unified field
Slow down analytical mind
Sense volume of space
Focus on the whole
I would add the power of forgiveness

Dr. Joe presented studies about the power of meditation and bringing us into heart coherence with each other. You can read about the famous Rand Corporation and other studies referenced via this link.

And then he showed this cool video about how metronomes come into synchronization with each other:



It was then time to go into the meditation.

I'd been suffering with our recent family crisis and didn't know how I was ever going to regain my equilibrium.

Tom and I meditated with 3200 souls worldwide led by Dr. Joe and I could feel my heart go from trauma mode to being in sync with the rhythm of the Universe. Everything became so clear to me and I felt peace, harmony, calm, expansiveness and ease. I felt joy; my sense of invincibility returned and I felt connected to Source again with my heart overflowing with Love and compassion. I felt happiness and a strength and a courage; trust and Faith and felt this vastness of possibility.

The effects of the meditation rippled throughout my day.

As Dr. Joe pointed out, we are incredibly powerful beings. We just need to get still and tap into that power. We can do that as one individual but when we connect with the power of many, we can move mountains and heal ourselves and the world!

Countdown to Bermuda and Adding Up The Miles

Less than 75 days now until we toe the line at the Bermuda Half Marathon.

I have the course map on my refrigerator, as my cover photo on Facebook and as the wallpaper on my computer:



Yesterday was the first nine mile training run that Team McManus had done together since 2009:


I had done a solo 9 miler 3 weeks ago and knew it was a milestone but not as much as a milestone as yesterday's training run. Now Team McManus steadily builds miles until we taper two weeks before Bermuda.

It was a slow and steady pace for Team McManus on a glorious Fall day in New England. Tom kept reminding me that we were going for distance, not time and to let go of setting some arbitrary time constraint on myself. I let go and enjoyed the glorious sunshine, the beautiful foliage, the blue sky and the ripples in the water at the Reservoir.

The miles seemed to fly by and we both know I am ready to go the distance.

One of my friend's on Facebook asked me what was my breaking point at which I was able to return to running and experience a sense of well being after she saw my post about our 9 mile training run.

I felt warm and wonderful inside to be able to reflect on and share the journey with her.

It all began...well actually it was all set into motion through my pen, my divining rod for healing, as I imagined myself running unencumbered and reclaiming my life from a history of paralytic polio and trauma but it came into being beginning in January of this year when I first met Dr. Ryan aka Ryan J. Means, DC - a chiropractor who asked me why I was setting limits on how far I was going to run. As he used kinesiotaping, spinal adjustments and Graston technique, he was encouraging my body to fully heal and re-ignited the flame of endurance running within me. I read, "You Are the Placebo," by Dr. Joe Dispenza and could feel transformation happening within me. I went on to read Candace Pert's book, 'Everything You Need to Know To Feel Go(o)d" and watched "What the Bleep Do We Know..." and "Down The Rabbit Hole."

Yes everything is possible as I knew when I took on the running of the 2009 Boston Marathon never having run a day in my life.

Team McManus has decided that half marathons are just right for us.

It's still going the distance ... and it's so much farther than I imagined one year ago at this time.

And so here I am counting down to the Bermuda Half Marathon and adding up the miles feeling incredibly grateful and blessed.