Bermuda Marathon Weekend: Do the Thing You Think You Cannot Do

When I set out on this odyssey to heal the effects of childhood paralytic polio and trauma twelve years ago, I took a lot of risks and did things every day that scared me. While I was always ready to take on intellectual challenges in my life, I had dissociated from my body to survive. I was blessed to meet Joe Stetz, an earth angel, when I was 11 years old, Joe Stetz, who encouraged me to face my fears and compete in the end of year Olympics at my day camp.

After being discharged from Spaulding Rehab in October of 2007, I hired a personal trainer who helped me to do many many things I thought I could not do. Six months after partnering with her, I declared that I wanted to run the 2009 Boston Marathon.

From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
“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.”

Did you ever have one of those moments when words fell out of your mouth after rising up from the depths of your soul without going through any thought process?

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, set down her things and without missing a beat said, “Well the first thing you are going to need is a pair of running shoes.”

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.

What had I just done?

Before going to Bermuda for the 2019 Bermuda Marathon Weekend, I told Tom that I was not going to go near any of the caves that were on the property of Grotto Bay Resort.

I had second thoughts about making that declaration since I choose the words "Adventure" and "Calm" for 2019.

Even the sight of the stairs leading down to the Cave gave me serious pause and that sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"No, I'm good," I told Tom.

"You don't have to Mary. It's fine."

"No I can't let fear win."



I gingerly walked halfway down the steps and quickly walked up.

It took me a couple of times before I went all the way down the stairs. Tom insisted that we take a photo:



The door to the cave was closed but I was fully prepared to enter.



During these past 12 years I have gone into the abyss of healing wounds that cut deep into my mind, body and soul. Yet the events of my past no longer hold me hostage to fear.

When you do the thing you think you cannot do, you look fear in the face and with trembling heart say, "I've got this!"

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.

Bermuda Marathon Weekend: Inspiration from Bermuda Weather

If you ask a Bermudian what the weather was going to be like on any day during Bermuda Marathon Weekend, they would tell you it's going to rain; that every year the weather is always terrible on Race Weekend. We have been going since 2016 and while there was a monsoon on the Saturday of Race Weekend in 2016, we've experienced mostly fair weather during our trips to the Island in January.

This year the weather was spectacular! We were even treated to a rainbow during breakfast during our last day. The breakfast wait staff said "Go get your pot of gold." We looked out the window and there was a rainbow but with the strong winds it quickly disappeared. It suddenly reappeared and I ran outside to get a photo of it:


The forecast called for wind and rain all day on Monday of Marathon Weekend. I woke up and took this video:



Not a problem as they say in Bermuda. We planned to spend the day packing and heading into Hamilton for shopping and dinner.

With one ear cocked to outside during our morning meditation, I noticed the rain stopped. I felt moved to open my eyes and was treated to this spectacular dramatic sunrise:


I was privileged and blessed to watch the layer of clouds move apart to reveal the dawn of a new day.

It seemed as though those thick rain clouds and grey skies were going to be a permanent part of our day.

And isn't that what happens in life? When we are going through a tough time it seems as though the skies are never going to clear; that we'll never again see the sun shine or feel its warmth.

When we walked to the beach after breakfast, more clouds moved in. As I looked at the cloud formation, it seemed the Divine was reminding me to be present; You are here!


I also saw two angels side by side in the clouds.

The sun broke through and we experienced sunshine for most of the day. We cancelled our trip into Hamilton. We swam and walked on the beach.

During one of our swims, a gentle rain fell as a cloud hovered over the pool.

Everyone scattered but Tom and I enjoyed the luxury of swimming in the rain. We knew that the rain cloud would pass.

It is so easy to look at a forecast or a diagnosis/prognosis given by the so called experts and harden our perception to that "reality."

Inspiration rained down on my heart and soul as I witnessed the transformative moments of Bermuda weather reminding me to hold onto hope for brighter days even when the skies are rainy and grey and the forecast is for unrelenting rain. And sometimes we are even surprised by a rainbow that appears in the sky without the rain!

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.

Bermuda Marathon Weekend: Bermuda Railway Trail

During our last 3 trips to Bermuda during Bermuda Marathon Weekend, my focus was on running the Half Marathon. I had to ensure that I had plenty of rest and kept a strict pre-race fueling plan. I needed plenty of time to recover after the race. I enjoyed swimming or going to the beach but because of residuals of childhood paralytic polio, I did not have a great reserve of energy to explore the Island.

This year was different! Being a spectator and support crew for Tom left me with plenty of energy and enthusiasm to try a new adventure on the Island.

We got up early on Sunday morning, had our breakfast at Grotto Bay and headed out to explore the Bermuda Railway Trail.

The bellman gave us directions. We relished the idea that we had no idea where we were going or what we would experience along the way. I enjoyed the thrill of going out for a run where I had never been before. Our plan was to do an out and back route for 3.5 miles which is the distance we have been running on Saturdays.

After navigating our way through traffic and roads magnificent scenes and challenging terrain unfolded before us:


Tom wanted to avoid the roads with traffic as much as possible on our return so we went a bit beyond our 3.5 miles.

If you are going to get lost anywhere it may as well be in Bermuda. We turned on Siri and were able to find our way back to the main road having avoided a stretch of road where there were no sidewalks.

I love these new adventures as a runner girl exploring new terrain and experiencing magical and magnificent vistas.

Twelve years ago I contemplated a grim future and a poor prognosis after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome.

I wore a toe up leg brace and used a cane, and at times used a wheelchair for mobility:


I was at a crossroads in my life that led to a new path unfolding before me.



At 65 years old I feel healthier, more vibrant and energetic loving my life in a way I never dreamed was possible!

I am blessed by the miracle of healing I co-created in my life with the Divine no longer hindered by my past.

I appreciate every step that I am able to take, and the freedom and trust I now have in my body's capacity to experience new challenges and adventures. After all, life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.

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.

Bermuda Marathon Weekend: Savor the Flavors

From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
"Have you ever been to Bermuda?" Herb Simmons asked me as I was helping him put together a photo album to write the story of the Sea and Surf Anglers Club of Boston and the Blue Waters Anglers Club of Bermuda.

Herb was the first person of color to be named Chief of Pharmacy at Boston City Hospital when, at the age of 49, he suffered a massive stroke. Initially he was totally blind and then regained some vision. He could see with his eyes but had difficulty processing what he saw as a result of the stroke. I was the Visual Impairment Services Team Coordinator charged with providing social work intervention to the visually impaired veterans at the VA. Herb made it very clear from the beginning he did not want to be a patient. He quickly transitioned from patient to invaluable volunteer. Through the Telefriend Program, Herb kept in touch with other legally blind veterans who were housebound, elderly veterans and veterans considered at risk due to their mental health diagnoses. Together we were blessed to literally save lives. I told Herb we had never been to Bermuda; we hadn't been on a vacation since the twins were born 12 years ago in 1987. He told me we must go to Bermuda for our first after twins vacation. We would take care of the airfare and our stay at the Grotto Bay, a family friendly resort, and he would make sure that his Bermudian friend and fellow angler, Lovintz Cann would be our host.

We immediately fell in love with Bermuda after our first trip to the Island in the 90's. Herb and his Bermudian friends taught me about the food, the drink and the culture.

On Friday we walked to The Swizzle Inn. Although we'd visited Bermuda many many times through the years, we somehow missed eating at The Swizzle as it's called.



The only time I eat Wahoo is when we are in Bermuda. I had a grilled wahoo sandwich on Friday. When we returned after Tom's triumphant 10K run I had a wahoo burger with sweet potato fries (because after all spectators need to refuel along with runners) and Tom had a repeat of the Bailey Bay Fish Sandwich (fried haddock with seasoned fries):


Our go to place in Hamilton is The Pickled Onion. In 2016 we met one of the managers, Samantha Maguire. We became "regulars" that Bermuda Marathon Weekend. We hadn't seen Sam since 2016 as she returned to her home of Toronto for a few years but she's back! Dion was one of the servers that we met in 2017. We kept in touch on Facebook and were so surprised to see him back at The Pickled Onion this year. Once you make a friend in Bermuda, you have a friend for life!

Tom dined on their Cioppino and I savored succulent salmon with orange and balsamic glaze, jasmine rice and string beans:


While savoring the flavors of a Bermudian meal, we are always treated to sunset over Hamilton Harbor as the Bermuda Marathon Weekend kicks off with the Front Street Mile:


We asked the Concierge for a restaurant suggestion in St. George's for Saturday evening since we were staying at the East End of the Island at Grotto Bay.



Wahoo's was a short cab ride away from Grotto Bay and we were treated to Barbeque Rib of Rockfish and the Bermuda Triangle: mahi mahi, rockfish and wahoo each prepared in uniquely Bermudian fashion.

While Tom and I do not usually partake of alcoholic beverages, no trip to Bermuda would be complete without a Dark 'n Story or a Rum Punch which we had poolside on Sunday:


The Royal Palm Court restaurant had a variety of casual dinner and light fare menu items to choose from when we stayed at Grotto for dinner. We loved their linguini with clams in a light butter garlic sauce and a chicken stuffed with wild rice and a red wine sauce.



We rarely eat dessert but being on vacation, we treated ourselves to Bermudian ice cream; a unique experience of a smooth creamy texture with deep rich chocolate and vanilla flavors.

Dining out and savoring local foods is one of the best parts of being on vacation. When you're in Bermuda, there are so many flavors to savor. We had a wonderful adventure savoring the flavors of Bermuda during the 2019 Bermuda Marathon Weekend that were a feast for the eyes as well as the palate.

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.