It's been over a year since I crossed the finish line of the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon. Running three half marathons in as many years took quite the toll on my body as I continue to heal from the effects of paralytic polio and severe childhood trauma. I am incredibly proud that I dug deep and found the strength, courage and determination to train for and finish those 3 races.
I wasn't sure if I would toe another starting line but then I got a stirring in my soul.
What race did I want to run?
I get a flood of emails in my inbox about different races.
One race in particular kept nudging me... The Finish at the 50!
Tom and I ran in the inaugural Finish at the 50 10K on July 4th. It's the tenth year anniversary of the race. It's the tenth year anniversary of when I ran Boston.
I emailed my dear friend Dave McGillivray, the Race Director for Finish at the 50 asking if there was a time limit for the 5K. He said many people walk it just to experience being on the 50 yard line at Gillette for the finish. The finish line stays open for the 10K finishers.
I hit send on the registration and now have a goal with a race on the calendar.
John "The Penguin" Bingham posted this quote on Facebook yesterday, "I feel sorry for those that have never stood at a starting line and faced the uncertainty of the next 30 minutes or 6 hours. Those who have never faced their fear can never truly know their potential." It was an excerpt from his article, "Both Sides Now."
My workouts take on new meaning with my sights set on running the tenth anniversary of a race that I ran 10 years ago. I took over a year off from running after I crossed the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon. Tom and I ran the Charles River 5K in June as my comeback race and on its heels we chose to run Finish at the 50.
From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
Everyone Has a Story July 4th 2010
The blessing of running a race in the back of the pack is you get to share stories and meet amazing people. At the starting line of the inaugural Harvard Pilgrim 10K race, we met a woman just three months out from knee surgery. Her doctor gave her the okay to run/walk the race. A woman asked if this was our first race. She said it was hers and she was concerned that people would wonder why this overweight woman was even in the race. I gave her a short version of my story and a lot of love and support.
“Well then, I’d like to share with you that I am a 15 year breast cancer survivor.”
We high fived each other and said, "See you at the finish line."
Tom and I learned from the Charles River Run 5K race to warm up and go out slow especially with the heat. Today was all about finding a comfortable pace and having FUN! We walked through every water station and made sure we hydrated. I had my trusty gel with me and at one hour, we took a 'hit' to keep our muscles fueled. What a thrill to run on the Fourth of July. One family had patriotic music playing on their porch. One woman created a sprinkler with her hose and we ran under it. Spectators stood on front porches and waved flags as we all celebrated freedom.
A father, mother and their daughter took turns pushing their son/brother in a wheelchair. He had a birth defect which resulted in multiple physical challenges. They ran and then walked. They would drop behind us and then go in front of us.
When we caught up with them they said, “Oh no, we gotta speed up.”
We passed them and were going to slow down to let them pass us again but they slowed their pace. Tom suggested we push on.
We met a woman who said, "I'm 60 years old and I'm not gonna push myself today in this heat. It’s my first 10K.”
As she sent her daughter on her way to the finish, she told us that her daughter had lost 100 pounds and discovered the joy of running. She had an article written about her in Redbook; her mom told us how proud she was of her daughter who inspired her to lose over 40 pounds and take up running.
As we came out of the tunnel to sprint the final yards of the 10K, I drank in the joy of the moment. We approached the 50-yard line, and flashed a huge smile. I stood on the field of Gillette Stadium seeing myself on the Jumbotron where world champions play football; where world class entertainers perform.
I turned to Tom and said, "Wait a minute. I want to savor this moment and wave to my adoring fans."
There were fans in the stands cheering runners into the finish line.
July 4th is all about independence, freedom and choosing one’s own path.
Everyone has a story. The people I met today chose to not allow circumstances to limit them. Let freedom ring!
We chose Finish at the 50 as my comeback race in 2015 after a serious knee injury in December 2014 that the doctors and PT's said would sideline me for good. "They" also said to prepare for a total knee replacement in a few years. I met the Race Director for Bermuda Marathon Weekend at the Expo that year and the rest, as they say, is history.
There's a beautiful symmetry of coming full circle to run the 2019 Finish at the 50!
Let Freedom Ring!
To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary
Be sure to visit my website by following this link.
My books are available on Amazon.
“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.
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):
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.
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