I was a late comer to the sport of running, drawn to it through a poem I wrote, 'Running the Race', shortly after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome. I was swept away by the outpouring of love and support I received for having the courage to be out on the roads as an older runner, having never run a day in my life until April of 2008. The running community was enthralled with my story and, for the first time in my life, I was cheered rather than jeered when I ran.
As my mettle was tested through endurance running, friendships were forged that last a lifetime! The synchronicity and serendipity of meeting runner friends still makes my breath catch in awe.
From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
Ode to Marathon Training March 22, 2009
Blisters, black toes, aches and pains
a change in my routine
Long training runs, the hills, the sprints
keep running clothes fresh and clean.
Carbo load and plan each meal
power gels and gatorade
no matter what the weather
no time to be afraid.
Humid – hot or freezing cold
snow against the face
wind or sun or raining
those running shoes I must lace.
What mile is this how long we been out
check heart rate drink H20
meltdowns joys and triumphs
only a few more weeks to go.
Heartbreak Hill won't break my heart
this year has been the best
found myself and made new friends
I feel incredibly blessed.
At the Bill Rodgers 2014 5K Walk/Run for Prostate Cancer, Race Director Alain Ferry gathered a group together at the finish line to cheer me on to my PR. One of the women, Kathleen Healy Fencil was a volunteer that day. We had connected through running on Facebook and were so excited to meet in person. We have stayed in touch via Facebook cheering each other on in cyberspace. As Tom and I were on Heartbreak Hill for Superhero Saturday she was walking in the opposite direction with Tracy Pierce another runner friend whose husband Randy has an incredible story of inspiration, hope and possibility. We were both in awe that we would have a surprise meeting on Heartbreak Hill:
"Mary" someone yelled out to me as Tom and I were doing our out and back run on Heartbreak Hill during Superhero Saturday.
"It's Christina Sheehan!"
We connected on Facebook after Hyannis Marathon Weekend two years ago. Despite doing our best to meet up at different events, it never happened ... until last week. I must say that runners give the best hugs and smiles. She introduced me to her friend Donna Tosi. As I say in "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953", runners tend to become instant friends...like instant oatmeal ... just add in a pair of running shoes and conversation about running.
I met Jess Lanzoni through another runner friend on Facebook several years ago. Jess gives her time and talent to support other runners and to run for good causes. She was there to cheer me on when I was going for a PR at two races in 2014 both in person and on social media. We may not see each other often but when we do it is always a special occasion especially when it's unplanned as happened during a run on Heartbreak Hill two weeks ago:
Jess is running the Boston Marathon for the Krystle Campbell Foundation and is having a fundraiser this Saturday.
Hyannis Marathon Weekend or Camp Hyannis as I have come to affectionately call it planted the seeds for many friendships that took root and blossomed through the years.
Ric Beaudoin and I were waiting to ask Frank Shorter a question after his talk about doping and we started up a conversation. He was an old timer when it came to running and a member of the Merrimack Valley Striders and L Street Running Club. He brought me into the fold and had me speak at the Clubs to inspire runners with my journey. Here's one part of the 'gang' at Camp Hyannis 2010:
Runner friends cheer you on in life and on the roads ready to celebrate triumphs and to provide unconditional love and support through the inevitable trials of running and life.
Adventures at Bermuda Marathon Weekend brought beautiful people into my life!
Dawn Angelique Roberts was doing social media for the 2016 Bermuda Marathon Weekend. We met briefly at the Sponsors Reception and stayed in touch on Facebook. This year we were blessed to see each other and spend time together as Tom ran the 10K:
From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
“It’s a sign!” a group of runners exclaimed as they walked by my table at the Hyannis Race Expo.
They picked up my medal from the Bermuda Half Marathon.
“We were just talking about how we have to run Bermuda. We are putting it on our bucket list.”
The Mystic Runners from Wakefield, Massachusetts were deeply moved by my inspirational journey. In that moment of synchronicity, we became fast friends.
We "just happened" to meet up with one of the Mystics, Erik Cann in Bermuda 2018 after two other Mystics, Michelle and MaryBeth teased Erik about going to Bermuda without them:
He bought my book and posted this photo:
We "just happened" to be sitting with Denise Holbert McMillan's husband on the plane to Bermuda in 2016. She was sitting behind him. We bumped into them on Front Street and then...Denise recounted the story when we reunited in Bermuda 2018:
After we ordered, Denise shared the story of how she found me via Instagram even though I wasn't active on Instagram on the eve of the 2016 Bermuda Half Marathon. While occasionally glancing up to take in the scene of the beautiful Bermuda Harbor, Denise became animated.
"There I was looking for the hashtag runbermuda."
She inserted her own music while tapping her fingers on the table.
"What were the chances that our numbers would be in sequence? I 'followed you to Facebook' and when I read your story I was moved to tears. I prayed for your health that night and knew I had to find you the next morning.”
I was enthralled to hear her recount the story without the filter of pre-race jitters. After Denise shared the story and before our dinner arrived, amidst laughter and joy in awe of what brought us together, Denise went into her bag.
She presented me with a box. “Never bought, only given.” Inside was a terrycloth sweat wristband engraved with one word, “INSPIRE.”
At the start of the 2018 Bermuda Half Marathon:
“Hey are you Joe Middlemiss?” I asked a tall runner wearing a Team Big Heart shirt.
“No Joey passed away and…”
“Oh I’m so sorry of course. I’m not thinking clearly. I meant to ask if you were Scott but obviously you’re someone else.”
“Hi I’m Linda and this is my husband Brad. How do you know about Team Big Heart?”
We were in awe of what a small world it was after I shared with them our Team Big Heart connection. We took photos of them at the starting line proudly wearing their Team Big Heart shirts and one with Ed Christopher.
The amazing circle of runner friends grew exponentially through the Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation. Every runner and family member we have met through the Foundation are beautiful people with big hearts.
The beautiful tapestry of friendship that is woven together through the fiber of the running community is truly awe-some. We run together. We celebrate together. We cry together and laugh together. We hug and we smile together. And we become runner family...
What mile is this how long we been out
check heart rate drink H20
meltdowns joys and triumphs
only a few more weeks to go.
Heartbreak Hill won't break my heart
this year has been the best
found myself and made new friends
I feel incredibly blessed.
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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