There's No Such Thing As A Bad Run....& Reflections on Success

"I've been running long enough to realize the hardest part is just getting out the door. I never go for a run and wish I hadn't because running isn't about good days and bad days. Runs are cumulative. Runs are collected every time you tie up the laces. And there's only one rule for success ... keep showing up." ~Desi Linden 2018 Boston Marathon Champion in Brooks Ad

After I saw Desi Linden's ad for Brooks on Facebook, I was inspired to think about Monday's morning run with Tom. During the run I felt sluggish and noticed how I was judging my run and my pace. But there is no such thing as a bad run just as there is no such thing as a bad day. There may be days and runs that are more challenging than others but every day and every run is a gift.

I often forget what a blessing and miracle it is that I can get up in the morning feeling refreshed, lace up my running shoes and go out for a run (more about being a miracle maker in a future post).


Tom and I chose to run around the Route 9 Reservoir.

Daybreak was beautiful:


and the serenity was medicine for mind, body and soul:


Although my pace was significantly slower than Saturday's run on the Hills, my run was a success!

I often forget how many people do not get up at 5:45am on a Monday morning and start their day with a run.

Before breakfast, I fueled my mind, body and soul with exercise, fresh air, unplugged time with my bestie:


and time in nature.

A positive tone of success was set for the new day and the new week ahead.

Breakfast always tastes so good after a run and my body takes in the nourishment with joy and a feeling of self satisfaction for choosing to lace up first thing in the morning.

Twelve years ago at this time, I faced an uncertain future. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and prepare to experience a rapid decline in functioning as I aged, the result of having contracted paralytic polio as a child. "They" (the medical community) told me I needed to quit my job if I had any hope of stabilizing the symptoms of Post-Polio Syndrome where they were. I was told if I used it, I would lose it - yes you read that right - and I needed to conserve my energy because my neuromuscular system and my central nervous system were compromised from the initial polio virus.

I did in fact choose to take a leap of faith and leave my award winning career as a VA social worker in May of 2007 to heal my life having no idea at the time of what that meant. I sat in a leg brace using a cane and at times a wheelchair for mobility and had just started writing poetry that opened the portal to healing.

I WAS able to heal my life harnessing the power of the mind/body connection and working harder at my recovery than I'd ever worked at anything in my life. I went on to have many adventures as runnergirl 1953 including crossing the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon.

So Monday's run was challenging and my pace was off but it was still a success! There's no such thing as a bad run especially when you're told to prepare to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.

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.