In February of 2008, I declared that I would run the 2009 Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab where I had taken the first steps on my journey healing the effects of paralytic polio and trauma. I am often asked in interviews, "Why running? Why start with a Marathon?"
It's hard to explain in rational terms for, by all appearances, I was a most unlikely runner. In December of 2006 I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and was given the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease.
Yet, after six months working with a personal trainer, shortly after coming out of my leg brace, I declared that my next health and fitness goal was to run the Boston Marathon.
I was interviewed in May of 2008 for our local newspaper, The Brookline Tab in the "Healthy Brookline" section.
The interview was published just shy of the one year anniversary of when I took a leap of faith, leaving my award winning career on May 25, 2007 as a VA social worker to heal my life. At the time I had no idea what that meant. I was letting the Divine guide me and light the way to a new life for myself.
The article hangs in my office. Every day I am reminded of the miracle of healing in my life and the strength, courage and faith I harnessed within me to set sail on my running journey.
The journey was not only about me as I learned fairly early on in my quest. I was inspiring others to test the waters of what was possible and 12 years later continue to inspire people with how I have harnessed the power of the mind/body connection to heal.
From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
Run Don’t Walk Neal Simpson Brookline Tab
While cleaning out the dormer in 2014, I came across the article we framed from the May 8, 2008 Brookline Tab.
Since she was a little girl, Mary McManus had rarely moved faster than a walk.
But last month, the former polio patient bought her first pair of running shoes. And now she’s training for a marathon.
Paralyzed by polio at the age of 5, the Brookline mother of two now spends every day fighting back against the crippling effects of the disease that still threatens to rob her of her strength and mobility 50 years later. She said she won’t stop until she runs her first marathon.
“I just know with every fiber in my body that we will,” she said. “It’s all happening.”
McManus faces an uphill battle. Though polio itself has been virtually eradicated from the developed world, McManus is one of more than 440,000 Americans who could see a resurgence of symptoms decades later, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Scientists believe this resurgence, called post-polio syndrome, is a result of natural aging and stress on the motor neurons that survive an initial polio attack.
Polio survivors learn to depend on these motor neurons as they recover, and can live relatively normal lives before they give out later in life, according to Mary Cole, a senior occupational therapist at the International Center for Polio in Framingham.
“There’s usually a long period of stability,” said Cole. “If not, there’s something else going on.”
Cole teaches post-polio patients how to save their energy, and recommends that many start using the braces and canes they once used as kids. “It’s about improving quality of life,” she said.
“A lot of people think exercise is what can get you through this, and that’s not the case,” Cole said. “Most of these patients have been overusing these muscles, and we need to find a balance.”
But McManus said she refuses to slow down. She wants to prove that other post-polio patients don’t have to, either.
“I’m here to let them know that that might be true for some people, but it doesn’t have to that way,” she said.
I was running to not only reclaim my life; to move out of a mindset of disability and emotional and physical paralysis. I was running to inspire others.
Readers commented on the on line version of the article.
DEAR MARY I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF THE BEST AT EVERY GOAL YOU ARE A GREAT WOMAN, I'M THINKING ABOUT MY LIFE IS A POST POLIO PERSON AND WISH I CAN DO THE SAME YOU DOING NOW
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
RAUL CORNEJO
Hello Mary, i stumbled onto your story.
I had polio when i was 14 months old; 27 years after, i still struggle with the physical and 'mostly' the emotional trials that accompany polio.
I'm a doctor so daily i encounter people with a variety of challenging conditions and i constantly draw strength from how different people embrace their unique situations.
I am particularly inspired by your unrelenting spirit, 50 years on!
I just got back from taking a long walk.
I was thinking about my life in general and saying to myself, are you just going to give in to polio without a fight?
I decided that i'll start running in the evenings to strengthen my calfs and increase my muscle bulk. During my walk, i also dealt with some emotional issues... but i digress.
I got home and got on the internet to see if there were any researched exercise routines beneficial to polio survivors, i wanted to be sure running was safe.
I got a lot of info, the unanimous advice was, don't over exert yourself, complete with the medical explanations why overexertion could be harmful.
I know running may be a stretch for me, i don't know how beneficial it will be, but i know that miracles still do happen.
Polio will not hinder me anymore. I am definitely gonna give it a shot.
I'll come back here to let you know my improvement.
I am very inspired by your determination and i thank you for sharing your story.
God bless you.
Hi Mary. I was listening to the radio the other night and I heard your interview. I don't know if you remember me but you took care of my husband George Murray while at the VA hospital as well as saving my life on a daily basis back then. You were truly my angel. I am so happy to have an opportunity to thank you for all you did for me back then and I have often wondered about how you were and then I heard you quite by accident as I still get up really early but the radio was on and I immediately recognized your voice. Do I think you will run this marathon, absolutely. You will do it. I am sorry you have gone through these health problems but you sound wonderful. I am going to get your book and I know I will love it. God bless you and I know he does.
Love
Maureen Murray
Maureen referenced my interview on The Jordan Rich Show on Boston’s WBZ radio.
If you'd met Mary last year and then again today, you will be pleasantly surprised by the changes in her. She positively radiates with energy and good cheer. If exercise is how she's made the changes then I definitely want to start moving more too. It would be nice to have a follow-up after she has run her marathon.
Beth Blutt
I think it is awesome that she has been able to rebuild her strength a second time. I am encouraged now to continue exercising myself and continue to accomplish as much as I can in my golden years instead of settling for couch potato status.
Linda DuPre
While I experienced meltdowns, and struggled with physical and emotional pain at times, I knew, as I told Neal, in every fiber of my being that I was going to cross the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon.
And how am I doing today?
I'm 12 years older than when I first set out on this quest. I run more slowly than I did 12 years ago. I've healed a serious left knee injury and went on to run 3 consecutive Bermuda Half Marathons. I've weathered and continue to weather the storms of our daughter's mystery health challenges. I'm resilient, strong and a great model for what it means to age well. I take no medications.
I took the risk to cast off and sail away from safe harbor and I am so happy and grateful that I have no regrets or disappointments with the choices I made.
From my heart to yours
In Health and Wellness,
Mary
Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com
Hear my interview with Kendra Petrone on Magic 106.7's Exceptional Women Show by following this link
My books are available on Amazon and at Paper Fiesta in Natick on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon route.
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