Countdown to Finish at the 50: What Am I Thinking?

It's almost here! Tomorrow is Race Day!

I always feel a myriad of emotions before toeing a starting line and tomorrow's race brings a lot of excitement, a little bit of anxiety and exhilaration!

Tom and I will get to sleep in; no alarm! We will have the next 5 days together. He's not on call and has everything well organized to take some much deserved time off.

Being the OCD kind of person I am, I have a list of things we need to bring since gun time isn't until 6:30pm. I've planned out where we will have lunch and made dinner reservations for after we cross that finish line and get our bling!



Shortly after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, in October of 2007, I met a personal trainer.

From 'The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953':
Shortly after being discharged from outpatient physical therapy I met Janine Hightower through Herb Simmons. He knew Janine through his participation in the Cardiac Rehab program at Boston Medical Center. I was launching my business New World Greeting Cards, original poetry for every occasion. She was a member of BNI, a professional networking group. As we sat in my living room, she talked about BNI and the benefits of being a member of this networking group. As she talked, I wasn’t focused on growing my business. My mind zeroed in on her sharing with us how she used BNI to promote her in home personal training business.

“You know I’m curious,” I said to Janine. “Do you think you could help me? I was just discharged from Spaulding Rehab.”

I went on to tell her about my journey.

“I don’t know,” she said “but I’d certainly be happy to set up an assessment with you.”

I couldn’t even pass the initial fitness assessment.

“You’re way too young to not be able to get off of the toilet seat without holding on to the sink or to not be able to get off of the couch,” she said to me.

It was a statement of fact without judgment. She spoke the truth about my deconditioned physical state. I signed on to work with her once a week in personal training. I had no idea what or why I was doing this. I did know that if I was going to be in pain, I’d prefer to feel the pain of recovery instead of the pain of decline. Janine held enough faith for both of us that I could come out of my leg brace and have a good quality of life despite the diagnosis and prognosis I received.

Janine’s mantra for our work together was a quote from Henry Ford, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right!”

At my six-month evaluation in February, I made dramatic improvements in every area of the assessment. I had come out of my leg brace. I knew I was on a healing path.

“Let’s write down your goals for the next six months,” Janine said feeling proud and satisfied with my progress.

“Well I want to feel free in my body. I want to dance. I want to be able to walk outside and feel unencumbered when I take a walk.”

Janine feverishly wrote down my goals, and we worked out a plan. She gathered up her belongings and had her hand on the door knob.

“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.”

What was I thinking?

But it was through the power of thought; through the mind/body connection and the power of visualization which came often times in the form of poetry) that I was able to train for and run the Boston Marathon despite having had absolutely no prior running experience!

I wasn't thinking; I felt a call from Spirit that moved me to set that goal.

And it is that very call from Spirit that continues to nudge me along in this amazing quest to heal the effects of paralytic polio and trauma and inspire others with what's possible.

I am thinking about how wonderful it's going to be to spend the day with Tom getting in the zone (an apt metaphor since we finish on the 50 yard line at Gillette), having a wonderful lunch at Patriot Place and meeting up with fellow Team Big Heart members. I am thinking about how I run swift and with ease and remembering that training run on Heartbreak Hill when it all came together.

I am thinking about how resilient I am and how much courage it takes for me to toe a starting line as a back of the pack runner.

I am thinking about how many people I have inspired and how many lives I have touched with my journey.

I am thinking about how much fun Tom and I are going to have together finding our way around the new course and pretending, as we often do in a race where we don't know the course, that we are part of The Amazing Race.

I am thinking tomorrow is going to be filled with sweet surprises and serendipity as I allow the Universe to weave its magic.

I am thinking how I am going to enjoy every moment while anticipating crossing that finish line of a race I haven't run in 4 years celebrating my freedom from the past and independence from circumstances that once claimed a terrible toll on me mind, body and soul.

I am thinking and knowing that I CAN!

Counting down to Finish at the 50 5K: 1 day 3 hours 40 minutes and counting!

Let freedom ring!

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 "Feel the Heal" and "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953" are available in Natick Center Cultural District at Paula Romero Dunbar's Celebration Boutique Paper Fiesta coincidentally located on Mile 10 of the Boston Marathon Route. Proceeds from the sale of books for June and July are being donated to The Joseph Middlemiss Big Heart Foundation to support Tom's Falmouth Road Race. You can also donate directly by following this link.