What am I going to do? Call an Uber? - Come Out and Play

"Are we going out in this?" Ruth Anne asked.
"You betcha," I answered without hesitation.

It was 43 degrees and raining but there was no snow or ice on the ground. The winds seemed quiet. We made a vow that if it were at all possible to go outside and run, we would much prefer that to a treadmill run.



The temperatures and rainfall were relatively mild when we set out on our 5K.

We ran around puddles but I could feel the mud and gravel being kicked up against my calf.

The rain and wind picked up and pelted our faces.

There's nothing else to do but embrace the elements and, as I said to Ruth Anne, "What am I going to do? Call an Uber?"

I recalled with fondness the dream I had shortly after the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome.

From "Feel the Heal: An Anthology of Poems to Heal Your Life":

One night I had a dream that I came out of my leg brace and was splashing around in the rain much like Gene Kelly did in Singin’ in the Rain. When I woke up, I penned this poem:

Come Out and Play

Arms flung open wide dancing in the rain
pure abiding joy to feel alive again
healing tears fall and blend in God’s puddle
no time to sit in a corner and huddle
all the old rules driven by fears
washed away now by God’s loving tears
the imprint dad left no longer remains
rain washes away all of the stains
baptized with love, Truth lights my way
the sun shines through on this rainy day
splashing and laughing my heart opens wide
embracing and flowing I’m one with the tide
God takes my hand release the old way
bathe in my glory come out and play!



There was only one other runner running around The Reservoir. We smiled as we passed each other having that deep knowing that is only shared by another runner out in the elements.

We found the joy by singing "It's Raining Men" at the top of our lungs and feeling our strength in running in the rain and head wind.

As we approached the final portion of our run we stopped for water and this selfie:


Our clothes, shoes and faces were dripping wet but our hearts and smiles were full.

I was reminded of George Bernard Shaw's quote, "We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing."

Make sure you always make time to come out and play!

And speaking of coming out to play...

To experience an epic race weekend and hear me share my journey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond come to the Hyannis Marathon Weekend February 21-23 2020.

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

Be inspired by my interview with Kendra Petrone on the award winning Exceptional Women Show by following this link