Where running takes me...

Like many people these days, there are some nights where sleep comes slowly and can be interrupted by weird dreams. We are so blessed and fortunate to have had minimal disruption to our lives compared to so many but still the stress is there. I've done a lot of healing from the effects of enduring childhood trauma, but there have been triggers during the limitations and rules for the pandemic. I use this time as an opportunity to heal the wounds that get reopened and feel deeply grateful for the gift of running in my life.

Friday night was an intense night for me. I had trouble falling asleep and the trauma dreams were particularly intense. When I woke up yesterday morning, the thought of going on a run drew me out of bed after my morning meditation. I knew it was exactly what mind, body and soul needed although my body might have said otherwise if I would have listened to its grumblings.

It was a gorgeous warm late Spring day with puffy clouds set against a brilliant blue sky. We had frozen water bottles at the ready that sweat on the table while we got ready for our run.

We stretched and took deep breaths while we strapped on our water belts.

I set the mileage on my Nike+ to ensure I would go over 40 miles for the month of May.

Tom and Ruth Anne were going to do their 6 mile run in preparation for the Virtual Falmouth Road Race and Cape Cod Half Marathon but wanted to run with me to celebrate my going over 40 miles for the third consecutive month.

I welcomed the company!

We chatted about the gift of running in our lives. We dearly miss running with our friends and activities with L Street Running Club as well as the joy of gathering for races. I just finished John Bingham's book, "The Courage to Start." He talked about the camaraderie and socialization that happens when runners get together. He talks about old friends we've yet to meet. But he also talks about the power of running to transform one's life as does George Sheehan in his book, "The Essential George Sheehan."

Running has taken me to Bermuda, Boston, Cape Cod, and Maine to many starting lines. These days running takes me out of my head and into my heart and soul. My two feet take me out into the beauty of Springtime and into the magnificence of water, swans, turkeys, geese and their babies and the mystery and awe of leaves returning to once barren trees.

Running takes me to feeling fully alive as my heart beats faster and sweat pours from every pore. Running cleanses me of the past.



My heart overflows with gratitude as I run fully aware of the miracle that happened healing the effects of paralytic polio and trauma that once ravaged my mind, body and soul.

Running is a wonderful time to unplug and be with Tom and Ruth Anne savoring the sights, sounds and scents of a beautiful day. We appreciate how far Ruth Anne has come on her healing journey from the effects of PANDAS.

Running took me out of the residue of a poor night's sleep and past trauma into the gift of the present moment on a sensational late Spring day. There may be no races to travel to these days yet running takes me wherever I need to go on any given day to feel uplifted and to be in a state of well being after the miles are run.



To learn more about my health and wellness journey, please visit my website at www.marymcmanus

My books are available on Amazon

To any of you runners out there..where does running take you?

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary