My physical therapist read Dr. Seuss to me before every painful physical therapy session to coax my muscles and nerves back to health after contracting paralytic polio at age 5. She would have me recite the book I chose (usually The Cat in the Hat) back to her in tandem with her during the treatment. His wisdom lives on in my heart and soul.
In the days leading up to running the Virtual Billy Mills 10K/5K on Saturday and during Saturday's run, I reflected on Billy Mills' journey and how his winning Gold in Tokyo in 1964 helped to heal his broken soul.
I came to the sport of running late in life. I was 53 years old when the words, "And I want to run the 2009 Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab" gushed forth from my soul without a thought. I had been working with a personal trainer for six months to see if I could get a little stronger and build on the outpatient therapy program I received from Spaulding after the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome in December of 2006. I had never run a day in my life but as Billy Mills states quoting one of his college textbooks, "The subconscious mind can't distinguish between imagination and reality."
Shortly after the diagnosis in February of 2007, after getting still and asking for Divine Guidance, the poem, 'Running the Race' flowed out of me followed by many poems in which I was healthy, whole and free running and dancing in the rain without the toe up leg brace I was prescribed.
The last stanza reads:
Using wheelchair to travel, set limits on what I could do,
Resulted in joy to realize I could live life anew.
Celebrated my body- creaks, groans and need for a brace
While in my mind I focused on winning a 10K race.
Sought out paths for healing and my spirit flew free
For the first time in life, I could truly be me.
The chains are gone and possibilities abound
I'm a tree with my roots planted firmly in ground.
I'm now off the sidelines, no need to sit and whine
So much gratitude fills my heart and love and beauty shine.
After all these years I can join the loving human race
I exceed all expectations and now I set the pace.
I started out running 30 seconds and walking for 4 and a half minutes. Little by little 30 seconds turned into 30 minutes and 30 minutes into miles...a 5K to a 10K to a half marathon to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon!
On the road to the Boston Marathon I fell in love with the sport of running. I loved how I went from being jeered by my peers as a survivor of paralytic polio who struggled to keep up with my classmates while lugging a full metal leg brace to being celebrated by the running community.
I loved my transformation from a survivor of paralytic polio and severe trauma that culminated with my father's death by suicide on August 1st, 1971 to a woman of strength, resilience, courage, faith, grace, beauty feeling empowered rather than feeling like a victim.
What a "coincidence" that Billy Mills Virtual race happened on the 49th anniversary of my father's suicide. The days leading up to the anniversary are often difficult for me since he disappeared 5 days before his death and two days before his death he left a suicide note in our car in the garage. This year had been particularly challenging for me with the pandemic without the usual distractions and joys that summertime brings that help to temper the traumatic memories.
But when I woke up on Saturday morning, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief and release unlike I experienced in previous years. Billy Mills' story deepened my own appreciation for how running has helped me to heal my life; how running the 2009 Boston Marathon was a powerful moment of redemption. Those powerful moments of healing continue to happen when I am on the road running free. While we have to rely on virtual races this year, through technology we are able to experience the thrill of connection and the tapestry of friendship that is woven together through running. We inspire each other while experiencing physical and psychological transformation overcoming the incredible challenges of our times.
You have until August 9th to register and Run with Billy. Follow this link to learn more and register.
Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com to be inspired by my journey from having been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond.
My books are available on Amazon.
From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary
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