Welcome to Marathon Monday - Saturday Edition

I've lived in Boston since 1971, a transplanted New Yorker and have always felt a connection to the Boston Marathon. Since crossing its finish line on April 20, 2009 just 3 years after having been told I should prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair after the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease, the Boston Marathon is a part of my heart and soul.



I was blessed to be a member of a panel, "Late Life Running and Whole Life Running," at this year's Virtual Boston Marathon Expo


and support crew for our dear friend Rachel Glazer last Saturday:


This was the final weekend of the Twelve Days of the Boston Marathon.

We decided to get our 5K in on Heartbreak Hill with the hope that we might see a Virtual Runner or two out on the course.

The Hills were alive with the Spirit of the Boston Marathon. Charity Teams were advised to not run on the course and finish at Boylston Street, but Tedy's Team was very creative in creating an out and back route that took them from the Boston Common to the Newton Hills and back for a finish at the Boston Common.

There was a DJ blaring music, cheering on the runners saying, "Welcome to Marathon Monday - Saturday Edition."

Charity teams' support crews and family members lined the marathon route.

On our outbound route we encountered Dana Farber's Unicorn:


There were hydration stations set up with a wide selection of foods to fuel the runners:


while blue and yellow balloons and ribbons lined the course like a hashtag for #bostonstrong and #finishstrong.

We discovered that it is quite challenging to simultaneously be a spectator and a runner. We got in our miles but the pace was slowed by the need to social distance while cheering on those incredible virtual Boston Marathon runners who experienced a historic longest training season ever that extended from January to September.

The only other time I experienced the intensity of the Spirit of the Boston Marathon was in 2014. Just as the bombs stopped runners in their tracks on 4/15/13, so too did the pandemic stop runners in their tracks. Half of the runners who were registered for the 2020 Boston Marathon took on the challenge of a Virtual Boston Marathon around the globe. The BAA, and Conventures, Inc., under the leadership of T.K. Skenderian made sure that even though the world couldn't come to Boston, Boston would go to the world.

A hawk soared above; a harbinger of hope and a message from Spirit to see things from a higher perspective rather than feeling the constraints of the current reality.



We took our traditional photo of the Johnny Kelley statue and our selfie.


As we drove home, we honked and cheered on runners along Heartbreak Hill and Beacon Street.

Tomorrow wraps up the Twelve Days of the Boston Marathon 2020.

We don't know when there will be the next Boston Marathon. September registration is on hold for now while a panel convenes to develop a plan.

There were many "Marathon Mondays" shared and celebrated in Boston and around the world during these 12 days.

Team McManus was thrilled to be a part of the Saturday edition on Heartbreak Hill. While our hearts were broken with the news that the Marathon would be postponed, then cancelled, then made into a virtual event, we rose above with resilience and strength as we in the Boston Strong community have always done and will continue to do.

To be inspired and motivated by my health and wellness journey from having been told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair to the finish line of the Boston Marathon and beyond, be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

My books are available on Amazon

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

The Spirit of the Boston Marathon

Even though the Boston Marathon was postponed and and then cancelled and transformed into a Virtual Race Experience, the Spirit of the Boston Marathon is going strong - Boston Strong.

My day on Saturday began at 6:15am as Rachel Glazer sent a text to her Team Emmet crew that she was at the starting line in Hopkinton.



I felt the excitement of the start of her Virtual Boston Marathon race day course through me. I remembered that day on April 20, 2009 when we stood at that very starting line with the mobility impaired runners beginning the culmination of over a year of training to run 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston.

As the group texts cheered on Rachel and tracked her as she made her way to each water stop, Team McManus packed up the car with the provisions Rachel had dropped off on Friday for herself and her running buddies and the sign she designed to honor the memory of Emmet who died last year at Childrens Hospital Boston. Rachel's run raised over $8000 for the Miles for Miracle Team. Rachel and her family have been friends with Emmet's mom's family through the years.

We were a group of strangers connected through Rachel who became a community with one purpose in our hearts; to support Rachel to the finish line of the 2020 Virtual Boston Marathon for which she trained for 9 months.



She posed in Wellesley:


The excitement grew as we saw a photo of her at the Johnny Kelley statue via text and knew we would soon see her at mile 20:


We paused to take a selfie:


and sent Rachel and her buddies on their way with #morecowbell.

It was our turn to take to Heartbreak Hill to get in our 5K.

Even though the streets were filled with cars instead of runners and few runners were out running, the Spirit of Boston was palpable on the hills. Every time I received a text, we briefly paused to track Rachel's progress and send her words of encouragement.

When we got the text she was at the Finish Line, I was overcome with emotion. I knew what this race meant for Rachel, her running buddy who traveled from Michigan to run his Virtual Boston 2020 and to the circle of friends who cheered her on. It was the culmination of 9 months of training and fund raising and having her journey fueled by the courage of a boy who died last September.



We captured moments on our run:


and reflected on our Boston Marathon experience in 2009 as Team McManus and 2011 for Tom running with Miles for Miracle team when we raised almost $10,000 for Childrens. In 2009 we raised $10,535 for Spaulding Rehab where I took my first steps on my healing journey with Post Polio Syndrome.

Crossing that finish line is always a powerful emotional experience:


As we drove back to our house we saw a lone runner sporting an MGH singlet. We made sure to give him a honk and a thumbs up cheering as we drove by.

What an honor and gift to be support crew for Rachel for a most unusual Boston Marathon experience. While we miss all the magic and wonder of live races especially the 2020 Boston Marathon, as Rachel said, Saturday was amazing and special in its own way.

It's Twelve Days of the Boston Marathon in 2020 and the Spirit of the Boston Marathon is being experienced here in Boston and around the globe!

This photo of medals designed and made in the USA by Ashworth Awards was posted with a very special #medalmonday hashtag:


It will be a treasured keepsake for the year the Boston Marathon was cancelled yet its powerful Spirit lived on!

To be inspired by my journey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

My books are available on Amazon.

Good luck to all the runners! As Meb said, "Run to win. That doesn't mean being in first place but in getting the best out of yourself."

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary

The Twelve Days of the Virtual Boston Marathon Experience

We Bostonian runners call the Boston Marathon and the days leading up to the event Christmas in April. There was no Christmas in April this year and we don't know when and how it will happen again although as an eternal optimist I believe the comeback will be stronger than the setback!

This morning my dear friend and event planner, Rachel Glazer dropped off everything Team McManus needs to cheer on Team Emmett. Rachel's friend's son Emmett died last September at Boston Children's Hospital. Rachel raised over $7200 for Boston Children's Hospital. {Tom was part of the 2011 Miles for Miracles Team.} It was a socially distanced visit but the Spirit of the Boston Marathon danced in her eyes as we talked about preparations for her Virtual Race tomorrow.

I believe it's safe to say that runners and all associated with the Boston Marathon have gone through the stages of grieving for our beloved event and all that is happening with the pandemic. But even a pandemic can't snuff out the spirit of the Boston Marathon.

T.K. Skenderian and Conventures have created a 12 day Boston Mandarathon Virtual Expo Experience for runners and fans around the globe. You can experience the event which includes vendors and panels by following this link.

Although Boston and the events leading up to the Marathon were cancelled, we were able to convene our panel for Late Life Running and Whole Life Running via Zoom. It will air on 9/7 and 9/11 at 3 pm.

Late Life Running and Whole Life Running

Authors and running veterans Roger Robinson, Gail Waesche Kislevitz, Jonathan Beverly, and Mary McManus talk with Consecutive Boston Marathon Record Holder Bennett Beach about the benefits and joy that comes with even more miles. Moderated by historian and author Roger Robinson.

While the Boston Marathon usually means reunions with out of town friends or meeting up in person with Facebook friends for the first time, heading to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to reunite with the 2009 Race for Rehab Team and cheer on this year's Race for Rehab Runners, enjoying the Expo and the unique ambiance on Boylston Street, this year's Virtual experience has given me the opportunity to reconnect with runner friends on Facebook and make new connections through friends of friends.

Instead of going to the panels at the Hynes Convention Center, we will tune into them on the website.

Jacqueline Hansen posted a screen shot of her Zoom panel with the Women's Running Pioneers Panel:


The Women’s Running Pioneers

A can’t-miss panel of running’s leading ladies who pushed through one barrier after another to put women’s running on the map. Julia Chase-Brand, who ran the Manchester Road Race in 1961, is joined by 1972 Boston Marathon Champion Nina Kuscsik, 1973 Champion Jacqueline Hansen, former marathon world record holder Cheryl Treworgy, Brazilian barrier-breaker Eleonora Mendonca, four-time Honolulu Marathon winner Patti Dillon, and three-time Boston Marathon winners Bobbi Gibb and Sara Mae Berman in a hilarious and inspiring retrospective. Moderated by journalist Barbara Huebner.

I was blessed to meet Jacqueline Hansen at the 2016 Hyannis Marathon Weekend and we became fast friends. She wrote the Foreword to my book, "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance." I'm excited to hear what these pioneers have to say. I never tire of hearing their epic stories.

Last weekend, we ran the Becca Pizzi Virtual 5K.

I am excited for her presentation and reading from her book, "Feat on Feet" which we purchased last week at bib pick up.

Setting Big Goals with Becca Pizzi (Plus Children’s Book Reading)

The first woman to complete the World Marathon Challenge talks about her fearless pursuit of big goals, and reads her new children’s book, Becca’s Feat on Feet at 10:27.

There will be Meb, Bill Rodgers, Dave McGillivray, many other running greats and tips from nutritionists, coaches and injury prevention specialists.

Tomorrow morning, Team McManus will head out to Heartbreak Hill with #morecowbell, and gatorade, water, swedish fish and Rachel's sign to cheer her on to her 26.2 finish.

We will stay connected via Facebook with our runner friends, shop on line at the Expo and savor the 12 days of the Virtual Boston Marathon Experience. We are Boston Strong!

To be inspired by my journey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

My books are available on Amazon.

Good luck to all the runners! As Meb said, "Run to win. That doesn't mean being in first place but in getting the best out of yourself."

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary

Countdown to the Virtual Boston Marathon Experience

On Sunday March 8th, after a wildly successful weekend at the Hyannis Marathon Weekend, Team McManus hosted a water stop at the corner of Center Street and Commonwealth Avenue for L Street Running Club. We invited other runners who were running through for what would be one of their last long training runs for the season to help themselves to refreshment. The excitement was palpable as runners were eagerly anticipating Boston's rite of Spring scheduled for April 20, 2020. It would have been the 11th anniversary of our 2009 Boston Marathon run on April 20, 2009. I was eagerly anticipating this year's race weekend to cheer on my runner friends and to be a part of this year's Expo. I was invited to be a part of the panel Whole Life Running/Late Life Running that was scheduled for 10am on Sunday April 19th.

Five days after our water stop where we reconnected with our friends who are like family, the announcement was made that the Boston Marathon would be postponed until September 14th. Runners and spectators' hearts and souls felt deflated but a glimmer of hope remained that the pandemic would subside and Boston would be able to run again. You could almost hear the collective groans of runners around the globe that the training season would be extended.

On May 28th the announcement was made that the Boston Marathon was cancelled. While it came as no surprise, there was anger, grief, disappointment and frustration.

The BAA decided to pivot and go with a Virtual Boston Marathon Experience.

I will admit that at first, I was so over the Boston Marathon for 2020. My heart went out to those who worked so hard to fund raise for their charities and there was not an option to parlay that work into an entry for 2021. There was even a question of what the Boston Marathon 2021 would look like given the current circumstances of the pandemic.

As I saw my friends taking a break and then building the miles for the Virtual Experience, my feelings began to shift.

I was in awe once again to see #bostonstrong take hold in the hearts and souls of runners. Last Saturday we experienced a somewhat subdued yet palpable excitement for the Virtual Experience on Heartbreak Hill.

The BAA has selected its Champion Ambassadors who have this to say about the upcoming Boston Marathon Virtual Experience:

“Having won my first Boston Marathon last year, I’m excited to join thousands of participants and cover 26.2 miles as part of the Boston Marathon Virtual Experience,” said Romanchuk. “The community spirit around the Boston Marathon is always strong, and that will stay true this year.”

“The Boston Marathon is a special race, with lots of history and meaningful moments,” said McFadden. “This year’s Boston Marathon Virtual Experience will be a new chapter in race history that I’m honored to be a part of as a Champion Ambassador.”

“The determination and strength of Boston Marathoners is unmatched, and it will definitely be on display around the world for this year’s Boston Marathon Virtual Experience,” said Linden. “While we may not be in Boston, we’re still united in spirit, and as a Champion Ambassador I’ll be supporting from start to finish.”

“Boston Marathoners are determined, and always finish Boston strong,” said Keflezighi. “Training for many months, they’re about to reach the finish of the Boston Marathon Virtual Experience, and as a Champion Ambassador I’m eager to celebrate their journey.”

Team McManus is going to be support crew for our dear friend Rachel Glazer on Saturday on Heartbreak Hill. Rachel is an event planner who is planning for her support crew with a sign and dropping off water and gatorade:


She is running once again for Childrens Hospital holding a very special little boy deep in her heart while she runs Miles for Miracles.

I am following the Race for Rehab Team on Facebook. While we won't be out on the course with our Find Your Strength T shirts on nor will we gather at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel to celebrate the runners and gather with other alumni, we will feel the excitement of the team running their 26.2 miles having raised funds to support Spaulding Rehab. We ran with them in Spirit for 2.62 miles on 4/20/2020 wearing our Race for Rehab jackets that still fit us after all those years. I dedicated my April 20th blog post to the runners who trained so hard and offered a recap of my Race for Rehab Team experience.

Conventures, Inc. has worked tirelessly to create a Boston Marathon Expo Virtual Experience. We convened our panel via Zoom and it will air twice during the Virtual Boston Marathon festivities September 4th-15th.

While the landscape of the Boston Marathon has shifted, the spirit of the Boston Marathon remains. The resilience of the running community remains Boston Strong as we count down to the Virtual Boston Marathon Experience.

My Channel 7 News Story capturing my Boston Marathon journey:


Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com to be inspired by how I became a part of the Boston Marathon experience.

My books are available on Amazon

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary

A Magical Monday Memory - Six Years Ago Today!

Six years ago today I ran a PR at the Bill Rodgers 5K to Benefit Prostate Cancer. The memory popped up on Facebook along with photos and a video. One of the photos is with Kathleen Healy Fencil who saw my post on Facebook that volunteers were needed. It was the first time we met in person and she was there to take pictures and cheer me into the finish line!

From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
One Moment in Time: Race Report Bill Rodgers 5K Run/Walk to Benefit Prostate Cancer August 10, 2014

I was open to whatever my body was going to be able to do today. My mantra for today's race was light and joy. I wanted to thoroughly enjoy the day. I slept well and didn’t have the usual pre-race jitters. I had a good breakfast of a bagel, oatmeal, banana and orange juice. What a luxury to be able to get up at 6:45am on a race day and drive 10 minutes to the start of the race.

I had a sense of trust that this was going to be a good day.

When we arrived, race director Alain Ferry whom you may recall was also the organizer of the OneRun greeted us. He had been following my blog posts about my intention to PR for the race. He gave me a big bear hug and asked me to remind him what my goal was for today's race.

“I hope we see 47:00 minutes or less on the clock when you cross that finish line. Remind me again of your name?” Alain asked extending his hand to Tom.

“It’s Tom.”

“We met at the Heartbreak Hill Marathon weekend. I remember you.”

He warmly shook Tom’s hand and said, “Well I’ve got about a million things to do. See you back here.”

I reconnected with Bill Rodgers at his table while he sold copies of his book, “Marathon Man: My 26.2 Mile Journey From Unknown Grad Student to the Top of the Running World.” He remembered me and my story from Hyannis.

“How did you like the book?” Bill asked me.

“I loved it Bill,” I answered with a big smile. I shared with him parts of the book that resonated with me.

“Life is hard,” he said to me. “That’s why we run. If we can tough it out on the roads, we know we can tough it out in life.”

Bill turned and introduced us to his girlfriend Karen.

“I overheard your conversation with Billy. You’ve had an amazing journey. I’m a breast cancer survivor and started running in my 40’s after the diagnosis.”

We instinctively hugged even though we just met each other.

“Let’s get everyone over to the starting line,” Alain commanded through his bullhorn.

Pre-race announcements talked about the importance of supporting research, early detection and treatment for Prostate Cancer. Alain asked for a show of hands of those running affected by cancer. There was an astounding number of hands raised in the crowd. Alain handed Bill Rodgers the mic. He shared how he is a prostate cancer survivor.

“It is the #2 leading cause of cancer deaths among American men. We need to pay as much attention to prostate cancer for men as we do for breast cancer for women.”

Bill Rodgers went on in his pre-race remarks. “Running and walking is a simple little sport but we as Americans can use it to change the world.”

And then it was gun time and time for me to write another chapter of my story.
We started at the front of the pack with Bill Rodgers off to our left. I went out running fast through the campus of Boston College. Thirty years ago I received my Masters in Social Work degree and spent many many hours on that beautiful campus. The field took off and I adhered to my race plan. We'd run the downhill and I'd run for as long as I could and then move into race walking. When we got to the rolling hills of Commonwealth Avenue, I race walked. The sun was bright and the day heated up fast. We were grateful there was no humidity and we could go on the sidewalk for shade. We brought frozen water bottles that I used for hydration and to keep cool.

Mile 1 - 14:33 pace. I was blown away by my time but I knew that anything could happen over the next two point one miles.

Tom kept checking in with me. How was I feeling? Did anything hurt? I didn't talk much which is very unusual for me and I was breathing hard. I had a single-minded goal but I was running from the inside out.

In my training runs I had stopped to take a "water break.” At times I slowed my pace, but kept moving forward. We stopped for about 30 seconds at the water stop before it was time to tackle the hill with a 221' elevation.

Mile 2 - time was almost 30 minutes.

Okay I think I can. I think I can. I've got this. I can do this.

Tom said to me "What do we do with hills?"

"We eat them for breakfast," I managed to get out.

To the top of Beacon Street and a right onto College Road.

A right onto Commonwealth Avenue heading toward the finish.

Alain came out on his bike, "Oh there you are. "Come on you're almost there."

I was hot and my tank was close to empty.

As we headed toward the finish Alain told me I had less than a minute for my PR.

People gathered to cheer me on.

Alain was just on the other side of the finish line.

I sprinted to the finish and the finish clock read 46:57 gun time!

I knew in my heart and soul that I crossed more than a finish line. As I told Alain, I reclaimed my life. The essence of who I am took center stage. It was another moment of redemption achieved through running. I wrung out the grief from my nephew’s death. I ran as Boston Strong rinsing out the trauma of 4/15/13 with sweat and tears.

It's been one hell of a journey back since Charlie Louis Alper tragically and violently died on March 4th of 2011. Thanks to Alain and the OneRun, I knew I had to come back to the sport that had transformed my life. I realized it was more than coming back to running. It was setting a goal and once again challenging myself. It was opening up to see what my body could do leaving nothing on the roads. It was about testing my mettle and letting go of fear.

Alain shared with me that he didn't expect to find us as far up on Commonwealth Avenue as close to the finish line as he did. He was concerned about the heat and was coming to provide support regardless of the time on the clock. When he saw how close we were to the finish, he wanted that PR for me as much as I did. I felt as though I was being pulled into the vortex of the finish line by his loving energy and all those cheering me on.

"I saw you start to cry and then I saw a look come across your face. You dug deep during that sprint,” he said to me. “It was quite a moving moment for me as a Race Director to watch you come across that finish line with such visible fierce determination.”

During that final sprint, Tom let me set the pace. He could tell I was in the zone. Tom wept with me when we crossed the finish line. We both knew that I left pain, fear and doubt out on the course and in its wake, strength, courage, confidence, and healing surged.

Gratitude filled my heart for Facebook friends who I met for the first time who cheered me on and took photos, and to Alain who was there to celebrate and tend to me post race.
“Here is an ice water for you. Go get in the shade and here’s a couple of oranges for you and Tom. I’m so proud of you!”

Today was one moment in time - many moments in time that I will always cherish when I look back on my adventures as runner girl.



And then there was this post race celebration surprise:


Six years ago I was embraced and celebrated by the running community for setting a goal and crushing it. Being surrounded by so much love and support has left a lasting imprint on my heart and soul.

I am delighted to share with you this magical Monday memory and perhaps it will inspire you to reflect on your magical moments.

To learn more about my inspiring journey of transformation from the diagnosis of Post Polio Syndrome to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com

My books are available on Amazon

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
Mary

Uplift

Boston Marathon Weekend is called Runner's Christmas. The anticipation of the weekend leading up to the 3rd Monday in April is filled with reunions, spending lots of money at the Expo and eating out at the restaurants in and around Copley Square, walking down Boylston Street and taking pictures of the finish line in the background, remembering the events of 4/15/13 while also sharing in the sheer joy and exhilaration of our City, the world and all that is Boston Strong.

Runners who will be toeing the line at Hopkinton share their nervous energy. We savor the Pressers with elite runners and watching the 5K.

There's a magic unlike any other that surrounds the Boston Marathon and wonderfully engulfs everyone and anyone in its path.

It is an infectious experience of endurance, joy, celebration, freedom, grit, determination, resilience, strength and most of all community.

There is no Runner's Christmas this year in April. There is a collective sadness and nostalgia that is being shared while maintaining social distancing.

While I do not read the paper in depth nor do we watch news on TV because we don't have a TV, I did catch a headline this morning and glanced over an article that said there were few signs of hope for Massachusetts based on a comparison with Washington State. It went on to say that some Public Health officials disagree about whether or not it makes sense to make state by state comparisons but the phrase that stood out to me was, there were few signs of hope.

What?? How can you say that especially about Boston that has endured and turned into glory the events of 4/15/13.

Why?? Why send out messages of doom and gloom that only serves to suppress the immune system and raise panic, rancor and divisiveness?

And so I knew I needed to meditate ....

During my meditation, a poem started to percolate that I finished within an hour:

Uplift

When doom and gloom pervade the news
a knowing smile spreads across face
Truth beyond statistics
trusting in Source’s glorious grace.

No hope it’s grim the headlines cry
in my heart I know what’s right
looking beyond appearances
seeing with third eye sight.

Rainbows after storms appear
birds joyfully herald start of new day
joining faithful hearts together
torch of healing lights our way.

Transform transcend a time to breathe
cast out worry with ways of old
step into dawn of bright new world
shining brave and bold!

Uplift and feel empowered
release all sense of fright
Flow as One together
Bathe in Source’s glorious light.

A vision on horizon
our new way now to be
grateful gracious loving
All Beings whole and free.

My friends on Facebook are sharing memories of Boston Marathon Weekend. While we ache for the loss of Runner's Christmas Weekend, we are sharing the joy of all that is the Boston Marathon knowing that in September we will be bolder, stronger and more joyful than ever before.

Jacqueline Hansen shared a nostalgic post. One of her friend's posted this comment:
As marathoners we know about pacing, about hard days, about broken dreams and yet we keep showing up. We hang onto hope. We can beat this current storm. We will win this race. And the after party will be glorious!

And whether you've run marathons on the road or are running the marathon of your life, let us all pledge to uplift and uphold one another shining as brightly as we can to dispel darkness, despair and disease.

From my heart to yours
In health and well being,
Mary



Be sure to visit my website to learn more about my inspirational journey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the Boston Marathon and beyond!

My books are available on Amazon.