Camp Hyannis Part 2 - Everyone Has Their Why!

We woke up to a beautiful sunrise in Hyannis on Saturday morning:


I should say I woke up to a beautiful sunrise while Tom and Ruth Anne slept. I checked in on Facebook and the energy was electric in anticipation of Race Weekend. My friends Carolyn and Brian Baker introduced me to two of their friends, Marianne and Ed Sims and told me that they encouraged them to hear me speak at the Pre-Race Pasta Dinner. They were all staying in Falmouth. Brian and Carolyn have a house in Falmouth where they spend the summer. Marianne and Brian grew up together in upstate New York where they live today.

We went for breakfast at Mulligan's conveniently located in the hotel lobby.

While we enjoyed our food


we overheard the waitress ask an older couple wearing running clothes, “You here for the race?”
“Yes. We love coming here!”
The older woman said, “One year I ran the marathon and qualified for Boston!”

We chatted with them before we left! Camp Hyannis was getting into high gear!

I quieted my butterflies for the exciting day ahead with a 45 minute meditation.

Tom and Ruth Anne helped me get set up at the Expo:


They left for a day of fun in the sun in Hyannis while I got myself ready to greet the campers the runners.

Paulie came through and asked me if everything was okay! I thanked him for including me in this Weekend's festivities to which he replied, "You're thanking me? We are so excited to have you! Billy can use some help up on the stage after all these many years!"

I went across the room to meet my Expo neighbors, Flavanaturals. We ended doing a barter -- books for chocolate...nourishing each other mind, body and soul. Be sure to check out their website and experience their incredible product!



At noon, it was showtime as the stream of runners began to fill the Expo.

Mary Tyler was one of the first to stop by and her husband Ted took this photo. She was one of the first people who inspired me to name Hyannis Marathon Weekend, Camp Hyannis.


While I was there to inspire runners, so many runners inspired me and, as one runner said, "Everyone has their why!" Here is a sampling of runners and their whys:

There was a woman with a heart condition whose doctor told her she should never run. She fired that doctor and now is part of a group of runners with heart conditions who go the distance.

I felt goosebumps all over when a mother and her adult daughter stopped by my table. She lives with Cystic Fibrosis and is running her first Boston Marathon for Boston Children’s Hospital. She has already raised over $11,000.

A woman donated a kidney and is running Boston to raise money and awareness for organ donation.

At 2pm Bill Rodgers arrived. He gave me the warmest hug letting me know that he read the book I gave him in 2017, "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance." "I knew about the polio but had no idea all you lived through. Wow! Well we are going to have a great time at the Running Clinic tonight!"

I presented him with a copy of my most recent book, "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953" while showing off his book,"Marathon Man":


While Amanda was waiting for her husband who was chatting away with Bill, she glanced over at my table. I shared my story with her and she said, "Oh so it's not too late to start!" I met her at the starting line on Sunday and she asked me about what running shoes I wore.

Matt stopped short as he saw my Race for Rehab book sharing with me that he is running for Spaulding this year for his 2nd year in a row. He suffered a traumatic brain injury when he was hit in the head with a softball. He had to learn how to walk and talk after the injury and is passionate about giving back to Spaulding where he made a complete recovery! He smiled when he saw the small size of our team compared to the 100+ runners they have this year.

Jenn is running her first marathon for Dana Farber. As serendipity would have it, she is good friends with David Storto, President of Spaulding Rehab and would like to run for Spaulding next year. She giggled when she saw David's photo in the Team Photo from 11 years ago. We've all aged a little since then. She is a survivor of Thyroid Cancer and had her five year milestone this past Fall which inspired her to run Boston.

A woman walked by my table and I called out to her, "Oh I love your scarf!" She was wearing a Boston Strong scarf that had been gifted to runners after the events of 4/15/13 at Old South Church. I got goosebumps.

She stopped and turned around.

"Well I need it to keep me warm." I could tell by her accent and the needing to keep warm comment that she was not from New England since we had unseasonably warm and dry temperatures with sunshine.

"Where are you from?"

"Houston."

I told her my story and she was moved by it and went on to say that she had a story too. We became fast friends in real life and on Facebook. Does she ever have a story:


Meeting up with old friends is part of the thrill of Camp Hyannis. Tom and Ruth Anne came by for a visit and were just about to leave when one of the first people we met in Hyannis 11 years ago, Ric Beaudoin, appeared.


I spotted MaryBeth and Michelle from the Mystic Runners who I met in 2016 at Camp Hyannis.

From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
“It’s a sign!” a group of runners exclaimed as they walked by my table at the Hyannis Race Expo.

They picked up my medal from the Bermuda Half Marathon.

“We were just talking about how we have to run Bermuda. We are putting it on our bucket list.”

The Mystic Runners from Wakefield, Massachusetts were deeply moved by my inspirational journey. In that moment of synchronicity, we became fast friends.



Tom and Ruth Anne had a wonderful day shopping and going to the beach:


We were getting ready to leave the Expo to have an early dinner before my Guest Speaker appearance at the Pre-Race Pasta Dinner when the Baker Family arrived. It was the first time Carolyn and I met in person although she had photo bombed a photo of Brian, Rod Dixon, Tom and myself in Falmouth and was in a photo I took at Dave McGillivray's book launch party last August.



I felt as though we were old dear friends which often happens with runners. I shared with them that Marianne stopped by my table!

Earlier in the day, Michael stopped by my table. He was a dear sweet middle aged man who said that he was intrigued and inspired by my story but did not believe in impulse buying. Shortly before we left for dinner, he returned to my table.

"I'm going to say something and I hope you don't take it the wrong way. I'm going to curse you," he said with a smile.

"I am going to buy your book and I've been hesitating to run another marathon because I was afraid of how long it might take me but after hearing your story, I realize I have no excuses. So when I am in the middle of that marathon, I am going to curse you for inspiring me to run another marathon that I've been meaning to do for awhile but always making excuses. I'll be sure to send you an email after I register for it."

And with that, he bought my book and we headed to The Roadhouse Cafe to grab a bite before my appearance as Guest Speaker.

To be continued....
To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
Mary

Be sure to visit my website at www.marymcmanus.com to learn more about my inspirational journey from a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond.

My books are available on Amazon.

"See ya next week!"

My Weather App said it was 9 degrees outside with an expected high in the 20's. The sun was shining.

Tom and Ruth Anne will be running next Sunday's Hyannis Marathon Weekend 10K and we debated back and forth about whether or not to postpone our run to Sunday when the temperatures promised to be more temperate.

We were ready to take out our strength training gear for a home gym workout when Ruth Anne said, "Wait! I think we should get out there today."

Her Occupational Therapist, Erin Foley, is running the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab. We are members of the Race for Rehab Alumni Class of 2009 and follow them on Facebook and via email. Erin's parting words to us after Ruth Anne's treatment on Friday was, "I hope I see you guys out there tomorrow." We had seen her two weeks ago on the Hills along with swarms of members of the 2020 Race for Rehab Team.

We love the energy on Heartbreak Hill on Saturdays during the peak of Boston Marathon training and feel buoyed after we get out and do our miles.

We opened our front door and were blasted by the frosty air but decided to layer up and get in our four miles.

There were fewer runners out yesterday presumably because of the frigid temperatures.

"Hey hey," Dominic shouted out as he was about to pass on our left side.

We weren't sure if he wanted to stop but he pulled up next to us and we exchanged warm hugs. We talked about Hyannis, how he was 11 miles into his 18 mile training run and took this selfie:


After another hug we said, "See ya next week!"

Shortly after we passed Dominic, we saw Michelle approaching us on our right.

She waved and said, "See ya next week!"

Here's what she had to say about yesterday's run on Heartbreak Hill:
Who is that masked runner? I think the hardest part of today was getting out of my toasty car 😂🥶. By 1.5 miles I really didn’t notice the cold. Gloves and gaiter were off and I felt comfortable. Of course I had four top layers, two bottom layers, ear warmers and hat to help!

Marathon Training with the Heartbreakers put on another great day, with Coach Dan giving great tips on how to approach the hills, at this point in our training. It really helped me mentally power through them, even if my body is still trying to figure out how to do that 🤣

There were definitely less people out there today, but still a decent showing. Nice to see Troy Brogan at the start, and Mary McManus and Tom McManus weren’t deterred by the cold either.

10 miles for week 10 of 20! Halfway to Boston! 😬 And Hyannis Half Marathon, is next weekend 🎉

https://www.crowdrise.com/…/bidmc-boston2…/michellecorrado1…

Boston Marathon #marathontraining #marathon Fit In New England E-motion Massage & Healing #justhaveacannoli



Michelle is running Boston to raise money for the BIDMC Cancer Care Center.

We stopped to appreciate the beauty on Heartbreak Hill that is present in every season and even noticed a hint of Spring despite the frigid temperatures:


A little further down the Hills before we reached our turnaround at 2 miles, we saw Erin!

We greeted her with warm broad smiles and cheers!

We talked about our excitement for Hyannis Weekend and how this year's Camp Hyannis is going to be an epic adventure for Team McManus as we celebrate Ruth Anne's recovery and healing and I get to share my inspirational journey with the campers runners in Hyannis.

We spotted Erin again in the distance and waved and cheered.

"One more mile to go," Erin breathlessly shouted.

"Woo hoo!" we all yelled, clapped and cheered.

Just before we got to Newton Center, Ruth Anne said, "Wait..look....here's a penny."

The date was 1977 .... Tom and I met on March 2, 1977!


We made a quick pit stop at Heartbreak Hill Running Company before the last half mile to our car. We had admired one woman's running hat out on the course and she was in the store along with about 30 Heartbreakers recovering from their long run. We chatted for a few minutes about her unique hat that she told us was made by Skida. She asked us how our run went; we explained we weren't training for Boston this year but just love the energy out on the Hills.

"Well I AM training for Boston and I live on the North Shore. My husband thinks I am crazy to drive in town but I just love the people I meet here and I hate to run alone."

We finished our run:


and refueled with soup, salads and sandwiches from the New England Soup Factory.

If we would have waited until today to do our run, we wouldn't have had those wonderful connections and experienced the added excitement for Camp Hyannis 2020.

Running has given us many things in our lives but the best thing is the people it has brought into our lives. I am still in awe and so blessed to be a part of this incredible community overflowing with love, kindness and generosity.

See you next week in Hyannis! Follow this link to register!

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

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours,
Mary

It's a Sign - Camp Hyannis 2020

From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":

That’s Why We Are the Greatest Sport Camp Hyannis 2016

“It’s a sign!” a group of runners exclaimed as they walked by my table at the Hyannis Race Expo.

They picked up my medal from the Bermuda Half Marathon.

“We were just talking about how we have to run Bermuda. We are putting it on our bucket list.”

The Mystic Runners from Wakefield, Massachusetts were deeply moved by my inspirational journey. In that moment of synchronicity, we became fast friends.

Paulie has been gracious and generous to offer me a table at the Expo to sell my books and inspire runners with my journey. The 2015 weekend was cancelled. It was a tough decision for any race director to make but treacherous weather conditions would have compromised the safety of the runners. I didn’t give a second thought about having a table at the 2016 Expo. I was running the 10K and planned to focus my energies on the race.

A friend messaged me on Facebook. “I’m so excited you have a table at the Expo this year. I saw your name on the table. Can’t wait to see you!”

I grabbed my Hyannis Half Marathon medal, my Boston Marathon finisher photo and medal, the few books I had on hand and my business cards. At the last minute, I put my Bermuda Half Marathon finisher medal in the box...



The other day on Facebook, MaryBeth, the Mystic who I met in 2016 posted this as her status:
Damn them. I’m being talked into another race. Well, actually, they were just discussing one. It’s always Michelle Marchese Corrado who starts these things. I was surprised to learn that I’ve only run 9 half marathons. I must have lost some medals.....


"Which one? I vote for Hyannis," I replied.

MaryBeth replied, "It IS Hyannis!"

"I just got goosebumps...I am going to be one of the guest speakers this year!" I said.

"Mary McManus well, there’s my sign. We’ll be there!..."Hey, that rhymes! Mary McManus, it is Hyannis. Another sign."

Hyannis Marathon Weekend holds so many incredible memories for me.

We call it Camp Hyannis! All of our Camp Hyannis Adventures are included in The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953."

Here are a few cherished memories of our Camp Hyannis times:


I ran my first Half Marathon at Hyannis on the road to the 2009 Boston Marathon. I was embraced by the running community and running greats Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter. I've been blessed to meet Jacqueline Hansen, who also wrote the Foreword to "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance," the 2nd book in my Trilogy of Transformation. Jack Fultz, Team Hoyt, Dick Beardsley and Jimmy Garcia are a few of the other running greats we mixed and mingled with through the years.

Friendships have been forged and sustained through the decades at Camp Hyannis.

I am deeply honored and over the moon excited to be a guest speaker this year at the Pre-Race Pasta Dinner. I was inspired to reach out to Paul Collyer, aka Paulie who is the Mastermind behind Camp Hyannis weekend if he would like me to be a guest speaker at Hyannis Marathon Weekend 2020.

His reply was, "You would be welcome to speak to crowd...I believe I will also have steve jones and bill in house.
Please send a brief "promo"."

Tom and Ruth Anne are going to run the 10K.

I'll be sharing my inspirational story once again at the Expo and address the "crowd" gathered at the Pre-Race Pasta Dinner.

We'll experience the joy of reunion with our running family, celebrate healing, health and wellness and be open to whatever synchronicity and serendipity happen at Camp Hyannis 2020.

To register for Hyannis Marathon Weekend, follow this link.

See you at the starting line!

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
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

Celebrating 13 Years of Healing...Part II - Transformation

My life came to a screeching halt after receiving the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December of 2006. I took a leap of faith on May 25th 2007 leaving behind my award winning career as a VA social worker to heal my life. After being discharged from Spaulding Rehab Outpatient Clinic, I worked my home exercise program and continued to write poetry. I sought out a publisher for "New World Greetings: Inspirational Poetry and Musings for a New World." I started feeling better filled with hope yet terrified for letting go of a steady paycheck and my 25 year career as a social worker.



From Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility:
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!”

I could not pass the initial fitness evaluation she gave me. After our first workout session together, I could barely move the next day. I discovered muscles I did not even know existed in my body. I made a promise to myself that if I were going to experience pain, I would prefer to feel pain on the side of getting healthy than the pain of decline.

This is a photo of me from Christmas 2007:


Janine held enough faith for both of us that I would and could get stronger. Once a week she came to my house armed with weights and exercises, words of kindness and encouragement yet always pushing me to help bring me out of my once deconditioned state.

From "The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953":
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.”

Did you ever have one of those moments when words fell out of your mouth after rising up from the depths of your soul without going through any thought process?

Janine was non-plussed. I don’t know what kept her from turning tail and getting as far away from me as she could. She came back into my house, set down her things and without missing a beat said, “Well the first thing you are going to need is a pair of running shoes.”

She laid out a cursory training plan and said that we would begin indoors to build up my cardio endurance. As soon as the weather got a little warmer, we’d go outdoors and I would learn how to run.

What had I just done?



I committed myself to a herculean goal. I had never run a day in my life yet I was called to become a runner and run a marathon - and not just any marathon mind you but THE Boston Marathon.

Poetry continued to flow out of me. My story was shared in The Brookline Tab and reader's comments fueled my journey:


Since she was a little girl, Mary McManus had rarely moved faster than a walk.

But last month, the former polio patient bought her first pair of running shoes. And now she’s training for a marathon.

Paralyzed by polio at the age of 5, the Brookline mother of two now spends every day fighting back against the crippling effects of the disease that still threatens to rob her of her strength and mobility 50 years later. She said she won’t stop until she runs her first marathon.

“I just know with every fiber in my body that we will,” she said. “It’s all happening.”

McManus faces an uphill battle. Though polio itself has been virtually eradicated from the developed world, McManus is one of more than 440,000 Americans who could see a resurgence of symptoms decades later, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Scientists believe this resurgence, called post-polio syndrome, is a result of natural aging and stress on the motor neurons that survive an initial polio attack.

Polio survivors learn to depend on these motor neurons as they recover, and can live relatively normal lives before they give out later in life, according to Mary Cole, a senior occupational therapist at the International Center for Polio in Framingham.

“There’s usually a long period of stability,” said Cole. “If not, there’s something else going on.”

Cole teaches post-polio patients how to save their energy, and recommends that many start using the braces and canes they once used as kids. “It’s about improving quality of life,” she said.

“A lot of people think exercise is what can get you through this, and that’s not the case,” Cole said. “Most of these patients have been overusing these muscles, and we need to find a balance.”

But McManus said she refuses to slow down. She wants to prove that other post-polio patients don’t have to, either.

“I’m here to let them know that that might be true for some people, but it doesn’t have to that way,” she said.

I was running to not only reclaim my life; to move out of a mindset of disability and emotional and physical paralysis. I was running to inspire others.

Readers commented on the on line version of the article.
DEAR MARY I'M SO PROUD OF YOU AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF THE BEST AT EVERY GOAL YOU ARE A GREAT WOMAN, I'M THINKING ABOUT MY LIFE IS A POST POLIO PERSON AND WISH I CAN DO THE SAME YOU DOING NOW
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
RAUL CORNEJO

Hello Mary, i stumbled onto your story.
I had polio when i was 14 months old; 27 years after, i still struggle with the physical and 'mostly' the emotional trials that accompany polio.
I'm a doctor so daily i encounter people with a variety of challenging conditions and i constantly draw strength from how different people embrace their unique situations.
I am particularly inspired by your unrelenting spirit, 50 years on!
I just got back from taking a long walk.
I was thinking about my life in general and saying to myself, are you just going to give in to polio without a fight?
I decided that i'll start running in the evenings to strengthen my calfs and increase my muscle bulk. During my walk, i also dealt with some emotional issues... but i digress.
I got home and got on the internet to see if there were any researched exercise routines beneficial to polio survivors, i wanted to be sure running was safe.
I got a lot of info, the unanimous advice was, don't over exert yourself, complete with the medical explanations why overexertion could be harmful.
I know running may be a stretch for me, i don't know how beneficial it will be, but i know that miracles still do happen.
Polio will not hinder me anymore. I am definitely gonna give it a shot.
I'll come back here to let you know my improvement.
I am very inspired by your determination and i thank you for sharing your story.
God bless you.

Hi Mary. I was listening to the radio the other night and I heard your interview. I don't know if you remember me but you took care of my husband George Murray while at the VA hospital as well as saving my life on a daily basis back then. You were truly my angel. I am so happy to have an opportunity to thank you for all you did for me back then and I have often wondered about how you were and then I heard you quite by accident as I still get up really early but the radio was on and I immediately recognized your voice. Do I think you will run this marathon, absolutely. You will do it. I am sorry you have gone through these health problems but you sound wonderful. I am going to get your book and I know I will love it. God bless you and I know he does.
Love
Maureen Murray

Maureen referenced my interview on The Jordan Rich Show on Boston’s WBZ radio.

If you'd met Mary last year and then again today, you will be pleasantly surprised by the changes in her. She positively radiates with energy and good cheer. If exercise is how she's made the changes then I definitely want to start moving more too. It would be nice to have a follow-up after she has run her marathon.
Beth Blutt

I think it is awesome that she has been able to rebuild her strength a second time. I am encouraged now to continue exercising myself and continue to accomplish as much as I can in my golden years instead of settling for couch potato status.
Linda DuPre

To be continued....


To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
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.

Falmouth Road Race Weekend Part 4 - Until Next Year!

There is an arc to destination race weekends. It begins on Thursday or Friday with the Expo. Old friends and never met in person friends but are friends on Facebook plan meet ups. Restaurant recommendations and shake out running routes are shared. There's often an event on Saturday and at Falmouth Road Race Weekend, we participated in the Falmouth Walk. And then it's Race Day! All that energy that was stored up in runners' bodies gets let out over the race course while spectators cheer with their voices and more cowbell. As spectators and runners head to after parties with hoarse voices and sore legs, the race crew begins their clean up.

Crowded streets lined with water stops and charity runner tents, barricades to keep spectators at a safe distance from the runners and the finish line with its clock and medical tents magically disappear. DMSE crew are as quick to break down a race as they are to set it up.

Checkout time at the Falmouth Inn was for 11:00am. We set the alarm for 7:00am on Monday morning to ensure we'd have enough time for our morning meditation, traditional run along part of the course, breakfast and time to pack up the car.

It was a hot and humid morning despite being on Cape Cod near the ocean. I love running during vacations because we make up our route as we go.

Here are beautiful scenes from our run that included part of the Falmouth Road Race course. I love asking Tom how he felt at different points along the course and shared with him how we are able to see the sea of runners across the harbor from Mile 6 as they made their way to the finish line.



Even though the Falmouth Road Race is too crowded and too fast a field for me, we get to be together the morning after the race to share in the race experience. We dedicated our miles as we have for the past month to Kevin LaCoste and his family. Kevin suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury and is now recovering at Spaulding Rehab. If you are able, please donate to his GoFundMe page. And please send prayers for healing to this beloved and kind Principal, husband, brother, runner, friend and father of two beautiful children. Kevin had a bib for Falmouth and his wife Ali was going to run for Team Big Heart.

We finished our run at Mary Ellen's Portugese Bakery across from the Falmouth Inn; one of our favorite breakfast places in Falmouth. We were sweaty and hungry yet our hearts were full from the weekend.

As we headed back to our room, Bill who we met when we arrived on Friday was in the hallway.

"Hey you guys already been out training again? You did what 10 miles?" he quipped.

"No we just did a 5K" and I went on to explain how Tom and I have the Monday after tradition of running part of the course together.

We were thrilled that we saw him before we left because Tom captured a picture of him at the push rim wheelchair start:


"We left a note for you on your car door," Tom told him.

"Well it's better than a ticket," Bill quipped referencing how we met. Bill forgot to put up his HP placard. At first glance, without a HP placard or plate, we thought Bill had parked illegally in the handicapped space but once I saw he was maneuvering to get his wheelchair out of the car, Tom and I realized our mistake. I did ask him gently if he had a placard and helped him put it on the rear view mirror. We all laughed at the memory which brought out another runner from his room, also a wheelchair participant.

Everyone talked about their races and about the stellar performance of Daniel Romanchuk

"We may as just pack it in and go home," Bill said.

"I am going to do something in the Masters Division", Matt boasted.

We asked about next events and wished everyone safe travels home but before we did, we sent off a text to Bill and Matt of the Wheelchair Start:


We ended our encounter with, "See ya next year."

On our way to the car, we bumped into Beth Singleton Craig.

We exchanged big hugs and talked about the weekend while asking about what's next for Team Babsie. They are going to go for a Boston Qualifier at the Bay State Marathon and have their sights on doing Camino de Santiago/b> in 2020. I felt goosebumps all over remembering the trailer she shared on Facebook about the journey of this duo. Beth has a deep faith and believes that whatever is meant to be will be.

We gave more hugs, wished each other safe travels home and said we would see each other at the 6th Annual Middlemiss Superhero 5K in a few weeks.

Runners speak the same language and whether or not we've known someone for a few years or a few days, friendships are easily forged. I often say that runner friendships are like instant oatmeal - just add a race or running and you've got it made!

That's a wrap for the 2019 Falmouth Road Race Weekend...thanks for reading...until next year!

To your health and wellness
From my heart to yours
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.