The Celebration of Success

Thirteen years ago at this time, I was planning to leave my award winning career as a VA social worker to "heal my life." In December of 2006, I was diagnosed with a progressive neuromuscular disease, Post Polio Syndrom and told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. After getting still and asking for Divine Guidance, I realized a path for healing was opening before me and I needed to take that leap of faith in order to follow that path.

I was led to the sport of running of all things although I had never run a day in my life! One of my defining moments early on in my quest for the Unicorn also known as declaring in February of 2008 that I was going to run the 2009 Boston Marathon happened during the Marathon Sports 5 Miler Road Race:


From "Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance":

After my first road race, The Corrib Pub Run 5K, we signed up for the Marathon Sports 5 Miler in July of 2008. It was hot. It was an evening race. I had just begun my running career.

Our first 5 mile race was the Marathon Sports 5 miler. It was a hot, steamy evening in July. We got lost on the way to the race. Tempers were running as hot as the thermometer because I was so anxious about running my first five mile race. My energy tended to wane by the evening as I was continuing to deal with the late effects of polio. We finally arrived and walked around trying to enjoy the pre-race festivities. As everyone took their place at the start, I could see that this was a serious, competitive running crowd; quite a contrast to my first race ever, the Corrib Pub Run 5K in June.

Runners went out fast and Tom and I were in the back of the pack with a few other people. Even they took off. I experienced my first (of many) marathon training meltdowns. I cried as I shared with Tom all the memories of having kids take off and leave me behind that were bubbling to the surface. I was sweating and tired and hot. I couldn’t tell where my tears ended and sweat began. I told Tom I had no business training for the Boston Marathon. He was amazing and he told me that I couldn’t quit. We would make it through this race and we would make it through every training run. He believed in me when I did not believe in myself. I did know, however, that if I didn’t finish that race, I would never make it to the starting line of the Boston Marathon. Alison, Brookline Marathon Sports store manager who was named our mother hen during Boston Marathon training, gave me water and a high five out on the course. She was worried about me in the heat and wanted to make sure I was okay.

Despite finishing dead last, members of the Marathon Sports family who knew the story of Team McManus, had air horns and a truck on the field honking and blowing and cheering us on to the finish. I knew training for Boston was not going to be easy, but I knew I had what it was going to take to make it happen.

When we crossed the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon:


all that mattered was the success of that moment!

The grueling miles we put into training. The pain I experienced as a survivor of paralytic polio training for my first marathon with no prior running experience seemed to melt away when I stepped on the finish line on Boylston Street.

Thirteen years after leaving my career, I experience success as a blogger, author, poet, and motivational speaker. Those times of financial insecurity, uncertainty about my whether or not I had declared too bold a goal given my diagnosis and whether or not I really had the power to transform my life and transcend my past are all behind me as success overshadows the challenges of these past 13 years. In the midst of this pandemic. I do have my moments of anxiety and worry but success breeds success and confidence in experiencing success whatever the challenge may be.

Success is measured in different ways for different people so be kind to yourself in terms of how you frame your success. Be sure to:


As someone who has endured many many challenges in life beginning with contracting polio at age 5 and enduring years of abuse at the hands of family members, I can unequivocally bear witness to the truth that celebrating success overshadows the hardships that were endured along the way.

To celebrating your success!

From my heart to yours
In health and wellness
With love and peace
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.

There's No Such Thing As A Bad Run....& Reflections on Success

"I've been running long enough to realize the hardest part is just getting out the door. I never go for a run and wish I hadn't because running isn't about good days and bad days. Runs are cumulative. Runs are collected every time you tie up the laces. And there's only one rule for success ... keep showing up." ~Desi Linden 2018 Boston Marathon Champion in Brooks Ad

After I saw Desi Linden's ad for Brooks on Facebook, I was inspired to think about Monday's morning run with Tom. During the run I felt sluggish and noticed how I was judging my run and my pace. But there is no such thing as a bad run just as there is no such thing as a bad day. There may be days and runs that are more challenging than others but every day and every run is a gift.

I often forget what a blessing and miracle it is that I can get up in the morning feeling refreshed, lace up my running shoes and go out for a run (more about being a miracle maker in a future post).


Tom and I chose to run around the Route 9 Reservoir.

Daybreak was beautiful:


and the serenity was medicine for mind, body and soul:


Although my pace was significantly slower than Saturday's run on the Hills, my run was a success!

I often forget how many people do not get up at 5:45am on a Monday morning and start their day with a run.

Before breakfast, I fueled my mind, body and soul with exercise, fresh air, unplugged time with my bestie:


and time in nature.

A positive tone of success was set for the new day and the new week ahead.

Breakfast always tastes so good after a run and my body takes in the nourishment with joy and a feeling of self satisfaction for choosing to lace up first thing in the morning.

Twelve years ago at this time, I faced an uncertain future. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and prepare to experience a rapid decline in functioning as I aged, the result of having contracted paralytic polio as a child. "They" (the medical community) told me I needed to quit my job if I had any hope of stabilizing the symptoms of Post-Polio Syndrome where they were. I was told if I used it, I would lose it - yes you read that right - and I needed to conserve my energy because my neuromuscular system and my central nervous system were compromised from the initial polio virus.

I did in fact choose to take a leap of faith and leave my award winning career as a VA social worker in May of 2007 to heal my life having no idea at the time of what that meant. I sat in a leg brace using a cane and at times a wheelchair for mobility and had just started writing poetry that opened the portal to healing.

I WAS able to heal my life harnessing the power of the mind/body connection and working harder at my recovery than I'd ever worked at anything in my life. I went on to have many adventures as runnergirl 1953 including crossing the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon.

So Monday's run was challenging and my pace was off but it was still a success! There's no such thing as a bad run especially when you're told to prepare to spend the rest of your life in a wheelchair.

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

Be sure to visit my website by following this link.

My books are available on Amazon.



“The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” takes you on Mary McManus’ healing odyssey from a wheelchair to the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and beyond. After the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome in December 2006, Mary got still and asked for Divine Guidance tapping into the powerful connection she experienced to the Divine from an early age. She harnessed the power of her mind to heal her body, feverishly writing poetry in which she imagined herself healthy, whole and free from the shackles of her youth. Mary’s quest to heal her life led her to the sport of running. Her story is one that will leave you cheering for the underdog, discovering the meaning of different ability and experiencing the stunning view from the back of the pack of a race. You will have the privilege of bearing witness to how Mary overcame every challenge that life presented to her. The sport of running provides the backdrop for her journey of transformation from a survivor of childhood paralytic polio and severe trauma at the hands of family members to a woman who embodies faith, grace under fire, courage, determination, endurance and resilience. Running became a way of life for Mary that tested her mettle while forging friendships to last a lifetime. As you’ll discover in “The Adventures of Runnergirl 1953” nothing, not even a serious knee injury in December of 2014 could stop her on the roads or in her life.

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


Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing Hope and Possibility that chronicles the first 7 years of my healing journey:


Going the Distance: The Power of Endurance (With a Foreword by Jacqueline Hansen):


My healing journey using the power of visualization is featured in David R. Hamilton's book, "How Your Mind Can Heal Your Body-Anniversary Edition." It's available on Amazon.