"Let's see what this body can do...." Tomorrow is my victory lap!

This time tomorrow I will have crossed the finish line of the Inaugural Bill Rodgers 5K Road Race and Walk to benefit prostate cancer.



I've been piecing together why this race means so much to me and why I chose to trash talk about a PR tomorrow.

And the Truth of it all can best be expressed in this quote by Olympian Gold Medalist Billy Mills:



After my nephew's suicide in March of 2011, I was in dire emotional straits. I lost myself and sense of who I was and I became vulnerable to people who did not have my best interest at heart. Trauma survivors are wonderful at convincing ourselves something is good for us even when it's not.

And so I walked away from running and the running community.

But the events of 4/15/13 awakened me to how important running is for me. As Joan Benoit Samuelson said,

"As every runner knows, running is about more than just putting one foot in front of the other; it is about our lifestyle and who we are."

I worked and am working hard in Aquatics at Spaulding Rehab, on the roads and in my weekly mind/body therapy sessions to reclaim my body and my life.

In October of 2007, after being discharged from outpatient rehab at Spaulding Rehab, I hired Janine Hightower, a personal trainer to see if I could get a little stronger.

She quoted Henry Ford, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right." And after our initial assessment, during which I was unable to even complete the tasks for assessment, as she pulled out all of her equipment for my first session she said to me, "Let's see what this body can do."

Six months later I declared I wanted to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab. Totally non plussed, she sent me off to Marathon Sports to be fitted for my first pair of running shoes ever.

She pushed us hard knowing what it would take for us to go the distance. We did speed drills, hill workouts, fartleks and strength training. I did an 11 minute mile one time. She provided me with support, encouragement and a lot of tough love along the road to Boston.

Recently, I have been resurrecting the runner within me reclaiming the sense of joy and freedom and that fiery Spirit in my soul to challenge myself to see just what this body can do.

Through training for tomorrow's race, I reclaimed my sense of dignity and integrity that others had tried to hijack from me through intimidation, humiliation and basically selling me a bill of goods on a treatment modality that was wrong for me. It was all a part of my journey and I am grateful for the soul lessons I learned.

I am delighted to be where I am today poised to take my place at the starting line of tomorrow's race. I don't know what the finisher's clock will say. I don't know if I will finish last in the group of runners. None of that matters. I will dig deep and leave nothing on the roads tomorrow. I can walk with character and pride knowing that I had the strength to begin again after a two year running hiatus. I worked my way back to remember what it was like to trash talk about a PR tomorrow and to see what this body can do. Tomorrow is my victory lap and one that I will embrace with a sense of deep personal satisfaction having reclaimed my dignity, my pride and my courage to be myself.



"Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" is now available on Amazon.



"Wait, I have one more goal," Mary McManus told her personal trainer in February of 2008 shortly after coming out of her toe up leg brace. "I want to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital." Mary traded in her polio shoes for running shoes and embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Mary McManus was at the height of her career as a VA social worker when she was told by her team at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s International Rehab Center for Polio in December of 2006 that she needed to quit her job if she had any hope of preventing the progression of post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. In “Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility” Mary takes you on her seven year healing odyssey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma from her diagnosis, to taking a leap of faith to leave her award winning career at the VA to heal her life and follow her passion as a poet and writer. You’ll experience her trials, tribulations and triumphs as she trains for and crosses the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and discovers the opportunity for healing in the wake of new trauma: the suicide of her nephew in 2011, and the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. This is Mary's journey of coming home to her human form free from the influences of the ghastly ghostly invaders who had invaded her sacred earthly home. Her memoir includes journals and blog posts from her seven year healing odyssey. This is her journey of transformation and her message of healing, hope and possibility.

I donate 50% of royalty payments through on line sales to The One Fund to help Boston Marathon survivors and their families. Copies are also available at Brookline Marathon Sports. $5 of each book sold at Marathon Sports is donated to The One Fund.

It's More Than a Race....

I've been mulling over in my mind, what is it about Sunday's race that seems to have so much emotion for me. Why did I choose this race to aim for a PR?

My friend Bonnie posted this to my wall on Facebook last night:



It all came together for me. The last time I heard J Alain Ferry at the start of a race was on 5/25/13.

From my memoir:
5/25/13

The moving pre-race ceremony began including 30 seconds of silence for those who lost their lives in the bombings. There was music and inspirational speeches and not a dry eye in the crowd as the church choir from where 8-year-old Martin Richard who was killed in the blast, made his first communion, sang the National Anthem. Tom and I had our arms around each other. Everyone was in a spiritual embrace.

And then we were off crossing the one mile to go marker in Kenmore Square where four years ago, Tom, our daughter Ruth Anne and I ran toward the finish line. I ran the 2009 Boston Marathon for those who couldn't and for those who were told they shouldn't run or would never be able to run again. Back then I was delivering a message of healing, hope and possibility. Today I was one with the survivors knowing they have a long road ahead for them but knowing that they, like me, would be able to go the distance.

We got to Hereford Street and I took a deep breath, as I knew we were going back to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and passing The Forum where the second bomb exploded. As we passed in front of the Mandarin, we stopped for a brief moment to give our thanks to the staff who ensured our safety. The two doormen who had been there on Marathon Monday while we watched the race before going upstairs to join the Spaulding Rehab party were there. How healing and wonderful to see them, express our gratitude and be back on a part of Boylston Street I was afraid to visit.

I told Tom I was ready to sprint to the finish line. I said a prayer as we ran by The Forum. I sobbed as the crowds were cheering and we were surrounded by runners with their bib numbers from Marathon Monday and thousands of people who had been touched by the tragic events of April 15. At the finish line we shared stories with one another. We hugged. We cried. We healed.

Despite the cold and the rain, the love and energy of the community kept us warm. The event organizers did an amazing job at honoring the victims of the bombing and the survivors – “You are out there to run for those who can’t.”

That’s why I ran the marathon in ’09 – and here I was running the last mile with a deep connection to the survivors of the bombing knowing in every fiber of my being what it’s like to work to regain mobility and to recover from trauma where you face death. There were so many emotions as we listened to the pre-race ceremony speakers and then as we reclaimed Boylston Street as our own.

As I look back on it, I remember how hard it was for me to run. I pushed myself though. It was the first time I ran since September of 2011. I could hear my body ask me, “Who do you think you are, Bill Rodgers?” Take it easy! You haven’t run in a very long time."

I "just happened" to meet Alain at Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon Festival Weekend. He invited me to Sunday's race giving me post cards to spread the word about the event.

Returning to the roads with the #onerun, I realized how important it was for me to get back to running and the running community. I knew how important it was for me to find my way back to myself after my nephew's suicide and taking a detour on my healing path.

I am so blessed that I was able to let go of people and practices that were not supporting me on my healing journey and found my way to the healing path I am now on.

Sunday's race is to benefit Prostate Cancer. We are all survivors of something in this life we live. I have nothing to prove yet I have everything to prove to myself. I've worked hard to get back to running and to experience the fullness of my body while living with the late effects of paralytic polio and healing in the wake of 9 years of violence as a child and teenager.

I am running not just for myself on Sunday but for all those who were told they couldn't, shouldn't or for whatever reason, cannot run right now. I know what a gift it is to go full out when the gun goes off and see what this body can do.

And while it may be just be a small 5K race on a Sunday afternoon at Boston College, for me, it's so much more than a race.



I chronicle the first 7 years of my healing journey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma in my memoir, "Coming Home:A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" available along with all of my books on Amazon. I donate 50% of royalty payments to The One Fund to benefit survivors of 4/15/13.

The Joy is in the Journey

On Sunday I will take my place at the starting line of the Inaugural Bill Rodgers 5K Run to benefit Prostate Cancer.



The hay is in the barn so to speak. I've trained on the course and worked hard this week in Aquatics Therapy classes. I even did a few extra swimming laps last night for good measure. I've been meditating, visualizing and listening to my playlist which includes this oldie but goodie from Whitney Houston:



I have also been asking myself why am I focusing on going for a PR on Sunday? As a side note, I've redefined PR for my new age group and a PR since my return to the roads after 4/15/13. My 5K PR for all time was at the Somerville Jingle Bell Run 5K in December of 2010; 42:21.



It's not the time on the finisher's clock that truly matters to me. It's about setting a goal. Working towards that goal. Embracing and anticipating reaching that goal and not attaching to the outcome.

As a survivor of paralytic polio followed by 9 years of childhood violence, it's about resurrecting the champion within; the athlete and feeling the fire in my belly (yes along with the butterflies) of taking on a course and seeing if I can beat my time of a 15:30 minute/mile pace for a 5K during a race.

I don't know what will happen on Sunday. A lot will depend on the weather and how I feel when I wake up in the morning. I am going for a massage treatment today at Sollievo and am taking these 3 days as rest days.

I'm reading Johnny Kelley's Young at Heart:



As my trainer said to me before our first session in October of 2007, "Let's see what this body can do."

Whatever the outcome, I am going to have a wonderful time on Sunday. The joy is in the journey.

And speaking of journeys - I chronicle the first 7 years of my healing journey in my memoir, "Coming Home:A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" available along with all of my books on Amazon. I donate 50% of royalty payments to The One Fund to benefit survivors of 4/15/13.

The Best Time

Sometimes I have the best time on a run and it doesn't matter what the time is on the clock. Sometimes I have had the best time on the clock but it's not always been my best run where I've had the best time.

Today I had the best time AND the best time!

Next Sunday I will take my place at the starting line of the inaugural Bill Rodgers 5K Run/Walk for Prostate Cancer. It's the 14th annual Prostate Cancer Walk now joined with the Bill Rodgers 5K.

I wrote about overcoming my pre race jitters in Present - Give Yourself the Gift of Peace.

One of the best ways I know to overcome pre race jitters is to get out on the course and run it. The course is the same course as the Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon and Festival Weekend's 5K. Tom knew the course well and while I wasn't familiar with the specifics of the course, I'd run parts of the course many, many times during training runs.



The day was warm and rainy.

The course starts off with a downhill. I was running at a nice even pace. We came to the uphill on Comm Ave and I channeled my inner Boston Marathon finisher until we got to the corner of Beacon Street and Cleveland Circle at about mile 1 and change. I stopped for a water break. The next part of the course is nice and flat set against the scenic Reservoir. There was a gentle rain falling and many many runners were out on this first Saturday in August.

Next up, the huge hill up Beacon Street. In the middle of the hill I thought to myself, "This is never going to end." What a wonderful metaphor for life. In the middle of an uphill climb, we feel as though we are never going to get to the top. I kept a strong and steady pace feeling fully present and balanced in my body.

I celebrated once we got to the top of the hill knowing it was all downhill from there.

I began to run. Tom asked me what I was doing.

"I left a little in the tank," I replied smiling and sweating.

I could feel myself overheating so I dumped some water on my head. I poured it on to the imaginary finish line.

I knew I had the best time but did I have the best time?

I checked my Nike+. Yes indeed - I sure did. The best 5K time since April of 2013 when I returned to running after a two year hiatus.

My first mile split was 15'12" and my average pace was 15'24". That's with an elevation of 221'.

I don't know what the day will hold for me next Sunday but I do know that today, I had the best time!




"Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" is now available on Amazon.



"Wait, I have one more goal," Mary McManus told her personal trainer in February of 2008 shortly after coming out of her toe up leg brace. "I want to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital." Mary traded in her polio shoes for running shoes and embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Mary McManus was at the height of her career as a VA social worker when she was told by her team at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s International Rehab Center for Polio in December of 2006 that she needed to quit her job if she had any hope of preventing the progression of post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. In “Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility” Mary takes you on her seven year healing odyssey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma from her diagnosis, to taking a leap of faith to leave her award winning career at the VA to heal her life and follow her passion as a poet and writer. You’ll experience her trials, tribulations and triumphs as she trains for and crosses the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and discovers the opportunity for healing in the wake of new trauma: the suicide of her nephew in 2011, and the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. This is Mary's journey of coming home to her human form free from the influences of the ghastly ghostly invaders who had invaded her sacred earthly home. Her memoir includes journals and blog posts from her seven year healing odyssey. This is her journey of transformation and her message of healing, hope and possibility.

I donate 50% of royalty payments through on line sales to The One Fund to help Boston Marathon survivors and their families. Copies are also available at Brookline Marathon Sports. $5 of each book sold at Marathon Sports is donated to The One Fund.

It's amazing who you meet when you say yes....

Our run club guru, Spencer Aston, sent out an email saying that The Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon was in need of volunteers and Marathon Sports Run Club Brookline was going to volunteer at the water stops.

I knew that on the day of the half marathon I was running the Father Bullock Charity Road Race so decided to sign up to do Bib Pick Up at the Expo.

As a sidebar, it's a thrill to see what goes on behind the scenes to put together a race. I've done packet stuffing for the Boston Marathon, a water stop for the Run to Remember and at the BAA 10K will be helping with wave starts and distributing finisher medals. I'll be doing t shirt and number pick up for L Street's Jim Kane Sugar Bowl run.

I arrived early to the Conte Forum and while walking around just happened to see my good friend Elizabeth Coumeau who is now the digital editor for Runner's World. When I signed up to volunteer, I had no idea that Runner's World was the organizer of the weekend's festivities nor did I know about the scope of the weekend's activities until I started receiving emails as a volunteer. I was saying yes to represent Run Club in what I believed to be a small race that was in need of volunteers.

Elizabeth took this selfie of our reunion:



We caught up for a few minutes and then in Elizabeth style she took off to work. I found the staff person coordinating volunteers for Bib pick up. There was bib pick up for the 5K, the 10K, the Five and Dime (those running both the 5 and 10K), the half and the Hat Trick (people running the 5, 10 and half marathon).

I chose to do Bib pick up for the Half Marathon.

The first person I met at our table was Alain. We asked each other how we came to volunteer for the event. We chit chatted and two more volunteers joined us. Maggie, the wife of Chris Kraft who is an editor for Runner's World and Suzanne Perreault, managing editor of Runner's World.



At a little after 3 pm on Friday afternoon, the Conte Forum was swelling with runners. We commented to each other how it felt as though it were a holiday in Boston. The energy was electric.

We were busy handing out bibs checking names if the bib had a name on it and double checking runners' numbers.

One runner in particular gave me his number. "Amby?" I said reading the name on his bib. And then I gasped. "As in Amby Burfoot?" I said with school girl giddiness. He smiled ever so warmly and said, "Well yes, I guess that would be me."

I told him how much I enjoyed reading the stories about how he helped to encourage Bill Rodgers natural running ability in Marathon Man and the articles he wrote post 4/15/13 and as we anticipated the running of this year's marathon. He smiled and I said, "Could I get your autograph or could I get a photo? Oh my husband is going to be so jealous because he really wanted to meet you."

His wife graciously took the photo (using Bill Rodgers signature thumbs up)



I told him that now we would have to come to his book signing at the Expo on Saturday afternoon.

As the shift wore on, Alain told me the back story for RaceMenu and RACE, Run Against Cancer Events. His voice was so familiar to me and I couldn't figure out why until he told me that he was the race director for the #onerun. I said, "Oh you're J Alain Ferry right?"

We talked about the #onerun and how important an event it was in our healing after 4/15/13.

From my memoir, "Coming Home:A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility":

“Oh look they are doing a #onerun tomorrow,” Tom said.

“I am terrified to be a part of that,” I answered.

“Then we have to register,” Tom said.

Tonight I realize there is another layer to all of this healing: the Boston Marathon bombings. It still causes the hair on the back of my neck to write those words. Tomorrow morning, Tom and I are going to walk the last mile of the Boston Marathon and to walk the part of Boylston Street that I’ve been afraid to return to....

5/25/13

The moving pre-race ceremony began including 30 seconds of silence for those who lost their lives in the bombings. There was music and inspirational speeches and not a dry eye in the crowd as the church choir from where 8-year-old Martin Richard who was killed in the blast, made his first communion, sang the National Anthem. Tom and I had our arms around each other. Everyone was in a spiritual embrace.

And then we were off crossing the one mile to go marker in Kenmore Square where four years ago, Tom, our daughter
Ruth Anne and I ran toward the finish line. I ran the 2009 Boston Marathon for those who couldn't and for those who were told they shouldn't run or would never be able to run again. Back then I was delivering a message of healing, hope and possibility. Today I was one with the survivors knowing they have a long road ahead for them but knowing that they, like me, would be able to go the distance.

We got to Hereford Street and I took a deep breath, as I knew we were going back to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and passing The Forum where the second bomb exploded. As we passed in front of the Mandarin, we stopped for a brief moment to give our thanks to the staff who ensured our safety. The two doormen who had been there on Marathon Monday while we watched the race before going upstairs to join the Spaulding Rehab party were there. How healing and wonderful to see them, express our gratitude and be back on a part of Boylston Street I was afraid to visit.

I told Tom I was ready to sprint to the finish line. I said a prayer as we ran by The Forum. I sobbed as the crowds were cheering and we were surrounded by runners with their bib numbers from Marathon Monday and thousands of people who had been touched by the tragic events of April 15. At the finish line we shared stories with one another. We hugged. We cried. We healed...

Despite the cold and the rain, the love and energy of the community kept us warm. The event organizers did an amazing job at honoring the victims of the bombing and the survivors – “You are out there to run for those who can’t.”

That’s why I ran the marathon in ’09 – and here I was running the last mile with a deep connection to the survivors of the bombing knowing in every fiber of my being what it’s like to work to regain mobility and to recover from trauma where you face death. There were so many emotions as we listened to the pre-race ceremony speakers and then as we reclaimed Boylston Street as our own.


It was because of the #onerun that I realized I needed to get back to running and the running community and here I was standing shoulder to shoulder with the race director who organized the event that got me back on my path.

I hadn't planned on running any races between the Father Bullock Charity Race and the Tufts 10K but how can I resist the Bill Rodgers Inaugural 5K at my alma mater Boston College to benefit prostate cancer which Alain is organizing.

When Elizabeth worked at the Boston Globe, she was tweeting about the Boston.com Spectacle Island Run. I wasn't going to run it after she left the Globe but she is planning to come up for the race and well truth be told, Alain is awesome at pitching races. I've added that to my race calendar as Elizabeth had told me that it was a race for all ages and all abilities.

Tom came to join me at the Expo. He could feel how infectious the energy was for the weekend. He signed up for the Five and Dime to get in his long run for the weekend. He took first in his age group for the Five and Dime and placed 3rd in his age group in the 5K.



and on his way home from the race, Tom bumped into our dear friend David Brown who was heading over to pick up his bib:



On Saturday afternoon Team McManus returned to the Conte Forum for the book signing. Amby warmly embraced us and signed, "The Runner's World Big Book of Marathon and Half Marathon Training" which I will be pouring over as I plan for a half in 2015:
To Team McManus: Congratualtions on all your running together Amby Burfoot

and Jen Van Allen who was a co author of the book signed:
Running makes every day better. Enjoy the journey!

It sure does! We are enjoying the journey ... and it's amazing who you meet and what happens when you say yes.




My memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" is now available on Amazon.

"Wait, I have one more goal," Mary McManus told her personal trainer in February of 2008 shortly after coming out of her toe up leg brace. "I want to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital." Mary traded in her polio shoes for running shoes and embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Mary McManus was at the height of her career as a VA social worker when she was told by her team at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s International Rehab Center for Polio in December of 2006 that she needed to quit her job if she had any hope of preventing the progression of post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. In “Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility” Mary takes you on her seven year healing odyssey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma from her diagnosis, to taking a leap of faith to leave her award winning career at the VA to heal her life and follow her passion as a poet and writer. You’ll experience her trials, tribulations and triumphs as she trains for and crosses the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and discovers the opportunity for healing in the wake of new trauma: the suicide of her nephew in 2011, and the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. This is Mary's journey of coming home to her human form free from the influences of the ghastly ghostly invaders who had invaded her sacred earthly home. Her memoir includes journals and blog posts from her seven year healing odyssey. This is her journey of transformation and her message of healing, hope and possibility.

I donate 50% of royalty payments through on line sales to The One Fund to help Boston Marathon survivors and their families. Copies are also available at Brookline Marathon Sports. $5 of each book sold at Marathon Sports is donated to The One Fund.

#MondayMotivation Second in My Age Group-Father Bullock Charity Race Report

When my friend Gail Martin invited me to the Red Fox Runs series this year, I asked her what the field was like in the Father Bullock Charity Run Walk Shuffle. She told me it depends on who shows up and gave me the link to check out previous year's results. She told me to just come out and enjoy myself. Gail reminded me that I had the option to do the 2 mile walk.

I registered for the 5K without even checking the results but a few days before the race I needed to see what the field was like. The final finishers came in at over a 16:00 minute/mile pace. The two mile walk would have been a slam dunk for me. But something inside of me wanted the challenge of the 5K run. Because it was a small field, I was hoping that perhaps only 3 women in my age group would race which would mean a mention on Cool Running and an award. But most importantly for me, I did not want to settle.

I wanted to challenge myself. I have nothing to prove. I am a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher. I have certainly gone the distance on the roads and in my life but there's this indescribable feeling I experience in my soul that I need to keep pushing myself. It's for physical, emotional and spiritual well being.

Running in the evening compounds the challenge for me as my energy tends to wane by the evening. I made sure to sleep in on Sunday and hydrate. I was also recovering from my 6 hour volunteer shift at the Heartbreak Hill Half Marathon and Festival. I am learning to trust in my body's ability to recover and heal while honoring that I do live with the late effects of having contracted paralytic polio at age 5.

Temperatures were in the 80's at 5:45pm, gun time. At the start, we were told to be careful out there and to hydrate. There would be a lot of support out there and if we needed help just ask. The announcer joked, "Please don't die on the course. Our insurance rates go up." I heeded his words as I listened to my body throughout the race feeling the effects of the heat and taking hydration, dumping water on my head to help regulate my body temperature.

For a moment or two at the start I was wondering if I made the right choice to run the 5K.

I did not know the course. But I did know I had Gail's phone number so if anything went awry, I could always give her a call. Her husband David was the race director, a firefighter and an EMT and I needed to just trust in him and in myself. Besides Team McManus was reunited for this race and I knew everything would be okay if I could just leave my doubts at the starting line!

We took pre race selfies with Gail:


And the race photographer took this family photo:


Here I am at the start channeling my inner Bill Rodgers with a thumbs up:


And photos from the starting line:


The air horn went off and so did we.

I felt wonderful in my body and was able to run as opposed to race walking. I knew I needed to keep a nice steady pace. It was awesome to see the lead truck and the pack up ahead. Tom and Ruth Anne told me that there were plenty of people behind us encouraging me to keep up this pace.

My breathing was hard and I went all out to give this race my best effort. We agreed to not check the miles or the pace on my Nike+ during the race but to stay focused on running and enjoying being together.

By mile 2, I was feeling my heat and the pace. The walkers were no longer behind us. We could no longer see the lead truck. Even though the water stop was getting ready to clean up, they waited for us with water and words of encouragement. At mile 2 the volunteer said, "You're almost there. There's nothing to do but to finish."

I was pushing myself hard-race walking. I know that I could have taken more breaks or slowed down my pace but I wanted to get to the finish line. The only person to beat was myself. Tom and Ruth Anne were wonderful encouraging me every step of the way making sure I was okay. I dug deep.

We knew there was a lake coming up on the course. What a beautiful scene unfolded before us and we knew we were getting close. A police officer on a motorcycle asked if I was okay. Tom told him that I contracted paralytic polio at age 5 and it's a miracle that I was out there running and yes I was fine. He told us to not worry about a thing. He would get us safely to the finish line. He had a call to attend to someone who overheated and told us he'd be back.

When he returned, he gave us a warning for running in the street and not staying on the sidewalk with a wonderful smile. He told me to finish strong.

I could see the finish and he began sounding his siren on the motorcycle just like they do for the lead runner in a race.

I gave it my all - one foot in front of the other - and was stunned to see that it was only 48 minutes on the finish clock. Everyone cheered as we came down the finish chute!

I thought I'd been out there for an hour and had been going really slowly. That's what heat and self doubt can produce. My pace according to Nike+ was 15:02 for mile 1; a pace I had not seen since before I began running last year after my 2 year running hiatus. Mile 2 was 15:13 and mile 3+ was 15:21 - overall pace on Nike+ was 15:15! The official time on Cool Running was 48:06 dead even with last week's performance at the Corrib Pub 5K. Pretty amazing I raced two weeks in a row!

And then it was time for a raffle and the Awards Ceremony. There were orange slices, bananas, chips, cake, water and protein drinks for post race fueling. The gym was filled with wonderful energy on this 10th anniversary of the Father Bullock Charity Race.

Ruth Anne won a $30 gift certificate to Marathon Sports.

And I took 2nd in my new age group of 60-69 years old. Okay so there was only one other female in my age group but no matter. I chose to take the challenge of running the 5K and was given a sweet reward for my efforts:




Fortunately, Ruth Anne had done research and found a wonderful place to go for post race fun and food, the Halfway Cafe in Canton. We had a table outside and I felt as though I were on this wonderful vacation. My stomach had settled from my effort and I was hungry!

The air was cooling off so I layered in race t shirts


and devoured a black bean burger with cole slaw.


Tom will be finishing out the Red Fox Run Series with the Run Around the Cape 25K in Gloucester on Labor Day which benefits the North Shore YMCA.

Now that I am able to do a 15 minute mile for a 5K and now that I have rediscovered that I have what it takes to get the job done, I am getting ready to take on the Tufts 10K in October. I'll be increasing my distance to 6 miles, working on strength training in Aquatics Therapy at Spaulding Rehab and speed in shorter distance runs. Regular massage treatment at Sollievo Massage and Bodywork with Zero Balancing support me in my journey helping me to heal mind and body and creating a space for my Spirit to thrive!

And I wasn't planning on running any more races before Tufts but now we are registered for the Inaugural Bill Rodgers 5K at Boston College on August 10th and the Boston.com Island Run on September 28th. (I opted for the 5K on this one). I do ask ahead of time if it is an all ages, all abilities race before I register. I am discovering there are more and more events that welcome all ages and all abilities.

This morning I woke up feeling energized and sore. I can't seem to stop smiling to realize that I placed second in my age group having left nothing on the roads in Sharon and excited for my race schedule.



My memoir, "Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility" is now available on Amazon.

"Wait, I have one more goal," Mary McManus told her personal trainer in February of 2008 shortly after coming out of her toe up leg brace. "I want to run the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab Hospital." Mary traded in her polio shoes for running shoes and embarked on the journey of a lifetime. Mary McManus was at the height of her career as a VA social worker when she was told by her team at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s International Rehab Center for Polio in December of 2006 that she needed to quit her job if she had any hope of preventing the progression of post polio syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease. In “Coming Home: A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility” Mary takes you on her seven year healing odyssey as a survivor of paralytic polio and trauma from her diagnosis, to taking a leap of faith to leave her award winning career at the VA to heal her life and follow her passion as a poet and writer. You’ll experience her trials, tribulations and triumphs as she trains for and crosses the finish line of the 2009 Boston Marathon and discovers the opportunity for healing in the wake of new trauma: the suicide of her nephew in 2011, and the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. This is Mary's journey of coming home to her human form free from the influences of the ghastly ghostly invaders who had invaded her sacred earthly home. Her memoir includes journals and blog posts from her seven year healing odyssey. This is her journey of transformation and her message of healing, hope and possibility.

I donate 50% of royalty payments through on line sales to The One Fund to help Boston Marathon survivors and their families. Copies are also available at Brookline Marathon Sports. $5 of each book sold at Marathon Sports is donated to The One Fund.