A Wedding and Two Unlikely Runners - "Falmouth is Boston Strong" - Four Months Later

***Tissue warning when you click on the links to read the articles I share with you in today's post. ***

Two years ago I stopped running and focused on my yoga practice. Truth be told, I didn't know whether or not I would ever return to the roads. I would have bet money that I would not find myself in a field of runners again for a road race. Nope not me. Those days were behind me. I didn't feel well enough or strong enough in my body to return to running.

On April 15, 2013 at 2:50 pm, my body would be put to the test as Tom and I had to walk away from the scene of the Boston Marathon bombings to safety. We were blessed to have been protected from seeing the carnage. We were blessed that the hotel staff at the Mandarin Oriental were skillful and adept to lead everyone out to safety. I was blessed to be able to walk almost 3 miles to our car at a brisk pace being able to breathe deeply and move in my body rather than have to force my body to move.

We were with our friend Greg Gordon who was our teammate from the 2009 Boston Marathon Race for Rehab team. He is the race organizer for the Brookline Symphony Orchestra 5K- the last event I participated in two years ago. After Marathon Monday, I knew it was time for me to return to running and the Brookline Symphony Orchestra 5K Fun Run is the perfect event for me to train for. In addition to training, I have reconnected with my friends in the running community. Ahh one of the blessings of Facebook.

One of the friends I reconnected with is Marcie Butler who I met through the Merrimack Valley Striders Club. I was fortunate to be their guest speaker on two occasions sharing my inspirational Boston Marathon run with the members of their club. I met members of MVS when I ran my first half marathon in Hyannis in 2009. Tom and I saw Marcie at different races and I always enjoyed her Facebook posts. Recently I saw that she was talking about her wedding this weekend and I thought how cool, she is getting married the weekend of the Falmouth Road Race. Um not exactly - she is getting married at the starting line of the Falmouth Road Race before the start of the race which I discovered through the Facebook stream.

You can read the full story at Couples Passion for Running Sparks Romance.

Tom ran Falmouth twice. I was fortunate to be a spectator both times to cheer him on. It's a magical time to be in Falmouth as runners take over the town. I decided to enjoy the excitement in cyber space and 'liked' the Falmouth Road Race on facebook.

I saw these two articles posted:
Higgins:Is Desire to run strong enough to run Falmouth?
I relate to his response to the bombings and the desire and the need to be out there running and being a part of the running community. He visited the memorial in Boston and took one of his T shirts from the Falmouth Road Race and wrote Falmouth is Boston Strong on it.

And this article Peter Riddle Survives Boston Bombing - Runs First Falmouth Road Race Peter was across the street from where we were at The Forum when the 2nd bomb exploded celebrating with members of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation which helps raise funds for cancer patients. He was physically uninjured in the blast but is experiencing internal wounds as so many of us are. But rather than allow those wounds to cause him to contract in fear or anger, he is finding a way to heal those wounds through participating in the Pan Mass Challenge and the Falmouth Road Race with an eye on Boston 2014.

I am sure there are many more stories of how Falmouth is Boston Strong among the 10,000 runners that will take their place at the starting line. I will be with Marcie, Paul, Bill and Peter in spirit as they demonstrate that, four months later, we are Boston Strong!



Addendum 8/11/13 They made the front page of the Cape Cod Times (along with President Obama's visit to the Vineyard) and here is a grand photo of the wedding party with Dave McGilvrey at the start of the Falmouth Road Race:

You Have To Walk Before You Can Run

I am so delighted that I am training for the Brookline Symphony Orchestra 5K happening on 9/29. The race director is Greg Gordon who was my fellow teammate on Spaulding Rehab's 2009 Race for Rehab team.


We were together at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Marathon Monday when the bombs went off. Since Marathon Monday and since participating in the #onerun, my body told me it's time to get back on the roads. The perfect race for me to train for is Greg's Brookline Symphony Orchestra 5K fun run. It supports our town orchestra and two years ago was a joyful experience for Tom and me. Greg puts the fun in fun run.

While in Maine I discovered the joys of a pre breakfast power walk. I woke up this morning, had a banana and water and off I went for my first 3 mile walk in I don't know how long. I kept reminding myself that I have to walk before I can run again - if I can run again - if I choose to run again given how my body responds to the challenge. But it doesn't matter. A power walk works fine for me and feels excellent in my body.

I felt overcome with emotion after my walk. I realize how blessed I am to be able to get out and feel so well and whole in my body. I thought about those affected by the bombings who have a long and arduous road of recovery ahead for them. I thought about my long and winding road of recovery from when I was diagnosed with post polio syndrome over six years ago and I thought about the over 26 surgeries I have had through the years and countless times I had to learn how to walk again after surgery.

It's been an amazing healing odyssey filled with challenges, experimentation and adventure. After outpatient rehab and hiring a personal trainer I began to run - a lot as in run Forrest run - and trained for the 2009 Boston Marathon and so many races in between. Then I couldn't run because I had a relapse of post polio symptoms. The trauma and the residuals from paralytic polio needed more healing.

During our weekend in Maine we met the manager of Runners Forum, four running stores in the greater Indianpolis area. I sent him a follow up email and he sent me an email with this photo of his employees passing the torch during the One Run to benefit those affected by the Boston Marathon bombings.


It's been a little over four months since the bombings. I know I am still healing emotionally from that experience. I read inspirational stories of those finding their path of healing and recovery after the trauma of the bombings. Here's one about the final survivor leaving Spaulding Rehab yesterday!

My heart joins with them. There was a part of me that wanted to take off and run this morning but I know I have to take it slow this time or risk an injury. I befriend my mantra you have to walk before you can run feeling a sense of deep gratitude wash over me that I CAN walk now with a sense of ease in my body embracing and cherishing that sensation wanting nothing more in this moment.

Surrender from Seasons of the Soul now available along with Volume I:Elements of Healing on Amazon

No longer living life in retreat
hiding in the bunker
cowering, quivering, shivering
mustering courage
waving the white flag
a magnet for the light.

Pain pulsating
wringing out fear from every cell
space for love
exchange of love
end to torment of sleepless nights
tortured twisted thoughts
move forward….

plodding along on diminutive legs unnoticed
steadily stealthily moving forward in its journey
undeterred
undistracted
fulfilling its destiny in the Divine Plan
the caterpillar surrenders.

Weaving its temporary tomb entering the darkness
trusting
time suspended in the tomb womb
no choice but to be
just be as the mystery unfolds.

Relinquishing old ways
appendages absorb absolve
disquieting discomfort
unsettling uncertainty
seemingly never ending suspense

U N T I L

the beauty moment of freedom arrives

lighting on the lawn
wings flapping
she invites me to celebrate
warming sun
buds on trees
winter darkness a distant memory.

Orange and black bespeckled
bejeweled with Divine Love
glistening in all her glory---

Come dance with me
on my mat I move with the majesty of the monarch
I rise to salute the sun
open grateful heart
rejoicing
relishing freedom.

From my heart to yours
With total love and deepest gratitude,
Mary

MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY AND FREE!

Appreciation

Appreciation - understanding the meaning or quality or magnitude of something
Gratitude - a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation




I have begun training for the Brookline Symphony Orchestra 5K in September. I am so excited to be training again. I am being mindful this time aware of not getting into the pitfalls of forcing my body to move and pushing myself. I'm going slow and steady working to be aware of those thoughts of I have something to prove and using restraint in my actions.

Yesterday morning it was raining. I checked the hour by hour forecast and it said that by 11 it should be mostly cloudy. Awesome! But as I posted on my Facebook status, "It may be raining but I'll be walking on sunshine."

When I first got out to the Reservoir it was dark and drizzling

I appreciated being able to be outside no matter the weather and doing a power walk. I felt my heart swell with a sense of appreciation for the work I have and continue to do to heal my life.

The skies began to brighten

and by the end of my walk, the sun had come out.

I spent the afternoon outside working at my table feeling so blessed and grateful for the day.

When Tom got home from work, we did a bbq using the grill we had won in the Silent Auction on Marathon Monday


and I took a moment to appreciate how blessed we were to get to safety after the bombings.

As Tom and I relished our dinner, we breathed and we sighed appreciating how hard we worked to arrive in that moment. Our hearts overflowed with gratitude for all that was good and right in our lives and in the world. Sure there's pain and heartache without a doubt but what helps me to bear the pain, the heartache, the violence and evil in the world is to appreciate all that is right in the world.

Happy To Be Alive from Seasons of the Soul now available on Amazon
Face to face with death at knife point
cold darkened eyes stare into mine
unflinching I stare back
afraid to move a muscle
already dead.
Life force safely tucked away
unknowing the outcome of this untimely encounter with death
at the hands of a madman
reasoning destroyed by gin and vermouth.
Angels intervene
he finds peace in death
I am left to put the pieces of my life back together again.
As numbness gives way to pain
pain gives way to gratitude
appreciation for this wondrous wonder filled life
where nothing makes sense and everything makes sense
purpose out of pain
grace in ungodly moments
surrounded by love
happy so happy to be alive
to tell the tale of one who almost died.

From my heart to yours
With total love and deepest gratitude,
Mary

MAY ALL BEINGS BE HAPPY AND FREE!