The Magic of Running

Yesterday my daughter and I went for our run twice around Jamaica Pond. I am reading Bill Rodgers book, "Marathon Man" and he talks about how he did his training runs around Jamaica Pond. I could feel the presence of his legacy and felt a connection to something bigger than me.

We have many fond memories of our training runs around Jamaica Pond. Even though the pond was frozen and we had to watch out for slush, ice and mud, there was magic, beauty and majesty in the scene. I remembered how I was inspired to write the poem Courage on one of our training runs. The scene was similar to how it was 5 winters ago as we trained for Boston 2009.


Courage - January 5, 2009
The fear of ice and snow and slush embedded in my soul
a training run in winter - the path to Being whole.
A winter scene - Jamaica Pond - a feast for eyes' delight
to witness nature's splendor and behold this glorious sight.
A leaf - a tiny dancer - skating free without a sound
God's breath directs her movements,as She guides her twirling 'round.
Families of ducks decide to walk or take a dip
a comedy of errors into icy water slip.
The branches now bejeweled with ice bend with loving Grace
sparkling diamonds' anchor water's surface hold in place.
God's hand a glove of glistening snow
hugs rocks along the wall
their heads peek out reminding me I'm answering God's call.
A scene I'd never witness if I let my fear take hold
courage triumphed, steppin' out with footsteps sure and bold.
Knowing that the pain subsides and Spirit can prevail
the Marathon is beckoning - through those miles I shall sail.

We saw families of ducks and the snow covered rocks and we delighted in the scene. We laughed as we reminisced about the day that Tom and I lost each other going around - emphasize around - Jamaica Pond.

From my blog 3/29/09:

And who could EVER forget us losing each other around - emphasize the word a-round Jamaica Pond. Tom had stopped at the car to fill up the water bottles and get some snacks. He had his iPod on really loudly. I was in the zone and ran by him. I saw him looking for me in the opposite direction and yelled to him that I was over here. I felt so great and the weather was wonderful that I did not want to interrupt my rhythm. Finally, my daughter who had been going at her own pace came running up to me - where were you she asked? (well duh, we're going around in a circle) Dad is worried sick about you. He thought that since you had to go to the bathroom (and the bathrooms were not open yet) that you went off the trail and went to pee in the woods). We finally all caught up with one another and laughed so hard.

We are doing support crew tomorrow for L Street so we needed to get in our 5 miler today. The sun was shining and I could just tell it was going to be a great day for a run. I layered because it was chilly and there's still a lot of snow and ice on the ground. Once we got into the sunshine, we began to peel off layers.

And as Tom and I are heading down Beacon Street, I hear someone call my name from behind me. It was none other than David Brown - again! He said "This is my lucky day." Well it was our lucky day for sure. As David ran off to finish his long run I let out a yell for Forsyth Team Miles4Smiles.

Runners were out by the hundreds today many sporting their Boston Strong t shirts. The winter chill is leaving the air. The sun is warmer and the birds are singing strong. There is magic in the air - the magic of running - and the magic of Boston getting ready for the 118th Boston Marathon.

Pure Joy - A Fabulous Start to February

After last week's rough track run , I wasn't sure if this running beyond a 5k was going to be good for me. That's the thing about living with a neuromuscular disease, you just don't know what is going to happen. I've learned to make peace and accept whatever is in every step of this 7 year healing odyssey. I recently read Tara Brach's post, "It's Not What's Happening, It's How You Respond." My mantra is that I play the ball where it lands.

It was supposed to rain today. Imagine my delight when the sun was shining and it was 43 degrees outside. I planned out what I thought was going to be my 5 mile route. As it turned out I ran for a total of 6.44 miles at a 15 minute pace because I did not look closely at the route that google directions mapped out for my run. They had me going a route that was obviously shorter than what my Nike tracked.

The energy was electric on Beacon Street which is part of the Boston Marathon route. There were smiles and fierce determination on the runners' faces. You couldn't tell who was training for Boston and who was out to get their miles in just because....it didn't matter because as my friend Elizabeth Comeau says, "#weruntogether".

I was feeling a little tired realizing that I had gone for longer than anticipated, but smiling and basking in the beautiful sunshine when I see a runner in the street who called out, "Mary!". He came running over to me and it was none other than David Brown former meteorologist on Channel 5 and now director of development at the Forsyth Institute. We hugged and as he posted on Facebook, "It was pure joy."

We've been friends for over 2 years on Facebook and we finally got to meet each other. I also met his teammate for #miles4smiles, Katie Eastmann.

What a boost of energy seeing Katie and David and sharing hugs gave me. I was smiling the whole way home.

I could sense the healing energy happening in the streets of Boston today. The cloud from 4/15/13 seemed all but gone as now runners are digging deep and getting ready for 4/21/14. The sunshine and the warmer temperatures seemed to fuel everybody's run and sense of optimism that yes we are moving forward! I passed water stops set up for different charity runners and felt the excitement that tomorrow, we will be hosting a water stop for L Street Running Club. Last night we did a Target run and got the necessary provisions.

I saw on Facebook that my friend Karis Antokal got in her 12 miles with 3 hills at a 12 minute/mile pace. Karis has never been a runner; she hated running as a matter of fact yet she is taking on the challenge of a lifetime.

On 2/20/14, from 8-10pm we are going to be singing strong for Boston Strong as we raise our voices and a whole lot of money for Spaulding Rehab. All the details can be found on my webpage, "Singing Boston Strong."



Read Karis' story on her fundraising page and be inspired and moved to make a donation. We would love to see you at Limelight but if you can't come or aren't in the Boston area, with a minimum donation of $35, you'll be entered to win the autographed Tom Brady Jersey. For those of you who can join us, minimum suggested donation is $20 and you'll be entered to win the autographed Tom Brady Jersey....how cool is that? We have cash bar and apps.

Oh yeah - and about whether or not I should or could run beyond a 5K -- at least for today - I felt absolute pure joy in running 6.44 miles at a 15 minute/mile pace feeling one with the Boston running community. What a fabulous start to February!

Corrib Pub 5K Race Report - Happy Race-iversary!

The day started out with clear blue skies and a little bit of a chill in the air but temperatures quickly climbed so I took off my Boston Janji T shirt and ran in my racer back top and shorts.

I was excited to return to the Corrib Road Race after a 3 year hiatus; my first road race ever 6 years ago today. My friend David Brown posted on Facebook that it was my race-iversary and so it is.

I was blessed to meet Margo and Julie Feeney through Spaulding Rehab's Race for Rehab team. They ran the Boston Marathon for Spaulding Rehab this year and we went to their fund raiser. We became fast friends, celebrated with them after their triumphant Boston Marathon run, and we decided to sign up for today's race.

Margo and Julie told me that they wanted to stay with me and I could set the pace. We gathered for before race photos:


and took photos at the start:



Tom took selfies of Team McManus:


The starter for the race was an Afghanistan veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan but when he returned joined the Boston Fire Department. He responded to the fatal Back Bay fire in March and was injured when he was blown off of his ladder. But here he was today to start the race. We had a moment of silence to honor Michael Kennedy and Ed Walsh who died in the line of duty that day. There were Boston Strong t shirts aplenty among the runners and the spectators who cheered us along the route.

It was finally time and the air horn went off. Julie, Margo and Tom let me set the pace. I felt good in my body and wasn't concerned in the least about my finishing time. We all wanted to enjoy each other's company and the day. I love how Margo said, when you go at a slower pace, you really get to enjoy the race.

We talked about their Boston Marathon run, books, songs, movies and drank in the neighborhood feel to the race. There were no mile markers. I didn't have my Nike+ on. I listened to my body. I stopped for water and made sure I kept myself well hydrated and cool. The sprinklers were out in full force.

About 2+ miles into the race, I needed to slow down. We were on Centre Street and the sun was hot. I had a little side stitch and was feeling a little nauseous. Tom, Margo and Julie slowed down with me and we decided that when we got to the corner, we would pick up the pace again. But we passed the Fire Station and the firefighters were outside cheering us on. I knew I needed to dig deep and get this done!

I knew there was a killer hill on the way. Margo, Julie and Tom were so supportive. They kept checking in with me and told me that I had this. Margo and Julie asked me if I had a mantra to keep myself going in the earlier miles and they repeated it back to me - right foot, left foot and I reminded myself of how incredibly grateful I was to be out on the course. And how amazing to have the unconditional love and support of my friends sharing in my race-iversary telling me they felt honored to run with me!

There was a huge sign that said "Heartbreak Hill of West Roxbury Water Stop". Julie told me that the crest was in view. Somewhere along the way there was that moment when you break into song, "Let It Go" and you haven't lived until you see Margo sing "The cold never bothered me anyway." I think I heard some kids behind us helping us along with the lyrics.

I knew we were close to the finish and that there was a wonderful downhill to take us there.

I didn't realize how much I still had left in the tank and felt something stir deep within me to let it go as Tom captured it all on video:



When I hit the finish mat the clock had just turned to 50 minutes. I knew that was gun time and I was ecstatic with my run. I didn't think that I would see a finish time under 16:00 min/mile pace and I was fine with that.

But here are the official results:
2425 McManus Mary Chestnut Hill MA 406 60 F 22 60-69 48:03.0 15:30/K

And here is the time when I ran my first race ever 6 years ago today
1692 51:52 16:44 41 50-59 824 F 282 Mary McManus Chestnut Hill,MA

How many miles I have traveled since 6/1/2008.

I feel blessed to have traveled 3.1 miles today stride by stride with beautiful friends and my life and running partner Tom. Without mile markers and splits, I went within to run a mindful race. While I am delighted with my time, the only time that truly matters is the time well spent with loved ones on a beautiful summer's day running through neighborhoods and feeling a part of something much bigger than myself.

My memoir Coming Home:A Memoir of Healing, Hope and Possibility is now available on Amazon. 50% of royalty payments are donated to The One Fund to support the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombings and their families.

Joy and Spring Return to Boston -- "And this time next year..."

It has been a long, cold, cruel New England winter. We thought Spring would never arrive. We thought our hearts and souls would never begin to experience the warmth that Spring brings or that our broken hearts would heal. It seemed like flowers would not bloom again and that the snow and ice would never melt.

But today in real time and on my Facebook feed, there are signs of healing and moving forward. I went on a 5.7 mile run and did about a 15+ minute pace as I train for the Tufts 10K in October. What an amazing day. The Reservoir is melted. The geese were swimming. The birds sang sweet and clear. Runners wearing their race day singlets for their chosen charity were out in force. I felt wonderful in my body running next to my life and running partner Tom. I shouted out to runners we passed, "Good luck a week from Monday."

Tomorrow we join the Merrimack Valley Striders for Packet Stuffing Day. Here are some photos from yesterday and today's packet stuffing days:



and a pic of this year's volunteer jacket:



My dear friend David Brown who brought such joy to running on Beacon Street posted his number which someone stuffed into a packet yesterday:


Sports Illustrated invited Bostonians to be a part of a cover photo shoot. What a contrast to the cover one year ago picturing 3 police officers running to assist a runner on the ground and chaos, desolation and destruction along Boylston Street.

This compilation comes from Twitter that says: A New Day in Boston


There are hashtags for #bostonstronger now!

And here is a video of the photo shoot:


Here are some photos my Facebook friends posted:





There are many more photos from my friends that capture a sense of play and joy like this one



and that reflect resilience and triumph as over 3,000 Bostonians returned to Boylston Street and the Finish Line just a few days before the one year anniversary of 4/15/13.

One of the businesses on Boylston Street most profoundly affected by the bombings was The Forum who posted this on Facebook today:

Dear friends,

April 15th, 2013 was a date that forever changed our lives and scarred our city. A date that certainly made history, not because of the criminal intents of some, but because of the remarkable show of strength and resilience of our community. In the aftermath, FORUM was inundated with an outpour of love, support and encouragement, in messages from people all over the world. It gave us the strength needed to rebuild and reopen our business, four long months later.

Today, nearly a year has passed since last Marathon, and with that time, wounds have begun healing. While the City prepares for this year’s Marathon, words simply cannot describe the feelings of anticipation shared by many of us. We are forever grateful for the true heroes in our beloved city, those who risk their lives to selflessly protect and serve us.

To express the true extent of our appreciation, on Tuesday April 15th, 2014, FORUM will donate 100% of the day’s sales to the The One Fund Boston, the Joe Andruzzi Foundation, the Boston Firefighters Credit Union's Lt. Walsh and FF Kennedy Memorial Fund.

We invite you all to join us at FORUM in this day of tribute and remembrance. We will never break. Together, we are Boston Strong.

And this time next year....we are here now poised to both commemorate the tragic events of 4/15/13 and anticipate the running of the 118th Boston Marathon. We will continue to need to heal as we move through these next 9 days and beyond but what a wonderful day to experience that joy and Spring return to Boston and we are Boston Stronger!

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.