Sensational Summer Day in Southie: The Best Things in Life Are Free

I know that in the middle of January, I am going to need to look at this post and remember the sensational summer day we had today in South Boston.

Our daughter was signed up for a CPR class through L Street Running Club. We packed a picnic and while she was in training, we spent several hours in the sun and surf.

It was a day meant to delight the senses. Salty sea air, seagulls' calls, the ebb and flow of the tide and crashing of the waves. The cold ocean water embraced my legs helping me to recover from yesterday's training run for the Tufts 10K.

I finished reading Kathrine Switzer's Marathon Woman.

Several members of L Street came out to say hi to us after the class ended. Ric Beaudoin who is a member of L Street and Merrimack Valley Striders teased us about being lazy and just sitting there doing nothing. As I talked with other members of the Club and our daughter to hear about the class, I had one ear tuned to what Ric and Tom were plotting. I saw out of the corner of my eye that they were making a pact to run the Hyannis Half Marathon together this year. That's where we first met in February of 2009. It was Ric who introduced me to both L Street and the Striders.

I'm chomping at the bit to run another half but to train for a half in winter would not serve me. I know I need more time finding my pace and comfort with the 10K distance. Just like I wanted to take off after that runner who said "on your left" yesterday as we were crossing the Mass. Ave Bridge on our training run, I want to train for another half. Patience young one, patience I tell myself. I can still enjoy the energy of the running community as a spectator especially in Hyannis.

Next week our Club hosts the Jim Kane Sugar Bowl 5K. Mac, founder and former L Street President is the race director. He and his wife Alma had taken the CPR course and we saw them when we get to get water on the Boulevard - Day Boulevard. We talked about the Race, and running. It always feels so good to connect with our friends in the running community. There's a comfort, a knowing and a wonderful energy whenever we get together.

I feel rejuvenated and incredibly blessed.

What I loved about today's sensational summer day in Southie is we drove maybe a half an hour at most from our home and everything was free - except for a couple of bottles of water.

Photos of the day which will trigger the sights, smells, sounds and sensations of the surf against my body, of a sensational summer day in Southie whenever I need them:



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.

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.