Mary McManus

A most unlikely runner stood next to Dave McGillivrey when he gave the oral command for the mobility impaired runners to start the 2009 Boston Marathon. I contracted paralytic polio at the age of 5 and diagnosed with Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease in December 2006 at the of age of 53. I was told to prepare to spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair. I refused to take the diagnosis sitting down. In February of 2007, I discovered the healing power of poetry. The first poem I wrote, ‘Running the Race’ foreshadowed my 2009 Boston Marathon run. We raised $10,535 for Spaulding Rehab. I went on to have many running adventures experiencing the transformative power of the sport. I am the author of 6 books, and a motivational speaker. I shared the stage with Bill Rodgers at the 2020 Hyannis Marathon Pre-Race Pasta Dinner. I have had numerous appearances on podcasts, radio shows and was part of the 2020 Boston Marathon Virtual Expo panel, “Late Life Running.”