#240 From wheelchair to marathon Mary McManus
Fri Jan 30 2026
When Mary McManus received the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine Standards in December of 2006, she refused to take the diagnosis sitting down. She was told to prepare to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair and expect an accelerated decline in functioning as she aged. She was at the height of her award-winning career as a social worker at the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic just 3 years shy of retirement. In February of 2007, she got still and asked for Divine Guidance as she often had when facing challenges throughout her life. The poem “Running the Race” flowed out of her followed by an anthology of poems that harnessed the power of the mind/body connection. The runner within Mary was born in her imagination. In May of 2007, Mary took a leap of faith leaving behind her career to heal her life. What a wondrous path unfolded before her. She is a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher and has had many adventures as a most unlikely runner. Mary is an inspirational author, motivational speaker, blogger, poet and the author of 7 books that chronicle how she survived and thrived in the wake of childhood paralytic polio and trauma. To learn more visit her website at https://marymcmanus.comWebsite: https://marymcmanus.com Blog: https://unlikelyrunnergirl53.blogspot.comAuthor Page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B0047OFIQ6YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Marysunshine100LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-mcmanus-05486a177/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marymcmanusgothedistanceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_mcmanusrunnergirl/Access me FREE Lymphatic Drainage Routine here https://iamjenwilson.thrivecart.com/lymph/Access my FREE Posture for Health mini workshop here https://iamjenwilson.thrivecart.com/posture-for-health/Get my book 9 Rules to Sort Your Shit here - https://amzn.to/4eYtVnqRebel and Divine Anarchist hoodies and t-shirts here https://iamjenwilson-2.teemill.com/collection/new/Gut Friendly, Easy Recipe book here https://amzn.to/4gJsGICFor all information on working with me:www.iamjenwilson.comFollow my social channelsSubscribe to my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/iamjenwilsonLike my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IamJenWilsonFollow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/iam.jenwilson
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When Mary McManus received the diagnosis of Post-Polio Syndrome, a progressive neuromuscular disease by Western Medicine Standards in December of 2006, she refused to take the diagnosis sitting down. She was told to prepare to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair and expect an accelerated decline in functioning as she aged. She was at the height of her award-winning career as a social worker at the Boston VA Outpatient Clinic just 3 years shy of retirement. In February of 2007, she got still and asked for Divine Guidance as she often had when facing challenges throughout her life. The poem “Running the Race” flowed out of her followed by an anthology of poems that harnessed the power of the mind/body connection. The runner within Mary was born in her imagination. In May of 2007, Mary took a leap of faith leaving behind her career to heal her life. What a wondrous path unfolded before her. She is a 2009 Boston Marathon finisher and has had many adventures as a most unlikely runner. Mary is an inspirational author, motivational speaker, blogger, poet and the author of 7 books that chronicle how she survived and thrived in the wake of childhood paralytic polio and trauma. To learn more visit her website at https://marymcmanus.comWebsite: https://marymcmanus.com Blog: https://unlikelyrunnergirl53.blogspot.comAuthor Page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B0047OFIQ6YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/Marysunshine100LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-mcmanus-05486a177/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marymcmanusgothedistanceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mary_mcmanusrunnergirl/Access me FREE Lymphatic Drainage Routine here https://iamjenwilson.thrivecart.com/lymph/Access my FREE Posture for Health mini workshop here https://iamjenwilson.thrivecart.com/posture-for-health/Get my book 9 Rules to Sort Your Shit here - https://amzn.to/4eYtVnqRebel and Divine Anarchist hoodies and t-shirts here https://iamjenwilson-2.teemill.com/collection/new/Gut Friendly, Easy Recipe book here https://amzn.to/4gJsGICFor all information on working with me:www.iamjenwilson.comFollow my social channelsSubscribe to my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/iamjenwilsonLike my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/IamJenWilsonFollow me on Instagram https://instagram.com/iam.jenwilson