Last Saturday was a memorable day for many reasons! First, our fellow Caring Medical team member and C.O.O. Mandi Jones completed her first 13.1 half marathon at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, FL. Who knew it is considered one of the most difficult trail runs in FL? Hot, humid, wet, muddy (thank you hurricanes Nicole and Ian!), tall grass, and hilly – not what we expected! Yet, she crossed that finish line!
In the past, she may not have called herself a runner. She wanted to run or thought about running. What changed? She started helping Marion workout to regain full strength after her bicycle crash! What started out as helping a friend turned into a lifestyle change and a transformation or metamorphosis into an athlete.
Mindset is everything. If you think of yourself as disabled, injured, or weak, then that is who you become. Both Mandi and Marion had their own obstacles to overcome throughout the course of the year as they trained for this event.
This 13.1 miler was Marion’s “comeback event!” A year ago, she thought she would never be able to run long distances again. Her ligamentous injuries were healed with Prolotherapy, and her pelvic bone break grew back together, but her strength was not 100%. One day at church, she prayed to get complete healing. Then…a phone call…
Dr. Scott Gray at Back in Motion Physical Therapy and Performance located in the same office complex as Caring Medical Florida called to see how she was recovering from the crash. God answers prayers in ways that may not be the way we think that they should be answered. Thus started the transformation with the help of Back in Motion, hard work, and lots of prayer!
Over the course of a year (not just a couple of visits!) she was able to fix numerous muscle imbalances, regain strength, and improve running form, as well as feel strong enough mentally and emotionally to be able to compete again. It has been a long journey of hard work, pain, and at times, discouragement, but the rewards are great.
Mandi, through the course of working out, also suffered several sports-related injuries for which she received Prolotherapy, as well various treatment modalities at Back in Motion. She changed her eating and sleeping habits. She was now getting up at 5AM to work out, as she and Marion have been working with their personal trainer since February and are now able to lift heavy stuff they never dreamed of! 😊 LOL
But… she had to be patient and at times reduce her training while she was healing from injuries. There was a time in July where she was basically unable to run. Yet, she adapted and utilized other methods to keep her heart rate strong such as rowing, biking, and aqua jogging. She did not give up either!
Now, throw in a hurricane and being displaced from your home and office – and you realize that 2022 was not the ideal year to train. Yet, they persevered.
So, Saturday was a great day for many reasons. First, both Mandi and Marion crossed the finish line. Secondly, they took a rough year filled with stress and uncertainty, injuries, and pain – and turned it into a positive. They challenged themselves – each fighting their own battles. They stuck with each other and remained strong and committed. You know the song, “What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger!” – well we can attest to that!
So, whatever you are facing, we encourage to keep on keeping on.
PS: Dr. Hauser ran the race with Mandi and Marion as their “sherpa” carrying extra fuel, dry socks, Band-Aids, and the like, and of course, comic relief!
Blessings from the Dr. and the Dietitian,
Dr. Hauser and Marion
