I know I haven't trained for this
to run the way I do

it's why at mile 5 my stomach cramps
and at mile 8 I cry about being a mother

©Erin Croley
(from a #HeartSoup Twitter prompt)

It was only 2.85 miles...but it was awesome!

I've spent the last few days watching my kids chafing their dream, literally. Hours on the sand and in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of North Carolina, my two kids have built sand castles, collected sea shells (and a few pistachio shells), learned to jump over waves and ride them to the shore, and swallowed lots of sea water. They've also developed chafing sand burns on their arms and legs, not realizing it until they hit the stinging bath water after a day of pure, pure joy. 

I try to stand perfectly still

let the breeze filter the sun's warmth

through my sweat-soaked clothes

but my face keeps tilting up

and my heart keeps beating


©Erin Croley

Last Monday, I watched Meb Keflezighi’s last three miles of the 2014 Boston Marathon on the edge of an ottoman in front of the television in my St. Louis home while my kids ate breakfast in the next room. 

Written in memory of 4.15.2013 and the moment of silence at the start of the Big Sur Marathon 13 day after...