This year’s 130th anniversary of the Boston Marathon saw beautiful weather, record-breaking times, and fast footwear. Among the more than 30,000 runners, there was one participant from Woodbridge sporting a custom tank top that read on the back, “Erin, mom of 7, running down a dream.” On the front was a quote from St. Catherine of Siena: “Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”
Erin Craine’s road to Boston began in high school when a friend invited her to join the cross-country team. Despite a shaky start, she kept at it, and through the ups and downs of life over the years, she has always come back to running.
“It has become a source of peace,” said Craine, who with her family attends St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church in Lake Ridge.
After the birth of her first child, she ran the Marine Corps Marathon and was hooked. Many miles and four more kids later, she decided it was time to conquer Boston.
Early morning runs with jogging strollers became a regular occurrence. Sometimes other moms would join her, but more often it was her husband, Rick, keeping pace at her side or holding down the fort at home with their kids.
“My husband is extremely supportive,” said Craine. “He has been wonderful, making sure I can get a run in.”
But just as she was starting to build momentum, the speed bumps of life popped up. First, the pandemic in 2020, followed by the arrival of baby number six. Then, in 2024 she managed to run a qualifying time only to find out she had been cut out by just 35 seconds.
“Anyone with a qualifying time can submit to run, and they receive so many that they end up cutting applications at the age and gender standard by a certain amount under the time standard,” said Craine.
Despite the setbacks, Craine kept running.
Two more marathons later, she had an 8.5-minute buffer from the standard time and was accepted for 2025 with a 3.31 qualifying time. But alas, baby bump number seven was on the horizon.
“Boston only lets you defer registration for pregnancy or postpartum, which was implemented in 2023 after mothers advocated. No other deferrals are accepted,” said Craine. “My littlest was born last March, so instead of racing, I was snuggling a very sweet 1-month-old last year.”
But the months leading up to April were filled with their own unique challenges.
According to Craine, due to complications after pregnancy, she had to delay training for three and a half months. By then it was like starting from square one yet again. Running 8 miles one morning and 20 the next, six days a week, while still carving out time between homeschooling and preparing her oldest for college. As if that were not enough, in January her training route was covered in what locals dubbed “snowcrete,” a semi-impenetrable combination of snow and ice that stuck around for weeks. It forced her to drive to Prince William Forest Park where a path was carved out. Thankfully, the hills in the park turned out to be great training for Boston.
Before she knew it, April 20 arrived. The Craines packed the whole family in the car and “shipped” up to Boston to watch Erin’s dream come true.
“The weather was incredible, the runners were so inspiring and the spectators were phenomenal,” said Craine. “Rick managed to get the kids to three spots on the course to cheer me on.”
When Craine crossed that blue-and-yellow-finish line, she couldn’t help but cry.
“There were so many times I doubted I could do this,” said Craine. “I questioned and prayed about the big chunk of time it took up. But in the end, my having this dream brought us closer together. It was important for the kids to see their mom chasing a dream, failing and trying again. My kids are my biggest and greatest gift. Running when I am able helps me find peace and clarity in God’s plan and somehow makes navigating the challenges of life and motherhood a little easier. It’s important to find something that brings you joy to fuel your motherhood.”
Kassock is a freelance writer in Fredericksburg.
