Saying Thanks to Anne

This is a special blog post for me. It was on my mind during my long run today, and when I got home I knew I wanted to write this.

When my sister Anne and I were kids we always found ways to get at each other. It was not always pretty. I think a couple of times our dad actually swore at us in order to get us to behave towards each other.

As siblings do, we grew out of it. Anne got married and had kids. I came out, and tried to make my own life. Even though we had very different lives, we always found a way to bond, through the good times and the bad. There were plenty of both.

When I made the decision to lose weight and become healthier, I have no idea what my sister thought as I took up running. I do know she supported me 100%. After a good run, or a race we would talk, and she would tell me how proud she was of me.

As I got more insane with my running, Anne helped fuel the addiction even more. She got me my first subscription to Runner's World. She got me a pair of shoes, a watch to time my runs, and my first IPod Shuffle. She also just sent me a replacement shuffle - as my first one met an untimely death in the washing machine.

Anne was with me when I finished my first half marathon in South Bend last year. She was at the half way mark with pom poms cheering, and she was in the stands when I ran onto the field at Notre Dame Stadium. She also was the one who made the rule that I could wear my race medals for a day...maybe into the next day - not after that though.

Sadly Anne won't be at the Chicago Marathon, but she will be with me in spirit. She is on my short list of people to call during the race for a quick pep talk during the tough miles.

I value her support and am so grateful to have her for my sister. Anne manages a cleaning business and is a mother of three. She has also taken up aerobics in an effort to get healthier. She has a lot on her plate, and I am amazed at how well she succeeds. I may be biased, but I dare say she is the best sister a guy could have.

I believe it is important to thank the people who love and support us runners. I will be writing about other folks in the future. For now though... thanks Anne for all your love and support! It means the world to me.

:-)Charlie