Saturday, April 5, 2014

A letter to my sister

Dear Karen,

I still cannot believe that I got you to sign up for a half ironman. After constantly hearing you say that you would never be that crazy, I did not think that I'd ever get to fulfill my dream of being able to share this part of my life with you. But now I do, as we will be lining up together, side by side, at the starting line on Sunday.

It has been a real pleasure watching you grow in the past few months from someone who was terrified of the bike and needed me to save you to a wannabe cyclist smiling from ear to ear during a 50 mile bike ride with headwinds. I have watched you fallen multiple times, only to get back up instead of quit. Although I didn't say anything during those moments, I was so proud to see you conquer a fear.

I've heard you complain many times of soreness and tiredness, but you still trudged on and went running, swimming, and biking with me. You gave yourself no excuse, and that's great because you're building your mind to be like an ironman, which is anything is possible.

Your smile has gotten bigger (and so have your quads!), your laugh has gotten louder, and your eyes have gotten brighter. I could only wish that it was spending time with me that was making these transformations, but it's not. It's the sport, the dedication, the discipline, and the dream.

I have no real ambitions for my race on Sunday except to be your biggest fan and loudest cheerer on and off the course. I want to be there with you when you cross that finish line and accomplish something that you once thought was impossible. I want you to see my face when you realize that you've made one of my dreams come true.

And to hear you say that you're actually enjoying all this pain and suffering aka training and even jokingly planned your future in this sport, has made my heart grow thrice its size. To be able to share with you something I love so dearly and to have you love it back, it's one of the best feelings in the world.

Whatever happens on Sunday, no matter the results and finishing time, know that I am so proud of you and that I love you even more for just trying to get a taste of my world.

You're the best big sister in the world, and I'm glad this little sister can still teach you a thing or two about being crazy. Crazy awesome that is. :)

See you at the finish line (and hopefully many more to come)!

Love,
Angie Man

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