In previous posts, I have written about my seven brothers, aka “The Uncles.” As awesome as they are, and as proud as I am to have each and every one of them, there is something about having sisters that is unmatched. I am blessed beyond belief to be able to have two sisters.  I have a younger sister, Molly who is just 3 years younger, and who is an AMAZING mother to twin, 3-year-old girls as well as a 2 year old son, and 1-year old daughter.

I also have an older sister Megan, who is also a mother whom I look up to. As some may already know, Megan passed away almost six years ago. Obituary here.

Megan just after having Krissy

Megan and her 2 oldest kids

I was going to wait until her birthday in June to write a tribute post, but the truth of the matter is, I miss her every day, not just on her birthday. So, why wait? There are so many things to be said about her, that I could devote an entire blog to it, but since this is a running blog, I will stay true to the theme. (If you would like to see a little more about Megan, here is the FB page that we have set up for her).

Just like me, Megan loved to run. But, unlike me, back in the day, she loved the longer distances. (I was a sprinter, with the 100-800 being my main events). In high school, I pretty much maxed out at 3 miles. Not Megan. She would always have her head phones on and tape player, and head out for a run in our small town…I think she even brought a portable CD player with her once, only to find that they didn’t travel so well :).

I remember that I used to get the worst side aches…probably because I wasn’t in the best of shape ;). She told me that the way she got rid of them was by imagining the pain going up to her arms and out her fingertips. I’ve tried this many times since then, and it works!

One of my last memories of her was when she was out visiting home from Georgia. It just so happened that we were all visiting. So, as was customary, Megan, Molly, Dad and I would head out for a run. If I remember right, my parent’s washer was broken, so we were running in between laundry cycles at the laundromat. (Anything to get a run in 😉 ). Also, I do recall that I was 4 months pregnant, Megan had just had a baby 3 months prior, my dad was pushing 50, and Molly was on summer break from playing collegiate soccer…she had a slight advantage over us ;). It was a great run. Just a dad and his daughters. I will never forget it.

We all ran the Cedar Canyon 1/2 marathon. It would have been nice to have Megan there with us...I don't doubt she was 🙂

The three of us a few months before she passed.

I sure miss those days. I miss running with my older sister. A few years back when I ran my first marathon, I hit “the wall,” as most do. I was struggling pretty bad. My thoughts immediately went to Megan. I got teary, but then imagined her running beside me. Before I knew it, the wall had passed. I’d like to think that she really was there.

First marathon 2008

I was reflecting on this a few days ago, and the question popped in my mind: Is there running in heaven? Now, I don’t profess to know the answer for certain, but a heaven without running, for me at least, wouldn’t be heaven. Just as those who love to sing…heaven wouldn’t be heaven without music. Running is just the same.

That said, I can’t wait for the chance to run with my sister again. What a run it will be!…

A friend of my mom's drew this picture for us when she passed.

Picture by Jean Keaton