Thank you

Greetings one and all, and welcome to another installment of the blog of this mad runner. And I trust you all had a great weekend.

What can I say about my weekend? Well, I started up jogging after the dreaded stomach virus I've had from last week. Still a bit woozy but I felt fine jogging both Friday and yesterday. I went for a good 20 minutes both days and was proud to know that I felt good after every day. Still monitoring my health and start making that climb back to 40-50 miles a week. No hurry on my end though, I've got nothing but time......well, until the mid January as I go back into the half marathon training routine.

This new installment for my blog is something I believe is overdue and I hope that to those this is dedicated to can understand the emotion behind my passion for running. This blog is about thanking those who got me this far.

To my dear mother, you have always been my fan, supporter and most of all, my best friend. Even when my days growing up was tough without a father who stayed, you were the person I looked up to and seen something that I've always wanted to be, a fighter. To be a person who took on her children and made them great in their own ways, I thank you for everything you are and will always be, a part of me. I love you.

To my grandmother, you are the glue that holds this family together because without you, there wouldn't be a family. You were married to a great man who to this day, I still admire because of his life, love and legacy, us. Having you as a grandmother made me as a child growing up, understand what means the world to everyone, their culture and you brought that out of me in more ways than I could imagined. I can't wait to see you and hear you laugh again.

To my sisters and my baby brother, you guys are the best I could ever ask for in this world and the next because we've had some great times together and what amazes me is that we've always had a great connection. You all are the engine that drives me today when I am at my lowest. I miss you all and await to see you all again.

To my uncles, aunts and cousins, growing up with you all made a childhood seem like an amusement park, everything just exciting and fun. Along the way, it was more than just blood between us all, it was our interaction, that some of my cousins felt like brothers and sisters and I couldn't ask for anything more.

To my teachers and coaches, thank you all for believing in me and helping me persue life in a different aspect than I'd imagined at the time. With your faith in me in my knowledge, gifts and achievements, you helped me get through the school years with such fun and beliefs.

To my adopted family, thank you deeply for taking me in as a friend first and being considered as family has made me a better man because of the love you have shared with me. You all are my inspiration and I thank God for people like you, to accept me as I am and never giving up on me. Words cannot express my gratitude for you all!

To my awesome friends here in Washburn, Bismarck, Minot, Fargo, Grand Forks, all over North Dakota, South Dakota and overseas, thank you for taking this history nerd and for being such awesome people. Even with your busy lives, you still take time out to talk with me or share some great laughs with. To the many more good times in store for us all!

To my fellow supporters or "roadies" as I call them, thank you so much for your kind words, your emails, text messages. Without you, I wouldn't be where I am at this moment. You make me appreciate having supporters all over the states and countries too! Even when I feel like I am at my worst, you are always there to bring me back up and when I run, I always feel you around me. And please forgive me, I am not so used to having many who cheer me on or having a support base of those who are fans. Thank you for believing in me, it means the world to me and if I could just make you proud of what I do, I will do my absolute best!

To my critics, yes, you. Thank you for always saying what is on your mind and it helps me for motivation when I run because I know that the next day, it will give you something to write about. Your negativity does bring out the best in me because it goes to show you, everyone is not perfect and you don't even have to know me to like me but that is your own opinion and I respect it.

And finally, thanks to God because without accepting both God and Jesus into my life, I would have no purpose on this Earth but with both in my corner, I am invincible. My faith is the strongest part of myself, nothing can ever break it.

And to those who are reading this in other countries, I say thank you, in your language and forgive me if I am not fluent.

Gracias

спасибо

Terima kasih

Danke

ขอบคุณ

obrigado

Just a complete thank you to you all! And thank you again for tuning into this new installment and I wish you all a great day and be warned, training pics are what is to come in the next few weeks.