Never limit yourself.  I've been dealing with a lot since the start of the year due to people not living up to their promises.  It's no reflection on me.  I've been putting their responsibilities on my shoulders.  When they don't live up to promises, and repeated ones at that, that they make, I blame myself.  I analyze and dissect the situation, try to figure out where I went wrong, what I could have done differently to keep it perfect.

Truth is, I did everything that I needed to do.  The reason I care so much about rectifying a situation is because I can't let a promise go unfilled.  It's a reflection of my charcater, not my shortcomings.  It's a reflection of their character and a representation of their shortcomings.  

When I recognize my feelings, I let you know. I live up to the promises I say because it's who I am.  Being true to myself is priority.  If I'm not true to myself I can't be true to those close to me.  I can't be true to promises I keep.  I have to discover myself first. The rest falls right into place.

I was running yesterday when it struck me.  I've been weighing myself down trying to keep the promises made to me alive.  I hold so much near and dear to my heart that enters willingly because I am alone.  I train alone.  I run alone, lift alone, and I build this program alone...at least right now.  When someone comes in my life and wants to be part of it, I embrace it fully because I'm doing this to make a difference.  I do this for people because I care.  I have all this love to give and when someone enters my life, I get to share another side of that love--something a little bit more individual, intimate and special.

That's something I hold very dear.  When you come in my life, it's a gift to me. I treasure it.  You never need to doubt my feelings or commitment to you as a friend or more because I will invest in you the same as I invest in my life. That's who I am. Everything I do is a representation of my character.

I'm extremely trusting with the people in my life. It's a mutual bond. When one end falls short, it shatters me. My commitment and love is still there, but it's no longer reciprocated. Someone stopped caring, and I can't help but question what I did wrong. I feel worthless.

As I was running, I realized I was holding on to all these happy memories from my past and, instead of motivating me, they were bogging me down. Memories like ex's friend's last names became reminders...and that is no way to live.  I've run for 4 days straight here, and I have to remember that I am running towards my potential.  I'm not running away from my past, nor do I need to drag my past with me because the future I'm creating as I run towards it is all the fulfillment I need to be happy.  The people meeting me at the finish line, they are my happiness. They are the ones who live up to the easiest, and only, promise I make. Don't hurt me. And if you do, all you have to do is talk it out with me and all will be forgiven.

Trust is lost quickly, but it takes a long time for me to let go of a friendship. I can't just let go something that I invested so much time into over one slip. We learn from our mistakes. It's okay to make them, as long as you don't make the same one twice. Honestly, I'm still hoping that people will call me and talk things out with me. ..What I have learned now is that is their responsibility. I have lived up to my promise. That's all I need to do.

I know who I am, and that self-discovery is present in everything I do and every action I make. You have to know who you are before you can make promises, otherwise you'll never live up to them. You can't. I know where I'm running towards. I'm true to myself. That's all that matters. The rest isn't my responsibility.

All I'm trying to say is that I never quit on those I care about and make promises towards.  I don't quit on love. I have invested so much into it. I have done so for a reason, and that isn't somnething you just let go of. It takes work and persistence. Fights happen, but that bursting feeling of joy lasts beyond any transient argument.

My love for you doesn't die, but the memories have to be let go...for my sanity. The promise was broken and I can't continue living with it in my life. They can't lead me anywhere. I've been following them, but they only lead in circles. The promise only exists in my mind now. Reaching for it will only warp my mind. Holding onto it can only bring disappointment.

It's their responsibility to bring the promise back into my life. Not my life now, but my life as I am moving forward towards my goal. So, to everyone who has hurt me or broken a promise, I forgive you. I am over it, I am moving on and I am running to my dream. I'm going to run to my potential and create an amazing life for me and everyone else who truly holds me dear.

As always, I do still love you. I'm just letting go.  That's what I need to do.  If you want to come back, I will accept you with open arms.  Trust may be damaged a bit, but our friendship and love, I can't let that go...not with everything we invested in it together.

Again, that is your responsibility.  What's mine today?  To enjoy that I am running towards MY future.  That's what I found yesterday.  It revitalized me.  And there's only one way to celebrate that...to go where dreams come true.

That's right...Magic Kingdom, here I come...I'M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

I was a little sore when I woke up this morning, but what do I expect?  I really haven't run since the beginning of February...and I haven't gotten in three consecutive days of training yet this year.  I felt much better than I thought I would, so I didn't see any reason not to run today.

I got sore on the run, but my pace was strong and I didn't feel like I was going to die.  I could definitely have run further.  By April 19th, I will be 3 hour 30 minute marathon ready.  There is no doubt in my mind.  I just finished my first round of stretching and I barely even feel sore.  In fact, I feel so alleviated...it's the best that I have felt this year during training, hands down.  Being in the sunny Florida weather is just a bonus.

Time for me to get back to studying for this training certification-- blood pressure and body fat testing is my material for today.  I still have another round of my push-up routine to do, 2 more rounds of stretching and a solid series of ab exercises.  Just wanted to let everyone know how the run went and that stretching is a miraculous thing to do.  It may be painful, but everything worthwhile is painful at some point.  It's what makes the act of succeeding so rewarding and satisfying.

Enjoy the pursuit and bask in the results!  In other words, keep reaching (towards whatever your dream may be) and remember that stretching is going to make you feel so much better in the end.  It is transporting oxygen into the muscles that you are stretching...kinda makes sense that it would make your body feel better, right?  Don't think about the pain, think about what it's providing to your body.  I can't wait to see how much more I improve across this week.  Alright, back to studying I go...

The message below is from my long-time friend, Greg Cohen.  He and I met in 7th grade, and although we didn't hang out as much as we could have, we were friends.  I've always admired Greg for his athletic ability, and this exemplifies what a great man he is.  Please read his message and donate to his cause.  I know I will as soon as I have the money to do so properly.  Anyone who wants to send a message to Mr. Cohen can reach out to me and I will relay the messages to him.  Best of luck, Greg, and again, let me know any way I can help you in your training or promoting your efforts!

Healthfully,
GW
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Hey,

You may know that I am training to run the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego on June 6th. I am dedicating myself to running it because my father ran several and because he fought so courageously against cancer. Hence, I am running it in conjunction with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). They are on the forefront of trying to wipe out this terrible disease and ease the devastation caused by it.

In 2009 alone, The LLS helped raised approximately $70 million dollars that was invested directly into cancer research. They accomplished this huge task by reaching out to people just like you and me through a pretty amazing program called Team in Training. Basically, the program allows participants to train for an endurance event under the
supervision of coaches and in the company of other people with similar motivations while raising money to support research and lives.

Cancer took my father from me. Any group that is actively trying to stop that from happening to someone else, I will support. I am hoping you will too, in whatever capacity you can afford. So, I will make you a deal. If I run my heart out in memory of my father, putting in daily miles and ultimately over a quarter of a hundred miles on race day, you put a few bucks towards helping make sure some other kid can run
in honor of his father rather than in memory of him.

Trust me, I know that money is tight these days and if you can’t donate, I understand. But please pass this URL onto anyone you think might donate.

www.DonateLLS.com