To everyone:

I just wanted to thank all of you for your support. It was truly amazing. I hate to have to single people out because everyone was so great, but a few people deserve special recognition. First, let me thank the Taylors for all the work they did with the party on Saturday. It was the key to the weekend. People who could not make it to Pittsburgh were even emailing me before the race, saying what a nice guy "this Matt Taylor was". (I tried to tell them differently but they would not listen) The whole Taylor family organized and put on the party on Saturday, and it was a great time. I'm glad I had to race on Sunday, and therefore was prevented from cleaning anything up. I also want to thank Erick for putting together the t-shirts, and Ellen for trying to put together the t-shirts (they almost fought over who was going to make them). I think Erick actually enjoyed having them made, but it was a lot of work, and the key to TEAM WEJO being so popular on the course.

Also, I want to thank everyone in my family (I guess that includes "cousin Chris"). You guys are always there to support me, and often times you don't get the thanks you deserve because I may seem to take you for granted.

And most importantly, there are two people who I was going to thank for sure if I made the Olympics because they are most important to my running. That's my coach, Kellogg, and my brother, Robert. We all give Kellogg a lot of crap for being "nuts", but he's always been there for me, and I'd be lost in the forest without his guidance. And finally there is Robert. I never thank him for anything because he's my twin brother. Hell, I don't even buy him Christmas or birthday presents. But he's always been my best friend, and my number #1 supporter. He came to my meets all the time in college, even when as he says, "I sucked." But his belief in me, confidence and support helped me keep running all these years. And on top of this, this past year, he quit his job (ok he wasn't really working), and moved out to Flagstaff to train with me. Little did I know how much of a difference it would make. He totally forgot about his training and beat up his body all so I could train better. But he didn't even consider it a sacrifice, because as he said, "We're twins. You just help the other one out." I only hope I could be so self-sacrificing if the roles were reversed.

I don't think you guys realize how much your support means to me. I honestly don't think I would run if I didn't get the encouragement I get from my friends. All the emails and phone calls really meant a lot (and the flowers-although I was afraid of getting an allergy from them), and the direct support from everyone who made it to Pittsburgh. All of the other runners were also grateful for your support. They told me I must be a great person to have so many friends on the course. But as I told them, they had it backwards, I just had great friends. You all are all truly great.

The Olympics have always been a dream of mine since I was a little kid. And although I didn't get to fulfill my dream (this time around), I got to live my dream. Looking back, I now see that I truly began to believe that I was going to make the Olympics. Thank all of you for making this possible. And don't forget to chase your own dreams.

-Weldon

Be sure to check out the pictorial of this past weekend if you haven't seen it here.

And read the written account of TEAM WEJO here.