Monday, October 20, 2014

Runner’s World 2014 Hat Trick Recap

It’s hard to wrap my weekend up into a neat blog package, so let me break it down into categories - what surprised me, what I liked best and what sucked. Simple enough.

What surprised me:

  • Deciding to race all three races. I trained for this weekend like I was training only for a half marathon. On Saturday when we had the 5K and 10K spaced an hour apart, I decided to run hard but manageable. I might have been slightly regretting that when I woke up on Sunday to do the half. I made a choice to ignore my aches, pains and internal bitching.
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33/428 for women, 2nd in AG!

  • The whole BYOB thing. We went out to dinner in Bethlehem. You know me - by the time I get to dinner I have been planning all day what type of alcohol I am going to consume (yes, even when I am racing). How surprised was I when we got the restaurant to find it was all BYOB? I learned this is because they don’t want to renovate/expand the historic Bethlehem buildings to put in bars, etc. Note to self for any future visits to this place.
  • The Mushroom Tacos. I love the Runners World Cookbook, but I have to admit the mushroom taco recipe was not something I was going to make. We were served a couple of meals that came completely out of the cookbook and the tacos were on the menu. They were incredibly outstanding. Make them now. But only if you like mushrooms. If you don’t, you will hate these with a passion.

Ravenous Runner Mushroom Tacos

  • That I finally made it to the cover of a magazine. Yes, I’m farting. Sorry Katie.

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  • That it would be so easy to bond with my room-mate Katie. In my late teens and 20s I thought nothing about sleeping with whomever (don’t take that the wrong way) – I mean I had no hesitation about staying in rooms with people I didn’t know that well (like in a youth hostel – I’m not a slut). But at 47, it feels a bit awkward. Katie was the coolest (and not just because she just got her Olympic trial qualifier with a 2:41 marathon). She was incredibly nice and easy to be with. She didn’t smell or  try to spoon me at night either.

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  • Free skirt during the race. At mile 9 of the half marathon, Running Skirts was giving away free skirts. All you had to do was put it on over what you were wearing and wear it to the finish. SCORE. I never turn down free.

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What I liked best:

  • Bethlehem itself. I had no clue how gorgeous and history-rich this town would be.

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  • Happy girls after the half! (From left to right: Kristen, Lauren, Katie, Beth, Legwarmers)
  • Meeting lots of the RW Staff.

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The iconic Bart Yasso

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The hilarious Mark Remy

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The witty and adorable Chief Editor David Willey

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  • Meeting my first comedian in real life –Liz Miele (with my empty beer cup). Stinking hilarious.

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  • Running into online friends I’d never met before (and the fluorescent hair made Lonnie even cooler – and the fact that Bart photo bombed)

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What sucked:

  • Hills – I may be overly dramatic, but there was a lot of up and down going on, especially in the half. Repeatedly.
  • Constipation –Yeah I know what you are thinking. For a girl who talks about poop so much, constipation is ironic. Yet, when I travel, stuff doesn’t move as well. There is no First World Problem worse than not being able to poop on race morning.
  • Delayed flight out of Philly. I was delayed leaving on Sunday night and got back to Denver LATE. It wasn’t all bad because I ate this sucker. When in Philly…

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  • Non-working escalators in the airport. I think this is a joke the airport was playing on those of us who ran 23 hilly miles over the weekend.

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All in all an amazing weekend. Thanks to Runners World for sponsoring my involvement in this event!

 

What’s the hilliest race you’ve ever done?

Does your “schedule” get thrown off when you travel?

Tell me one thing that sucked and one thing you liked about your weekend.

SUAR

62 comments:

  1. There is so much fun in this post!! I love it! I LOVE the skirt you got and seriously cannot believe the escalator thing. That's just cruel and unusual punishment.

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    Replies
    1. My name is Taylor Borg,All thanks goes to Dr.Trust for saving my marriage from toning apart.i feel so grateful and only have good words about a powerful spell caster named Dr.Trust who helped me bring back my wife. We had been apart for 4 months, at first I was thinking if I was doing the right thing by contacting a spell caster, but I so much love my wife and won't give her up for anything in this world. I decided to contact Dr.Trust through his mail address I found on several testifiers messages online,and I told him about my situation, he laughed and told me my wife will be back to me in the next 48 hours. I felt it wasn't going to happen at first until my wife called me and was so eager to have me back more than anything on earth.. Now we are together and she cant do without me,and both of us are happy. I feel so happy sharing this testimony because there was no negative act attached to his work. His work was smooth and fast. Thanks to Dr.Trust for bringing back happiness to my life. I swear with my life that Dr.Trust is a man to trust and take your problems to. You can contact him on his e-mail if you really truly want your love back. dr.(ULTIMATESPELLCAST@GMAIL.COM OR ULTIMATESPELLCAST@YAHOO.COM TEL: +2348156885231)

      Delete
  2. I'm so impressed that you raced all three races! I did the 10k two years ago and wanted to cry b/c of the hills. I heard "rumors" that the course was flatter this year but from what I'm hearing, it is just as hilly =)
    And I'm bummed I didn't make it this year - would have loved to hang with you again!

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  3. I ran my second half marathon about a month ago. The last .75 was one. Long. Hill.

    You truly rock!!! Congrats on the trifecta!!

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  5. My first marathon was the Shires of Vermont. Vermont is the Green Mountain state for a reason. The marathon was non stop up and down, up and down, like running on a roller coaster track. It was insane.

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    1. That was my first marathon, too!!!! Mountains. We ran a marathon over mountains. It was *totally* insane! Whenever someone asks if I've done a full and I tell them where it was they look at me and just shake their head and laugh. (I got incredibly dehydrated, too. Hard, hard race.)

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  6. Hilliest race: MDI Marathon. Miles 20 to 25 are uphill. There are very few flat portions during this race.

    Very little throws off my schedule. A cup or two of black coffee and I'm good to go

    What sucked - Ran the Prince Edward Island Marathon yesterday. I was maintaining sub 4hr pace until 29K when the wheels fell off. Finished in 4:08:xx. It effing sucked.

    What rocked - spending time with old friends and making new ones and seeing them achieve their race goals.

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  7. Oh my gosh I miss you! That was a perfect recap. I did think it would be a little strange to share a bed and get the spooning on when there were TWO beds in the hotel room. The weekend could not have gone better and I felt so lucky to have such an awesome roommate! Until next time....and there HAS to be a next time
    xoxo

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    1. I kept hoping you'd sneak over into my bed. Especially the night sweat night.

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    2. Ha! That would have just been TOO much fun for one weekend. We'll have to rendezvous for that. I've gotta get Altra to get me out to Boulder! :)

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  8. Ah!!!!!!!! Hey, I know that guy!!! Wow, thank you!!

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    1. So fun to meet you!!!!!!!!!!!!! and your highlighter shoes/hair/shirt

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  9. Let me start by saying I saw you and Katie but didn't know who you were! We were all trying to get back across the street and I said, I'm following you guys! I recognize your leopard skirt :) I'm happy you enjoyed your weekend - I live in Bethlehem and this is my third hat trick. Hills are a part of running here - there is actually a much hillier half about 25 miles south, the Perkiomen Perk Up half in August. Hills AND heat - that's a combo. Plus we have a Quadzilla 15k trail run, motto - we eat hills for breakfast. Anyway, I embrace the hills and just figure there won't be a PR but it will be a fantastic weekend of running camaraderie . Secondly, I love the BYOB restaurants but there are plenty of restaurants with full bars - and yes, I drink my one martini and a "bit" of wine the night before a race just like it was another night. So, please come back and give it another chance - I would be happy to give you some restaurant recommendations! :) Thank you for your recap!

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    1. Hi there! Sorry we didn't meet in person...I figured there were probably restaurants that served alcohol. I actually kind of thought it was cool they were trying to preserve the history. I do hope to come back one day!! Would love some good recommendations.

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    2. Molinari's, Corked, Tapas, Apollo Grill, Hotel Bethlehem, Broadway Social, The Bayou... Come back to Bethlehem in any season, it is just lovely. No I don't work for the Chamber of Commerce but I do work for ArtsQuest and a lot of people think it's the same thing. lol Would love to say hello to you the next time you visit!

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    3. Next time you visit the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem Brew Works, right in the heart of downtown Bethlehem, is a nice place for a hearty pre-race meal and some very good beer.

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    4. Yes, I headed to Beth BrewWorks for my post race beer and burger! Lots of runners hanging out :)

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  10. There's a local race put on by my run club called Riley's Rumble. It takes place in early August, so it's supposed to have the three H's: Hills, Heat, and Humidity. And of course the biggest climb is at mile 12!

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  11. The hilliest half I have done was my first- The Ogden Half Marathon in Wheeling, WV. It was much hillier than the RW half was- the first hill was a straight 2 mile climb, then 11-12 miles in there is a straight up hill that just about kills everyone (so cruel in the last miles). I sort of enjoyed the rolling hills of this course.

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  12. Best thing about my wknd was an unexpected PR at the hershey half marathon in PA! Worst part- got a migraine afterwards. But even that couldn't take me down of that running high ;) 1:54:34 so still not as speedy as you though!

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  13. I have been hearing a lot about the runnerworlds hat trick marathon and I think I am going to make it one of my goals. One thing that was great was I ran eight miles down Big Cottonwood canyon and but the part that sucked about that is that is was eight miles of straight down hill and my thighs are killing me!! It looks like you had lots of fun!

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  14. Good job!

    I fight to keep my schedule on track at home much less on travel - had great luck this weekend tho (now that I'm home it's cranky).

    One great thing about my weekend? BQ for 2016 (by 12:13) and a new PR by 6:38 in a hard fought race!

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    1. Woohoo on a BQ!!!!!!!! and a PR. You must be on cloud nine!

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  15. I loved the recap and also getting to meet you at the expo! Hope you do come back PA and race the hat trick again as it is amazing accomplishment and addicting!

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  16. I'm part of the Sub-30 Club but was bummed to miss this year! Maybe next...Lonnie did wear me during one of his races, though. (I sent a laminated pic that he and his wife traded off, so I got to vicariously run with them! haha)

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  17. Katie is one of my favorite bloggers! What a runner! And nice job on those races. I can't believe you ran such a strong half with an extra skirt on. Crazy.

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  18. There was totally zero suckage for my weekend. Other than having to go back to work. It was like summer here. I got in a nice bike ride and a nice run. Plus other good stuff.

    Hilliest, the one in Penticton. 2 mountain passes. Lots of up and down beside the lake.

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  19. Door County Half Marathon. In Wisconsin. The hills had their own hills. Beautiful course. My first ever and I finished in 2:02. Who knew?

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  20. This was my hilliest and most challenging half yet! I kept watching for you because I so wanted to meet you, but didn't find you. I had a great race, though, and finished strong despite the hills. What sucked? That WIND. Running in wind is bs, man.

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  21. I think my hilliest race is going to be my next one - Honolulu Marathon in December. Not a ton of elevation, but we do run Diamond Head road (around, not over, the crater) at mile 6, and again at mile 24. That's gonna hurt at the end.

    It's harder for me traveling east because I like to run in the morning.

    My weekend was awesome - on Saturday I ran 18 miles (same distance that killed me the previous weekend.) Sunday we flew to Hawaii - I'm doing some much needed heat/humidity training.

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  22. Yippee! Congrats on your speedy times! Bethlehem is my hometown and I do love it so! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I ran the RW Half there last year. Definitely my hilliest race to date and somehow I PRed!! Must've been the hometown love ;)

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  23. Sounds like a fantastic weekend! Add this to my bucket list once I move back to the U.S. The hilliest race I've run is the German Weinstrasse (Wine Road) half marathon in, you guessed it, the hilly wine country of Germany. It added a good 10 minutes to my "standard" half marathon time, but it was a gorgeous run, and I found that when I wasn't thinking about my time for once, I really just relaxed and enjoyed every minute of the run. Coming up is the hilliest--Athens, Greece marathon in less than 3 weeks. The elevation profile is a killer. It has rolling hills for 6 miles, followed by a straight uphill (not super steep) climb for 6 miles. YIKES! I'm freaking out a little thinking about it.

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    1. I cannot tell you how jealous I am that you are running in Greece. I had the pleasure of going to high school in Athens, and it's my dream to go back!

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  24. Hilliest race: the Double Dipsea, where you get to climb Mount Tamalpais from both directions!

    I hate traveler's constipation. You're not alone. It's very common. And very unpleasant.

    I had traveler's constipation this weekend on a Friday-to-Monday trip to Los Angeles. That really sucked. But, while in LA, I got to see Laura Pausini perform live on Saturday night at the Greek Theatre. What an astonishingly great show by a 40-year-old Italian pop star who is little know in America but has sold more than 80 million albums worldwide. Laura really, really rocked LA!

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    1. Thanks Bill. Going to have to check out Laura Pausini. She sounds incredible.

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    2. Here's a link to a really cool video of Laura Pausini singing a duet with Kylie Minogue. Play full-screen and crank up the volume!

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mybkLc0-Eo

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  25. Great 2nd place AG finish Beth! I would love to do that hat trick sometime. I'm all about multiple races on any given weekend. Best part of my weekend was that I PR'd by 4:59 in my seventh full. The worst part was that my IT band seized up at mile 21 and I had to stop and stretch every .25 mile until the end. Oh well....there's always more races. =/

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  26. That sounds like a lot of fun! The hillest race I have ever done with the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco. Those hills were brutal!

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  27. Nice job taking on all 3 races and congrats on your AG!! Best part of my weekend? Watching my 9 yr old play his heart out in his hockey game! Worst part? Twisting my knee during my long run :(

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  28. Awesome job on the races! I had the pleasure of meeting Katie at Hood to Coast last year, and she is just awesome. Even if I can't imagine running that fast. Ever.

    I just did the Bourbon Chase relay and for a flatland Indiana girl, it was a RUDE awakening. I was not a fan. But I don't learn. I'm doing a race this weekend called the Haunted Hilly Half, and the hills start at mile 10. Yay.

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  29. Two weeks ago I ran my second half and it was the Freedom's Run through western MD-it was very hilly! but a beautiful and well organized run. This past weekend I didn't even get a chance to go for a run (worst part) but I got to get my kiddos all dressed up in costume and go to a local fall fest-they loved it!

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  30. My hilliest race will be next March (Run the Bluegrass) in Lexington, KY. Best AND worst part of my weekend? Taper.

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  31. Congrats on an awesome weekend! Sounds like a great time. That's not a real Philly chesesteak. You can't get the iconic sandwich in the airport. You must go to Pat's or Geno's - right across the street from each other. And you have to order it wit' cheez whiz.

    Best part of the weekend - the Atlantic City marathon. Windy, but flat. And my hip made it to the finish line without an issue. Worst part - the soreness in my left cheek that didn't tolerate the 5 hour car ride home. Next marathon - Boston!

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  32. I did Kansas City marathon on Saturday, Its pretty hilly, then went to St Louis had signed up for the full, and just did half, the scenery in both cities is fantastic. Rock and roll has this marathon thing down pat, they have everything, aid stations food drinks gels they have it all. Room was not the cleaniest at drury inn st Louis, that was the worst part of the weekend. But at 50 I feel grate about what I accomplished, now it is time to work on weak links.

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  33. Hilliest race I can remember: Freedom's Run Marathon. The first half is pretty flat, but the second half through Antietam and the battlefield is relentless. It will kill any PR dreams you had.

    The only thing that keeps me from feeling kind of icky, as well as keeping things "moving" is to eat a huge salad before I board my flight. Then things are normal the following day.

    Things that sucked: My best friend's dad died, and I couldn't be there.
    Things that were good: Spent Saturday catching up with lots of friends I don't see often.

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  34. I was supposed to be there with the bloggers but had to cancel at the last minute -- so bummed! You look like you guys had a blast. I went last year with the blogger group as well and it was amazing. Great recap!

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    1. So sorry we missed you...maybe our paths will cross another time.

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  35. Wow ...looks like it was a blast!!

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  36. Nice work on your 3 races! Amazing! And you rocked that 13.1 despite having ran 2 races the day before. :)

    All your food photos looks amazing from the weekend! How cool you got to meet some "running celebrities" over the weekend! Awesome!

    Best part of my weekend - finishing my 1st ever half ironman!
    Worth part of my weekend - running the 13.1 portion of my race in 95 degrees in Phoenix. And then puking afterwards from low sodium! ;)

    Fun post!

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  37. I haven't run many hilly races but my training runs are VERY hilly due to living in Central PA! Great thing about my weekend: I came in first place in a 10k! Thing that sucked: The course was a little short so it wasn't an ACTUAL 10k. Frustrating!

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  38. Sounds like a fun weekend - great idea by Running Skirts to give those away, nice PR move!

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  39. Congratulations on such a great race! This looks like such a fun event each year. I really enjoyed your recap and it's super cool you got a free skirt!
    Sucked- I didn't get to run... boo.....
    Awesome- I went on an amazing hike to Black Balsam Knob

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  40. This event (set of events) always looks so fun when bloggers recap it! Glad you had a great time :)

    My "schedule" is just off. Always. It really is not enjoyable.

    Not one thing sucked about my weekend last week. The whole experience was THE BOMB. And finishing our race an unexpected third was the best part...seeing a ton of old friends was the next best part.

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  41. It was SO great to meet you and drink (too much) wine with you! I wish I could have stayed longer. Hopefully we'll meet up again :)

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  42. How to get back your ex husband, wife, girlfriend, or boyfriend,

    Hello to every one out here, am here to share the unexpected miracle that happened to me three days ago, My name is Jeffrey Dowling,i live in Texas,USA.and I`m happily married to a lovely and caring wife,with two kids A very big problem occurred in my family seven months ago,between me and my wife so terrible that she took the case to court for a divorce she said that she never wanted to stay with me again,and that she did not love me anymore So she packed out of my house and made me and my children passed through severe pain. I tried all my possible means to get her back,after much begging,but all to no avail and she confirmed it that she has made her decision,and she never wanted to see me again. So on one evening,as i was coming back from work,i met an old friend of mine who asked of my wife So i explained every thing to her,so she told me that the only way i can get my wife back,is to visit a spell caster,because it has really worked for her too So i never believed in spell,but i had no other choice,than to follow her advice. Then she gave me the email address of the spell caster whom she visited.(bravespellcaster@gmail.com}, So the next morning,i sent a mail to the address she gave to me,and the spell caster assured me that i will get my wife back the next day what an amazing statement!! I never believed,so he spoke with me,and told me everything that i need to do. Then the next morning, So surprisingly, my wife who did not call me for the past seven {7}months,gave me a call to inform me that she was coming back So Amazing!! So that was how she came back that same day,with lots of love and joy,and she apologized for her mistake,and for the pain she caused me and my children. Then from that day,our relationship was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of a spell caster . So, was now stronger than how it were before,by the help of a spell caster . So, i will advice you out there to kindly visit the same Website: http://enchantedscents.tripod.com/lovespell/,if you are in any condition like this,or you have any problem related to “bringing your ex back. So thanks to Dr Brave for bringing back my wife,and brought great joy to my family once again.{bravespellcaster@gmail.com}
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    ReplyDelete
  43. My name is Taylor Borg,All thanks goes to Dr.Trust for saving my marriage from toning apart.i feel so grateful and only have good words about a powerful spell caster named Dr.Trust who helped me bring back my wife. We had been apart for 4 months, at first I was thinking if I was doing the right thing by contacting a spell caster, but I so much love my wife and won't give her up for anything in this world. I decided to contact Dr.Trust through his mail address I found on several testifiers messages online,and I told him about my situation, he laughed and told me my wife will be back to me in the next 48 hours. I felt it wasn't going to happen at first until my wife called me and was so eager to have me back more than anything on earth.. Now we are together and she cant do without me,and both of us are happy. I feel so happy sharing this testimony because there was no negative act attached to his work. His work was smooth and fast. Thanks to Dr.Trust for bringing back happiness to my life. I swear with my life that Dr.Trust is a man to trust and take your problems to. You can contact him on his e-mail if you really truly want your love back. dr.(ULTIMATESPELLCAST@GMAIL.COM OR ULTIMATESPELLCAST@YAHOO.COM TEL: +2348156885231)

    ReplyDelete
  44. My name is Taylor Borg,All thanks goes to Dr.Trust for saving my marriage from toning apart.i feel so grateful and only have good words about a powerful spell caster named Dr.Trust who helped me bring back my wife. We had been apart for 4 months, at first I was thinking if I was doing the right thing by contacting a spell caster, but I so much love my wife and won't give her up for anything in this world. I decided to contact Dr.Trust through his mail address I found on several testifiers messages online,and I told him about my situation, he laughed and told me my wife will be back to me in the next 48 hours. I felt it wasn't going to happen at first until my wife called me and was so eager to have me back more than anything on earth.. Now we are together and she cant do without me,and both of us are happy. I feel so happy sharing this testimony because there was no negative act attached to his work. His work was smooth and fast. Thanks to Dr.Trust for bringing back happiness to my life. I swear with my life that Dr.Trust is a man to trust and take your problems to. You can contact him on his e-mail if you really truly want your love back. dr.(ULTIMATESPELLCAST@GMAIL.COM OR ULTIMATESPELLCAST@YAHOO.COM TEL: +2348156885231)

    ReplyDelete
  45. My name is Joyce and i am from USA and i am married with 2 kids and i had a lovely family before all the problem i want to share with you happened,my husband use to be very caring and lovely to me and my kids and we were very happy with each other,until a day and we were having a dinner in one of the restaurant in our state and their was a lady who was sitting close to us and i never knew she was interested to have my husband and due to i was with my husband she could not do anything there then after that day,my husband started to maltreat us at home not knowing that he his seeing that lady until a friend came to told me and i confirm it myself it really hurt due to the love we shared before,it really affected me until a friend who came from Africa told me about the powers of Africa spell Doctors especially Dr Jarto of Dr.jartospellcaster@gmail.com,even if i did not believe in spell i had nothing but to try and to my greatest surprise my husband came back home and beg me and now we are living more happy than before please you all should come together and thanks these great Dr Jarto of Dr.jartospellcaster@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete