New Orleans Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon

This past weekend was the first race of the season! I traveled down to the Big Easy from Boulder, Colorado to get in a solid race on the flat and beautiful streets of New Orleans. With my recent move and endless travel after completing my PhD, I was not in the shape I had hoped for. That being so, I just wanted to have some fun, see the family, and run, run, run!

Saint Louis Cathedral, New Orleans

 I had several friends also completing along side me, Charles, my brother Nick Zaunbrecher and his girlfriend Monique Koll in the half marathon, and Jeanne, Gabby, and Chuck in the full marathon. Charles used his entry from the Gatorade endurance team to pace me to a PR time and gave his second entry to team Nick and Monique.  I am still proudly representing my team Endurance Concepts from Atlanta, GA. 

Charles pacing me in the 2013 NOLA Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon
This photo belongs to MarathonFoto.com

My results.

We had perfect running weather, 60 degrees and beautiful.  I didn't really have a race plan for this one, except to hang on to Charles' lead and see what we could do.  At about mile 9 I was hurting but hung on.  With Charles pacing me, we ran side-by-side the whole way, and negative split the course, so I ran a new PR by about 45 seconds in the distance, couldn't have done it without him!

Charles and Laura after the race. 

Jeanne ran her first marathon in 3:29!  Go girl! and both Gabby and Chuck ran personal best times for the full marathon distance.

Laura and Jeanne

 Of course after the race we were able to sample the local amazing Cajun cuisine, and famous hurricane drinks on Bourbon street! 

Laura, Gabby, Chuck, and Charles

The biggest story to come out of this race however, was the heroic effort of my brother Nick and my friend Monique.  I wrote a blog about her a few months ago:  http://laurazaunbrechertris.blogspot.com/2012/09/moniques-caught-triathlon-bug.html
But on October 8th, 2012 just before I left for New Zealand, she was hit by a car while out on a training ride by an unlicensed driver.  She broke her neck and her back and for a while, we feared she would not live.  However, faith and determination shines in this woman, and she is on her way to making a full recovery. 

Nick pushed her the entire 13 miles then helped her across the finish line, where she burst into tears and the photo below was captured.  Since then it has gone viral on the internet and the two of them are appearing in several Day time television shows to share their wonderful story of support and recovery together. 

Credit:  Kathleen Flynn / The Times-Picayune

Photo of Nick helping Monique across the finish line.

Some of the links about the two of them are shared below: 

http://todaynews.today.com/_news/2013/02/25/17090122-man-helps-girlfriend-with-spinal-cord-injury-cross-finish-line?lite

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2284578/Monique-Koll-Incredible-moment-woman-spinal-injury-finishes-half-marathon-New-Orleans.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/25/monique-koll-half-marathon_n_2759666.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/woman-spinal-injury-marathon-boost-article-1.1274137

http://www.carbonated.tv/news/monique-koll-woman-with-broken-spine-ditches-wheelchair-and-finishes-half-marathon-photo

http://now.msn.com/monique-koll-who-injured-her-spinal-cord-finishes-half-marathon-with-help-from-boyfriend-nick-zaunbrecher