Dino Tri in Vernal, Utah

Ok, Okay, OKAY!  I know I haven't written in a long time.  I have a few stories to share that I wrote a while ago and never published so I'll try to get those posted soon too.   For now, I'll share the story of my most recent race, and get some new stories up in the next few weeks.

Along the bike course in Vernal, Utah

The Dino tri is a sprint triathlon held in Vernal, Utah.  It's one of the only races I've done where there is prize money for the top 3 overall finishers and the top time in each individual event - swim, bike, run, as well as a king of the mountain prize for the fastest time up the huge hill we had to climb.  Another unique aspect of this race is having 2 transition zones.  The bike was a point-to-point course instead of a loop.  I liked it!  only had to worry about setting up for one transition at a time.   Not to mention, it was an incredibly beautiful place to race.

The swim location

I headed out to Utah with a stellar group of athletes representing Boulder, CO.  Charles, Dan R., Patrick B., Lindsay M., and I all made the 6 hour drive!  The course was a standard 750m swim, with a 13.4 mile bike, and 5k run.  The swim was in a canyon with high, red-stained, rock walls (gorgeous!).  The bike included a steep 1.25 mile climb right out of the water, continuing to climb for another mile before descending a long gradual downhill and flat to the finish.  The run was completely flat and in the blazing sun, despite the early morning start time, it was a HOT one, temps reaching into the 90's and no shade on the course.

The cowboy dinosaur!

Despite a few hiccups in the start, it was an incredibly well run race.  The sprint was started about a half hour later than we expected.  And after staying the night in a questionable hotel, we all headed to the start ready to go!  I had a strong swim, my best this season at 13:40 (still not as fast I want to be though!) and came out of the water 8th.   I passed all but 2 girls who were in front of me in the transition zone.  Seriously highlights how important it is to have good transitions.  Some girls swam 2 minutes faster than me, but still lingered as I headed out on the bike.  Thanks Coach Dan for giving me that advantage!!

I had a great bike, the climbing was tough but short - I posted the 3rd fastest time on the bike.  A serious rookie mistake when I transitioned to the run, and it cost me a few seconds, my inhaler was in my shoe!!  So I went to pull it on and had to stop and yank the inhaler out.  In the mean time the second overall girl took off on the run.  We were only seconds apart on the bike coming in.  Despite seeing her right in front of me the entire run I never could quite close the gap and had to settle for third overall.  My run this season has not been nearly as strong as previous years, I only ran a 21 min 5k.  Not sure why, altitude maybe?

 

Me representing in the Dino Tri shirt and Lindsay with my Ruby, rocking her first triathlon!

But the Boulder team cleaned house!  Charles took first overall, Dan second overall, I was third overall female,  Patrick won his AG and was First Clydesdale, and Lindsay finished her first triathlon ever in 4th AG.  She also posted the fastest swim in the AG.  Charles also won for the fastest bike split.

Charles, Laura, Dan, Patrick, and Lindsay

Go Team Boulder! The awards were awesome engraved local sandstone.  

 Third OA and First AG (by 10 minutes)

 Following the race we explored the Dinosaur National Monument were you can see dinosaur fossils still in the sediment where they were deposited ~149 million years ago.

Charles and I also went on the 'fossil discovery hike' where you can see dinosaur fossils on the cliff side as you hike.  Incredible, please go here if you can.  Dinosaur, Colorado!!

Lastly, a trip through Rocky Mountain National Park on the way home.  Because a race is a great excuse to also travel and see exciting and beautiful things. Like moose!  and hiking into the clouds on top of the gorgeous Rocky Mountains!

hiking into the clouds in Rocky Mountain national Park

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

ITU Aquathlon World Championships - Auckland

Auckland, New Zealand

One the best parts of being a triathlete is having the opportunity to travel to amazing places to compete in races, then taking time afterward to do some exploring.  Last year I got to see Beijing, China, which is a place that I likely never would have visited were it not for the opportunity to compete there at ITU World Championships.  This year, I got to go to New Zealand and had the trip of a lifetime!

Walking in the parade of nations

The atmosphere at the World Championships is like no other race I've ever done.  You walk in the parade of nations, surrounded by your teammates, and athletes from all over the world.  People line the streets just to watch to you pass by and cheer and wave!  You may even get the opportunity to meet some of your favorite professional athletes.  I got to meet Jonathon Brownlee.  Watching one of the U23 races, he rode up on his bike and hung out for about half an hour cheering for team GB.  He told us all about Alistair having to get his appendix taken out before his trip to Brazil (awesome!)

me, Jonathon Brownlee, and Charles

Last year Chris "Macca" McCormack came the same after party I was attending and we had a beer together.  

SO, the race!  This year I opted out of bringing along a bike and competed only in the Aquathlon.  It was a 1000 meter swim and 5k run. The water in Auckland Bay was the coldest I have ever swam in, about 55 degrees, and only my second salt water swim.  It was tricky course as the tides changed the direction of the currents depending on your time of day.  At 2pm for my race, there was a strong current into the wharf.  SO swimming out was difficult, and at the end of wharf, the water was extremely choppy from the high waves.  

Of course that means the water pushed you into the finish, so the swim into the platform was quick!  My swim was only okay.  I think I swim much better without my wetsuit, but clearly can't skip that in 55 degree water!!  I came out of the water in 27th position.  

swim start in Auckland

The run was a completely flat course, with strong wind drafts near the water.  I had a great run despite pulling my calf with a mile and half to go.  (I pulled it 10 days before the race in Atlanta and had been nursing it - it got the job done as best it could).  I posted the 10th fastest run time in my AG moving up to 21st place.    Charles' wave started 30 minutes before mine and he was nearly finished before I started the swim.  I was thrilled to see him when I exited the water and started on my run. He placed 13th in his AG at his 4th World Championships.

Me and Charles, after the race

Cheering on my fellow Team USA members

Last year on the 13 hour flight to Beijing, Analise and I sat next to Geoffrey Kennedy, one of Team USA's paratriathlete competitors.  I was thrilled to see him again this year!  If you are need of some inspiration, I recommend going to watch the Paratriathlon races.  These athletes have the most incredible stories and overcome unbelievable obstacles to be here.

Geoffrey, Bronze medal winner for the USA

After the race I spent 2 weeks traveling all over New Zealand.  It was fantastic to see people everywhere we went wearing gear from the World Championships to identify them as other athletes doing the same thing.  We ran in to athletes from Canada, the Netherlands, Great Britain  etc. all easily identifiable with the same ITU hoody I was wearing!

kayaking to the Tasman Sea

Kayaking in the Milford Sound

Sunset on the beach near Dunedin

Lake Marian

The Blue pools

En route to the Milford Sound - near Lord of The Rings filming locations

playing with the Kea's

Scenic view on our drive 

on the way to the Milford Sound in the fog

At the Champagne pool (my photo contest entry photo for the Enterprise!) 

And so, my 2012 season has come to an end.

Looking ahead at 2013 I only have a few races picked so far.  First, the New Orleans Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon, The USAT National Championsips (of course!), and the ITU World Championships in London in both the Aquathlon and Sprint Distance events.  .