Determination Forms Bond Over Bucket List Item

Laura Zetmeir, right, a protective services supervisor for HHSA's Child Welfare Services, and her 70-year-old father, left, ran the 21-mile version of the Big Sur International Marathon together. Running the race was on her father's bucket list.

There was no stopping Laura Zetmeir.

Not a bulging disc. Not a pinched nerve. Not even the suggestion from her doctor that she take a break from running.

Zetmeir, a protective services supervisor for HHSA’s North Inland Child Welfare Services, was determined to help her 70-year-old father check running a marathon off his bucket list.

The two of them ran and finished the 21-mile version of the Big Sur International Marathon.

“I had done several half-marathons so this was kind of the next step,” said Zetmeir. “I figured if my dad can do it and he’s 70, I should be able to do it.

“It was on his bucket list and he said, ‘I don’t want to do this alone will you come do it with me?’ and how could I say no to that when he’s challenging me to do something and he’s 70?”

Her dad had been running since he was in his 30s, but Zetmeir had only taken up running about three or four years ago.

Her training for the run was severely hampered by the bulging disc and pinched nerve in her arm.

“The furthest I was able to run was 12 miles, but that was six weeks before the run,” she said. “I had run a little since then but the doctor advised me not to run (such a long distance).

“But there was no way I wasn’t going to do the race, even if I had to walk the whole thing.”

One of the photos Laura Zetmeir took while she was running in the Big Sur International Marathon. The course ran along the Pacific Coast Highway

Zetmeir said the scenery for the race was incredible and many runners stop periodically to take photos. The 21-mile course follows the Pacific Coast Highway from Andrew Molera State Park to Carmel.

“The first 13 miles I was stopping and taking pictures, but after that it was like, ‘I don’t care where I am just get me to the finish line.’

Among the beautiful coastline views for runners of the Big Sur International Marathon, they were entertained by a pianist playing Chariots of Fire on a baby grand piano as they ran by.“There was a piano player playing a baby grand on a cliff,” she said. “That was by far the highlight. He was playing Chariots of Fire as we were running by.”

She finished the race in just under five hours and her father was only 20 minutes behind her. They were cheered at the finish line by her husband, 8-year-old twins and her mother. She was also greeted by several text messages from co-workers.

“Hopefully I’ve inspired somebody,” she said.  “At least one person!”

Since the race, she’s been running on a treadmill about five days a week as her injuries continue to heal. She’s trying to make sure she’s 100 percent by the time fall soccer season comes around.

“I haven’t been able to play because of my injuries but I’m hoping to go back in September,” Zetmeir said. “You can get out your aggressions in soccer and it helps with the job stress.”

Laura Zetmeir posed along the Pacific Ocean coastline as she ran in the Big Sur International Marathon recently.More of the incredible scenery for runners at the Big Sur International Marathon course follwed the Pacific Coast Highway.