Ruth Astle lives just outside of London and a little over a month ago turned from a top age-group triathlete (literally, the top age-group triathlete in the world) to a professional triathlete.

She quit her 60-hour a week high-stress job as Executive Assistant and now works just one day a week. Her life has literally flipped upside down as she’s training, resting, recovering, and thinking about her upcoming season and how she can get back to Kona - but this time as a pro, not an age grouper.

Ruth’s list of accomplishments in triathlon is lengthy. Just a few recent performances include:

• 2nd (and second AG athlete overall) at The Championship, Samorin
• 1st (and second AG athlete overall) at the IRONMAN 70.3 European Championship, Elsinore 
• 1st (and fastest AG athlete overall in a PB of 9:12:15) at Challenge Roth 
• 7th (fastest Brit AG, 11th AG athlete overall) at the IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, Nice 
• And of course, the Crown Jewel, is 3rd at Kona in 2017, 1st overall female in 2018, and 1st overall in 2019.

It hasn’t all been roses and podiums, though. This past year, Ruth battled injuries including a run-in with a car where she broke her collarbone just weeks before the 70.3 Championships in Nice and only a couple of months before Kona.

Ruth was SO much fun to chat with. We had a lot of laughs as we talked about her adjustment to life as a pro, how she got into triathlon, and what she’s looking forward to in 2020. I hope you enjoy my conversation with my new friend Ruth Astle!