You see Ruth is my masseuse (doesn't that sound impressive?), she gives me the sports (therapeutic) massages that keep me supple and in shape for racing. And jesus do they hurt!!!
She is also one of my training partners. We'll meet up out the front of Toys'R'Us at 5 am to do hill circuits before I go to work. When I started training with her I had a look on Probikekit for a new cassette, a 25 tooth for the rear just to help me get up the hills. Then I found out that Ruth trains in the 17 sprocket, up ALL of the hills. After a few weeks I have developed enough strength to do the same......but......not actually at the same speed as her (it's just between you and me that I get beaten up 18 hills by a GIRL before work a couple of times a week).
So you get the picture. She hurts me, a lot. And I'm sure she enjoys it.
She headed off to the nationals a few weeks ago and came 4th. Very impressive. But last weeks result at the Tour of New Zealand was the real standout. A world class field, UCI points race. She was forced to try and find a team to race for after not being selected for the Aussie team. She found one, then raced her arse off.
She certainly showed the Aussies, and the rest of the world, what she can do. 6th overall. Pretty impressive for a country girl who works for a living and pays her own way!!!
Not surprisingly she now has a few teams looking to sign her.