THE JOURNEY
TO AMAZING

I didn’t set out to become a professional triathlete. In fact, my story is probably a lot like yours.

 

I played sports for the fun of competing against my brothers and sister, the camaraderie of my uni field hockey team, and the fitness and balance sports brought to my life. While most professional triathletes were climbing up the ranks, I was climbing the corporate ladder.

 

And then, something extraordinary happened.

 

I discovered that I love triathlon.

 

I was working for Lloyds Banking Group in London, and my boss offered up a spare place on the company’s charity team at the London Triathlon. I had been running a lot in preparation for the Berlin marathon, but this training was on another level. The run and the bike came easily enough, but swimming was (and still is!) another story; I came out of my first open water swim covered in green slime and convinced I would never open water swim again!

 

Still, crossing the finish line for the first time was epic! I was hooked.

 

That was 2013. Since then I’ve joined the local triathlon club, got stuck into racing, and have been obsessed with triathlon! I’ve worked hard to be the best I can possibly be. I had heard about other pro triathletes who hadn’t come from elite sports backgrounds and, like me, had corporate jobs. They inspired me to be brave, take a risk and chase my dream, and now I hope to inspire you, too.

 

You see, everyone has the potential to do more, to be better, to be amazing in their own way.

It’s been true for me. Six years on from my first triathlon, I won the overall age group race at the Ironman World Championship, and I made the leap, at age 30, to become a professional triathlete. Some people think l’m a little crazy, giving up a stable career and chasing my dream.

I’m not crazy; I’m motivated. To be the best athlete I can be. To race the best athletes in the world. To keep pushing myself to be better and find my limits. To amaze myself, and share my love of sport with you, so that you can be amazing, too.

 

What does it mean to be amazing? I’s not about winning every time or setting world records. It’s about challenging yourself, being brave, pushing through your doubts, and working hard to be better than you ever thought you could be. It’s about fighting through adversity, embracing failure and learning from it.

 

It’s a journey and I invite you to join me as we become amazing together.

 

 

OFFICIAL BIO

Ruth Astle was born and raised in the U.K., and worked for Lloyds Banking Group in London since graduating from the University of Exeter in 2012 until early 2024. In 2013, she was offered a charity place for the London Triathlon and her love for triathlon took hold.

 

After a series of age-group wins from 2013 – 2019, Ruth turned pro following her overall age-group win in the 2019 Ironman World Championships and has quickly established herself as a leading contender. She recorded her first-ever pro Ironman win in Mallorca in 2021, clocking a sub-9 hour Ironman for the first time, and won again the following month at the Ironman South Africa. She placed fifth in the Ironman World Championships (St. George, Utah 2022), and took her third Ironman title in Israel in 2022, finishing the year ranked 19th in the world.

 

Today, Ruth sets her sights on the 2024 Ironman World Championships in Nice, France, September 22, 2024.

When she’s not training, Ruth enjoys cooking, wine, chocolate, and spending time with friends.