Austin's Triathlon Source

Missy Ruthven

Date of Birth:	11/8/67
Height:	5' 2"
Weight:	112 lbs.
Specialty:	Olympic Distance
Strength:	Biking
Category:	Elite
Club:	Austin Triathletes
Date of First Race:	7/90
Name of First Race:	New Braunfels Tri
Memories of First Race:	Almost didn't finish the swim...I wasn't much of a swimmer, so a minute after the gun went off I was hyperventilating; I stopped, looked back at shore, then looked at the buoy, shore, buoy...then decided that I could make it to the buoy (it was an out and back); by then not many people were around me and I calmed down, taking my own sweet time.
Personal Best Olympic Distance:	Time: 2:10
Personal Best Ironman:	Time: 11:05
Personal Best 5K Run:	Time: 17:30 (college track performance)
Personal Best 10K Run:	Time: 37:20
Personal Best Marathon:	Time: 3:00:10 missed it by ten seconds!
Personal Best 40k bike:	Time: 59:+ (TX state TT champs '99)
Personal Best 1500m Swim:	Time: 23:+
Advice for new triathletes:	So much to say here! Main advice...keep it fun! Ease into the Ironman distance if that is your goal. If swimming is your weakness, get coaching advice such as from a Master's swim group...that helped me (and still does) to be more confident and A LOT faster in the water.
Specialty Distance in Triathlon:	I'd have to say Olympic Distance since that is what I do the most of; though I think I could do the best at half-ironman with the right training
Personal Favorite Swimming Location:	I wish I had something "cool" to say here...I pretty much only swim at the Hills outdoor pool which is great, but also like Deep Eddy in the summer...really wish I could say Barton Springs...I aspire to be one of those that swims there regularly, just haven't found the time/desire to make that happen (things to do in the future).
Personal Favorite Cycling Route:	Fitzugh loop
Personal Favorite Running Location:	Scenic St Loop, and Greenbelt Trail for off-road
Personal Favorite Race:	Boerne Tri. I started triathlon when I lived in San Antonio. The Boerne swim and bike courses are where I trained when I lived there. I like the off-road run.
Personal Favorite Workout:	I always seem to come back to a workout we did in college; a run workout (fartlek) called 6,5,4,3,2,1 (6min hard, 3min easy, 5 hard, 2.5 easy.....) I still do that workout and even do it on the bike (mostly on a trainer), and would probably do it in the swim if I made up my own workouts. I tend to stay with what I know.
Personal Favorite Products:	my new QR Ti-phoon was pretty good! For clothing, I tend to like Zoot the best, though DeSoto is good too. Food, I was a chocolate junkie, then I tried Carb-boom (Apple Cinnamon) it goes down a little better. Endurox R4 is great for recovery!!
Favorite Bike Shop:	Austin Tricyclist
Personal Favorite Movie(s):	Haven't seen too much lately...Something about Mary, Meet the Parents (Ben Stiller was hilarious!) I didn't see alot of movies before being married and having kids...for kid movies though...Shrek is pretty good!
Personal Favorite Food:	chocolate
Most Embarrassing Moment in Triathlon:	Nothing really exciting here...the usual, fall down getting off the bike in the transition area; can't find where to rack my bike.
Role Model(s):	Karen Smyers for her laid back attitude and for her fighting for no drafting in the Olympics
Profession:	Currently, a mother of 2 great girls (4.5 and 15 months). In the past, registered nurse, and I have a Master's in Exercise Physiology (from UT). My last job was at UT on a big research study in Ex. Phys.
What's it been like competing since having two children?	Well, it has certainly curtailed the amount of racing that I do (and I won't be doing any Ironman training in the near future!). But it has also made me more focused and more organized in my training and racing. I can't train as much as I used to (or as much as I would like to) so I really make my training purposeful. And how I finish in a race is not as important as it used to be...I still give 100% effort in racing, but if I don't have the "perfect" race I don't worry about it. The most important thing right now at the end of each day is my family, not whether or not I did that workout, or won that race. My time will come again...I have long range (2+ years from now) goals to fulfill! I haven't "given up" on having a good season this year, but I am being more generous with the definition of "good season".
You are now part owner of one of the most popular bicycle shops in the country. Has that motivated you to race and train harder?	Really? One of the most popular in the Country?! Cool! Of course I am more motivated to train and race harder...but the fact is I still have 2 young children, so I'm focusing on training and racing smarter!
What changes has Austin Tricyclist made in your life?	I don't get to eat dinner with my husband as much since he usually stays until closing. I'm learning to get really bad dirt out of my kids' clothes from playing on the floor at the shop. More seriously, I am learning more than I ever bargained for! Not just about tri gear and equipment, but running a business. I never really had an interest in owning and operating a business before, but I'm really enjoying it and in fact, the current and future status of the bike shop is more important than my training and racing right now. I am still working on the balancing act of, yet, one more thing impacting my daily schedule, but I imagine I'll come through it all with some great organizational skills! And, like I said before...my time (as an "elite" athlete) will come again.
Webmaster Note:	I have known Missy for a real long time. She has been one of the most consistently nice people in multi-sport racing. If you have never had the pleasure of meeting this fine lady then stop by Austin Tricyclist and say howdy.