Ruby Ryan

What are your goals for the upcoming season?

Podium results at a couple key Life Time Grand Prix races. I will keep the specific ones a secret, but if you know me, I bet you could also pick them!

How did your upbringing shape who you are today?

My family members have always been my idols, and training was ingrained in our everyday life. We lived on a lake in Rotorua and would ride in the forest, swim, train, run around the lake, and kayak.

How has your training and nutrition evolved over your career?

As a teenager, I overtrained and didn't pay attention to my fuel, which made me very sick for a couple years. As a result, I am now passionate about my nutrition.

How do you stay motivated during long, grueling training sessions or races?

Honestly, motivation is not a struggle for me during seasons or sessions - my biggest struggle is avoiding overtraining. My coach has been very helpful in this area: he can hold me back at certain times of the year, allowing me to keep my spark for important races instead of burying myself during training.

What has being an endurance athlete taught you about life outside of sport?

The importance of being a kind friend and maintaining close relationships. I truly think that life outside of sport is what takes the biggest toll on athletes. Having athletes as friends helps you feel less alone in the struggles you face in an athletic life, and we all help each other in so many small ways.

What piece of new technology or equipment could you no longer imagine living without?

Honestly, my earphones. I'm not sure how I rode or trained without them when I was younger. I love riding my bike and singing to music, and the best feeling is listening to the hype interval playlist I only listen to during certain parts of the year.

What advice would you give to someone who's just getting started?

The same thing I tell myself every day: believe in yourself and stay true to yourself. Fake it till you make it and smile everyday doing it.

Who are your heroes or role models in sport (or outside of it)?

My cousin and brother have always been my sporting idols. They are both world champions and my cousin is a two-time Olympic medalist on the track. I was lucky enough to see him cousin win a bronze medal in person at the 2012 London Olympics, and I cannot explain the fire that it lit inside me.

What's the most valuable lesson you've learned from a loss or failure in your career?

You have nothing without your health, so you should always prioritize it.

Do you listen to music or podcasts when you train? If so, what is your go-to playlist or podcast? Does it change on intervals vs. easy endurance?

Mostly always music, and it's a good shuffle of classic old songs, trending songs, sing-alongs, and hype music for intervals. I am super picky about my interval playlists and I start specific songs at specific times to suit my interval.