In fact it’s second only to the Nepean event in Penrith which began on December 1982.

Gunnedah’s started a few months later on Australia Day 1983 and Ruth has competed at nearly every one alongside her daughter, Emily.

Although she admits, there is little competition between the family duo.

“The only time I see her in the race, is at the start line,” Ruth joked.

This year however an expectant Emily has more pressing issues ahead of her, pregnancy-wise, and will be unable to compete with mum.

As for Ruth, it’s business as usual for the Australia Day  event where she will race in the over-65 years divisions 

A registered nurse of 51 years, Ruth’s focus on community health ties in well with her active lifestyle away from work.

Major spinal surgery a few years almost put an end to her triathlon pursuit.

“It was a very hard road back from that,” she said.

It’s hard to believe titanium plates and screws once pieced Ruth back together – a legacy she still carries with her today, with the fitness-focused veteran of the sport as keen as ever to keep on pedalling.

Over the years, the Gunnedah triathlon has attracted the North West’s best triathletes and although short in distances by event standards, it is acknowledged as one of the toughest on the calendar.

The women’s race starts 7am at the Gunnedah pool, followed by the juniors at 8am.

The men’s race begins 6pm as it has for about 30 years after experimenting with times in the early days. 

Competitors race over a 300-metre swim, 9.8 km bike ride and a 4km run.

Favorite for the race is Gunnedah’s Matt Fitzgerald who now lives on the Gold Coast where he attends university.

Matt finished eighth overall in Sydney on the weekend but could be challenged by Inverell’s Callum Dolby if he can get to Gunnedah on the day.

Callum finished one place ahead of Matt last week in Sydney, so it is sure to be a good contest either way.