Three times a lady: An interview with Louise Kobin

By Steve Medcroft

While Thomas Frischnecht becoming the first non Costa Rican to win La Ruta de los Conquistadores was big news, Louise Kobin, the non Costa Rican women's winner, didn't grab nearly as much limelight. But her success may even be more remarkable than Frischy's.

Remarkable not only because La Ruta truly is every bit the endurance challenge it is advertised to be – in three days, riders climb from ocean front, over a 10,000 foot volcano, up grades as steep as 25%, across rivers, along railroad tracks and through acres and acres of mud that can only be described as like peanut butter – Kobin's win is remarkable because it was her third is as many years.

So who is this queen of La Ruta? Turns out, she's a 37-year-old San Jose-based physical therapist. “And I actually used to be a marathon runner,” Kobin said Wednesday between client appointments. “Then I hurt my back five years ago. I started cross training on my mountain bike and realized I was better at it than running.”

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