Rutledge (nee Bush) first contested the race in 2001, finishing second in the open women's team section with Anna Findlay.
That began a remarkable run of seven starts for five victories in the team category, and finishing second in her other two starts.
Rutledge first encountered the event when she supported her brothers, Antony and David Bush, when they competed. She was working as an official physiotherapist with Sports Med Christchurch.
On her first time on the course, she was called upon to assist with a 40-bike pile-up just after the start in Kumara.
"While I was attending to one of the guys involved, I just happened to mention how he looked a bit of a mess," she recalled.
"He replied, 'I'm fine, you should see the guy's neck I rode over.' At that moment, in the bed next to us, this guy called out, 'Hey, that was me'. He did look a mess with tyre tracks firmly embedded around his neck."
Rutledge's parents, Paul and Nicky Bush, and sister Bridget began their association with the Coast to Coast 25 years ago, acting as support crew for her brothers. So when Rutledge was finally persuaded by brother Antony to have a go, her parents were first in line as support crew.
Her first love, ski racing, was put on hold as she learned to kayak. She knew she could handle the cycling, but running was not an option as she blew her knees playing age-group hockey and doing track and field.
She teamed up with colleague Findlay, who had done a bit of jogging but nothing like the mountain run section that awaited her.
All Rutledge had to do was achieve a grade 2 certificate in kayaking. This was, as she looks back, harder than the actual race.
Early in December each year, two months before the event, Coast to Coast organiser Robin Judkins stages a Waimakariri River race, for competitors to familiarise themselves with the river.
"Mine was a disaster," Rutledge said.
"I must have tipped out seven times, only for Juddy to be standing at the finish congratulating everyone, as he does. He greeted me, saying, `Well done.
Great to see you'." Rutledge was so angry she swore at him and and stormed off in tears.
She has not tipped in the waters of the Waimakariri since, but has gained a reputation for being a "rock magnet".
"I've been warned to watch out for certain rock formations or boulders, but somehow my kayak heads straight for them."
After her 2001 debut, Rutledge hungered for more, contesting the Length of New Zealand race later that year, leading into other adventure races such as the Southern Cross and the Mt Cook to Christchurch events.
Her Coast to Coast performances over the past decade have been interrupted by her role as physiotherapy co-ordinator for the New Zealand winter performance programme and travelling overseas with Winter Olympic teams.
Her first victory came in 2003, when she teamed with Lyn Weedon to win the open women's team title in 12hr 58min 47sec. They won again in 2005, 2007 and 2008.
In 2009, Rutledge teamed up with Tom Pinckney to win a fifth title, this time in the mixed team section. The two returned to the course last year, finishing second.
Rutledge is back next weekend to have another crack at reclaiming the open women's team title, this time with fellow Wanaka physiotherapist Simone Maier.
