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Those are the first three words that come to mind when reflecting on 2025.

As we close out our 15th year as professional triathlon coaches, we still laugh—and honestly find it a little crazy—that this gets to be our life’s work. It’s our passion, consistency, and the positive relationships we’ve built with our athletes that have allowed us to keep doing what we love, year after year.

We continue to be inspired and driven by the goals, stories, and journeys of those we coach. From World Championship qualifiers to first-time triathletes, and from PR-chasers to athletes completing a new distance for the very first time (hello, IRONMAN!), every story is different—and every one is exciting.

Our athletes’ successes mean the world to us. But even more important than race results are the lives that have been positively impacted along the way. The thoughtful texts, emails, and handwritten notes we receive—often behind the scenes—mean more to us than any podium, medal, or finish time ever could.

Thank you, once again, for trusting us, believing in us, and allowing us to live our dream while helping you achieve yours.

2026 is poised to be another INCREDIBLE year.

With gratitude,
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Coaches Chris & Elizabeth Kaplanis

At RTA Triathlon, we believe every athlete starts somewhere. For some, it begins with curiosity; for others, with courage. For Andrew, it began with a simple idea — do a bit more cardio.

​​The Beginning: A Casual Idea That Sparked a Big Goal

In early 2024, Andrew was simply looking to get healthier and add more cardio to his routine. During a conversation with a friend, he heard about “one of those crazy endurance races.” The mention stuck with him.

“I did some research and came across triathlon — and specifically Ironman,” he said. “It didn’t scare me, but it was completely different from anything I’d done before. The challenge of mastering three disciplines intrigued me. I wanted to see what I was capable of.”

There was only one small problem: Andrew couldn’t swim.