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​BLOG

INCREDIBLE Swim Before/After

3/24/2025

 

Making BIG Swim Improvements

Swimming is the downfall of many triathletes, but it doesn’t have to be.

Nick is the athlete in the video below.

We are currently overseeing his coaching program as well as working with him 1 on 1 to improve his swim technique as he trains to prepare for his second Ironman 70.3 at Musselman.
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GRATEFUL

12/31/2024

 
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Record Breaking Year in Every Sense!

As our 14th year coaching professionally comes to a close we would like to say THANK YOU!

We are beyond grateful for EVERYONE we have worked with and crossed paths with over the years.

2024 was a record breaking year in every sense of the meaning as we ended the year with 194 club members and helped more people achieve their dreams than ever before.

From first time triathlon finishers to first time Ironman finishers. Barriers were broken and personal bests were earned. From world & national championship podium performances to marathon greatness (6 world majors under 3 hours!!!)

Our athlete’s successes mean the world to us. BUT even more important than results are the countless lives we have changed while working with our athletes. The subtle texts, emails and notes we receive mean more to us than ANYTHING.

Thank you all once again for allowing us to live our dream while helping others achieve theirs.

2025 is poised to be another EPIC YEAR! LFG!!! 

​Coaches Chris & Elizabeth Kaplanis
​
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Marathon Training w/ Limited Time & a Busy Schedule

12/4/2024

 

How I CRUSHED My Marathon

I'm turning 40 in two weeks and I recently CRUSHED my first marathon in 13 years.

I had BIG goals and my expectations were high and I felt like it was now or never. 

It's also important to note that we have two young kids, travel a lot and our weekly work schedule is never the same.

Here's are my 5 takeaways from finishing the Philadelphia Marathon and going sub 3 hours for the first time (6:45/mi).
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My biggest supporters greeted me at the finish

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RTA at Ironman Lake Placid

8/1/2024

 

2024 IMLP by the Numbers

Thinking about signing up for Ironman Lake Placid in 2025? 

Each year we have a BIG presence at Ironman Lake Placid.

It's ICONIC.
We LOVE it.
We KNOW it.
And we consider it OUR RACE!

The FEELING and SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT of crossing the finish line is something that simply cannot be described. It MUST BE EXPERIENCED!

If you are considering Lake Placid for next year we would LOVE to help you prepare. We KNOW this race and we would love to help you using our coaching expertise and deep knowledge of the race / venue. 

​Below we will share Team RTA's 2024 experience in Lake Placid, "by the numbers."
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Simple Swim Tip for Triathletes

6/19/2024

 

Easy Correction for a Common Swim Flaw

It's no secret, one of the biggest barriers to entry for triathlon is swimming. This is for a lot of reasons, but especially because swimming is a very technical sport.

Unless you on 'swim team' growing up, most people struggle to become proficient swimmers.

Fortunately, as professional triathlon coaches, one of the services we offer are swim lessons via our 1 on 1 Sessions.

Each year we work with well over 100 athletes  of ALL abilities to help get them swimming. Some are starting from scratch and others are looking to get FASTER.

Every athlete is unique and faces their own challenges when it coms to swimming but there are definitely a handful of common flaws we see often.

Below we will share one of them that happens to have a fairly easy correction and typically yields quick results. 
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Coach Chris offers a technique correction during a 1 on 1 Swim Session

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FREE Webinar Recording & Slides

3/4/2024

 
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Mastering Long Course Triathlon

Check out this webinar Coach Chris Kaplanis presented on behalf of IRONMAN®. 

Learn what it takes to be successful for long course triathlons (IRONMAN 70.3® & IRONMAN® triathlons).

​If you're doing a Half or Full IRONMAN next year OR if you want to do one in the future, you're not going to want to miss this.

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Blessed

12/31/2023

 
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What a Year!

We are BLESSED. At the end of our 13th year in business and the same coaching professionally we would like to say THANK YOU to all of our past and present athletes, club members, campers, sponsors, race organizers and anyone else who has attended a webinar, clinic or we have crossed paths with along the way.

2023 was our best year to date as we helped more athletes than ever before achieve and in many cases surpass their goals. We had 8 World Championship Qualifers from our group, too many first time triathletes, 70.3 and 140.6 finishers to accurately account for. We performed 26 Bike, 41 Run and 111 Swim 1 on 1 Sessions. And we ended the year with exactly 160 Team RTA Tri Club members, our most ever.

Thank you thank you thank you for allowing us to live our dream while helping others achieve theirs.

Treadmill = Valuable Training Tool

3/24/2022

 
HILL REPEATS & SPECIFICITY… on the TREADMILL

Even when the weather is nice, the treadmill can still be a GREAT tool to help dial in workouts in regards to specificity.

For example, HILL REPEATS can be easily executed with a set time, incline and recovery which is not always easy when you’re out on the road.

"OMG, that doesn't sound fun. Why would I do such a thing!?!?" Hill repeats help build sport specific strength. They will make you stronger and faster. ​
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Strengthen Your CORE

2/22/2021

 
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Incorporating a CORE strengthening routine into your weekly training regimen is advantageous for triathletes & runners (or just about ANYONE), but sadly it is often overlooked and not prioritized.

Below we will briefly discuss what your core is and how you can make it a part of your weekly training routine. At the very bottom, you’ll find a video with a few exercises to get you started.

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Using the Treadmill as a Tool

2/12/2021

 
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When it’s ❄️COLD & SNOWY❄️ outside, turn up the 🔥HEAT🔥 inside on the treadmill.

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The Road Less Traveled

12/31/2020

 
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Each December, just before the new year, I go for a run on a discrete and private snow-covered road in Lake Placid. I use this run as a time to reflect on the previous year. Here are a few thoughts that came to mind as we close out the 10th year of RTA…

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Accountability is Key

11/6/2020

 
Training Training Accountability
Achieve MORE With Accountability
Whether you’re driven to race OR if you simply enjoy a healthy lifestyle, creating a routine and having ACCOUNTABILITY is a total GAME CHANGER.

When you have accountability, you’re much more likely to stay on track and achieve your goals.

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Have Direction & Purpose

10/8/2020

 
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Have DIRECTION & PURPOSE for your goals
Many events are too hard, long, and difficult to race or participate in on a whim. When the going gets tough – and it will – it is purpose that will help drive you forward.

We always encourage our athletes determine what their purpose is BEFORE getting started on their journey. Some common (yet general) examples include:

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10 Things Successful Triathletes Do

7/21/2020

 
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Do you want to know how to become the very best triathlete you can possibly be? Being a successful triathlete can largely be attributed to your commitment and discipline as long as you’re doing the “right things,” that is.

Below, I’m going to save you YEARS of learning and “figuring things out” and tell you exactly what to do.

Over the last 10 years of coaching, we have in fact learned a lot from our athletes. Everything I’m going to share with you is based on what we have seen the most successful people DO over the years.

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Stretching Is Important For Triathletes & Runners

7/16/2020

 
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Did you know that you get stronger and fitter in periods of recovery?

Yes, it’s true.

However, despite the fact that recovery is one of the biggest pieces to the the fitness puzzle, amateur athletes (runners, triathletes, cross fitters and everything in between) don’t take it very seriously.

Next to quality sleep (the MOST important part of recovery), stretching should be incorporated into your daily and weekly routine. Below we will discuss why this is so important and also share a few of our favorite stretches for triathletes and runners.

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Become a Better Cyclist with Forced Extra Time

6/22/2020

 
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Athletes regularly have to reframe their goals. This can be for a variety of reasons, but today we’re going talk about how you can use “forced” extra time to become a better cyclist.

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Top 2 Benefits of Smart Trainers

6/15/2020

 
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Smart Trainers
Recently, smart trainers, as shown here, have been blowing up!

Obviously, bike trainers in general, allow for workout efficiency and specificity… not to mention shelter from crappy weather. If you don’t have one, I would recommend one.

Smart trainers, however, add some serious additional value to the idea of riding inside.

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Tri Bike or Road Bike?

5/4/2020

 
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“What Kind of Bike Should I Buy?”
If you’re new to triathlon, you may be asking yourself, should I buy a road bike or a tri bike. We get this question all of the time.

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Can I Do a Triathlon?

4/24/2020

 
Can I do a triathlon
“Can I Do It?”
Can I do a triathlon? Can I finish the IRONMAN®? Can I run a MARATHON? Can I learn how to swim, bike or run FASTER?

This can be applied to ANYTHING, but we get it all the time. “Can I do it?” “IT” can be WHATEVER.

Here’s our response…

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Reframe Your Goals

4/6/2020

 
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Forced Extra Time
This is the time of year many of us get to put our fitness to the test and race. Unfortunately, it seems like each day another race is being canceled or postponed. Or maybe you’re injured.

Regardless, instead of letting this drive you nuts, it’s time to take control and REFRAME YOUR GOALS. Use this “forced extra time” to your advantage.

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We Are Open For Business

4/1/2020

 
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Open For Business & We Want to Help YOU
With every CHALLENGE, comes OPPORTUNITY – in sport and life in general. Despite the current chaos, we are open for business and here to help you.

While area fitness facilities and pools are currently closed indefinitely due to COVID-19 / Corona Virus, we want you to know that RTA Triathlon is open for business and we want to help you. As a predominantly online service provider we can keep you (or get you) fit, healthy and on track to crush your future goals. THIS IS WHAT WE DO.

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The Value of A, B & C Races in Triathlon

2/10/2020

 
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What’s the Deal with A, B & C Races in Triathlon?
When planning out your race season triathletes usually schedule several races, each with a different level of priority. For example, “A,” B,” and “C” races.  “A” races are typically top priority while “B” or “C” races are usually preparatory races before your BIG race.

Below I’m going explain what this all means as well as the importance of prioritizing races for your upcoming season.

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Feel Better Mentally & Physically

1/6/2020

 
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Feeling Stressed & Unaccomplished?
I feel like this whole COVID-19 pandemic has created a sense of purgatory for many. Or your own personal Ground Hog’s Day. Where you’re kind of just stuck in between. In the middle of nowhere.

However you want to describe it – it likely adds some unwelcome tension and stress to your life and today I’m here to offer a couple suggestions to help manage this and help you feel better.

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Grateful for YOU

12/26/2019

 
Chris & Elizabeth Kaplanis RTA Tri
We Are EXTREMELY GRATEFUL
2020 will mark our 10th year in business together as … “professional triathlon coaches”…

WAIT! WHAT? … yup that’s actually a “job!!!” We still laugh when people ask us, “what do you do for work?” 😂

We would like to think of “what we do,” more as guiding people to achieve EPIC & EXTRAORDINARY GOALS by using health & fitness as the primary median. It has truly been a blessing. There is NOTHING BETTER than HELPING OTHERS achieve their PERSONAL GREATNESS.

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Thinking of IRONMAN or IRONMAN 70.3?

12/3/2019

 
IRONMAN Finish line
Completing an IRONMAN or Half IRONMAN Triathlon is truly an incredible goal. Anyone can do it, if they commit to the training, but there are a few things you should consider before signing up.

Read More
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RTA Triathlon

RTA is a comprehensive triathlon coaching organization and fully supported USAT sanctioned triathlon club. 

We are based in Ridgewood, NJ and coach triathletes of all abilities from across the country. 
 

​Our mission is to make you a better triathlete.

Contact us when you're ready to take your "game" to the next level.
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  • Home
  • SERVICES
    • TRAINING PROGRAMS
    • 1 ON 1 SESSIONS
    • TRAINING CAMPS >
      • Lake Placid
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      • Bike Skills Clinic
    • Triathlon Starter Package
    • CORPORATE / CHARITY
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  • ABOUT
  • BLOG