RTA Triathlon - Personal trainer in Ridgewood - 335 Marshall St, USA

I did the one on one personal run coaching session with Chris. The session was very in depth and he gave me lots of great critiques on my running and the how to fix. He ran next to me helping me practice how to fix my form and went over each step. After all was done he provided a typed up document with everything so I can have a reference when practicing on my own. I would highly recommend for anyone struggling with running injuries.

Having been a coached athlete with RTA for the past few years for marathon and short course triathlon training, I knew that this was the team I wanted to work with for my first long course triathlon prep after several years off. As an experienced triathlete, and prior Ironman finisher, I wasn’t sure how my work, life, and family schedule would fit the realities of what I thought taking this challenge on again would entail. I cannot say strongly enough how refreshing it was that Coach Elizabeth’s approach is about tailoring the plan to the athlete vs the other way around. The consistent dialogue, engagement, “anything you need to feel confident”, check-ins, part coach/part psychologist approach established a trust that was amazing to have when are in the midst of the highs and lows. What I found remarkable was in the lead up to Ironman Lake Placid I was hitting some of the fastest workout milestones and race results I had EVER experienced. The plan based around quality of hours and not quantity was clearly working. I was never injured from overuse and was able to safely and productively stack week after week of consistency. It all culminated with a well laid out plan for IMLP that we executed perfectly on a tough day. I had two DNFs in my two most recent prior ironmans and was concerned how I would manage the distance on race day. I was so prepared to tackle any challenges and troubleshoot quickly different scenarios you may encounter because WE TRAINED AND THOUGHT OUT those exact scenarios. Two to three came up on race day- I dealt with them, moved on and my day never derailed. As a result of all that, I achieved my first ever Ironman world championship qualifying slot (no roll down!) I’m ecstatic to have achieved this lifetime goal and to race in Nice France in 3 weeks. Elizabeth and Chris are two of the best humans you’ll ever meet and their passion for what they do is clear. The RTA community of athletes is a special group of people of varying levels who love challenging themselves and supporting their teammates at events. If you’re thinking of partnering with an amazing team of coaches and tri team, look no further and drop RTA a note. It may be one of the best decisions you ever make as they will without a doubt help you achieve your goals - no matter what they may be.

This review update has been a long time coming. Coach Elizabeth and Captain Chris helped me to unlock potential that had been elusive while working on my own. I raced my first 70.3 in Atlantic City in 2022. My time was 6:37 (swim was serviceable; bike was too hard; run took too long; transition was embarrassing). I decided my goal for 2023 would be to break 6 hours. I also decided that I might need coaching to help me do that, but Coach E. had to push me to commit. I waited until the end of March, beginning of April to sign up. Coach E. gave me structure, accountability, and confidence. By the end of the season, I broke 6 hours (time adjusted for a shortened swim at Jones Beach 70.3), but that only tells part of my story. Last season my swim was crippled by panic attacks and breathing failures. By the end of the 2023 season, I had knocked almost 20 seconds off my 100 yard pace and swam my last 70.3 of the season in a literal tropical storm (I feel like I can swim in anything now). My bike times did not improve, but I had to let go of that because over-biking was killing my run. What did improve was my FTP to the tune of 50 watts (which still seems crazy to me). The biggest gain was in my run. From 2022 to 2023 my run went from 2:54 to 2:17. Bonkers. Even more unbelievable is that, along the way, my swim improved so dramatically that I was able to win two 1st place overalls in Aquabike, one of which was a New Jersey State Championship (at 52 years-old). Before 2023, I was certain that I would max out my bucket list at 70.3. After a short season of RTA Coaching, my world changed: I signed up for 9 months of coaching, including extra swim sessions, because I am going to race Lake Placid 140.6. Knowing what I know now, there is no way I would sign up for a full IronMan without a coach (specifically, Coach E.). That's my review for now. I'll post an update after Placid.

Have had many coaches previously but Chris and Elizabeth are the most passionate. Their love of Triathalon is infectious and make for some great learning experiences and training days. Enjoyed training camp very much. Would not have survived IM Lake Placid without their assistance.

I recently embarked on my triathlon journey and had the privilege of training with Chris and Elizabeth. From start to finish, my experience with RTA has been nothing short of phenomenal, and I cannot recommend them highly enough! The moment I met them, I was greeted with warmth and enthusiasm. Chris and Elizabeth, exuded a genuine passion for triathlon training, and their expertise was immediately evident. They possess an impressive wealth of knowledge, and their dedication to helping athletes reach their full potential is truly inspiring. Throughout the process, they provided constructive feedback, guidance, and encouragement. Whether I had questions about proper form, nutrition, or race strategies, they were always available to offer their expertise and help me overcome any obstacles. Their passion for the sport is infectious, and they foster a positive and inclusive training atmosphere that makes every session enjoyable.

RTA has consistently exceeded my expectations. I've participated in several one-on-one sessions (swim/run), a group swim clinic, and a training camp. Each experience was impeccably organized, incredibly informative, and highly educational. I wholeheartedly recommend RTA for anyone seeking to navigate the intricacies of the triathlon sport.

After trying to unsuccessfully swim on my own for a couple weeks, while home visiting family I reached out to Chris and RTA for some lessons. Chris was able to meet with me the next day and provided exceptional support. Not only was he able to help me dramatically improve my form, but was also flexible with his schedule when planning lessons. Chris had a great attitude and will definitely be booking more time when I'm back home in the future. He's been terrific and explains lessons/drills/form eloquently and succinctly.

I am a newbie when it comes to Triathlon and 2023 is my first year starting triathlon. I googled to identify a coach in NJ who could help me with my Tri journey and found out about RTA. I had a call with Elizabeth and she listened to my requirements, and constraints and patiently answered all my queries. She even helped me to find out the ride which will suit my budget and height. Chris has been coaching 1on1 on my swim, in my 1st session with Chris, I couldn’t swim more than 10 yards without stopping. However, exactly after 2 months, I managed my first 50 and 100 yards in one go. This was all possible only because of Chris’s methodical coaching and guidance. Chris keeps his sessions highly engaging and motivating. In his 1hr, 1 on 1 session, he provides immediate feedback to help you with your technique. He explains in a simple manner the WHY-WHAT-HOW of the technique. After the session, he shares the notes, drills, feedback, and areas of improvement on email which is very helpful. Elizabeth is working with me on my bike and run training. Every week she updates the plan for me to follow and she is prompt to answer my queries. In my 1st bike session, she set up the bike for me as per my body size and explained the fundamentals of road biking. she has a great Knowledge of the biomechanics of cycling. I highly recommend RTA to anyone who wants to start their triathlon journey or improve Tri performance. All you need is to give your sincere efforts and leave the rest in the hands of Chris and Elizabeth. Thank you, Chris and Elizabeth !!!