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Ross Rabalais

@rossrunz

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• @zootsports Southeast Team Captain
• @ironmantri All World Athlete
• @usatriathlon All American
• Certified @strava Royalty

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RACE REPORT: IRONMAN Chattanooga

After many years in the making, my goal of completing an Ironman before turning 30 has been achieved. A couple of years ago when I became the Southeast Team Captain for Zoot, I realized I needed to up my game. Nearly everyone I met within the triathlon community had already done an Ironman and I still hadn’t completed a 70.3. It was a matter of which race and when.

Fast forward to Chattanooga in 2026, a city I had only heard about through triathletes and live streams that made the course look challenging and inviting at the same time. It appealed to me so much that in 2025 I made the decision to do the 70.3 in May with plans on doing the full in September.

I’ve done some big workouts in my life but never one of this proportion. Ironman is a daunting task, just the training alone is immense and if done correctly you may still not be in shape when the day arrives.

On Sept 27th, I was awake from 4:00am to midnight and spent over half of that day competing against some of the most fit people I have ever toed the line with. The mindset really was that it was going to be a long training session that would last from sunrise to sunset, just with a timing chip strapped to my left ankle.

With the goal of dipping under 10 hours I knew it was going to be no easy task, meaning everything had to be done correctly. Every decision, every hill, every moment had to be made to perfection but after 8+ hours I came up short on the back half of that run. The down hills destroyed me and had to settle for 10:27. Sub 10 hours will have to wait another day.

IM Chattanooga was not only my first Ironman it was also my first marathon, my 4th longest ride, my longest training day by 3.5 hours, my 5,000th Strava activity, most bottles consumed on the bike, and most impressive probably the longest pee of my life (in T2) with the fullest of bladders from all that liquid.

Looking back through all the injuries, illnesses, setbacks, asthma, overheating, early mornings, work, life, etc, it’s truly incredible what an individual can overcome when they put their mind to it.

Thank you Chattanooga, until next time.
#LikeARoss “You are an Ironman!” taken in Chattanooga, Tennessee by @rossrunz

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16 days ago

The time has come. Ironman Chattanooga race week. Many, many years of training and completing near impossible workouts has come down to this weekend in Tennessee for my first Ironman.
#LikeARoss taken in Chattanooga, Tennessee by @rossrunz

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a month ago

All roads leading to Chattanooga.

T-minus 365 days until 70.3 World Championships

#LikeARoss taken in Chattanooga, Tennessee by @rossrunz

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2 months ago

Summer send off. 🚀

#LikeARoss taken in Saint Augustine, Florida by @rossrunz

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2 months ago

It’s Race Week!! First local race of the year, looking to test the body and fitness in the middle of Florida summer.
#LikeARoss taken in Vilano Beach, Florida by @rossrunz

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3 months ago

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4 months ago

RACE REPORT: IRONMAN 70.3 Chattanooga

“You made podium!” … or so I thought. Shortly after finishing, I asked a volunteer to pull up my results. At the moment, I was sitting 5th in my age group, I couldn’t believe it, I nearly teared up but I knew I had to wait until more people had finished.

I would later find out that I got bumped to 6th, then 7th. It’s nothing to be upset about considering the conditions on the day. The race went a good as it could’ve gone and I’m happy with the result.

A longer swim with little to no current, a hilly bike and a run with punchy climbs made for a tough, tough experience but it made that medal sweeter to earn.

It was my first 70.3 where I was able to “compete” from start to finish without something bad happening or bonking, so that’s always plus.

Chattanooga has been on my to-do list for a while and now I can check that off. Next on that list - IRONMAN Chattanooga, IRONMAN Jacksonville and 2027 70.3 World Championships.

Special shout out and huge thank you to everyone who showed their support (Zoot/ friends/ training partners/ volunteers/ etc) it means a lot to receive so many messages.
#LikeARoss taken in Chattanooga, Tennessee by @rossrunz

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5 months ago

It’s “A Race” race week. Time to put all of this year’s work to test at Ironman 70.3 Chattanooga.
#LikeARoss taken in Chattanooga, Tennessee by @rossrunz

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5 months ago

RACE REPORT: St. Anthony’s Triathlon

After an injury delay to the start of the year, finally made it back to the starting line for my second attempt at this race. All focus was on having a better outcome after last year’s subpar result.

One of the most stacked and competitive Olympic distance races in the region, St. Anthony’s Triathlon is a staple to test your fitness against some strong triathletes.

Despite some muggy/ humid conditions, race was better across all 3 disciplines. Nothing perfect, but was satisfactory on the day all things considered.

2nd in age group and 22nd out of 1,000 competitors. Still work to be done, now eyes on Chattanooga 70.3.
#LikeARoss taken in St. Petersburg, FL by @rossrunz

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6 months ago

It’s race week !! First triathlon of the year.

Looking for some redemption at St. Anthony’s this weekend.
#LikeARoss taken in St. Petersburg, FL by @rossrunz

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6 months ago

@zootsports captains camp did not disappoint. Could not be more thankful to be part of this team and one of the best triathlon brands in the world.

Oceanside is the furthest I have ever been from home and I would absolutely do it again. A weekend full of triathlon, laughs, cheers and expensive gas prices - the memories will last a lifetime.

Can’t wait until our next adventure with the Team Captains and congrats to everyone who represented Team Zoot !!
#LikeARoss taken in Oceanside, California by @rossrunz

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6 months ago

Another training camp in the books and my second as Team Captain. Glad to see, meet and train with so many @zootsports members. Best triathlon group out there !! Good luck to everyone this year !!
#LikeARoss taken in Clermont, Florida by @rossrunz

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7 months ago