• FREE fitness newsletter

  Get Fit Newsletter!

• FREE Fitness E-books

  5 Must-Know Ab Exercises
  21 Insider Tips to Fitness Success
  Fat Chance

My brother, Andy Irons, and his wife Jessica started an Off-Broadway theater company 9 years ago. And for the first time ever they are performing in Washington DC. Thats right, Andhow! Theater Company is coming to the Church Street Theater in Washington, DC on Saturday, June 28 at 7:30pm.

Come to a reading of Andrew Irons’ newest play “Linus and Alora” which will debut at the Flea Theater in Tribeca in New York City on September 6th. The entire NYC cast of professional actors will perform.

ANDHOW! is an award-winning Off-Broadway Theater Companybased in New York City. ANDHOW! productions have been lauded by the press.

• The New York Times says: “Attention must be paid.”
• The Village Voice called ANDHOW! work “ambitious and provocative”.
• New York Magazine said: “Brilliant and Highbrow”.
• Time Out New York called ANDHOW! “the perfect team…daring innovative…”
• NYTheater.com says “fine fine theater…Bravo to everyone at ANDHOW!”

The reading will be followed by a discussion, a time to voice your reactions and to ask questions. In this process we’ll all learn more how a play goes from a seed of an idea through a fully-realized production.

Then please stay for delicious dessert crepes and Java House coffee, meet the actors and visit with the playwright and director.

This fundraising event benefits ANDHOW! Theater Company. Tickets are $75 and are tax deductible. The Church Street Theater is located at 1742 Church Street, NW.

Every day, 850 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest, otherwise known as a heart attack. And with great sadness, we all learned last week that Tim Russert — Host of Meet the Press and Washington Bureau Chief for NBC News — died from a heart attack.

NBC’s Brian Williams did a story on Tim Russert’s risk factors and had a great overview of the anatomy of a heart attack.

Ever wonder what Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice does to stay fit?

Well, watch the video below to find out. Enjoy…

Take a look at the new trailer for the upcoming documentary Swim Lessons: The Nick Irons Story. The documentary is being produced by Alex Houston of Fiat Lux productions and is the true story of my 1550-mile swim down the Mississippi River.

A recent Brookings Institution survey ranked the 30 biggest metropolitan areas according to the number of “walkable urban places” relative to the area’s population.

Our nations capital, Washington, DC, was ranked #1. Here is the complete list:

1. Washington
2. Boston
3. San Francisco
4. Denver
5. Portland, Ore.
6. Seattle
7. Chicago
8. Miami
9. Pittsburgh
10. New York
11. San Diego
12. Los Angeles
13. Philadelphia
14. Atlanta
15. Baltimore
16. St. Louis
17. Minneapolis
18. Detroit
19. Columbus, Ohio
20. Las Vegas
21. Houston
22. San Antonio
23. Kansas City, Mo.
24. Orlando, Fla.
25. Dallas
26. Phoenix
27. Sacramento, Calif.
28. Cincinnati
29. Cleveland
30. Tampa, Fla.

 

Technorati Tags: Personal Training in Washington DC,Washington DC fitness,Fittest Cities,Fattest Cities

Men’s Fitness magazine just released their annual list of fittest and fattest cities in America, and out nation’s capital comes in ranked #13.

I would like to think that it is a result of our world-class personal trainers. Unfortunately quality of personal training available wasn’t one of the judging criteria. Instead they looked at things like.

• how much residents are excising

• how healthfully they eat

• how much they use gym memberships

• how much junk food they consume

• how much alcohol they consume

• how much time they spend sitting in traffic.

Men’s Fitness also talks to mayors and city parks departments to learn about local exercise venues, programs designed to get citizens off their couches and moving, and civic leadership.

Washington would have ranked a lot higher if it wasn’t for alcohol comsumption and time spent in traffic. We received a grade of “F” when it came to booze and an “F+” when it came to traffic.

The Top 10 Fattest Cities in 2007

1. Las Vegas

2. San Antonio

3. Miami

4. Mesa, AZ

5. Los Angeles

6. Houston

7. Dallas

8. El Paso

9. Detroit

10. San Jose

 

The Top 10 Fittest Cities in 2007

1. Albuquerque

2. Seattle

3. Colorado Springs

4. Minneapolis

5. Tucson

6. Denver

7. San Francisco

8. Baltimore

9. Portland

10. Honolulu

Complete list of Fittest and Fattest Cities

At the beginning of September, I read a story in USA Today about Tim Borland, a fellow ultra-endurance athlete, who is running 63 marathons in 63 days. Notice I did not say “attempting to run 63 marathons” or “planning to run 63 marathons” or “hoping to run 63 marathons.” Tim is running 63 marathons.

I was so touched by the story that I had to contact him and I had to meet him.

Tim and his support crew were in Washington, DC yesterday for marathon number 56 — the Marine Corps Marathon. I joined a crowd of 20 other supporters to greet Tim as he finished.

Tim is not doing this to set any records. He is running for a higher cause. He is running to raise awareness and money for research that will benefit children with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T). A-T is a rare genetic disease that is incurable. It affects one in 40,000 babies born, causes loss of muscle control due to brain cell death. There are only 500 kids in the United States who currently have the disease.

His wife, Michelle, their kids Kailey and Colton and a college buddy Mike Durant are all along for the ride providing support.

I was lucky enough to be able to grab Tim for a few minutes after the race to talk about his journey. And there was a connection between us that I cannot explain. It was a feeling that I knew what he was going through — and he knew what I had gone through.

• I knew how nice it must have been to have a crowd of people there supporting him when he came in.

• I knew that even without a crowd around, he would still be out there pounding the pavement.

• I knew how excited he got as he spoke to People Magazine.

• I knew how thankful he was for a family that is as supportive as his is.

• And I knew how powerful it is to have a passion that will keep you going mile after mile, marathon after marathon.

I wish Tim and his team all the best. Including:

• Wind at his back.

• 60 degree days.

• Cheering crowds.

• National Media Coverage.

• Fast, comfortable running.

• Checks and donations pouring in.

If you more information about Tim and his journey, take a look at his website.
If you are as touched by his story as I was, you can make a donation online. I can tell you from experience that every little bit helps.

 

 

Metro Sports Magazine recently surveyed personal tainers, coaches, and gyms in the Washington, DC metro area to write a story titled “Toughest Workouts in the Mid-Atlantic.”   

They used my personal favorite swim workout in the article.   Take a look and if it sounds like fun contact me about personal training and I will gladly put you through it.

Which gyms in the Washington DC area have the best personal trainers?  There are two gyms I recommend to clients:

 1)Fitness First Health Clubs. With locations in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.  These health clubs feature the latest exercise and fitness equipment, as well as hundreds of Pilates, aerobics, yoga, and cycling classes, all included with membership. 

2)Rockville Fitness in Rockville, MD.  Last year, Mens Fitness listed it as one of the 20 Best Gyms in America.  Previously known as Planet Fitness, this gym has some of the best equipment in the Washington DC metro area.   Olympic lifting platforms, Hammer Strength plate loaded machines, a boxing room and spinning classes, makes this gym like no other in the area. 

What makes these gyms different?  Why are they the best gyms in the Washington DC area for personal training?  They are the best gyms for personal trainers, because all trainers at these gyms are independent.  They are not employees of the gym.  These gyms have no trainers on staff.

Why does this matter?  Because it allows the trainers to spend their money on staying up to date with the latest exercise trends and techniques.  The are in it for a career and can afford to invest in themselves through seminars, workshops and additional certifications.

 

• 
  

• Categories

  • Ask the Trainer
  • Book Reviews
  • Diet
  • Internet Resources
  • Personal Training
  • Swimming
  • Uncategorized
  • video
  • Washington DC
  • Weight Lifting
  • Weight loss
  • Welcome
  • Workout Video Reviews

• Recent Posts

  • New York Theater Comes to DC
  • Video — What killed Tim Russert?
  • Video — Condoleezza Rice Workout
  • Video — And we wonder why Americans are fat
  • New Study — Women worry more about gaining weight than cancer