Hello –
My name is Nick Irons and I am the founder of Irons Active. Thank you for visiting our site.
So, what is this blog all about?
Our site is dedicated to helping people from around the world be ready for their adventures.
You are probably wondering why? Why would I care if my readers are prepared for an adventure? Aren’t there more important things to worry about?
Well, I’m passionate about self-development.
I love that as humans, we are always changing. We can always be a “better” version of ourselves. Whether that’s mentally, physically or spiritually.
And, I know from first-hand experience that adventure can be a trans-formative experience. It can teach us things about ourselves and bring out qualities in us that we never knew we had.
Adventure can also get us in great shape physically and mentally. It is better than any self-help book, any podcast, or any seminar.
What do I mean by adventure?
Anything involving physical activity that pushes our boundaries. It gets us out of our comfort zone.
It doesn’t have to be an epic journey like hiking the Appalachian Trail or climbing to the Base camp of Mount Everest.
It doesn’t have to be terrifying like skydiving or bungee jumping. It may be something less strenuous, more serene, like time spent swimming with whales.
But, it is something you have never done before. Maybe something you always dreamed of doing.
My goal for this blog is to inspire you to go for it. To go for that adventure. Perhaps one that will change your life.
I’ll give you lots of information on how to prepare both physically and mentally for your journey.
And, I’ll help you know about options that are available to you.
Who am I?
I am an ultra-endurance athlete, author and strength and conditioning coach (CSCS).
You may have heard my story. I made national headlines when I became the first person in 70 years to swim the length of the Mississippi River and the first to swim it with the locks and dams of its “modern” form.
My swim began when I jumped into the 56-degree water of the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and took the first of more than a million strokes that pushed me down the longest river in North America.
After swimming 1,550 miles, I completed my dream four months later in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
My swim was featured on hundreds of local, national, and international media including: The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, Good Morning America, and The Today Show.
I didn’t just do his swim for the challenge or the glory. I did it to raise money and awareness for multiple sclerosis (MS) research, the disease my dad lives with.
A few years ago, there was a documentary film produced about my swim. Here is the trailer. Enjoy….
I followed up my swim with a 10,000-mile bike ride around the perimeter of the United States, also to benefit multiple sclerosis research.
The trip took me from Washington, DC to Florida, across the US to San Diego, up the west coast to Seattle, across the northern United States to New York. I finished my ride 5 months later back home in DC.
The two events raised over $500,000 for MS research and brought months of invaluable national awareness to the disease.
To say that these two experiences changed my life would be an understatement!
I am also the author of an award-winning book Swim Lessons: Ten Secrets for Making Any Dream Come True.
After completion of my two events, I started getting others in shape to realize their dreams…whatever those are.
In 2010 I opened Irons Fitness, a personal training studio outside of Washington DC.
My clients have completed journeys as challenging as Mt. Everest Base Camp or Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail.
Our adventurers have hiked in Alaska, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. They have walked, hiked, or biked destinations such as Egypt, Petra (in Jordan), Turkey, Spain, Portugal among others.
We have worked with hikers, cyclists, skiers, open-water swimmers, marathon runners, and average people wanting to have the experience of a lifetime.
I hope to help you complete your adventure.
- First with inspiration to go for it.
- Then with helpful information about preparing for your adventure.
- This blog is meant to get you ready to truly ENJOY every moment of your experience.
- And finally, by writing a training plan for you and your adventure. That’s what Irons Active is all about. We design custom 12-week training plans so that you are in shape for the adventure of your dreams.
Check out our Training Plans for more information.
And of course, I always love to help celebrate a dream accomplished!