Avery Pontell-Schaefer

On my way to work on 12/14/16, a friend told me that I was on a Today Show segment, so I wanted to share some of the exciting fitness journey I've been on lately...

I walked into Dr. Jordan Metzl's office 3 years ago for a foot injury I had while training for my first marathon. Dr. Metzl is a leading sports medicine doc at Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. His prescription for my foot stress fracture? Ironstrength. Ironstrength is a workout he created focused on building the body's kinetic chain, strengthening some of your most important muscles with a dynamic total body workout. For the last 3 years, I attended his free Ironstrength workouts in Central Park, Bryant Park, the Intrepid, and other cool venues. In October 2016, he asked me and 5 other loyal Ironstrength believers to film a workout video with him. I traveled to Runner's World Headquarters in Emmaus, PA for 2 days of Ironstrength filming and photo shoots. (They even asked me back a few weeks later to do some editorial photo shoots and filming for promotional material!!). It was the experience of a lifetime.

On 12/13/16, in grand fashion at Michael Jordan's private basketball court in NYC, Dr. Metzl launched his latest book, The Workout Prescription, emphasizing the benefits and importance of HIIT (High intensity Interval Training), taking only 10, 20 or 30 minutes to fit this type of workout into your day. My fiancé, Mom, Pop and my personal trainer were all there and joined in the book launch by doing an Ironstrength workout with all those in attendance. This morning, he was featured on the Today Show promoting his book. Much of the segment was of the Ironstrength video we shot at Runner's World, so you'll see me in my Ironstrength glory throughout the segment.

The Ironstrength workout video launches in January 2017, so this may not be the last time you hear from me about my minor fitness fame. Fitness has become such a source of pure joy for me. I couldn't be more grateful and proud of being part of the Ironstrength community. Ironstrength is one of the reasons I have stayed injury-free for the last 3 years while training for 2 Ironmans and 2 more marathons. I hope you find some inspiration in movement too. Fitness has helped me realized my full potential. I am limitless, and you are too.

Check out the Today Show clip here http://www.today.com/video/high-intensity-interval-training-maximum-results-in-a-minimum-of-time-832829507893 and follow me and my fitness journey on Instagram @ironave_ps

Thank you to everyone who has encouraged and supported me, traveled to finish lines, asked for nutrition or fitness advice, joined me for workouts, told me not to give up, congratulated me on a race, or simply those who read this to share in my joy. You are all part of my story. Much more lies ahead...

With love & Ironstrength,

Avery