Page 7 - Inspir Health Magazine | May - June 2017

Adidas Women, co-founder of the With the energy and determina- do what you always do, or wait for
UNDO-Ordinary fitness movement tion that continues to fuel her mental, tomorrow, you will continue to do and
and is the editor-in-chief of UNDO emotional and physical well-being, to be the same.”
Magazine, a high-fashion fitness Arzon says she “re-created” herself Although she is an insulin-depen-
publication. She is currently the vice with a new career and lifestyle. No dent diabetic whose mother has been
president of fitness programming and longer on the sidelines cheering for diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS),
head instructor at Peloton Cycle in someone else, she is in the spotlight Arzon uses her situation to focus on
New York City. leading others to set their own tempo the positive. In a drive to raise money
That’s who she is today, but the to follow their dreams. for MS, she ran five marathons in five
former non-athlete had another life Chasing dreams, however, often days through the deserts of Utah,
before a traumatic event forever calls for multi-tasking with no com- and a special section of her book is
changed her during her last year of plaints. “I’m not really sure how I devoted to advising diabetics on how
college. At 21, she was held hostage at balance everything,” she laughs. “Even to run safely.
gunpoint after being randomly selected though I am often tired, I guess I really “My mom is doing remarkably
from a group enjoying a night out at have pursued a career that I find excit- well,” she adds, noting the special
a NYC wine bar. She escaped harm ing and fulfilling. I can’t say it feels like relationship she has with her mother,
mostly due to her quick thinking, com- work -- that helps. I believe in pushing which includes an occasional moth-
munication skills, and the bravery of limits and exploring what my body and er-daughter workout. “I think her
others, but her survival was the catalyst my mind can do, so that is just part of fitness regimen definitely helps her
for embarking on a life of testing the the way to undo the ordinary.” manage MS. That gives us hope that
limits of her potential. For Arzon, the undoing process she will be able to contain the disease
“I picked up a pair of running shoes
as an escape from living through that
I picked up a pair of running shoes as an
hell. Running became my liberation I picked up a pair of running shoes as an
from pain, fear and anger,” she explains, escape from living through that hell. Running
noting that she did not immediately
choose running as the panacea. “I became my liberation from pain, fear, and anger.
literally saw a flyer for a 10K race and
decided on a whim to sign up. I was
hooked from that point.” is not so much about defining “ordi- for a long time.”
That dramatic event changed her nary,” but rather redefining ordinary Finding a sense of peace and
life, but it did not deter Arzon from moments as extraordinary. “I think that balance in today’s world is less of a
achieving her goals." I don’t believe we sometimes are a little bit too auto- challenge for the ultra-marathoner
in living my life extra cautiously and mated. Sometimes we need to revisit these days. “I find my biggest peace
fearfully,“ she emphasizes. The Philadel- the everyday moments when we rise in movement,” she says. “Staying fit
phia native not only graduated magna above and be better than we were and running for me is like a moving
cum laude from New York University yesterday. Those are the things that meditation.”
on schedule but also graduated magna should be celebrated more often.” The best runners run with their
cum laude from Villanova University Arzon celebrates sweat and heads up and looking ahead. For
School of Law. Soon, she was work- swagger. “Sweat is magic, swagger is Arzon, the future holds running
ing 80 hours a week as a successful the glisten,” she explains, “I believe that thousands of miles across the world,
corporate litigator. swagger is really living unapologetically. a pending televisions project and a
Running, however, brought a spark It requires a certain amount of bravery second book. “I am continuing to race,
to her life that inspired her to coura- and a willingness to do things to the to work with Peloton Cycle and most
geously turn away from the corporate beat of your own drum." importantly, build relationships with my
world to work as a freelance journalist “Get uncomfortable with your- followers to make sure they are hitting
covering the London Olympics. “I had self,” she advises others looking to do their goals.”
always been curious about the law,” ultramarathons, or become healthier, Ready to get moving?
she reflects. “My father is an attorney leaner or happier. “There is a fear of To make a change? To
and I was exposed to the career getting started, but if you don’t try, enrich the quality
from a young age, so I didn’t make a you will never know what is possible. of life? Do what
rash decision to leave the law. It was I understand that fear, but it can be Robin Arzon
probably a slow, two-year process used as a fuel to get moving. You must does, shut up and
as I realized I had larger passions to decide how badly you want something, run.
pursue.” how badly you want a change. If you

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