# Robin Arzon

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{{short description|American exercise instructor and author (born 1981)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Robin Arzón
| image              = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [brackets](/source/brackets) -->
| alt                = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption            = 
| birth_name      = Robin Amelia Arzón
| birth_date        =  {{Birth date and age|1981|09|20}}
| birth_place        = [Philadelphia, Pennsylvania](/source/Philadelphia%2C_Pennsylvania), U.S.
| death_date         = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date)  -->
| death_place        = 
| other_names        = 
| occupation         = VP of Fitness Programming at Peloton<br/>Runner<br/>Author<br />Fitness instructor
| years_active       = 2012-present
| known_for          = 
| notable_works      = ''Shut Up and Run'' (2015)
| spouse             = Drew Butler
| children           = 2
}}

'''Robin Amelia Arzón''' (born September 20, 1981) is an American exercise instructor and author, best known as an instructor at [Peloton](/source/Peloton_(exercise_equipment_company)), for which she is also the Vice President of Fitness Programming.

== Early life and education ==
Arzón was born in [Philadelphia](/source/Philadelphia) to a Cuban refugee mother and a Puerto Rican father. Her mother is a doctor who taught herself English by watching PBS. Her father is an attorney and former law professor.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=How Robin Arzon, a former non-athlete, became the face of fitness for cycling superpower Peloton|url=https://www.espn.com/espnw/life-style/article/26808750/how-robin-arzon-former-non-athlete-became-face-fitness-cycling-superpower-peloton|date=2019-05-23|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Introducing Robin Arzon - An Ultra Marathon 'BridgeRunner' Running 130 Miles In Five Days For MS Run The US|url=https://thiswomansword.com/inspirational-interviews/introducing-robin-arzon-an-ultra-marathon-bridgerunner-running-130-miles-in-five-days-for-ms-run-the-us.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220062632/http://thiswomansword.com/inspirational-interviews/introducing-robin-arzon-an-ultra-marathon-bridgerunner-running-130-miles-in-five-days-for-ms-run-the-us.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 20, 2014|date=2013-05-22|website=This Womans Word|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>  As a child, she was encouraged to focus on education and family. Athletics were never part of her life growing up.<ref name=":0" />

Arzón attended [New York University](/source/New_York_University), where she graduated [magna cum laude](/source/magna_cum_laude).<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABOUT |url=https://www.robinarzon.com/about |access-date=2022-03-09 |website=RobinNYC |language=en-US}}</ref> Afterwards, she went on to attend [Villanova University School of Law](/source/Villanova_University_School_of_Law).

== Career ==
=== Law career ===
Arzón graduated from [Villanova University School of Law](/source/Villanova_University_School_of_Law) in 2007 and spent seven years as a corporate litigator at [Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP](/source/Paul%2C_Hastings%2C_Janofsky_%26_Walker_LLP).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Attorney Search - Captcha|url=https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/attorney/AttorneyDetails?attorneyId=VbN4LmNDSzfT67R39jySXw==|website=iapps.courts.state.ny.us|access-date=2019-02-13}}</ref> She was inspired and encouraged by her father, also an attorney, to pursue a career in law.<ref name=":0" />

=== Beginning of fitness journey ===
In the summer of 2002, while an undergrad, Arzón was taken hostage with 40 others in a wine bar in Manhattan's East Village.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Al |title=Man Shoots 3 In Rampage In East Village |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/17/nyregion/man-shoots-3-in-rampage-in-east-village.html |website=The New York Times |date=17 June 2002 |access-date=26 September 2023}}</ref> "A man, armed with three pistols and a samurai sword, shot three people, doused the group with kerosene and threatened them with a barbecue lighter. He grabbed Arzón by the hair and held the gun and lighter to her head while using her as a human shield to communicate with police. Two patrons eventually tackled the man, giving police the opportunity to enter the bar and subdue him."<ref name=":0" />

This trauma inspired Arzón to begin running for the first time in her life. A year later, in 2003, she saw a flyer for a 10K race at a bank on a Friday afternoon and spontaneously decided to join the run the following morning.<ref name=":0" /> This 10K would be Arzón's very first race and first athletic endeavor of her life.<ref name=":0" /> She said of the whim, "I had no idea how far the 10km distance was in miles." After the race, she began running 2–3 miles at a time in between her law school classes.<ref name=":1" />

She has since run over 50 races, including 25 marathons, three 50-mile ultramarathons, and one 100-mile race.<ref name=":0" /> She ran her first marathon, the [New York City Marathon](/source/New_York_City_Marathon), in 2010.<ref name="Lindberg">{{Cite web|title=Surviving a Near-Death Experience Motivated This Woman to Start Running|url=https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a24851187/robin-arzon-running-transformation/|last=Lindberg|first=Sara|date=2018-11-12|website=Runner's World|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref> She once ran five marathons in five days for MS Run the US in honor of her mother, documented in the documentary ''Run It Out''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Film|url=http://www.runitout.co.uk/about/|website=Run It Out|language=en-US|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> She completed her first 100-mile race at the Keys100 - a race that begins in Key Largo and ends in Key West, Florida - in less than 30 hours in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|last=LoRé|first=Michael|title=Robin Arzon's Journey from Lawyer to Marathon Runner & Fitness Guru|work=Culture Trip|url=https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/articles/from-lawyer-to-marathon-runner-fitness-guru/|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2018-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315003707/https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/new-york/articles/from-lawyer-to-marathon-runner-fitness-guru/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Transition to health and fitness career ===
In 2012, Arzón began a career in health and fitness after leaving her job at the law firm. She began this time as a freelance sports reporter, writing for publications like ''Newsweek'' and ''New York Magazine''. She did sports reporting from the London Olympics in 2012.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title="Shut Up and Run" - Robin Arzon (The VH Interview)|url=https://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/06/shut-up-and-run-robin-arzon-the-vh-interview/|date=2016-06-07|website=VultureHound Magazine|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-05-19|archive-date=2022-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220524032633/https://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/06/shut-up-and-run-robin-arzon-the-vh-interview/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Arzón wanted to be closer to the athletics and wanted to show others that there is an alternative way to be an athlete.<ref name=":2" /> She reached out to John Foley, CEO of Peloton, and in 2014 she joined Peloton in New York City as an instructor.<ref name="Lindberg"/>

In 2013, Arzón co-founded the fitness movement Undo Ordinary and ''Undo'' magazine<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://esymai.com/UNDO-Ordinary-Magazine|title=UNDO-Ordinary Magazine - Sophia Chang Design & Illustration|website=esymai.com|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2018-08-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180823065933/http://esymai.com/UNDO-Ordinary-Magazine|url-status=dead}}</ref> in 2013.

In 2016, she was promoted to Vice President of Fitness and Programming of Peloton.<ref>{{Citation|title=How Getting Held at Gunpoint Inspired Robin Arzón to Quit Her Law Job and Become a Trainer|work=Shape |url=https://www.shape.com/celebrities/star-trainers/peloton-trainer-robin-arzon-near-death-experience|accessdate=2018-03-19}}</ref>

She was one of 20 elite Americans to trek the [Serengeti](/source/Serengeti) in [National Geographic Channel](/source/National_Geographic_(American_TV_channel))'s "MYGRATIONS" in 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-06-07|title=Shut Up and Run|language=en-GB|work=[Vulture Hound](/source/Vulture_Hound) + SteelChair Magazine - Music, Film, TV + Wrestling|url=http://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/06/shut-up-and-run-robin-arzon-the-vh-interview/|access-date=2018-03-19|archive-date=2018-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324002622/http://vulturehound.co.uk/2016/06/shut-up-and-run-robin-arzon-the-vh-interview/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The series, which aired in 2016, showed 20 people trekking the journey of the annual [wildebeest](/source/wildebeest) migration that happens every spring from the Serengeti Plains to [Maasai Mara](/source/Maasai_Mara) in [Kenya](/source/Kenya). The cast members, who were formed of [survivalists](/source/Survivalism) and athletes, were given no maps or weapons and carried only food and water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mygrations: Watch a human herd of 20 people try to outrun lions|url=https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2016/01/mygrations-national-geographic/|date=2016-01-06|website=reality blurred|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-19}}</ref>

Arzón is a global [Adidas](/source/Adidas) ambassador. She starred in their Here to Create campaign commercial in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2017-11-05|title=Adidas AF|language=en|work=Office Magazine|url=http://officemagazine.net/adidas-af|access-date=2018-03-19}}</ref> She is also a [Road Runners Club of America](/source/Road_Runners_Club_of_America)-certified running coach.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How I became Peloton's VP of Fitness Programming: Robin Arzon|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2020/02/18/how-robin-arzon-transformed-lawyer-peloton-instructor/4760395002/|last=Hutcheson|first=Susannah|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-18}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Arzón was diagnosed with [Type 1 Diabetes](/source/Type_1_diabetes) in 2014 and is currently on the Leadership Council of Beyond Type One,<ref>{{Citation|last=Beyond Type 1|title=Robin Arzon's T1D Diagnosis Story|date=2017-08-28|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqAf9kXZrP4|accessdate=2018-03-19}}</ref> a nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness about Type 1 Diabetes founded by [Nick Jonas](/source/Nick_Jonas).

In 2019, Arzón married investment manager Drew Butler in [Tulum, Mexico](/source/Tulum%2C_Mexico). She and Butler met at a [speakeasy](/source/speakeasy) bar in Manhattan's [East Village](/source/East_Village%2C_Manhattan) in 2016. Their four-day, immersive wedding experience was inspired by their mutual love of [Burning Man](/source/Burning_Man).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Exclusive: See Robin Arzon's Wedding Photos From Her Tulum Ceremony|url=https://www.theknotnews.com/exclusive-robin-arzon-marries-37483|last=Chen|first=Joyce|date=2019-04-09|website=The Knot News|language=en|access-date=2020-05-21}}</ref>

Arzón and Butler announced the birth of their first child, a daughter named Athena Amelia Arzón-Butler, on March 2, 2021, and their son Atlas was born on July 16, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Assuncao |first1=Muri |title=Peloton celebrity instructor Robin Arzon welcomes baby daughter |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-peloton-instructor-robin-arzon-athena-amelia-butler-20210302-hjz3uoi5afh5jgolj2wzpbkphe-story.html |website=nydailynews.com|date=2 March 2021 |accessdate=August 8, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |website=people.com |first=Slater |last=Georgia |date=1 August 2023 |title=Robin Arzón and Husband Drew Butler Welcome Baby No. 2, Son Atlas: 'Our Family Feels Complete' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/robin-arzon-welcomes-second-baby-exclusive-7552858 |access-date=2023-08-14}}</ref>

Arzón is a [vegan](/source/Veganism).<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/29/business/robin-arzon-peloton-work-diary.html "Robin Arzon's Peloton Work Diary: 'It Feels Like I Ingested Fire'"], nytimes.com. Retrieved January 30, 2023.</ref>

== Bibliography ==
* ''Shut Up and Run: How to Get Up, Lace Up, and Sweat with Swagger'' (June 2016); {{ISBN|9780062445681}}
*''Strong Mama'' (January 2022);{{ISBN|0316299944}}

== References ==
<references />

== External links ==
* {{Official website|http://www.robinarzon.com/}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arzon, Robin}}
Category:1981 births
Category:Living people
Category:Peloton instructors
Category:American exercise instructors
Category:People from Philadelphia
Category:Villanova University School of Law alumni
Category:New York University alumni
Category:American women non-fiction writers
Category:American people of Cuban descent
Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Robin Arzon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Arzon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Arzon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.