Cedar Rapids fitness trainer appears on American Ninja Warrior competition on NBC

CEDAR RAPIDS — For Cedar Rapids personal trainer Peyton Coffin, fitness isn’t just a lifestyle — it’s a mentality.

This summer, her determination is on full display with the airing of “American Ninja Warrior.”

Season 17 features a “flash to the past” of old obstacle courses from earlier seasons making return appearances. But in one of the world’s most notorious obstacle courses, Coffin is showing Iowans and the world that your beginning or your past doesn’t have to define you.

“I just want people to not let their past define their future or who they are — I’m poor, I’m not strong, I’m heavy, this or that,” she said. “They let it get to them and don’t go for what they want because of what other people think.”

Tune in

Watch Cedar Rapids’ Peyton Coffin compete on season 17 of American Ninja Warrior this summer. Find Coffin’s appearances streaming now on Peacock, and find new episodes airing Mondays at 7 p.m. on NBC.

For more info, visit NBC.com.

Humble beginnings

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Obstacles are nothing new to Coffin, 27. Her strength is something she had to earn, starting the day she was born.

Born with fetal alcohol syndrome and cocaine withdrawal symptoms, the Salem, Iowa native was adopted at a young age due to her biological mother’s addictions.

Later in life, she started to contend with Crohn’s disease and a speech stutter.

Her adoptive mother, Evelyn, had health issues and was in a wheelchair by the time Coffin was 12. Even so, she was the constant care in Coffin’s life that demonstrated an ability and drive beyond physical perceptions.

Evelyn died in 2017, but remains alive as Coffin’s “reason why,” driving her success in and out of the gym.

“I’ve started to live my dream and my business because she can’t continue to live her dream,” Coffin said. “I’m doing mine so (that) she’s not (gone) for no reason.”

A driving force

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Since age 5, Coffin’s athleticism has only grown stronger.

Starting with gymnastics, she has played basketball, softball and volleyball throughout much of her life, and ran track in college. She has been working out since age 10.

But she didn’t want her competitive edge to get dull after graduating with her degree in psychology, so she decided to pursue another fixation she’s had from about the same age — American Ninja Warrior.

When others see something that looks impossibly difficult, she sees an opportunity to shine.

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“It’s really cool when people look at it … and you can do it,” Coffin said. “I like to push myself and see what I’m capable of doing.”

At 5 foot 3 inches and 127 pounds, that capability is more than meets the eye.

In training for American Ninja Warrior, she worked out three times per day, six days per week, including obstacle courses and reps to target development of the right muscle groups.

“A lot of it is (about) body weight, so a lot of calisthenics, pull-ups, muscle-ups, push-ups, some weight training here and there,” she said.

American Ninja Warrior gives contestants no preview or recommendations of what they need to prepare for larger-than-life obstacle courses.

“You don’t know anything — that’s all on you,” Coffin said.

In her “offseason,” she works out twice a day.

In addition to her own personal training business started in January 2024, she teaches a fitness class at Kirkwood Community College, where she is working on another degree in exercise science.

Filming the show

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Coffin is one of about 400 contestants appearing on this season of “American Ninja Warrior,” which runs throughout the summer.

Her last-minute application for the show, rushed together over three days with one night of sleep, was her first. But it worked, and she got the call in August 2024.

Her run in September, filmed overnight in Las Vegas, required a few things not covered by her gym regimen — changing her sleep schedule, adjusting to new lighting and running a course above water.

“It’s like a cloud,” she said of the bright lighting in the outdoor night course. “It’s hard to see things.”

With three stages, the show’s contestants can get a “fast pass” from the qualifiers to the semifinals by reaching the buzzer in their course. Those who don’t are picked based on run times and how far they make it.

Coffin said she has remained engaged with American Ninja Warrior — and the idea she could do well on it — because of her personal mentality.

“I’m resilient. I don’t give up. I don’t get scared easily,” she said. “That helped me because I wasn’t afraid to hurt myself.”

Her only fear? Falling — an automatic end to a contestant’s course run in the competition.

The trainer only gives one spoiler: she didn’t do as well as she expected. The filmed environment is charged with high pressure.

“But next year, I’ve definitely got it,” she said.

In real life

Back to reality, Coffin has applied a few lessons from the experience: don’t take things for granted, and take more risks.

“Not just in fitness, but in your jobs, relationships — going for what you want and not letting outside or internal factors affect you,” she said.

As a lifelong athlete, the course gave her a new perspective on fitness: technique is just as important as strength.

Balance is her Achilles' heel.

“If you make one wrong footstep (on the course,) you’re gone,” she said.

Inspiring others to live their dreams was a critical part of allowing her to live out her own dream on screen.

“One of my dreams is to inspire people who believe they can’t do something because of who they are,” Coffin said. “Don’t worry about who you are, worry about who you’re going to become.”

Comments: Features reporter Elijah Decious can be reached at (319) 398-8340 or elijah.decious@thegazette.com.