About Coach Tyrone T. Irby
Tyrone Irby is a Durham based strength coach who launched Choice Fitness and Sports performance in July of 2007. Choice clients include recreational, amateur, and professional athletes along with everyday people. With over 20 years in the fitness industry, Tyrone has created a series of training regimens (Stronger and Faster) that are geared for weight loss and improved sports performance. Tyrone’s workouts emphasize functional movements, while building stability, strength, and power for athletes.
After spending years training in commercial gyms including Peak Fitness and Gold’s Gym, Tyrone became a strength and conditioning coach for North Carolina Central University in 2009. After three years with N.C.C.U., he joined a group of professionals at A+ Fitness Solutions in Durham, North Carolina. In 2015, Tyrone acquired the lease of the 2400 square foot studio and The Choice Performance Center opened on December 7, 2015.
In May 2016, Tyrone started the Bull City Squat Challenge, a fundraiser for local and national charities. The event challenges participants to barbell squat for charity and is one of the most unique fundraising events in the area. In 2019, the event raised $7000 for Erika’s Lighthouse and the Duke Cancer Institute. Overall, the event has raised over $20,000 for charity in its four years.
Tyrone is the developer of the Stronger and Faster strength training program for runners and triathletes, the only year- round strength training program specifically designed for runners in the area. The philosophy of the S.A.F. program is based on Tyrone’s time as a collegiate strength coach, along with his 20+ years of experience. Since 2013, Stronger and Faster has trained over one hundred runners to maximize their performance in races including marathons and Ironman events.
Tyrone is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) as a certified personal trainer (CPT) and performance enhancement specialist (PES). His continuing education includes attending at least one national strength conference every year in addition to his reading. Tyrone is also a CEP Compression brand ambassador.
While the training is an essential part of Choice, Tyrone focuses on of living well, including nutrition, fitness, and overall lifestyle. As a Type 2 Diabetic, Tyrone understands the challenges of managing life and stress. He is currently working on his first book to be completed in 2021.
Tyrone, originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., lives in Durham with his wife Crystal and their three dogs, Bella, Bailey, and Peyton.
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Contact Strength Coach Tyrone Irby at ttirby@yahoo.com to get started. Visit us on Facebook and Instagram at Stronger and Faster Durham.