ATHLEISURE MAG #85 | NYESHA ARRINGTON

In this month’s issue, our cover story is TV Host/Personality and FOX Next Level Chef’s Nyesha Arrington. With Season 2 of Next Level Chef premiering immediately after the Super Bowl, we caught up with Nyesha to talk about identity, her life recipe, storytelling through food and more! Ahead of the GRAMMYs and Apple Music’s Super Bowl Halftime Show with Rihanna, we talk with Celebrity Music Director and bassist Adam Blackstone about his GRAMMY nomination, winning an Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction for last year’s Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show with Eminem, Mary J Blige, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar. We talk about how he got into the music industry, his roles as a MD as well as being a bassist, his debut album Legacy and more. Celebrity Fashion Stylist and Designer, Jason Rembert who is known for his work with Issa Rae, Lizzo, Sheryl Lee Ralph chats with us about his partnership and creating a puffer in his collab with Baileys Irish Cream, Awards Season and his upcoming FW23 collection for Aliette. We also catch up with Jazmin Alvarez, founder of Pretty Well Beauty which just opened its brick and mortar location in NYC’s Oculus. We talk about how she took her passion for Clean Beauty from her noted website to having a physical home, the importance of showcasing BIPOC beauty founders in her store as well as how to transition this category into your beauty routines.  

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from EDM DJ/Producer trio MEDUZA and EDM/DJ Producer duo HBz. Our 9LIST STORI3S comes from Nyesha Arrington and last month’s cover, WTA US Open 2017 Champion, Sloane Stephens. Our 63MIX ROUTIN3S comes from Trinny London founder, Trinny Woodall. Both our 9LIST STORI3S and 63MIX ROUTIN3S are 3 pages for each person’s spread. This month, we have a special feature that ran last month and is known as NEW YEAR, N3W YOU. It lets our favorite celebs to share THE GOOD things that took place this year, THE ADD for items that they were not able to tackle this year and are focusing on doing for next and THE BUZZ – things that they can share that we can keep our eye out for. This month’s responses comes from Celebrity Event Planner, Mindy Weiss, EDM DJ/Producer OWNBOSS and Celebrity Music Director and bassist Adam Blackstone. 

Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack shares a must visit to Sweetbriar. This month’s Athleisure List comes from A Tavola and Tsuta Dumbo. As always, we have our monthly roundups of some of our favorite finds.

Read the JAN ISSUE #85.

S2. E6. | ATHLEISURE KITCHEN WITH CHEF JUSTIN SUTHERLAND

On today's episode of Athleisure Kitchen, I catch up with one of our faves, Chef Justin Sutherland owner of Handsome Hog and Big E, winner of Iron Chef America, Top Chef Season 16 finalist, co-host of TRU Tv's Fast Foodies and TNT/TBS' Taste the Culture and author of Northern Soul which is out now! 

We catch up with Chef Sutherland on being from the Twin Cities and the culinary landscape of Minnesota which includes an array of chefs from Andrew Zimmern, Yia Vang, himself and more. We talk about his approach to food, owning an array of restaurants, delve into his cookbook which presents Southern recipes with a Northern flair, being a culinary consultant for Allianz Field - home of the MLS' Minnesota United FC and how this sport is so global in nature from viewing it to those who watch and meeting their tastebuds expectations. We also talk about his co-founded apparel line, Hybrid Nation which focuses on the tagline of In Diversity We Trust as well as their capsule collection with MLS.

You can stay in the loop on who future guests are by visiting us at AthleisureStudio.com/AthleisureKitchen and on Instagram at @AthleisureKitchen and @AthleisureStudio. Athleisure Kitchen is hosted by Kimmie Smith and is Executive Produced by Paul Farkas and Kimmie Smith. It is mixed by the team at Athleisure Studio. Our theme music is "This Boy" performed by Ilya Truhanov.

ATHLEISURE LIST | COURT 16

Court 16 is a contemporary tennis company remixing the sport. Its flagship opened in 2014 in Gowanus, Brooklyn and provides programs across all age groups that are designed to focus on strong integrated teaching methodology and commitment towards fostering teamwork, community and empowerment for adults and chidren.

Its second location in Long Island City, Queens opened in 2018 as the first tennis facility in the world to feature customized LED tennis courts on the most advanced flooring system in the world. Both facilities are a premier lifestyle tennis destinations for passionate players, esteemed business and organizations across several brand categories.

Court 16's name comes from the court number 16 at the Royal Leopard Club, a tennis club in Brussels, Belgium where the founder Anthony Evrard, learned to play the game with his grandfather.

His love for the sport, playing for the National Belgian Circuit in his youth, being the captain for Layola Marymount, a Division I team as well as his time as Senior Global Lifestyle Manager at Puma created the foundation for Court 16.

Their longterm partnerships with LACOSTE and Babolat (exclusive tennis equipment that is available for complimentary use at the club) have allowed them to collaborate with product launches, exclusive invite only events, off-site programming and ATP player appearances.

The club has a long standing partnership with the USTA for impact programming as well as receiving a grant during the coronavirus pandemic for each club to upgrade their safety protocols. In addition, the USTA has supported their Sound of Tennis program for blind and visually impaired players. These are just a few of ways that they work with Court 16.

Members have access to private and semi-private lessons. They also have pickleball lessons and court rentals that can be booked.

During the pandemic of COVID-19, they have focused on their innovative platform Court 16 @ Home which is aimed at providing continuity and an ongoing connection to the members of the tennis club. They have access to to adaptations of existing plans, enriching immersive content that is consistent with Court 16 experience.

COURT 16 BK

526 Baltic St.

Brooklyn, NY 11217

718.875.5550

COURT 16 LIC

13-06 Queens Plaza S

NY, NY 11101

718.875.5550

www.court16.com

IG @court16tennis

Read the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Athleisure List | Court 16 in mag.

S2. E4. | #TRIBEGOALS WITH 2 X TEAM USA OLYMPIC BEACH VOLLEYBALL APRIL ROSS

On today’s episode of #TRIBEGOALS, we catch up with 2 X Team USA Olympic Beach Volleyball medalist, April Ross (she is also Athleisure Mag's May 2020 Issue #53). Avid readers know that we interviewed a few months after she won Bronze at the Olympic Games in Rio with her teammate, Kerri Walsh Jennings. Today we talk about how she continues to train as she looks towards the AVP schedule which is currently postponed as well as focusing on the Olympic Games in Tokyo that are slated to begin the summer of 2021. She shares her transition from indoor volleyball to beach, staying fit by creating her backyard gym and her sponsorship by KT Tape and staying active.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

DEBUNKING THE MOST COMMON SPORTS INJURY RECOVERY MYTHS OUT THERE TODAY

There are a lot of myths out there about sports injuries. Let's debunk the most common sports injury recovery myths that exist today.

Sports injuries can be painful and frustrating; especially if it stops you from playing your chosen sport for any period of time. You're likely to be keen to get back to doing what you love the most but there are some myths that could hinder your recovery.

Taking your injury recovery day by day and listening to the advice of professionals will ensure you're back to fighting fit as soon as you can be. Here are some injury recovery myths you should avoid.

1. Rest is Best

Of course, rest is important. However, some people believe that nothing but rest will result in a complete recovery. That's far from the truth. In fact, physical therapists will often advise their patients to do daily gentle exercises to encourage recovery.

In order to recover properly, the body needs good blood and oxygen circulation. Nothing encourages good circulation like exercise. Resting every day could prolong the recovery process.

2. Ignore Pain

Everyone is familiar with the phrase, 'no pain, no gain'. To a certain degree, athletes need to push past uncomfortable barriers to improve, especially professional athletes. Pain is the body's way of warning you that you could be pushing it too far.

Pain could result in an injury and playing sport with an injury can lead to further, more serious injuries. If you're in pain while playing a sport, it's best to find out why before pushing your body any further.

3. Stretching Will Prevent Injuries

It's important to warm up by stretching before playing sports and this will decrease your chances of getting injured. However, it doesn't make you invincible. Many people believe that if you feel tightening in your muscles, stretching will stop it.

It may give you temporary relief but stretching tightened muscles could also cause an injury. The tightening may be a warning that you're moving in the wrong way or using your muscles improperly.

4. The Stronger You Are, The Less Likely You'll Get Injured

When searching for how to prevent sport injuries, you may come across the myth that you should build your strength up. Although it's healthy to build your muscle strength up, it won't prevent you from getting an injury.

For example, if you're doing your best to build your abs by doing one hundred sit-ups a day, it won't prevent you from getting a back injury. In addition, if you work your muscles too hard in order to build strength, you may increase the likelihood of injury.

Committing to Your Injury Recovery

If you want to make sure your injury recovery goes smoothly and quickly, it's important to take the advice of professionals. Seeking help from a trained physical therapist will ensure you have everything from exercise regimes to nutritional advice.

If you want to be proactive in your recovery, why not search for food groups or meals that could help your body to heal quickly? You'll find everything from muscle-building smoothies to energy-boosting snacks.

Take a look at more of our posts on staying fit and healthy.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO BUY A FOOTBALL HELMET

Football is a full-contact sport and can be dangerous to players. Inevitable accidents happen in this kind of game. Football helmet plays a vital role in the protection of players against the head and facial injuries. 

It is crucial to protect your face and head when playing football. A football helmet is an equipment that you should buy when you are into this sport. Just as vital in wearing a helmet, it is wearing the right and standard designed type football helmets. You can check recommendations and reviews first before getting one to ensure good quality. You can browse the internet and check independent reviews like the 10 Best Football Helmets Reviewed in 2019 to give you options on what to buy.

Why is it a need to buy a football helmet?

You may be cautious, and all, but accidents happen, especially in most physical contact sports like football. Even a pro football player understands how important it is to wear a helmet. Here are some of the reasons to consider why it is crucial to have one.

●       A football helmet is part of the safety equation. Every part of a football helmet has a specific purpose in the protection of a player’s head. The threat to injury is real in football, and all possible safety precautions should be followed. A football helmet is vital in the safety equation of the sports. A report from the NFL stated that 281 cases of concussions and head injuries took place in the year 2017, a challenge among top manufacturers to produce advanced and high-quality football helmets. It is one of the reasons why you should invest in this piece of gear to protect yourself from serious injuries.

●      You need to buy a football helmet as it provides you a level of protection you need. It gives you a sense of security. A primary care sports medicine specialist at Rush University Medical Center, Nicole Levy, MD, stated that there is no excuse and reason for someone not to wear this important piece of protective equipment.

●      A football helmet can withstand multiple impacts that might cause trauma, concussions, brain injuries, facial injuries, and even tooth loss. In football, repetitive hits and tackles that can bring hazards to a player’s well being are unavoidable. Wearing a helmet can reduce player injuries and the chances of severe damage caused by repetitive and robust impacts — the more reason for you to buy one.

●      New helmets are safer and on balance. You need to buy your own football helmet so that it will fit you properly. It is not like buying a shirt in a bigger size because helmets should suitably fit when you purchase it. Having your own helmet during practice and game is an advantage because you make adjustments according to your own. It should adequately adjust according to your own comfort and size and can keep it that way.

Football Helmet Plays A Significant Role In The World Of Football Players

A helmet plays a significant role in either youth football or professional football league. Buying this piece of equipment can improve a player’s confidence level knowing that they are somehow protected when it comes to all out play. Battling in the field during a game requires a well-prepared football player that can move without hesitation. Getting a helmet is a small price to pay in exchange for the security, confidence, and courage; it can give a player. But what should you consider when buying your own helmet?

1. Helmets should be a snug fit.

2. Know the brand.

3. It should be NOCSAE approved.

4. Know the face mask that you want.

5. Choose a color that will match your uniform.

6. Choose the best-rated football helmet you can afford to ensure quality.

7. Pick a helmet that is the same as your team to feel you belong.

Conclusion

Football is a popular sport, but it is one of the most dangerous sports as well. Investing in the protective gear must be deliberated and noticed to ensure protection when you are playing. Football helmets are one of the protective equipment a player must have as it provides sufficient safety against potential injuries that a player may encounter in this rough sport.

When buying, it is recommended to check on the reviews first as it can help in finding the right football helmet for you. A quality football helmet should accommodate your needs in the field.

As a player or a parent with children playing sports, buying a football helmet is a small price to pay for a significant improvement in playing football.

 Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

CONTEXT + REPETITION: MARTY SMITH

Our July cover story took us to Ocean City, NJ for a fun and inspiring day at the beach as well as insight to the fundamentals of life. Marty Smith, ESPN's Broadcaster/Journalist is someone who breaks down the game, brings his enthusiasm for the love of sport and is always exchanging energy with those on set as well as those that are off. As someone who began his time at the network covering NASCAR, he has grown into a number of areas which include: SportsCenter, College GameDay, this fall's SEC Nation as a host, and the successful Marty & McGee. This interview not only includes Marty's journey to the successes that he currently enjoys, but also lets you reflect about what happens when you believe in your self, honor those that came before, acknowledge where you came from, and allow yourself to engage in powerful progression that you may not have planned for yourself!

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment that you knew that you fell in love with sports?

MARTY SMITH: I would have to say I was a young boy and my father, he was infatuated with the Pittsburgh Steelers, back in the Steel Curtain days of Joe Green, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris and those immortal – immortal Steelers teams, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth and all those guys. So, I was a little boy and I would sit with my daddy and watch the Steelers and my momma used to say that even as a four year old, I would be like, “that was a hold,” or “that was a clip,” and I’d call out penalties before the flags were thrown and what not. That’s when I kind of knew – the way that it felt just being in my father’s aura that way. I grew up in a small farming community in the Southwestern part of Virginia and all we had was ball. We played everything and there was no sitting inside. My parents were like, “get your ass outside and do something and don't come back until dark," and so football, basketball, baseball-and I loved to compete. To this very second, I love to compete. That feeling of competition and that feeling of grinding your way to noticeable improvement against competition is something that’s intoxicated me forever. So I knew real young that I was going to be a sports guy.

AM: So can you share with us your sports background – what you played and how far you went?

MS: From four years old through my Freshman year of college, I was an athlete and I started with baseball as a little Pee Wee League guy and then when I was in 4th grade, I started playing Pop Warner Football. The same year, I started playing Little League Basketball so from 4th grade all the way through my Senior year of high school, I played all 3 of those sports and I played all year around. I played football from August until the winter time – December. From December until March or April, I played basketball and then I played baseball for my school teams until school was over or the season was over, and then I played either Rec League Baseball or American Legion Baseball all the way through the summer. And then we did football again. So, I never stopped playing ball and again, I grew up in a small community so my buddies that were my teammates and I went to school with them, they’re still my boys today. My best childhood friend since I was 4 years old basically, is the Tampa Bay Rays Athletic Trainer – how weird is that? We grew up in this tiny little town of very few people. Everybody were farmers or blue collar community and he and I both made our way out to pro sports – pretty crazy.

AM: What was that moment when you realized that you might be interested in pursuing professional sports?

MS: I wasn’t good enough. So when I got to college, I went to a small college in East Tennessee first. It was a Division II school athletically, called Carson Newman and they had a really good baseball program so I went there to play baseball. I stayed there 1 year and then I transferred over to Radford University from which I graduated and thought that I would easily make the baseball team – no question in my mind. I had no doubts. I went and they had a walk on tryout and they asked me to participate in that and I did that. I hit and threw it ok – I was a middle infielder and didn’t have a good try out. So the coach who knew about me in high school - I grew up around the corner, he was like, “man, I don’t think that you’re good enough.” They didn’t allow me to play. So I will tell you this. God is funny. I was so devastated in that moment because I don’t care. If you’re passionate about sports – I don’t care if your ceiling is high school, I don’t care if your ceiling is college and certainly for guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees or these guys – the elite of the elite at whatever their passion is athletically. When it’s time to be done, you lose your whole identity because my whole identity, my whole life was athlete.

That was my identity and because truth told, I was a pretty good one in high school in the area in which I grew up, I had a decently celebrated career, we won state championships as teams – we had that kind of talent where I came from. So when I lost baseball, I’m not kidding y’all, there was a level of depression that I did not anticipate and I have never been a guy who’s down – I’m unstoppable, it’s how I’m wired and I was stopped. I knew a girl that dated a buddy of mine and she came in one day she said, “you know you need to get up off your ass and you need to come with me to the Sports and Information Office and you need to work because you have such a wealth of knowledge.” I’m like, “what, I’m not going in there and taking stats – I play ‘em – no.” After a substantial pity party, I got up one day and I said, “alright man, let’s see what happens.” Went in there, I fell in love with being around it again. Some of my best college friends were guys who played baseball, they played basketball – because the Sports Information Department gave me substantial responsibility immediately. As a Sophomore, I ran around with the baseball team - took their stats, etc. As a junior, they handed me Women’s Basketball and I traveled with the Women’s Basketball team on top of my class load. Then, I got the greatest break you could ever ask for. I was offered a stringer position by the Roanoke Times which is the major regional newspaper in the area in which I grew up covering high school sports, the local NASCAR short track, etc. That’s when I realized that I was going to write for a living and that was what I’m gonna to do. As a Senior, I got to cover Virgina Tech Football as a stringer for the Washington Post.

AM: That’s insane!

MS: On top of my class load. So all of these people believed in me. I will tell you this, had I not gotten cut, I don’t even know if gotten cut is fair. Had I made the Radford Baseball Team, I wouldn’t be sitting with you now, guarantee you. Because I wouldn’t have had to make that shift in focus that I had to make because I wasn’t playing anymore. How about that?

AM: Wow. You’ve had so much in your career prior to ESPN, so what was that journey like as I know you were with NASCAR.com for awhile.

MS: So much of my career goes back to people who believed in me. And in that book, they wanted me to do the dedication page. Who do you dedicate this to? All I wrote was, For the believers. Most notably, Lainie, Cameron, Mia and Vivian my nuclear family – wife and children. But so many people have believed in me from coaches to mentors to all the way down to people that work at ESPN, who don’t have to take the time to offer you guys this opportunity, to pitch you this opportunity, but they believe enough in me that they’re doing that.

When that believer, a guy named Ray Cox, who writes for the Roanoke Times, even still, he covered me in high school. So when I wasn’t playing anymore, he was like, “what?” I saw him at a Radford Basketball game. He said, “I think that you need to be writing for me. You have this factor that you’re so relatable to people and you connect with people in a way that you need to be writing.”

So I started covering high school sports like I said and that led to the local short track called New River Valley Speedway (now Motor Mile Speedway) at the time and I was a NASCAR guy as a kid because my daddy liked it. But my favorite driver was Davey Allison. Davey died in a helicopter crash July 13th 1993, I stopped loving the sport in that moment. My passion – I mean it was like lighting a bottle rocket when I went back to that short track. I went and I told her (Lainie), I know what I’m gonna do - I know what my path is – NASCAR is my way. It’s the fastest way to get through pro sports. I covered it for the Lynchburg News – I had a job that may not even exist anymore. I made $12.80 in my first job out of Radford. I bought her engagement ring with it – you talk about broke as Joe! I started chasing race cars. I’ll never forget sitting in the Richmond International Raceway garage – sitting on the pit walls watching these cars go by. Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon – “holy smokes that’s really them, I’m on this side of the track.” I’m inside the track and I can walk out there and talk to them if they’ll give me the time of day. I couldn’t believe it. I worked there for one year.

During that time, I wrote a story on a guy named Paul Brooks who was from that town. His mother called me and said I needed to do the story. I thought it was Jim Bob Jordan the street stock driver down the street. Paul had been elevated to the VP of NASCAR. Called Paul, we hit it off, he liked the story and he sent me some desk furniture of the 50th Anniversary of NASCAR like a business card holder that you put the pens in. At the very bottom of the box was his stationary with his email on it. I emailed him, “get me the hell out of here. I’ll clean toilets in Daytona Beach, Florida if you get me out of here. I got big aspirations, got big dreams – you can help me get me there.” They didn’t have any jobs, a few months later, a guy quit at NASCAR.com – he called me come to the interview, if I was good enough I would get the job – I got the job. I made it to $20K. Now I’m traveling around the country man. I went to San Francisco man, Napa, California and I got to cover race cars! Worked there until ’05 and ESPN called. They were coming back into the business of NASCAR. In ’07 they put together their whole broadcast team and I was going to be in the insularly part in a show for SportsCenter we had a show called NASCAR Now.

AM: Great show.

MS: It was a great show! Jack Obringer – this is all in my book. Jack Obringer, the guy who called me who is still at ESPN now and is one of my greatest believers. He said that everybody who talks to me says your name – you know what’s going on in the sport and you know the drivers. I laughed and said, “hey man, I’m so flattered, but you called the wrong guy. There’s a guy named Marty Snider who’s a great broadcaster and I’m sure that that’s who you meant to call.” He laughed out loud and said I was the guy. He told me to go home and think about working with him. I went home to Lainie and I said, “you’re never going to believe this, I think that ESPN wants me to come work there." I'm a guy who would rather crash and burn and fail knowing that I can’t, then wonder 20 years from now sitting on that porch wondering if I could have. So I took the job. The first time that I was really on television was SportsCenter. Can you believe that? There are local reporters who are so talented, they work their asses off, they set up their own camera shots and dream of that chance and I was afforded that chance immediately. That’s never been lost on me and I’m so appreciative. From there, the company let me grow. They let me make mistakes, they let me look like – I needed a lot of work. My story is just unorthodox because I was sportcentric for 7 years – really 8 from ‘07-‘14 those 8 NASCAR seasons. I got to grow and learn my voice and ESPN afforded me that voice and no one has ever once asked me to change it. They’ve never asked me to try to lose this accent because I have always maintained that you can be Southern and articulate at the same time. It worked because I was covering NASCAR. Then we lost NASCAR and I thought, ok what do I do now? Do I pursue another network maybe, do I bet on myself again? I went home and told Lainie that I needed to bet on myself again and I was ready to see what was out there and I signed my 3rd ESPN contract which was ’15-’18 and bet on myself. My career has been beyond every fantastic dream that I could have ever imagined.

AM: You have covered so many different sports for the network. How do you prepare yourself when you’re reporting on College Football versus the NFL – is it the same for you?

MS: No. I’m voracious about study. I’m voracious about preparation and reading and listening and things that intrigue me, I put it in a document. Then I take that document and pair it down and then I study that document. Like, Tiger Woods. When I got the opportunity to interview him, I studied so hard and watched so much and I probably had a 40 question list and I paired that down to 15 and I studied those 15 until minutes before I was sitting in front of him and I crumpled the paper up and threw it away. Because I want to have a conversation with you. The best interviewers listen. Because the best question is more often than not, why, how, when, how did that come to be, what was your passion. That was most certainly the case with him. Can I tell you how I got there?

AM: Yes!

MS: 2012 I think it was, I interviewed Jeff Gordon for a NASCAR Countdown Pre Race Program and I had this specific thing that I wanted out of Jeff and I kept interrupting him during the interview to try to keep him on task. It worked for what I was sort of after. But after the race before which it ran which was New Hampshire, after that race – I was so proud of myself that I got this interview with Jeff Gordon man – 4X Champion – 80+ wins! After the race, I went out to interview Dale Jr. who is like my brother – we’re brothers – we’ve been through it together. The highest of highs and the most crushing of lows we’ve walked it together. I get out to his car because he wrecked and they’re looking all around the cars when they’re looking at the dings in it. He turns around and says, “come here, I’m pissed at you.” There’s other reporters around so he takes me to the entrance to the truck that carries the race cars and says, “you need to stop interrupting people.” I was like, "what?” He said he watched the interview with Jeff and he wanted to hear some of the things that he said, but I kept interrupting him and that I looked like an asshole, “stop interrupting people.” I was so mortified. He cut me and do you want to know that it was the single greatest advice that I have ever gotten in this job? I completely changed my interview approach. I let people expound upon their thoughts and thereby, be ing able to tell me their story rather than trying to conjure something that you desire. I tell that story sometimes when he’s around and he’s like, “damn, let it go.” I’m like, “no. You changed me and only a real dude does this.” You’re on this high and most dudes would be like, “hey man that’s cool.” I am forever grateful to him for that.

That’s what I do. I study, study, study and then throw it away. Because I want to hear you and want to be immersed with you. It has proven to be very successful for me.

AM: So what are all the shows that you’re on at ESPN?

MS: Wow. A lot of them! So SportsCenter, College Game Day, SEC Nation, Get Up, Marty & McGee – which is such a fascinating study. Marty & McGee is a Southern culture program almost more than a sports program. There was a lady named Cherita Johnson and for a time she kind of ran the podcast/digital arm at that time. I called her one day and said I had a proposal as I had a buddy Ryan McGee (she knew him because they were PA’s together) and him and I had covered NASCAR together and felt that ESPN could produce a really cool piece of content with a podcast, we would be willing to go to a studio so we wouldn’t have to hire a bunch of people. We just wanted to do a podcast about NASCAR if she would let us. She wasn’t sure if there was a market for it and she asked me to tell her a story. So, 45 minutes later, I’m telling her all these stories about Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. She said that I was so passionate about that she would go ask. She did and they greenlit it. The magic of Marty & McGee is the chemistry, we’re buddies and have been so for 20 years! It went from a live radio show on Sat afternoons, then a few years ago they moved us to 7am on Sat! That’s when I said, “son, our lives just changed!” That’s when everybody is going to get the donuts and taking junior to baseball. It changed everything! Then, last year, they decide that the coaches in the South Eastern Conference they wanted to be engaged in a different way and they wanted the two if to make it happen. They asked what the set should like and I said, “a card table, an American flag and an eagle soaring by – I don’t know.” They built us that set. The coaches come in. They’re immediately disarmed. We’re laughing out loud with them. Nick Saban is talking about his dad, Nick Sr. had tears in our eyes. So they give us a weekly show on SEC Network which this fall moves to Weds. so that it ensures that it’s not pre-empted by soccer or a live program. We don’t even know what to make of it – we’re floored!

AM: What’s it like juggling all of these shows with your current schedule?

MS: It’s a lot and I’m afforded the ultimate blessing which is a patient, immersed, patient and loyal partner who appreciates all of this. She understands all of this and allows me to chase the dream. I can’t wait for people to read about Lainie in the book because they are going to see what a phenomenal soul she is. In this life, we meet people that are more successful, that may not have as much, we meet people who are more beautiful, we meet people who are the most blue collar down-home, people who grew up in the city all of that – all walks of life. Very rarely do you meat innate grace. Lainie has it. There is no way in hell that I could have this career, this life, have met these people that I am so fortunate to meet if she didn’t have that personality. I thank her everyday!

AM: Specifically during the college football season, what is your week like for that?

MS: We work every day. From now until mid January, we are gas on the throttle doing college football. Even on days off, we’re prepping. On days off, you’re reading, calling around, texting around, talking to coaches. Sports information people, in some rare cases – players. To make sure that you are at least ahead of the game but at least in the game. You go hard as hell man and I love every second of it.

AM: Who are you looking forward to interviewing this season from the college football side – what are 3 things that you’re pumped about?

MS: I’m blessed beyond what I deserve. We have a host and reporter who is among the most talented television professionals I have ever seen. Her name is Laura Rutledge. Laura makes all of it look easy – it’s not and she makes it look so simple. She is going to have her first child this fall. As a result of that, she will go on maternity leave and will miss a portion of the season. While she is away, she is the host of a show called SEC Nation and it’s a phenomenal show. I mean Tim Tebow, Marcus Spears and Paul Finebaum are the panelists. They are all great friends of mine already - Tim is like a brother to me. In the book, I share his influence on me which is dramatic. So when Laura is on maternity leave, I am going to get to host that show. When ESPN called me and told me this, my initial reaction was Euphoria and it was also, “you know I have never done that before and you know it’s something that I am going to have to learn.” They understood all that and said that my passion was what they needed. I can’t wait, a live atmosphere with a live audience in the South Eastern Conference, with those 3 guys and a producer – Baron Miller, who's a brother to me anyway. He has an artistic vision and unbelievable passion to help guide us through. I can’t wait for the energy change. My best friend, Eric Church, always says that there is going to be an energy exchange tonight. There is going to be my energy and your energy. I'm going to give it every last damn ounce of everything I got and if you give it back to me, there is going to be a moment and it’s going to live forever. Well I get to drive that moment and I can’t wait! Tebow man, Spears – I’m not Laura – I’m not as talented and polished as her or Joe Tessitore the first gentleman who hosted that show, or Maria Taylor who also hosted that show. They’re better broadcasters than me, but I’ll never be out passioned. I can control 3 things everyday: I can control kindness, effort and passion. If I max those out, I’m going to be alright and I’m maxing. In every single facet of my life: fatherhood, husbandry, professionally, friendships – there ain’t nobody going to ever say that I didn’t leave it all out there when the Lord calls me home.

AM: One of the things that draws me to your reporting is your passionate storytelling and being someone who grew up in Indiana, watched Hoosier basketball growing up, graduated Indiana University and was glad to have been there during Bobby Knight’s last year as coach, we believe in the concept of “Life is Sports and Sports is Life”. When college basketball happens, there is such a feeling that comes through which permeates all aspects of my life. Why does college football have that feeling for you that makes you so passionate about it?

MS: I was discussing this this morning. There is a country artist named Justin Moore. I have known Justin his entire career now. This is his 5th album he is putting out this week and he’s only 35 and having a tremendous career. He grew up in a little town called Poyne, Arkansas. The Arkansas Razorbacks are their pro team. I grew up 20 miles west of Virginia Tech’s campus on a cattle farm. The Virginia Tech Hokies are our pro team. They are also our identity, they also brought a national brand to a farming community. Because of Frank Beamers’ Hokies Virginia Tech Hoakies, Blacksburg is known in Seattle, in California, Clearwater, Fl and it’s known in Banger, Maine. Everybody knows Blacksburg because of those football teams. When I was a kid, we didn’t have a whole lot when I was real young. My daddy worked all the time and I didn’t get to be around him and he was a bit of mysterious and mythical figure to me. But there were some Saturday mornings when he’s wake me up and say, “boy get dressed, we’re going over the mountain.” I knew that meant we were going to watch Virginia Tech football. It was bad football. It was 0-8, 0-10, 1-9, 2-8 because Coach Beamer was still laying those foundation bricks to the amazing legacy that he built. But I got to go there with my daddy and I got to have a fountain coke and I got to have his attention and I got to feel his love and hope he felt mine and we got to watch Virginia Tech play football. To this second, I feel closer to him in Laine Stadium then I feel anywhere else. I lost daddy in ’08. When I go back there, I feel closer to him than anywhere else. My passion for it, is so much deeper than simply the game. It’s this father/son connection, it’s this family connection because so many little college towns take their identity from those athletic programs just like Bloomington does. I get to go in on Fridays and Saturdays in the fall and I get to be there with those people. Whether it’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Columbus, Ohio, Blacksburg, Virginia, Ann Arbor, Michigan – those towns are those schools. I get to live it. Hell, they pay me for it! Wow – it’s unbelievable to me!

AM: With such a busy schedule, you have a book coming out August 6th, Never Settle: Sports, Family and the American Soul. Why did you want to write this book and what do you hope that your fans and those who read this book take away from it?

MS: I have wanted to write a book for a really long time. It’s funny, I wasn’t ready until I got the deal. I didn’t have enough life experiences until last year. Back to Tiger, I interviewed him and of course I put a picture up with us on the ‘gram. You’ve gotta do it for the ‘gram and I came home that evening and my son has a YouTube channel and we were skateboarding. So I said, “you know what man, let’s go down this hill. I’ll be on my board and you’ll be on your board and I’ll kinda get crouched down and get a cool shot with my phone for you.” I put it on my Instagram Stories and this publisher saw it. I was blown away by that.

Long story short, the next thing you know, I’m meeting with this gentleman, a guy named Sean Desmond at Twelve Books, my publisher in NYC. Avenue of the Americas man, wow country boy comes to town. He talked about how his little boy who is 12 is fascinated by all the stuff that I get to do. Then he saw that and he was intrigued. How is this guy that was interviewing Tiger Woods in the morning and hanging with his son in the evening – he wanted that. He wanted my family in the book, he wanted Lainie, he wanted the husband Marty in the book, he wanted father Marty in the book. He wanted me to be so vulnerable and he wanted Tiger, he wanted Nick Saban and he wanted Cristiano Ronaldo in Shanghai, in Beijing. He wanted all of these experiences. He wanted me throwing a post pattern on the White House lawn. Thank God the Secret Service has a sense of humor! It’s all in the book. I actually did that! We were stupid, man. He wanted all of that and he pushed me throughout the writing process. Show me, don’t tell me. You’re telling me a good story, show me a good story. I loved that advice because it demanded of me to take another layer of veneer off.

Again, I have so many friends that are musical artists. They told me throughout time that anything worth its salt is vulnerable. But with that vulnerability comes a very unique emotion because you are putting this layer of yourself out into and this energy in the world. You have to be ok with whatever comes back good or bad. You’ve given this and holy crap it’s giving me anxiety and Lainie is like why? That was always my response to my friends too because they were putting out something good – but you’re putting this part of yourself out there and above all, I know it’s relatable and vulnerable. I think it will sing and I think that a lot of people will see themselves in that. I discuss things like the primal sorrow of losing my mom when I was barely an adult. She had breast cancer and died when she was 47 years old. My sister turns 47 in Feb so, Stacy and I go back and forth about what that’s like. Because when you’re 21 you don’t realize how young 47 is. When you’re 43, you think that she hadn’t even gotten started yet. I’d give anything – anything to be able to show her. She would be tickled and the coolest grandmother to these little people that we have running around.

My son has Tourette and so there is a lot that comes with Tourette. His tics, how people react to that. He’s used to people staring at him. Middle School is hard, he’s only recently gotten to a place where other kids sometimes aren’t nice. My mother, back to that innate grace, I never met anybody that was more Godly than my mom. She raised a lot of kids and I only have one sibling. She raised a lot of kids. I had a lot of buddies and she was there momma too. I wish she was here to see all of this and to be that for my kids. I go all the way into that primal sorrow. I write it in that way that’s really really raw. It’s a hell of a thing and I hope that people feel themselves in it. There’s a football coach that I have become very close with, Barry Odom – head coach of Missouri – Missouri Tigers. He wrote me the nicest text the other day. The 4th chapter of the book is about one of the most impactful people in my life. There is a Special Olympics athlete that I chronicled in '15, her name was Olivia Quigley. It’s all in there – why she was so important to me and Barry read the chapter. I sent him an advanced copy. He was like, “dude – I knew you were pretty cool on TV, but this is what you need to be doing. It’s changing lives.” That was very cool for him to say.

AM: How long did it take for your to put the book together?

MS: I started almost immediately when I met with Twelve last May. My deadline was Jan. 15th and I was very naïve about the time – really naïve. I wrote a lot of it in Ocean City Coffee. I would get up before dawn every morning when we were here last summer. I rode my bike down there and wrote until about 9:30am morning and then came back. Then, I thought I didn’t have to worry about being a present father or husband on airplanes and hotel rooms. But when you have covered a college football weekend, the last thing that you want to do is go to your hotel room and write! You just want a cold one and to laugh with your buddies a little bit, eat a meal and get on the pillow. I somehow managed to do it. That last week, I still had quite a bit to write. I came home from the National Championship in Santa Clara, California – immediately packed a bag, flew to NYC and spent 5 days holed up in the publisher’s office pounding on those keys. I’m not kidding ya, 5:30 on Jan 15th was when I needed to have that thing in and it was 5:30 on Jan 15th when I said, I don’t know if it’s done, hope it is - but here it’s yours.

AM: How did it make you feel when Eric Church wrote your forward as he’s your best friend.

MS: He’s my best friend. I was here – he called me about something else and he needed my opinion and perspective. We probably talked about it for 90 minutes. You get Eric Church on 90 seconds it's a miracle - we were on the phone for 90 mins! So I said, “before you go, I have something else to tell you about. I hate to bother you with it and I know you’re busy. I’m writing my first book.” He said, “it’s about fuckin’ time.” Truth be told, he thinks I’m wasting my time doing anything but writing and he has always been a fan of how I write and the way I paint pictures. He’s a writer, that’s what he does. So we have that mutual energy exchange and kinship. I said, “I would be really honored and I don’t think it would be complete the way that I need it to be complete if you don’t write my forward.” He said that it would be the pleasure and joy of his life that I would pick him to do that. I will tell you that it showed up near my deadline because it’s Eric. I was kind of badgering him saying, “hey bro – I have to have this thing in.” He asked me when it had to be in. I’m sitting in Charlotte and he texted me that he had sent it via email. Two other people had read it before he sent it, his most trusted confidentes in his life – his wife Katherine and his manager John Peets. I get my computer and Lainie is sitting next to me and I’m reading it and I can feel myself and she’s capturing it on video. I will tell you that it’s the most single kindest thing that I have ever read in terms of your impact on somebody. It made me belly laugh and ugly cry. He’s a real hard ass. He plays one for a living, he doesn’t suffer fools, he takes no crap. He taught me that my passion is ok and that my way is ok. Even when the bosses tell you something, if you believe it do it. For him to write what he wrote about me, I can’t wait for y’all to see it. I want to talk about it so much but I want y’all to have to read it. It’s awesome. It means the world to me that he would take the time to do it.

Like Greg Sankey is the commissioner of the SEC and I gave him the very first copy that I had ever held in my hands. McGee and I were interviewing him and he said he wanted one, but that I would have to sign it. So I sat down right there and signed it and said it was like handing him my first child. He wrote on the Internet how good it was and that Eric Church had written the greatest forward that he had ever read in years – he was right. I could talk for days about him – my hero!

AM: One of the things that we were struck by is the amount of people on Twitter who were talking about how those who pre-ordered received FaceTime messages thanking them for doing so.

MS: I have 52 people left to call! I was trying to think of a way – I felt bad that the people that pre-ordered the book that they invested in me and I wanted to make it personal. I saw that Kurt Busch, one of the NASCAR drivers, had FaceTimed some of his fans. So I thought that we should try that. I thought it would be 10 people. Marty will call you or FaceTime you if you pre-order his book. It was a lot more than 10 people. To see the reactions from the people! One young lady called me and said, “you’re always talking about people who give you that passion and this life direction to help you have that perspective and to stay focused – you’re that person for me.” She was in tears. She can’t wait to have the book. It was very fulfilling for me as well. They’re so appreciative.

AM: I mean just from the comments, people running out of the meetings in their offices and getting so excited.

MS: One guy worked in the Library of Congress and he was so excited that my book was going to be there. Another guy worked as a Missouri State Trooper or a Detective. He pulled over and took a picture of us talking. I still have a few people to contact and I will get to them. One of them was my high school football teammate, we were Defensive Backs a long time ago. We won the state championship together.

AM: Do you foresee writing another book?

MS: That’s up to the publisher, but if they afford me the opportunity – hell yes! There are 25 chapters in this book and there are at least 15 stories that I didn’t even get to. I talked to Paul George about what it was like when he broke his leg in half. The way he felt and the way he saw his team react. The vulnerability and how stripped he was. I talked to Anthony Davis – I was surprised it went down this road. It was in the middle of Black Lives Matter was such a movement in this country. We kind of brought up race and here I am having this great conversation of depth with this gentleman who grew up in Chicago, African American a face for those other young man growing up in that neighborhood. He got out, you can do this. Being interviewed by a 40 year old white man from a rural Appalachian town and how we were connecting and what an example we can be together. It was a wonderful conversation. Stuff like that that’s not even in the book. I hope this book is received well enough that I get that chance – I would be honored.

AM: As someone who travels as much as you do, what are 3 items in your carry-on that makes you feel comfortable or have a sense of home?

MS: Everything is a carry-on I don’t check bags. Bose Q35 Noise Cancelling headphones are my life blood because I am such a music guy. Costa Del Mar are my sunglass guys – I always have them with me because of the injured eye. I like having it covered. Either Jordan 1s, 3s, 4s or 11s. I don’t ever travel without at least 1 pair of Jordans - ever.

AM: The Sneaker Duffle is going to do well.

MS: Yes thank you! ESPN watchers know me for my sneakers. When I was growing up, once again, my dad never in a million years would have been like I would pay $140 for those shoes. Hell no! When I was in 8th grade maybe 9th. I saved enough money from throwing hay bales in the summer to buy my first pair of Js. They were 5s. The original pair of 5s, I don’t have any 5s in Ocean City or I would show you what I was talking about. The original 5s have clear bottoms – soles. The clear bottoms had the Jump Man in the ball of the foot. If you wore them outside, they would soil to this amber color. I was not about to let that happen. I would carry my Js to school and then put them on when I got there. I never lost that. If you guys had any idea of how neurotic I am about my shoes. All of my shoes are like that. I’m a Js guy and I love Air Max 90s the original Air Max and I am crazy about these. I would say those 3 things.

AM: How do you take time for yourself to decompress with all of the things that you do?

MS: Water. I grew up on a farm, I still own hundreds of acres in Southwest Virginia that is still farmed. When I was a little boy, I was always captivated by the beach. So we bought here 5 years ago I believe our families bought this home and last July, Lainie and I bought a home on Lake Norman in Charlotte and that’s where we live full time. It allows me to really reflect, be vulnerable and to consider who I want to be. It also allows my children to get away from their phones and for me to get away from it and get away from everything. It allows me to be a dad that is creating memories. That’s so important to me to be a present father and husband when I’m not on the road – to be here. I try very hard. It’s hard for any driven professional. I do my dead level best to demand that of myself. Last night, we sat on the beach. I didn’t have my phone other than to play music on a Bluetooth speaker from 3 o'clock in the afternoon to 10:30pm. I bet I had 50 or 60 text messages. Don't judge me – you promise – I have 193 unread text messages! When I’m here, I purposely don’t get on my phone. Tomorrow I will be in Charlotte for our college football seminar for the next 2 days, the day after that I have to shoot something for Marty & McGee all day for the SEC network, the day after that I’m in Clemson, SC all day covering the first practice for the Tigers and we’re kicking off August 24th. And I have a book coming out!

You know one thing that you will never hear me do – complain. I won’t do it. Do you know how many people would sever fingers – I’m aware. I’m very protective of my time in a demanding industry. But, I’m a grinder man.

AM: When you’re in Ocean City, where can we find you grabbing a meal, go shopping or working out?

MS: Kessel's Korner 28th & Asbury. We eat there that’s our spot. Express Pizza is right around the corner here too. They both have grilled buffalo wraps – grilled chicken buffalo. I’m a buffalo sauce freak show – I love it. I don’t only get the grilled buffalo wrap, I get extra buffalo on the side because I dunk it in there – buffalo sauce is my deal man. I go to the local gym and I’m also an endurance athlete. I was supposed to run the New York City Triathalon but they canceled it because of the Heat Index hitting 115 degrees. I was supposed to do the running portion and to be apart of a trio it’s called Challenged Athletes Foundation. Bob Babbitt one of the godfathers of triathlons in this country asked me to participate. There was going to be a double amputee as our swimmer, a world class cyclist as our cyclist and I was going to do the run in Central Park. I run the boardwalk all the time it’s 5 miles. 2.5 each way and I do it all the time.

Lainie gets on the Internet. She got all of our school supplies from Target. 7th Street Surf Shop is another one that we enjoy. Heritage Surf Shop is another one because I love surf T-shirts, big brim hats because I am super pale.

AM: We’re all about #TRIBEGOALS – people who inspire us to be our best selves. Who are those 3 people for you?

MS: Not to say that I want to be overwhelming about the book, but it’s one of the reasons why I wanted to write it. I wanted to champion those people. My parents would be one answer. I am so fortunate and I’m that guy who's an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. My momma was an angel and my daddy battled my demons. I got both of them inside me. I am so fortunate that I had them. They were very present for every game I ever played, they were very demanding, I was one of those guys that if I wasn’t on the honor roll then I didn’t get to play. I’m so thankful for that. I got spanked if I did something wrong and I got wooped – there were no time outs. I’m thankful for that. Everything I said about Eric applies here. It’s because he showed me through our friendship and through his approach to be absolutely unmitigated to be who you are. Be passionate, reach through that camera lens! I knew that when I was covering NASCAR working for ESPN on a Sat morning SportsCenter in the fall when people were ready to watch college football – you may not be interested in NASCAR but you will listen to me during that 2 months because of how much I love it. He helped me realize that that would be ok! Then my wife, Lainie is such a special person. She’s selfless, graceful, she don’t take no crap, she is my single greatest sounding board and will tell me the truth the whole time. That’s why she is reading the book for the first time. She is so astute and I am so appreciative of that. She also made me more selfless.

IG @MartySmithESPN

Our shoot took place in Ocean City, NJ which meant that we enjoyed showcasing menswear looks that are perfect for the beach.

FASHION CREDITS

LOOK 1 PG 16-25 | LE TIGRE Polo Shirt | KENNETH COLE Shorts | SPERRY Gold Cup Collection | TIMEX Watch | NAGICIA Bracelet | COSTA DEL MAR Sunglasses |

LOOK 2 COVER + PG 26 - 35 | KENNETH COLE Shirt | MAVI Shorts | SPERRY Gold Cup Collection | TiMEX Watch | CLEAR VISION OPTICAL/REVO Sunglasses | HEX BRAND Sneaker Duffle | JORDANS Sneakers |

LOOK 3 BACK COVER PG 37 - 49 | MAVI Denim Shirt + Shorts | TIMEX Watch | KENNETH COLE Sneakers | CLEAR VISION OPTICALS/REVO Sunglasses | EARTHCRUISER Bike |

You can hear the full interview with ESPN's Marty Smith in August on our show, #TRIBEGOALS which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

Read the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Context + Repetition: Marty Smith in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG | #43 JUL 2019

We’re excited to drop our latest issue of Athleisure Mag which is covered by ESPN’s Broadcaster/Journalist and author, Marty Smith. You’ve seen him on SportsCenter, College GameDay, SEC Nation and more. Check out his cover shoot which took place in Ocean City, NJ.

Read the July Issue here.

SHE'S GOT THAT GLOW WITH TRINITY FATU

Athleisure Mag’s April celebrity cover is Trinity Fatu who goes by the name Naomi in the ring as a WWE Superstar as well as being on E! Total Divas! We had the chance to hang out with her while she was here in NYC for WrestleMania which is the WWE’s equivalent to the Super Bowl. In addition to a fun shoot at The Loft in Flatiron and Limelight Fitness Club, we sat down with Trinity to talk about her journey from studying dance, being a NBA Orlando Magic Cheerleader, transitioning into the WWE, her love for performing and entertaining, sharing her personal life on E! Total Divas, endurance in the business and her coupleship with her husband Jonathan Fatu, who is a WWE wrestler under the name Jimmy Uso, and is half of the tag team The Usos.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to coming to the WWE, tell us about your background as we know that you were an NBA cheerleader previously with the Orlando Magic.

TRINITY FATU: Yes! I started dance at the age of 8 and I studied tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, modern and hip hop up until the age of 18. I competed nationally and once I was 18, I was too old to compete and graduated high school. So it was time for that next chapter and from there, I auditioned and went to the Magic from there. I wanted to go to Alvin Ailey Dance School, but at the time I just wasn’t mentally prepared and honestly, I was just scared to leave home! I had never been away from home so I ended up doing community college and stayed local and ended up doing Magic.

I’m kind of glad now that I didn’t go, because I don’t think that I ever would have gotten into wrestling and then I would have never met my husband and so on and so forth! It all kind of worked out how it was supposed to. I also come from a very musical family. My father is a musician – he’s a guitarist, my uncle is George McCrae.

AM: Shut up!

TF: Yes he had the song, “Rock Your Baby” in the 70’s and some other songs! Yes it’s just the ability to perform and entertain is in my blood and in my family’s so it was inevitable for me that I would do something in entertainment. One year, I had 12 jobs working through temp agencies and just trying to find the right job for me. But I was never satisfied with a 9-5 job. It had to be something that involved me being with people and being active. Socializing and working with people is that I ended up realizing that I like to do.

AM: So what led you to going to the WWE and what was that process like?

TF: So at the time, I was still an Orlando Magic dancer and the wrestling show came to the Amway Center one night and I ended up just wanting to watch the show. My girlfriend and some of the dancers told me about it and we ended up watching the show. When I saw the women perform, I was in awe and blown away by the entire show. I didn’t know much about wrestling and let alone that women had a role in it as much as they did and that they could do all the things that they did. It was a 6 woman tag that I saw and I mean they were killing it and they looked so beautiful. I knew right then that it was something that I wanted to do and that I could do!

So from there, I talked to my friend who knew someone that knew someone that knew someone. I went around asking questions to figure out how to get a try out. Fortunately, at the time, the developmental was in Tampa which was only an hour and a half away. I literally drove one weekend to Tampa to do a try out and then 3 months later, I finally heard back from them and they told me that I got a development deal and that I could start training. Then I left right from home a few weeks later, moved to Tampa and started my wrestling journey!

AM: Did you have a mentor when you were coming up through the system?

TF: Well I met my husband (Jonathan Fatu who goes by the name Jimmy Uso in the WWE) and it’s crazy because he was there a few months before me. But when I first got there, my husband was one of the first people that I met and so he has always been a mentor to me and my guidance through this whole thing. Norman Smiley who still develops and trains new talent now. Dr. Tom Prichard is also a former wrestler, as well as Dusty Rhodes – developmental is diff

erent now with NXT because I came through a different name. Mine was called FCW. All the guys that came around at that time, I felt that they all had some kind of influence and help. But most definitely would be my husband.

AM: What does it mean to you to be a WWE Superstar?

TF: It has become so much of who I am and my identity at this point. When I came in, I was just looking for a transition, I had been cheerleading for a few years and I just wanted something new and to express myself creatively. I had no idea how big wrestling was and what type of platform that I would be on and that I could make a career out of it! At the time, it was something to do at the moment and to just get me to that next chapter of my life until I figured out what I wanted to go to school for and how I would make a living. I was just thinking of doing something that kept me performing and when I got into it, realized how incredible an opportunity that it was, how massive it was and how global it was and the effect that it has on people – I completely fell in love with it, the lifestyle and it came apart of my life. That's when I realized that it was something that I wanted to do.

So to me, this was my life and it is my world. At this point, it’s like everything – it’s how I take care of my family, how I found my purpose, it’s how my husband and I bond over it. It’s become so entwined into my life that it really is everything to me! I take pride and appreciate the responsibility to not only represent African American women, but to be a role model for all women on this platform

AM: Well we got the chance to do our photoshoot during WrestleMania – for those who may not know, can you tell us what this is and how important it is to your year?

TF: Wrestlemania is our Super Bowl! It’s our biggest Pay-Per-View of the year. People travel all over the world to come into town to see our WrestleMania. It’s what we work towards all year to be on that show and to be on that Pay-Per-View. The best of the best is on WrestleMania.

So, to be on that and to share the ring with the greats like John Cena, Randy Orton and all of these incredible Superstars it’s definitely one of the biggest events of the year to perform live in front of 80,000 people at Met Life Stadium, one of the biggest and known stadiums around the world. It’s epic and it’s massive and to just be in that environment to feel that adrenaline from the audience – it’s something that you can’t get anywhere else!

AM: Are there additional matches that we should keep an eye on that are also significant throughout your year?

TF: I am most stoked about the Women’s Main Event. It’s the first time in history that we’ll be main eventing at WrestleMania. Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair as well as the Fatal 4-Way Women’s Tag Team Championship Match for the first time ever as well. So the women, it really is an evolution they are just killing it and they are going to raise the bar. So aside from the Women’s Battle Royal at WrestleMania, you can also look forward to these other women’s matches that are going to be awesome.

AM: In addition to being a wrestler for WWE, you are also on E! Total Divas which we are a fan of. How did you come about getting on this show and how important do you feel that it is to amplify your brand as well as to showcase your personal life?

TF: Well the original cast was handpicked by the company – Vince and at the time, I had a tag team partner, Ariane Andrew known as Cameron. They thought that we would bring a different dynamic to the show and we were a contrast to The Bella Twins at the time for our angle. We worked against them at the time and her and I had a great chemistry. They were right about all those things at the time and that’s why initially we were selected for the show. I was apprehensive at first. I used to be very private and protective of my personal life – I mean now with social media and so many opinions, so many critics – I was protective of that. But I also saw the bigger picture, the platform that we were being given and I did want to be able to tell our story as women in the business as well as seeing the other side of us. To see how hard we work, that women can do it and to motivate others. I knew that there would be a different audience that we would be able to connect with and reach out to that we can’t always do with wrestling. That’s why along with speaking with my partner at the time, we decided to go ahead and do it together. It was a package deal, we had to do it together.

AM: That’s what makes the show so interesting to see you guys in the ring, prepping for it, coming off the ring and to see your dynamics when you’re with your colleagues as well as your personal life. Watching you and your husband talking about your business as well as your personal life. It’s something that is applicable to people regardless of what their jobs are. The dynamics of a coupleship and how you live day to day is a great component of this show that we get to see in your dynamic and it really strikes a cord as we watch it and can completely relate!

TF: I really wanted people to see that because there is only so much that you can know about me when watching, RAW or SmackDown. I just knew that with the girls that I was working with, with the show we’re on and the company that was backing us that it would be an empowering show and uplifting one for women. I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to do that.

AM: So what is an average week like for you as you could be prepping for your next match, maybe you’re going into tapings, doing a charity – if there is such a thing in terms of average, what would it be?

TF: Well we’re moving and traveling 5 days a week and we have appearances weekly with radio stations, charity events, signings and our show is each night. We perform, we fly into town, perform for the show and then drive to the next city, and we do that about 4 days a week and on the 5th we’re traveling to get back home to recharge and do it all over again, year around – there is no off season.

I think that the toughest part is the travel. You would think that it would be the wrestling and the physical part, but that’s the best part and easiest part. When you calculate and think about all the hours that it takes to get there just to perform for 10 minutes and for the women, you’re fortunate if you get the 10 minutes – it’s good! The hard part and the most energy draining portion is the traveling. Being on the road so much, you’re away from home, friends and family. But that is part of the lifestyle.

AM: Since you do travel so much, what are 3 must hav3s that you have with you in your suitcase whenever you’re on the road?

TF: I always have my travel blanket, because I am always cold no matter where I am or how warm it is. I am always just cold! I’d also say my makeup bag and just lotions and moisturizers – all of that good stuff since traveling a lot really dries your skin out. Sunglasses for those days when I don’t want to put makeup on.

AM: Who would you say are your go to people in the WWE squad?

TF: Other than my husband and my brother-in-law (Joshua Fatu/WWE’s Jey Uso) his twin. As far as girls, I would say Lana, Natalya and Tamina Snuka. We all kind of broke in around the same time and have been around each other for the last few years. We have experienced the ups and downs together which has naturally made us bond and be very close with one another.

AM: Because you do travel so much, how do you maintain your coupleship with your husband – do you have date nights?

TF: Yes! We always try to make sure that we tell each other to never stop dating one another. We are always together, but I feel like we’re always in work mode. The hard part is being able to turn it off – not to talk about work, not to talk about wrestling and really just tune everything and everyone out and just focus on each other. We’re together all the time, but there are so many distractions. We’re together, but we’re not. We get to the arena and we’re there for 12 hours a day. Sometimes, I don’t see him all day because he’s preparing or he’s meeting people and getting ready to do the things that he needs to do. I'm over here getting my match together or filming for Total Divas. Then we get into the car and we have whatever amount of hours to drive and I’m asleep or he’s asleep. It’s finding that quality time.

AM: Our Co-Founders are a couple and they totally get this – it’s a balancing act!

TF: I know! A lot of people don’t understand like how can you be together that much, but then you don’t have time? You just have to live it to explain it because it sounds ridiculous!

AM: We had the chance to work out with you a few years back at TapOut gym and some of your fellow Superstars. It was great to do some of your routines that were simple and yet effective to get a great physique! What are some routines that people can get into their workouts that they should pick out that you do?

TF: For me, I just eat in moderation, I have a really bad sweet tooth so I pretty much eat what I want, but I just watch my portions which works for me. I just do a lot of cardio. I’m not a stickler for any kind of regimen. I just get in there and really do what I want. I don’t really lift heavy with a lot of weight. I do more of a full body workout and lots and lots of cardio. I do at least an hour of cardio the 5 days that I’m on the road and then when I’m home, I’m off. But if I eat bad, it just means that I have to work harder in the gym and if I eat better, then I don’t have to work as hard. So I just try to always balance things out. For the most part, it’s just eat healthy, a balanced diet. I feel like as long as you’re active and moving, it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re using your body and making it do something, you can feel when you’re working and when it burns. You can feel when you’re tired. I feel like as long as you’re pushing your body to do something, you will be ok! If you're working, your body will work. If you don’t use it, you will lose it.

TF: Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce

AM: So have you watched the release of her film Homecoming on Netflix?

TF: Girl, you know I did! I watched it like 5 times! I have been watching it everyday since it came out on repeat! I think that she is the greatest thing that has ever walked this Earth!

AM: She doesn’t quit!

TF: No no she doesn’t and I will not tolerate anything bad that is said about her! I will pop off on anybody that does. She is truly amazing and my idol – her work ethic, her personality and you never hear any bad stuff about her. To be in the entertainment business for so long and to just have that kind of character – it’s insane to me. She is a great feminist and humanitarian – I just love her.

AM: How do you take time for yourself as you’re schedule is beyond busy.

TF: Honestly, I don’t have much down time to myself. I do have a little room in my house that I call it my Little Lounge – it’s my She Shed. It’s very yoga like and bohemian. I have my pillows on the floor, the colors are warm and it’s very cozy and relaxing. I’ll get up there and relax and turn on my meditation music and nature sounds, write songs, think and relax. That’s probably the most that I feel to get away. I don’t like to go anywhere because I’m always gone so my home is the best getaway and vacation. We’re gone over 300 some days out of the year traveling. My home is my sanctuary. I go up in my little room and have my me time.

AM: We’re all about tribes and #TRIBEGOALS those who inspire us, who are 3 people that do this for you?

TF: Oh yes – one would be my Uncle Buck. He’s my best friend. He’s always on my Instagram. He has been an uncle and like a father to me since I was born, my whole life. We just have a really tight bond and relationship. He has always been there for me. He is a huge supporter has always been at every dance competition, every track meet, every prom – always there and still there. He really is my best friend. My mom – I mean just watching her strength growing up and being a single parent and just how gracious she has been my whole life. My mom can do no wrong in my eyes and I would probably say Beyonce and Michelle Obama!

AM: How would you define your personal style when you’re going out with the girlfriends for drinks vs date night vs just hanging out?

TF: I would say that I am very funky and spontaneous. For gym flows and my days off, I’m always very comfortable in sweats and a hoodie. For a date night, I like to be extra spontaneous – sometimes it’s a freakum dress and other times it’s an elegant dress. One day I could be dressed like 80s and retro and then the next day, I could want to be classy and in some designer stuff. I love rave clothes, funky, bright colors. I’m all over the place. Whatever I see, I like and I’m not set in a certain style. I do like to be loud and different. I have never been afraid to stand out. I would just say spontaneous and to just keep it fun.

AM: We’re a big believer in that if you don’t feel comfortable with what you’re wearing – no matter what it is, it’s not going to look right!

TF: That’s so true. I remember one day waking up and I had spent 5-6 hours getting braids put in but the next day, I just took them out because I didn’t want my hair like that anymore – I wanted a bob or a fro ha! I’m just like that and have always done that!

AM: We know you’re based in Florida, where can we see you grabbing a meal/cocktail, shopping and working out?

TF: Well nowadays, I shop online. I also like the simple stuff where stores have a lot of options so I like Forever 21, love Topshop, American Apparel, Fashion Nova, House of CB. I really love Fashion Nova which is taking over my closet because it’s affordable, it always fits and you can find so many things that fits my style. With what I do, I can’t wear something once it has been on TV and I can’t be caught wearing it again. I like to mix and match them with my style for whatever I am going for at the moment.

For food, I love Ramen noodles so Jinya Ramen Bar I could eat that everyday! They are a ramen bar and only major cities have them, but I love them and you can catch me there! I also love shopping at Whole Foods.

I workout everywhere. My husband and I have talked about getting a gym membership, as when we’re home there are a number of gyms but then when we travel, those gyms may not be in the cities that we are going to! Sometimes we’ll be in the Midwest and there won’t be a LA Fitness, they have Planet Fitness so we get to the town and look up the gym and we just take a day pass. When I’m home, I just train at our home gym in my garage.

IG @Trinity_Fatu

FASHION CREDITS

TRINITY'S SWIM LOOK | SOUL OF A HIPPIE Sundown Kimono Floral Pastel | MEI L'ANGE Ella Ruched Maillot | Sequin Jewelry Turquoise Color Karma Tassel Necklace | LOVARD Gila Necklace | REVO Sunglasses | VIA SAVIENE Cut-Out Ring | QUPID Peep Toe Booties |

TRINITY'S OUT AND ABOUT LOOK | LOVE BINETTI EY: Sweet Dreams Sleeveless Cotton Dress | NAGICIA Bamboo Framed Donut Ring | QUPID Peep Toe Booties |

TRINITY'S FITNESS LOOK | HANRO Touching Feeling Crop Top + Touching Feeling Boyleg | CARTON OUTERWEAR Clear Hooded Jacket |

TRINITY'S EVENING LOOK | F21 Plunging Maxi Dress | MIRIAM HASKELL Necklace |

S1. E1. | The Road to Tokyo 2020 with Natasha Hastings (400M Diva) - US Track and Field

We all have our favorite sports and Track and Field is definitely one of ours! We’re excited to kick off our inaugural episode of The Road to Tokyo 2020 with Natasha Hastings, otherwise known as the 400M Diva! She has participated in a number of World Championships and meets, and she has represented her country with gold medals at the Olympics in Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016, and she is now making her plans for Tokyo 2020. We find out about her drive and career on and off the track, as well as finding out more about her beauty line and her upcoming marriage to retired NFL athlete William Gay.

CURLING + CATCHING WAVES WITH SARAH POTEMPA

When it comes to getting glamorous hair many of the world's celebs turn to Sarah Potempa, a bicoastal hairstylist whose clientele includes: Lea Michele, Emily Blunt, Ana de Armas, Busy Philipps and Millie Bobby Brown. Editorially, her work has graced shoots for Vogue, Paper, Marie Claire, Teen Vogue, Vanity Fair, Esquire, and W. In addition, she has been the hair partner for a number of Fashion Week shows as well as Victoria's Secret shows. She is the Creator and CEO of the best-selling Beachwaver Co. curling iron and styling tools.

We took some time to chat with this hair visionary to find out about how she came up with this successful line, upcoming launches and her participation as a partner in the World Surf League as the title sponsor of the first ever Beachwaver Maui Pro.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about the a-ha moment that took place for you to create The Beachwaver Co.

SARAH POTEMPA: My “aha” moment came when I was on the phone with a beauty editor describing how to get gorgeous, red carpet worthy waves at home. I explained to the editor, as I had done many times on tv segments, how-to videos, and beauty articles, how you had to hold the curling iron upside down and wrap the hair backwards. She said it was too confusing to write "upside down and backwards" and sounded difficult to do on your own hair. So when we hung up, I sat down and drew out the idea to have an iron that could be held upright, allowing you to curl both sides of your hair seamlessly with the push of a button. I saw a need for a curling iron that all women could use on themselves; one that would give incredible results without a hairdresser.

The Beachwaver is a rotating curling iron that you hold upright. It rotates in both directions and you control it with the touch of a button! All you have to do is clamp the hair, tap the arrow away from the face, hold the barrel for 3-4 seconds and release straight down for a perfect wave. It also has 350 custom parts and 3 computer boards, which control features like the digital temperature setting, dual rotation, and heat up and rotation speed allowing for more customized use.

AM: With the holidays coming up, what are items from your line that we should make sure we’re gifting to others or snagging for ourselves?

SP: We recently launched our Beachwaver S Series in a Dual Voltage model; this is a perfect holiday gift as it has the same user-friendly functions but is compatible internationally so it can travel with you anywhere! Its ceramic, rotating barrel provides easy, quality waves in minutes! The new launches from our new Beachwaver Co. Collection are must-haves as well – Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray to create a protective barrier while heatstyling and Second Chance Dry Shampoo to revive your hair and restore fullness. The holidays are a busy time so all these products combined will make sure your hair can withstand 2nd or even 3rd day hair, and make touch-ups super easy and quick.

AM: Tell us about your sponsorship of the World Surf’s League Maui Women’s Pro Championship – how did it come about, what will you be doing in this partnership and how synergistic is this with your brand?

SP: The Beachwaver Co. is thrilled to be partnered with the WSL as title sponsor of the first-ever Beachwaver Maui Pro. This partnership extends beyond a shared love of beautiful beaches and perfect waves. We are proud to partner with such strong athletes and role models and I am so excited to work with these incredible women, with equally incredible stories, who are inspirations to people around the world, and who inspire us, too. Our brand shares so many of the same philosophies as the WSL, between innovation, women’s empowerment, inspiration, and especially the fact that they just announced equal pay for all athletes – so amazing! We are the brand known for creating gorgeous beachy waves so it just made sense to partner up with the WSL and these phenomenal athletes and bring our fans and audience along to Maui as we chase the perfect wave together!

AM: With the holidays coming up, we all love doing something fun with our hair. What would you suggest as an easy quick do and let us know the tools of the trade that we need to get to do it.

SP: I love this Double Half-Up with Braids and Beachwaves using the Beachwaver and these super cute accessories we just launched. This is a really fun and festive look to try for the holidays!

Step 1. Prep the hair using The Beachwaver Co. Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray. Section off the top half of your hair and divide into two equal parts. Pull each section into a high ponytail and secure with an elastic.

Step 2. Using The Beachwaver Co. Half Up, create two topknots by pulling each ponytail through the Half Up and slide it towards the ends. Roll the Half-Up down towards the base and bend each side under. Create two 3-strand braids under each topknot and secure the ends with an elastic. Take two of The Beachwaver Co. Velvet Bows and clip directly underneath each topknot.

Step 3. Curl using The Beachwaver S1.25, rotating the hair away from the face and finish with The Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray for additional lightweight hold.

AM: Are there new products that you are releasing next year that we should keep an eye out for?

SP: Yes! Creating innovation in product development is a huge passion for us as a brand. With the success of the patented Beachwaver® Tools, our fans were constantly asking for products to pair with their Beachwaver or Coast Pro styling iron! As a women owned company, we wanted to create a vegan, cruelty-free line that was free of negative energy and we have spent over 2 years creating innovative formulas with strengthening benefits, as well as styling. The Beachwaver Co. Collection products are free of parabens, formaldehyde, sulfates, mineral oil, benzophenone, and phthalates, and that’s something my sisters and I are so proud of. We worked closely together on this for years and felt that we had a responsibility to future generations to create products that are not only good for humans, but also for the environment. Great Barrier Heat Protectant Hairspray and Second Chance Dry Shampoo are available now on Beachwaver.com and more will be launching in early 2019 so keep your eyes peeled on Instagram @sarahpotempa and @thebeachwaver!

AM: How are you spending the holiday this year?

SP: With my family!

AM: How do you take time for yourself to ensure that you have appropriate downtime?

SP: One of my favorite ways to unwind in my downtime is with Green tea, a piece of dark chocolate, listening to the Avett Brothers on our record player and sitting by the fire! I also have two kids and a huge 125 lb. Alaskan Malamute puppy!! On our days off, we love to go to the dog park, cook brunch, and go on a bike ride through the forest preserve by our house! To really unwind and relax, I go to hot yoga with my sister and get a good iced coffee cold brew after!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We had the chance to talk to Australian 6X world surfing champion Stephanie Gilmore briefly about her win. Since her entry into women's professional surfing in 2007, she has dominated the scene by winning her first world title as a rookie, then 3 consecutive world titles (no other surfer in men's or women's) can claim this accolade! In addition to her 6 ASP World Titles, she has 24 Elite World Tour victories as well!

What does it mean to take this title at the Beachwaver Maui Pro and what is the state of women's surfing now?

STEPHANIE GILMORE: This season has been incredible and to win my 7th WSL Title in Honolua Bay at the Beachwaver Maui Pro was so special. Women's surfing has never been in a better place - the level on the tour just keeps going up and up, the recent prize money equality announcement was groundbreaking and the amazing support of brands like Beachwaver is so important. I can't wait for 2019!

PHOTOS COURTESY | BEACHWAVER + WSL

Read more from the Dec Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Curling + Catching Waves with Sarah Potempa.

THE PICK ME UP

Read more from the Nov Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Pick Me Up in mag,

NEXT STOP, TOKYO WITH DAGMARA WOZNIAK

This month's cover is a 2 X Team USA Olympian, Dagmara Wozniak who won a Bronze Medal in fencing as a member of the Women's Saber team. With the the Olympics a little less than 2 years away, Athleisure Mag is excited to turn our attention to the upcoming summer Olympic games that will take place in Tokyo 2020. Our shoot took place at the Manhattan Fencing Center where she has trained with her coach since 2005, and we talked about her goals for the upcoming season, what drew her to the sport and the importance of bringing positivity to the game.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When we met you at your shoot, you made a great analogy to what fencing is - can you share with our readers?

DAGMARA WOZNIAK: I look at fencing as a sport with three different weapons (Epee, Foil and Saber) and you specialize in one because the tactics and training is so different in an of itself. I compare Saber, the one that I do as the Sprinter of the sport. If you look at the sport like Track & Field you have sprinting, hurdles and marathon, it’s completely different. You may have some athletes that do both, but you’re working on specific techniques for the sport itself which is very similar to fencing. People think it’s one sport and that we just change weapons, but it’s like 3 mini sports within the sport. It differs by target area, differs by tactic, and differs by training, so it’s very specific and different then what most people think.

AM: What drew you to fencing initially and then the discipline of saber?

DW: I actually started off with the original weapon which is Epee when I came first. My dad just took me to a fencing class one day and it was at the Polish Cultural Foundation and I think it was more to keep me busy and to help me practice the language as my coach was Polish. It was an after school program kind of thing and I did it once or twice a week and I just started falling in love with it.

AM: What did you like about it after you started playing in the sport?

DW: I liked how different it was. People laugh, but I was definitely a tomboy, still am and beatng up kids and not getting in trouble was great. I did karate before that and I had a lot of fun with that. I had friends who were in it with me and when I had to go up to get a new belt or whatever, they would say, “don’t hit me too hard.” I was very ready to go all out. There is something on the line, “sorry we’re not friends right now.” The whole aspect of combat sport is just very appealing to me and I liked it a lot and it’s challenging. One of the things that I have grown to like about it is that there’s a lot of unpredictable factors. You might know what someone generally does and let’s say they are having a bad day or they’re fencing much better than they have ever done before, you need to be able to adjust to things like that. So the fact that you’re not sure how someone is going to necessarily compete, you can make a plan, but that’s not what’s going on and you need to adjust or you are going to lose.

So not to take away from swimming or track and field, but the ground is never going to move from you, the water is never going to dip and become a crazy wave. It’s the fact that it’s really a battle against you and yourself. And fencing and combat sports is a battle against you and yourself and you have the variable of someone else who also has a brain and can adapt to situations and make mistakes as well and capitalize on your mistakes. I like the cliché way of explaining fencing that it’s a physical chess game and it’s spot on. I love that about it.

AM: So what was the moment that you went from enjoying this personally to realizing that you could compete professionally and go to an Olympic stage?

DW: It came very late for me I guess! It was only when I qualified as an alternate for the Beijing Olympics that I even thought about it because people said that that would be my next step to go to the games and I would say, “you’re crazy.” But in the end it was like, if I wasn’t gunning for the Olympics then why the hell was I training so hard? For me it was the whole idea of wanting to be the best and doing something that I was good at and I loved it. I was nev-er upset or felt forced that I was going to practice – I was excited. The losses were so personal for me that I would cry for hours and keep telling my mom that it would never happen again, but even though it did – I was just driven to it without having a goal. I just wanted to win and that was the first goal. But then when I was graduating highschool, I had some teachers that were like, “you know what’s next – the Olympics,” and I was like, “no my God, don’t push it.” But shortly after that, my coach was like you should start thinking about it and I thought, “wow I didn’t know that this was possible for me.” Once my coach and I kind of made a plan, it was up from there.

AM: Your first trip to the Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 was as an alternate, how did that affect 2012?

DW: I qualified in 2008 as a replacement athlete and the only way that I was able to compete is if someone from my team got injured. That didn’t happen and they got the Bronze medal and because I never set foot on the actual playing field, I went home with nothing. I remember a lot of people were saying that that was as far as where I could potentially reach and what was I expecting and why I was so  upset. They kind of wrote me off from ever being an actual Olympic athlete and I told my mom, "I was there for the experience and I saw how it was and these next 4 years it will be different.” I made sure that I made a plan that was going to get me there as an actual competing athlete. So qualifying for the team for the Olympic Games in London 2012 was a highlight and so much more meaningful because of the people that said I couldn’t do it.

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“But in the end it was like, if I wasn’t gunning for the Olympics then why the hell was I training so hard? For me it was the whole idea of wanting to be the best and doing something that I was good at and I loved it.”

— Dagmara Wozniak

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AM: We know that you have a 4 year gap between each Summer Games. There are a number of championships and tournaments that you do in a given period of time to get onto the team for your sport (the process is different for each of the Olympic sports). What is that snapshot like for you in terms of qualifying when you are getting into the next Team USA as we’re looking for The Road to Tokyo 2020?

DW: Right so there are many sports that just went to one competition closer to Rio and it could be as soon as just a month out! But that’s just what they are used to and it’s a completely different stressful situation. For us, it’s a year long process so when we start the actual Olympic year, we go to about 10 International competitions where we compete and we get points based off of that. Because now, all the team events are allotted under one big medal, before in 2012, our team event was rotated out so the IOC didn’t allow all of the events to compete at the Olympics so 2 of the team events – all of the individual team events were there so that’s 6 events and then we only received 4 team events the - relay. So in 2012, Women’s Saber got rotated out and we only got to qualify individually. In 2016, we had the opportunity to qualify as a team and we did. It’s a different qualification process, but now we have team events for everyone which is amazing and everyone has the opportunity which is more chances for Team USA as we’re doing well right now and we can bring more medals home, and it’s great for fencing, the sport and the development.

The qualification process is different. We go to competitions, we get points based on how high we rank and it’s the first 4 teams that qualify automatically and then to finish the bracket it goes by zone!

AM: So your Olympic year would start summer of next year. But yet, you are still doing championships and competitions leading into that.

DW: Yes.

AM: You’re having a well deserved rest.

DW: Right. Our season typically started in Oct and then we have 1 competition every month. It was ok, but then I felt like it never gave me an opportunity to necessarily peak. Now, they're giving us quite a bit of an off season which is going to let us have more competitions condensed together, but right now there is an opportunity to kind of change the training style, to change the schedule and to be able to capitalize physically and mentally and then just to ride out how much work you have put in through the season. You won't feel the need to play catch up and your peeked and you're ready to go.

AM: What is your training like when you’re preparing for a typical tournament, an Olympic one and then just maintaining in general?

DW: I don’t necessarily treat the Olympics any different then any other competition. I just think that you can’t treat it differently because of the environment because that is when you are going to put the pressure on yourself and I know that there are differences as there are more people, there’s more press and more points – everything that’s for sure. That’s why going into the Olympics for London 2012 which was my first time competing, I told myself that I wasn’t going to do a lot of interviews because we don’t usually get a lot of that stuff usually during the competition and I know that that’s at least how I work as an athlete as I would get distracted by trying to give everyone a story and all of that. I felt that if the result was going to be there, then people would want to talk to me after.

I focus on preparing just like I would for any other competition. I know that a lot of people function better when they are exposed to something for the first time. I’m not going to say beginner’s luck as they go in with no expectation and for me, it’s the opposite I put more expectation in when I am doing something for the first time. Now if I qualify for Tokyo which I am very confident that I will and that it’s going that way.

I feel more confident the more times that I have been on the Olympic stage.  Through loss, through heartbreak, through everything all together it’s learning experiences that make me stronger.

AM: What does your workout look like?

DW: Right now, I’m not fencing so I am taking a small break from that, but I am working with my trainer on capitalizing on endurance. Fencing during competitions lasts throughout a whole day. There is a lot of stop and go! You compete and sit around for an hour and a half, then compete and sit around for another hour and a half. Not necessarily until you get into the finals you win and keep going and you have about an hour and a half and maybe even 2-3 hours before the next match. So it gets tedious in terms of keeping up the endurance, the stamina and the focus. What we have been doing right now as you can’t really simulate an actual competition, but we have been training really early in the morning, I have been doing a lot of crossfit lately and catering more to fencing specific stuff. I’m not going really crazy with the weight, but focusing on building short muscle and fast push muscle – going down and up. I am driving really fast up and again focusing specifically on what will benefit me and my sport, but at the same time, having the intensity of the class and the timer. The repetitiveness is all there and that benefits me. I like to change things up when I feel that I am pushing myself a little too hard. There was a good portion of the time that I was doing pilates with the reformer and some mat work. What’s great about fencing and in fitness in general. Your body is always changing whether you’re in your 20’s, 30’s, a women, a male, come down with a sickness etc – there are so many things that are constantly changing. I never really like to stick to something all the time and kind of plateau. Keeping the body not in a rhythm in terms of a workout which is why I like crossfit so much as there is always a way to challenge yourself. It’s not more weight in terms of taking more time if there is a 12 minute gap, so maybe you get less rounds in or you put less weight and you gauge how many rounds you get in and next time you can keep the same weight and just try to push how many things you can do to fit in the time frame.

I like pilates, I was spinning for awhile but it’s about more sport specific stuff. Making sure that the right muscles are firing.

AM: What are three go to foods for the gym and what are your splurges?

DW: You say splurge foods and it’s the first thing that comes to my mind! I love donuts – I have loved donuts forever and if you give me one, I can’t resist. The homemade ones are amazing. I love how pretty they are and how creative they can be. I’m not a fan of cupcakes or cake, but donuts – yes donuts are my thing. It’s first, second and third. I can’t choose ha!

My go-to in terms of what I’m eating when training. I like protein shakes. They are something that I definitely include post workout as a meal replacement. There is a company I like, Athletic Greens and they are safe for athletes to use and they have dehydrated greens that you can throw in your smoothie as well or in your shakes and it’s easy on your stomach and doesn’t have a metallic aftertaste like most of them do. I’m all about safety and a clean sport. Having a trusted product like that makes me feel great and since I started using that which has been awhile now – maybe a year. I have really decreased how much coffee I have been drinking. I love the taste of coffee but sometimes I forget when the last time was that I had it because the proteins and the greens give me so much energy. Thats what I'm about.

Clean food yes – I think I’d have to say that I am a Paleo/Ketogenic diet – obviously not Keto like what people are doing out there limiting carbs etc., as I think after what I have read a lot about as athletes, it's not the best things especially for women. But keeping high protein and high fat and carbs is something that I have found has given me the optimal training and recovery.

AM: We enjoyed shooting at the Manhattan Fencing Center. How long have you trained here and do you have responsibilities there as well?

DW: There aren’t necessarily responsibilities, but I do think of it as a helping hand in terms of talking to my coach about athletes and my opinion. I am more of a mentor. My fencing gym is my second home. I’m a big stickler for organization, cleaning up after or organizing the lost and found and even small tasks. I love to be respectful of it and take care of it. I hope that others do the same.

I’ve been with my coach since 2005!

AM: Beyond your sport, what else are you interested in doing?

DW: For me, I feel like I have definitely gotten involved in and interested in clean eating and watching documentaries about processed items that are in our foods and how we are slowly killing ourselves with the items that are in our foods. Like a bunch of fries that are really filling is $1 but healthy vegetables for a little snack pack is $6 or $7. A family that can’t really afford too much will go for McDonald’s and fast food stuff. It breaks my heart that there are all these monsters in our country that are destroying food. So healthy food has been a huge working area for me. I love learning about it and I am very intuitive with my body. The second I eat something, I can feel how upset my stomach is and I know it's not good for me. It sucks because donuts have a lot of sugar, not just in terms of weight gain, but it upsets my gut bacteria and I am in tons of pain. Just seeing that I want to spread the knowledge because even healthy peanut butters are actually not healthy. People think that they always have to work out and work out to do so 2-3 times a day to get to whatever your fitness is, but there is so much that can be achieved through diet and what you put into your body. I’m passionate about that.

In terms of athlete preparation, I would like to be a strength and conditioning coach myself and it has become dear to me. Not necessarily just for fencing. I think being able to compete at the highest level mentally and physically – I may not always do it, but being there and known what it takes, and having that knowledge because of my experience, I would like to take that step and prepare those athletes that want to take it to this level and if not higher.

AM: You travel a lot. What have been your favorite places?

DW: I get that question a lot and people are always surprised at my answer. I have fallen in love with Belgium. I’ve never said that I could retire and live in Europe but it’s the first place I went to when I was like, I could see myself living there in terms of the food, the culture, the people are so nice and the architecture is beautiful. There’s a coffee shop and then there is a castle around the corner, you don’t get that in the United States. It’s very interesting to see that kind of setup. This past summer, we had a training camp in Japan before our World Championships in China and I have to say that Japan is such a cool place. The people are so cool and it's just a different world over there! I enjoyed my time in Japan and you know, my heart is in Cuba and I love that place and it's the top three of where I would love to go to.

AM: Where can we find you eating and shopping?

DW: The things that I love about Jersey City and Hoboken is that there are a lot of boutique places in terms of clothing that you can find great stuff and I'm not into labels, but when I do shop for that, I love All Saints - they're rugged and raw with colors that aren't too bright. I love denim with raw materials in terms of dressing up. So I love jean shorts and a black tank top which is my go to. I'm about comfort while still being able to express myself.

There are a lot of cool cafés here. Recently, my boyfriend and I got interested in some refreshing drinks, cheese and meat platters which I love. There is a place called The Archer which has a great selection of this. Down by Grove there are a lot of cool restaurants. We don’t go out too much because we try to just focus on eating healthy and when we go out, I love outside dining and the gardens. There is a lot of that here and it’s fun to jump around.

AM: Do you do any philanthropy?

DW: I find myself getting involved with the athletes in my club and giving advice. I have worked one on one with girls in my club. The pressure of being a female athlete and it’s interesting as everyone always deals with their problems and I don’t necessarily showcase what is going on with me as I  have gone through some troubled times. When they talk to me and say, "how do you seem so calm and confident?" I'm like, "woo you have no idea! That's so far from the truth." I am a thankful that I come across that way and everyone is dealing with their issues and I try to impart some wisdom on the girls and the guys at the club.

I talk to my middle school in Avenel, NJ and I have done a few high school talks in terms of setting goals and how many times that people have come and said I couldn't do something. If you listen to what people say, you're just going to dig your own hole and never crawl out of there. Especially when you're doing well, people seem to have more things to say. I think I did a lot of listening to those people for a long time and at 21, I thought that I had it all figured out, by 26 I thought I knew more and now at 30 I'm like, "damn I'm so far from when I thought I did have it figured out!" Life is a constant learning experience and being able to walk away from people that aren't good for you and are negative – I just get involved with the kids at my club. I have had the harsh talks with other coaches on what I am capable of and am supposed to do but when you follow your own plan, that’s when you can really blossom!

AM: What are your goals for the Summer Games?

DW: I’ve set the goal of coming home with 2 gold medals for individual and the team. It’s that goal or no goal for me. Maybe it’s my last time competing or I go another 4 years, who knows. I’m doing everything I can now and not looking back to say shoulda, coulda, woulda and I have a new game plan now. I don’t have injuries, there are a lot of things that are different then when I was training for Rio than how it is now. I may not be the kid that went to every Olympics and medaled in every one, but I have the opportunity to go out there and do some damage with an individual gold medal and team gold medal - even if it's one time. That's very important to me and that puts the icing on my cake in terms of a career.

IG @DagmaraWozniak

Listen to our conversation with Dagmara Wozniak on an upcoming episode of The Road to Tokyo 2020 on Athleisure Studio, our multimedia podcast network.

Read more from the August Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Next Stop, Tokyo with Dagmara Wozniak in mag.

ONE ON ONE WITH THE SHERIFF

We've talked about Obstacle Course Races (OCR) before and in this month's fitness focused issue, we sat down with Hunter McIntyre to talk about his upcoming Tough Mudder X Championship presented by KILL CLIFF race taking place on July 28th and airing on CBS. We wanted to know how he got into this sport, how he trains for it and why he enjoys doing them.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about your athletic background as we know you were a cross country runner and champion wrestler in high school.

HUNTER MCINTYRE: My grandfather was an Olympic athlete and he really helped me believe that I could become a great athlete myself. He would constantly tell me that I was really fast and encouraged me to run track and field. My ability to run quickly and my experience with wrestling has really translated into my training now.

AM: How did you get into the world of Tough Mudder and other OCR competitions?
 
HM: While living with my friends in Malibu, my one friend challenged me to compete in an OCR race. At that point, I hadn’t been training for an obstacle race, just body building. In the short time I had to train for that race, I would run up and down my driveway for hours and I ended up finishing 6th place out of around 10,000 participants. I was all-in after that.

AM: What is it about OCR in general that you enjoy?

HM: The best thing is, the opportunity is what you make of it. It’s a sport that you can train for anywhere and everywhere. I can go for a run in Central Park, go to the gym to lift and I can mix in some rock climbing with my friends to train. Most of all, I just love being outdoors.

AM: How do you train for OCR versus just maintaining your workout?

HM: When training for a Tough Mudder, I’ll run once or twice per day, six days per week. It also depends on the distance and location of the event. For World’s Toughest Mudder, I’ll spend 2-4 hours per day training in the woods. When I’m not training for a race, I just like to get in the gym and challenge myself to get as strong as I can. That’s when my friends and I put a big emphasis on strength training.

AM: What are your go to foods that you  eat when you're maintaining your body and what  3 splurge foods do you enjoy?

HM: I stick to a high carbohydrate diet. I eat a lot of pancakes and Honey Nut Cheerios. There are some days when I’ll eat 10 apples per day. For two months leading up to the Tough Mudder X Championship I ate a 14oz or 16oz ribeye steak every single night. That steak every night became my sleeping pill and I always feel rejuvenated the next morning. I do splurge on Ben & Jerry’s ice cream from time to time.

AM: Where did your name, "The Sheriff" come from?

HM: One of my friends called me “The Sheriff” one day and it really just stuck with me from then on.

AM: With such an intense schedule how do you take time for yourself?

HM: When I’m not training or I’ve just finished an event, I really like to just chill and relax at my place in Malibu. Since I’m on the road a lot, I enjoy that time at home when I can.

AM: How important is travel to you and what are 3 of your favorite places that you enjoy going to?

HM: It’s important to disconnect work travel and travel for pleasure. I’m always traveling for events, but my top vacation spots would be St. Barts, Telluride, Colorado and Big Sur.

AM: On Sat July 28th, you will be defending your title in the finale of the Tough Mudder X Championship presented by Kill Cliff airing on CBS - how have you prepared for this competition physically and mentally?

HM: Preparing for the TMX Championship, I put myself in tough training situations. This year, I trained extremely hard in the mountains of Park City, Utah.

AM: What has it been like to compete alongside athletes that are comprised of Navy Seals, UFC Fighters, CrossFit, American Ninja Warriors?

HM: It’s great because you learn to respect and understand the ways these other athletes train and the way they approach the same events, differently. I really enjoy learning and picking up some tools from each of them.

Read more from the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see One on One with the Sheriff in mag.

FLY BRYAN FLY

Just days after the Super Bowl, we got some time on the calendar to talk with NFL Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl LII Champion, Bryan Braman! Coming off of so much excitement playing a game that he loves while also taking in the moment of a great success, we were impressed by his humble nature and his focus on hard work, having a goal and being a leader that his teammates can connect with.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We know that the last few days have been crazy for you and really appreciate you coming by to chat with us - how has it been knowing that you're a Super Bowl Champion?

BRYAN BRAMAN: It's been crazy and I'm just taking it all in right now! 

AM: We have to ask, you have really great hair and the perfect man bun - you have to spill how you take care of it as a number of readers were asking us in preparation of this interview!

BB: I don't really - it just grows. I don't really trim it although recently I just cut the dead ends off. I don't use any special shampoos. I have tried things that people have recommended, but nothing has really stuck. Honestly, most of the time I don't brush it - I just woke up like that and get up and go. I shower, rinse it out real good and then go afterwards.

I actually had an undercut and so all of the sides and the back were a different length and I wasn't able to pull it up. But now it's at a length that I can actually pull it up and it stays for a little bit and then it falls out. Hopefully, those parts will grow out a little bit more. I didn't want to cut them off and the undercut started getting jagged and crooked so I just stuck it out to grow it out.

AM: When did you know that you wanted to play football?

BB: A long time ago - I was probably 6 or 7 years old. I knew I was going to play in the NFL when I was 13.

AM: What was your journey to get to the Eagles?

BB: Starting from me entering the NFL, I played for the Houston Texans for 3 years and my rookie deal was coming to an end and at that time, I was a restrictive free agent so they owned all the rights to me and we just didn't agree on a contract and they ended up releasing me. From there, I was able to get in with Philly back in 2014. So I played with them in '14, '15, '16 and then similar situation, they allowed my contract to expire and from there I took some time off and then the New Orleans Saints called and they let me play for 2 preseason games and they liked me and wanted to bring me back. But due to an injury that I sustained to my shoulder, they didn't feel comfortable bringing me in. Philadelphia ended up calling me a few weeks after that and the rest is history.

AM: That's exciting, we're sure that was stressful when you were in between teams, but then to come back to this team must have been great! The Philadelphia Eagles is our Style Director's second favorite team as she is a major Indianapolis Colts fan since it's her hometown!

BB: Oh really that's cool. How do you feel about Frank Reich (Super Bowl LII Offensive Coordinator for the Eagles who was just hired as the Head Coach for the Indianapolis Colts)?

AM: Really good actually! It was a little weird when Josh McDaniels (Offensive Coordinator and Quaterbacks Coach for the New England Patriots)  was announced as the coach for the Colts as it didn't seem to make sense and then of course within hours of the announcement, he decided to stay.

BB: I thought it was strange that they pulled out. That took me by surprise. But Frank's a good guy though, I think he will do well! He'll be really good for the team.

AM: We think so too and we're excited to see what he does.

What do you think it is about your energy that your teammates embrace you so much and that the fans do as well? Many times people know very specific positions and those who are on Special Teams (the position that he plays) are not always as known - what makes you so memorable? Is it your humble nature?
 
BB: I don't know if it's that or moreso the passion that I play in the game. If you were to ask anybody, "Does Bryan love the game of football?" I'm sure that you would get a yes everytime. I just feel that the passion and the love of the game is something that has really carried me and that you can see that in my play style and the way that I run on the field and the way that I try to hit people, the way that I pace on the sideline - I love it - I love the game.

AM: What are your workouts like in the regular season versus off season?

BB: There's a difference between building strength and maintaining strength. Offseason leading up to the season, I really just use as much of that time as possible to get as strong, as fast and as physical as possible. Then during the season, you just want to maintain that.  

The biggest difference more or less, would be the weight, the intensity, the regularity etc. So, lifting everyday in the off season compared to lifting twice a week during the season. Just try to keep that extra off your body, the rehab of making sure that the joints and the muscles are all firing and working properly. Definitely intensity is the biggest difference for regular season  and off season.

AM: What was your mental focus like coming into the Championships and then transitioning into playing Super Bowl LII in terms of just having that mindset to prepare for the game?

BB: For me, it was about not making it anything bigger than it actually is. 

AM: Wait - so you had no nerves when you walked out? It was just another game for you.

BB: Yeah. I mean you could feel the energy and the biggest thing was that for the amount of time, especially for the Super Bowl, compared to a regular season game, the amount of time you spend pre-game and half time it's all extended. So by the time you're at the end of the game, you're looking at an extra hour and a half of time that's in there that you wouldn't have for a regular game. You can really get burned out during those times with your energy or you peak too high too early or at the wrong time. It can throw your game off so I just remembered that whole time that I kept repeating to myself, "take it easy - take it easy, you've got time - you've got time - you've got time." I just tried to keep as calm as possible. I would think about it, take it all in, look at the stadium, see all the fans and everything that they did with it. It was incredible!

AM: It was such a good game!

So, you're a snappy dresser especially when you're rocking suits. We've checked out your Instagram - what's your personal style and what are your favorite brands?

BB: Thank you - I just have to see it on the hanger. If it's something that I like and I can see it then it doesn't matter about the brand. The fit obviously when I put it on has to be right or I'm not wearing it. I'm not about beauty is pain. I want to be nice and comfortable and I feel like I look my best when I am. I don't really have too many brands but I do like Alberto for jeans. I like G-Star they're pretty savvy for me and I love their jeans. Being a Swedish brand, they have taller lengths that just fits me right as I just can't walk into Macy's and find a pair of Levi's that fit you like that. Shirt wise, I wear a lot of v-necks - H&M Has a lot of the long line tees - TopMan has this as well. 

AM: What do you do in your personal time? 

BB: I spend time with my girls. I have two daughters. I like firearms so I worked as an armor for a little while and have a nice little collection of rifles and handguns that I like to spend time with. I enjoy the fire range, hunting, hog hunt - I'm an outdoorsy guy. I like to snowboard, fish - anytime outside is something that I like to do quite a bit.

AM: Are you catching any of the Olympics that's going on right now?

BB: So, figure skating has always been my favorite to watch. Back when Scott Hamilton was doing back flips - that's what got me. I mean this guys just did a backflip on iceskates - NO WAY!!! I would be in my living room like, "gymnastics on ice!" It was great and I was hooked ever since. It would just be something that I would do with my mom. 

We'd channel surf and see ice skating and watch it together. One of the restaurants we'd go to would have figure skating on and we'd catch it there. This year, I haven't watched it as intently as I'd usually do.

AM: How do you give back in terms of charities and philanthropies that you are apart of?

BB: So I have a pretty interesting story. I feel like sharing that with people and being able to let them know that it doesn't matter how down you feel or out you feel - you have to keep pushing and keep your eye on the prize. Never falter as it's easier to give up than to push forward. But the reward for pushing forward will always be greater then any risk! That's big time!

AM: Knowing your backstory and how you came through this process to be where you are and to be so humble and zen, you never know the turns that will come along but if you manifest your reality - thats what's going to happen!

BB: Predicted destiny - manifest destiny!

Read more from the Feb Issue and see Fly Bryan Fly in mag.

NYFW FW18 | GRUNGY GENTLEMAN

Earlier tonight, we attended one of our favorite menswear lines, Grungy Gentleman FW18, founded by Jace Lipstein who is also the designer. During his show, he showcased  GG x Darrelle Revis (Kansas City Chiefs), GG x National Basketball Players Association collection and GG x Subway Tile Shirts. Looks were paired with Grungy Gentleman x Timberland footwear and a Grungy Gentleman x Chalk Line bomber jacket, along with footwear provided by Adidas. 

Prior to and after the show, DJ Juanyto of Hot 97 played a set while we enjoyed Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice and Hennessey. Hair and makeup was done by New York Institute of Beauty. NFL Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Darelle Revis opened the show along with Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor, NY Giants running back Wayne Gallman, and Dallas Cowboys cornerback Nolan Carrol, who modeled/walked in what was Grungy Gentleman’s 8th menswear runway show. 

SUPER BOWL STYLE 2018

Where are you watching the game and what are you rocking? Show your pride in your hometown and adopted city with some of these cute finds that you can purchase at the NFL Shop as we begin to count the hours until Super Bowl Sunday to watch the Philadelphia Eagles vs the New England Patriots in Minneapolis. Follow us on Twitter as we share our thoughts and cheer on one of our favorite teams - the Eagles (we love anytime we're in Philly). We'll loop you in on the commercials, the scores and everything in between on one sport's biggest nights!

Check out the Jan Issue

SUMMER BODIES ARE MADE IN THE WINTER

Last month we introduced our readers to Dr. Greuner, a cardiovascular surgeon who has a passion for fitness. The response was so great, we thought that he should have a column to share various elements of fitness to get to where we want to be. This month we're focused on
kickstarting our workouts and are taking our lead from Dr. G!

ATHLEISURE MAG: With the notion of summer bodies being made in the winter, what should a work out week look like for men vs women to get great arms, legs, abs and butts?

DR.GREUNER: I’ve always stressed that there are two separate components to the look most of us want to achieve, and they should be targeted in two different ways. For toning and shaping, strength exercises are crucial. To put that hard earned, toned, and shapely muscle front and center for the summer's revealing ensembles, diet is absolutely crucial to lose any fat that might overshadow what lies beneath. To lose the weight, simple arithmetic is all it takes. You must eat less calories than you burn. A simple BMR calculator, or devices such as a FitBit are crucial to estimating what you burn daily, and I use these routinely. The mistake we see sabotaging diets most often, however, is an underestimation of the caloric count of foods. Things like sauces, dressings, and alcohol can foil an otherwise valiant effort at weight loss, and that is why I recommend on diet days, that you prep your own meals, so you have a firm grip on it.

When it comes to shaping, compound movements are not just the most efficacious in building muscle, but also in terms of improving function. For arms, dumbbell or barbell bicep curls are one of my favorites. Simple to perform, and work very well. I typically do 6 sets of 10, or to failure with strict form. For triceps, my faithful move is the French press, 6 sets of 10. It’s an easy exercise to do well, and form fails minimally with fatiguing muscles.

For legs, NOTHING beats the old-fashioned squat. 4 sets of 10. I typically follow that with 4 sets of weighted lunges 10 reps, each side. Trust me, simple but effective. This works well for your butt, as It is a direct extension functionally of your legs.

For abs, I work this muscle group 2-3 times a week, as opposed to most others once weekly. This is because your abs have a higher percentage of fast twitch, or endurance fibers, and recover quickly, but typically don’t require as much training as the other muscle groups at each
session. They are constantly under tension stabilizing your body. For advanced athletes, I recommend 6 sets of hanging leg raises, 10 reps, but this is a very difficult move to do correctly. For those of you that are newer to this, I typically recommend 4 sets of incline leg raises, followed by 4 sets of crunches, each for 10 reps. Simple and strict is the key to isolating these muscle groups.

Remember, If it isn’t uncomfortable, you aren’t stimulating the muscle to change. Get out of your comfort zone, you will thank me for it later.

AM: For those that may have slipped into not working out during the holiday season, how can they get back into putting this into their routine?

DR G: The easiest solution is to grab a partner. That is a quick way to ensure that you have an obligation to meet your schedule, or hear about it later. Other incentives include signing up for
work incentives, or competing with fellow employees if your job has a plan. In my company, we use Fitness Amigo, and award rewards to those that “win” their fitness goals.

Lastly, make a mental, or physical picture of what you want to obtain, and make sure you see it constantly to drive you. Other options include, entering a competition that mandates you get in
shape, or a self-awarded reward once you hit your goal.

My workouts change from mostly outdoor in the summer to mostly indoor in the winter. I take part in activities such as martial arts and group classes. I'll present some of my favorites in a future article, but some classes that provide a competitive environment, such as Flywheel that allows you to compete with you classmates, is always an impetus for me to push harder.

AM: For those who like working out outdoors who don't enjoy doing it in the cold, what would you suggest for workouts?

DR. G: Winter is the time I pick to explore new classes, and activities, and even pick up a new sport. I'll go into detail about these in a later story, including my pros and cons about each, but briefly some of my choices this year included:

1. Boxing and martial arts, including classes such as Rumble, Work Train Fight, Dogpound, and others, as well as true sparring one on one with some of the most talented coaches in NYC. Be
careful, it’s addictive!

2. I’m an avid cyclist in the summer months, so spinning classes are a mandatory part of my arsenal. In general, I prefer Flywheel given the objective power data they provide and the ability to compete with classmates.

3. Circuit training with weights, which is a constant part of my regimen.

4. Boot Camps such as Barry’s Bootcamp, one of my favorites.

5. Flexibility work such as Pilates, yoga, and capoeira.

6. Climbing walls are a great way to simulate the outdoors.

7. Other typically outdoor sports such as parkour are now omnipresent in NYC.

AM: How beneficial is a couple or buddy workout and how do you stay on track with this as it can also have distracting effects?

DR. G: Its crucial for me that my partner is as fitness inclined as I am, or its unlikely to work. Sports occupy so many categories of benefit in my life, from psychological, to meditative, to performance, that it’s absolutely mandatory for my overall well-being, and having a partner that is so inclined can be one of your best motivators to staying healthy. Everything is easier when your best friend is there beside you! At the same time, distraction can be an issue if one of you is self-conscious or less motivated. You can see this two ways…a chance to coach each other to be better, or as a roadblock. Decide early, and act accordingly.

AM: How long do you feel it should take to start seeing results and how do you think you should go about tracking these areas for proper motivation?

DR G: Although it may sound terrible, often the heavier you are, the longer it takes to see visible results as the layer of fat on top of muscle is thicker. Talk about an incentive to stay lean! Although you won’t see the results immediately, you will lose weight and increase function quickly, typically within a month if you put a significant effort in. The leaner you are able to stay, the less time it takes to see distinct results as the layer of fat covering your muscle is much thinner and disappears with less effort. The take home message? Keep lean, allow some discrepancies here and there, but make your hard work last with lifestyle changes that make the task less and less daunting with each coming year. It’s absolutely possible to enjoy your life, and still look great. Moderation is the key. I look forward to giving more guidance about doing just that in future articles!

We're excited for upcoming articles that Dr. Greuner will share with our readers at Athleisure Mag, and are looking forward to his future contributions! Make sure to follow him on IG @Doctor.DavidGreuner to see what he's up to and where he's working out.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Dr. Greuner

Read more from the Jan Issue and see Summer Bodies Are Made in the Winter in mag.

FOOTWEAR.FASHION.LIFESTYLE | SOUL DXB

There are a number of events that are taking place in the first few days of December as we begin to close out your year. From music festivals Art Basel Miami and more. Sole DXB takes place in Dubai Dec 7th - 9th and focuses on Fashion, Footwear and Lifestyle by merging a number of brands and musicians together for a fun experience. Sole DXB is helmed by Hussain Moloobhoy (began his career at Saatchi London and moves to the Middle East and joined Saatchi and Saatchi Dubai where her served as its Creative Director - he took a sabbatical to explore global designs and fashion industries which led him to create a creative agency), Joshua Cox (serves as Co-Founder of Sole DXB to create a platform to help revive culture and inspire the urban fashion industry of the region), Kris Balarite (with a focus on creative design and advertising as well as freelancing with sports brand consulting, he serves as a Co-Founder of Sole DXB and is the brand creative director for the first ever basketball concept store in the Middle East known as Conquer) and Rajat Malhotra (in addition to being a partner in the Sole DXB, Rajat established a media and telecom business where he served as a CEO as well as partnering with Sunny Rahbar as a Co-Founder of the Third Line Gallery which has allowed curated exhibitions in NYC's gallery Stellar Rays).

With their creative backgrounds, we wanted to know more about what Sole DXB is as it has taken place for a number of years and is constantly focused on specific cultures that are being presented. With its mixture of art, sports, music and footwear, we took some time to find out more about this event.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Summarize in your own words what Sole DXB is?

SOLE DXB: VERY. DOPE. A celebration of hip-hop culture that has been so integral to our lives. We're simply creating an event that we, as people, wold want to go to. Just so seems there's a lot of others like us too...

AM: What is the decision behind celebrating various cultures at various points of your event from Amercan Hip Hop one year, British Hip Hop and this year, Japanese contemporary design?

SD: Culture is global, its nuance local, our individual upbringings widespread. As partners, we all grew up across different cities all around the world, but moved to Dubai eventually. During that process, Dubai had so much to offer, but there were parts of our past lives that we missed and we didn't feel that we should have to get on a place everytime we wanted to experience it. Last year, we looked at how the scene goes down in London. For many it was the year of grime, so we brought out champions of UK sounds like Skept, Stormzy, Little Simz, and Chipmunk. The year before it was very much a look at how the orginators of hip-hop, the US, did things. So we brought in legends like Mobb Deep and DMC (of Run DMC). We consider ever event an education through experience for our consumers. This year. we've looked East, especially at the real design finesse from Japan. So we're bringing out (Fragment founder and) icon Hiroshi Fujiwara to give a talk. Then we have brands like Visvim, Wacko Maria, Neihgborhood and Undercover showcasing their wares. Beyond that, there's some real godfathers of the industry coming down - we have Mass Appeal offering an exclusive international screening of (yet to be shown) Word is Bond. And that's before we even talk music (read: Kano, Pusha T, Goldlink, IAMDDB and more ...).

AM: What are the pillars of DXB offerings that attendees come to expect regradless of the theme running within the year?

SD: The best in beats, kicks, design, food and vibes, all under a big blue sky in the sun. As Bobbito Garcia, our longterm guest and friend said, "there really is nothing else like it in the world." We pride ourselves on a humble and open atmosphere. The days are smooth, the parties are bumping.

AM: What is the Dubai Design District (d3) and why has this partnership been integral to your event?

SD: Dubai Design District is our home, and moreover, the city's destination singularly dedicated to to design. It's the chosen home for the region's growing collective of creatives, artists and designers - and an institution we are very proud to work with. We have been partnered with Dubai Design District for three years now, and recently signed a further three-year contract to mark our mutual respect, and furthermore, agreement to nurture the Middle East's creative culture together. If the last 3 years have been about building our brand and establishing a global presence, the next 3 years will be about nurturing and fostering regional talent We will serve as a platform to showcase our stories to the rest of the world and to connect our international visitors to the community here d3 are central to all of this.

AM: You have a number of amazing entertainers and brands that are participating this year, who are you excited about?

SD: NxWorries (presented by PUMA), King Push, Kano, Teyana Taylor (presented by Reebok), Goldlink, IAMDDB... We have such a variety of great performers it's difficult to pinpoint just one. But there's also the talks, the brand showcases, the art. Hiroshi Fujiwara (Fragment), Jeff Staple (Staple Design), Melody Ehsani, and Peter Bittenbender (Mass Appeal Records) are all speaking amongst others. Then we have the Nike basketball tournament in conjunction with Ball Above All. And Cadillac is hosting the regional debut of Cadillac X Warhol: Letters to Warhol. FRAME is a concept store bringing down some of Japan's leading brands. Then there's' a wealth of really exciting local brands, like amongst few and ANTHLGY doing their thing. And really, that's just the start of it There is a lot to see and do.

AM: Are you already planning next year's event and will there be future cities that you will bring this to?

SD: We are always cooking up plans. 2018 will be a madness - trust us on that!

AM: Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about DXB and how those of us who may not be attending can still be a part of this event?

SD: Follow us on Instagram @SoleDXB - you might not be there but it will definitely make you want to visit.

Read more from the Nov Issue and see Footwear.Fashion.Lifestyle Soul DXB in mag.

SOMETHING YOUR SHOULD KNOW | RUGGED MANIAC

Whether you run obstacle competition courses or enjoy watching them on TV, I think we can agree that we're obsessed with this method of fitness that our friends and co-workers tell us about. We found out more about Rugged Maniac, the health benefits and how they compare and differ from other courses that are offered in this space.  

ATHLEISURE MAG: What is Rugged Maniac, how long has it been around and how many races take place a year?

ROB DICKENS: Rugged Maniac was founded in 2010 with its first event in October of that year in MA.  We now produce 30 events across the US and Canada each year.  

AM: What brought you to Rugged Maniac and what is your role there?

RD: Rugged Maniac was founded by my business partner, Brad Scudder (CEO), and I (COO, CMO). We met in law school and we both worked as attorneys for a few years before embarking on this adventure. Brad was doing insurance defense litigation at a small firm in MA, while I was at a large international firm on Wall Street doing finance. We both grew up in rural areas and had spent much of our childhoods playing outside and participating in outdoors sports (skiing for Brad and surfing for me - I'm from coastal NC), so sitting at a desk all day didn't quite feel right. We both wanted to do something more adventurous.
 

I got an email from Brad one day stating that he was leaving the practice of law to organize an obstacle course race in his hometown in rural MA.  I was intrigued and after some discussion I also left law to found Rugged Maniac.  I'm the Chief Operating Officer and the Chief Marketing Officer, which means I manage a large part of the company's operations while also overseeing all advertising, design, and PR.
 
AM: What are the similarities/differences of Rugged Maniac versus other obstacle competition companies?
 
RD: Rugged Maniac is now the third largest OCR in the country behind Tough Mudder and Spartan Race.  Our goal is to get everyone off their couches and outdoors having FUN with friends while being active. Our courses are undoubtedly challenging, but we're not going to shock you with electricity, make you jump in ice water, or punish you for not being able to complete an obstacle.  It's not about being bigger, badder, and faster than those around you. It's about pushing your own limits while helping your friends (and strangers!) over the obstacles.  This philosophy has made us the go-to event for people of all fitness levels, not just hardcore athletes.  We also have more women participants than any other OCR.  In fact, women make up 55% of our participants!
 
Speaking of obstacles, we pack more into our 3-mile course (25) than Spartan Race's 5k (20) and Tough Mudder's normal 12-mile course (20).  We also put a lot of emphasis on the entertainment in our festival.  We have a DJ on the main stage, a comedic emcee entertaining the crowd all day, a mechanical bull, pie-eating contests, dance parties, and plenty of craft beer. You simply don't see as big of a party at any other OCR.
 

As for Warrior Dash, they also focus more on the fun aspect of obstacle course racing, but they provide only 10-12 minor obstacles in a 3-mile course, which just doesn't measure up to what other OCRs offer.  
 
AM: What are the health benefits to training for Rugged Maniac and how long is training for a race of this nature?
 
RD: Rugged Maniac is a 5k (3-mile) off-road run with 25 obstacles, each of which poses a different physical challenge. This means that your training has to include not only running, but climbing, crawling, jumping, and balancing - more of a total body workout than when preparing for a normal 5k or marathon.  How long you have to train depends on (1)  your race goal and (2) your current fitness level.  

If your goal is to win the race (only about 5% of runners have this as a goal), you'll need to be able to run a normal 5k in about 16 minutes AND have the upper body strength necessary to complete The Ringer, Pull Your Weight, and The Warped Wall (see www.rugedmaniac.com/obstacles).  However, the vast majority of our maniacs aren't "in it to win it."  They come with a group of friends in order to have a ton of fun while challenging themselves physically.  It's not about beating everyone else; it's about camaraderie and fun.

So if you fall into this category, you'll likely just want to be able to complete all the obstacles.  For most people, this means working on your upper body strength and balance (The Gauntlet, Frog Hop, and Tipping Point). Again, how long it will take to reach that point will depend on your current abilities.
 

AM: How can training for this race be adopted throughout a person's life?

RD: There are no shortcuts to getting in shape, unfortunately.  It doesn't matter what you're training for, you simply have to make exercising part of your daily (or weekly) routine - no excuses. If you want to be in great shape, you need to work out at least three times a week, with the bulk of that time being spent on cardiovascular activities with some strength training mixed in. You don't need a gym membership; you can get in perfect shape by running and doing cody-weight exercises, like push-ups, pull-ups, sit-ups, etc.   
 
AM: Are Rugged Maniac courses the same and what's it like creating them?
 
RD: The obstacles at each Rugged Maniac event are largely the same nationwide (as are the obstacles for every other OCR brand). Think of an OCR event as a traveling circus, of sorts.  Everything is packed up and shipped to the next location following each event.  Variety comes from the differences in the venues; some are completely flat, some are on mountain slopes, some are in the desert, some are next to a lake. So the runner experience from event to event can vary quite a bit.  Of course, we add a few new obstacles to our courses each year to keep things interesting (while retiring some older designs).

AM: What other events are produced?
 
RD: Rugged Races, the parent company of Rugged Maniac, also owns and produces The Tour of the Battenkill cycling event in upstate New York; the Costume Dash 5k (Halloween costume run) in Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco; and 16 other 5ks/marathons/half marathons throughout New England under the Loco Races name.  

AM: What should we keep an eye out for within Rugged Races 2018?

RD: We plan to continue acquiring a variety of sports properties throughout 2018 as we grow into one of the country's largest event producers. We have some exciting opportunities in front of us so stay tuned for more announcements!

Read more from the Oct Issue and see Something You Should Know | Rugged Maniac in mag.