Athleisure Mag AUG ISSUE #68

ISSUE #68

PHOTO CREDIT | UNSPLASH/CHRISTIAN HOLZINGER

@AthleisureMag

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PUBLISHER

Paul Farkas

EDITORIAL

Kimmie Smith

Co-Founder, Creative + Style Director

Paul Farkas

Co-Founder, Artistic Director + Tech Director

FASHION CONTRIBUTIONS

PHOTOGRAPHER | Paul Farkas, Andrew James Peters | STYLIST |

Kimmie Smith |

BEAUTY CONTRIBUTIONS

MUA | Jessica Bonilla, Felicia Graham | HAIR | Lea Deloy, Zullay

Sevilla |

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@ATHLEISUREMAG

CONNECT + VISIT

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Website: www.athleisuremag.com

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EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Paul Farkas | Kimmie Smith

HOST

Kimmie Smith

MIXING

Athleisure Studio Team

ATHLEISURE STUDIO

PODCAST NETWORK SHOWS

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table of contents

issue #68

aug 2021

57

STYLE FEATURES

THE PICK ME UP

80

109

104

IN OUR BAG

ROCK THIS TO TRANSITION

INTO YOUR FALL STYLE

BEAUTY FEATURES

ALOE BEAUTY

Let it Flow

Cory Juneau

We talk with this month’s cover professional skateboarder and Team USA Skateboarding

Bronze medalist, Cory Juneau. We talk about how he approaches the

sport,the importance of being chill and his partnership with Golden Goose.

16

113

ATHLEISURE BEAUTY

9DRIP STORI3S

Trinity Fatu

TM

We catch up with WWE and E! Total Divas’ Trinity Fatu , as she shares her 9DRIP from

things that she purchased when she made it, her go-to look and how she gifted her

family.

31

74

LIFESTYLE FEATURES

ATHLEISURE LIST

BROOKLYN KOLACHE

Pace Yourself

38

Team USA Olympic medalist, NY and

Boston Marathon winner Meb Keflezighi

shares his passion for running.

Art of the Snack

64

This month we head to Manhattans’

J-Spec to enjoy an array of Wagyu dishes.

76

ATHLEISURE LIST

SPA RELAIS

AthleisureMag.com - 10 - Issue #68 | Aug 2021

TM

9PLAYLIST

Adam Levine

This month’s 9PLAYLIST comes from superstar Adam Levine, musician, singer, songwriter,

record producer, actor and lead vocalist of the pop rock band Maroon 5.

82

9LIST ROUTIN3S

Don Brooks

TM

87

Don Brooks shares his 9LIST ROUTIN3S

of what he does Morning, Afternoon and

Night with us.

Stay Connected

Tyler Rich

116

We catch up with country singer/songwriter

Tyler Rich about his music, hitting

the road on his tours and how he stays

connected with his fans.

Get Hyped

Will Sparks

130

EDM DJ/Producer Will Sparks talks about

how he began working with music, his EP

and the Melbourne Bounce.

9LIST STORI3S

Zion Wright

TM

159

Professional skateboarder and Team

USA’s Skateboarder, Zion Wright shares

his 9LIST STORI3S with us on his must

haves in grooming, fitness and style.

Issue #68 | Aug 2021

- 11 - AthleisureMag.com

LET IT FLOW

CORY JUNEAU


We love the fact that in many ways, the

Olympics highlight athletes on a global

stage so that you can know more about

them and can continue to watch them

throughout the year as they do a range of

exhilarating and heroic competitions. The

Summer Games in Tokyo introduced the

debut of skateboarding with Team USA's

Olympic Skateboarding Men's Park Team

was comprised of Heimana Reynolds (our

June cover), Zion Wright (this month's

9LIST STORI3S) and this month's cover,

Cory Juneau who won the Bronze medal.

These 3 represented the entire Park USA

Skateboarding team!

We caught up with Cory to talk about his

approach to the sport and how in addition

to it being his job, it's a passion and something

he truly enjoys! He talks about how

the sport authentically creates a culture of

positivity where they hype each other up.

We also talk about his upcoming schedule

which includes the Copenhagen Pro as well

as the Venice International Film Festival

with Golden Goose who he is sponsored by.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When was the moment

that you fell in love with skateboarding?

CORY JUNEAU: Probably the first time

that I got on my board. I saw my brother

get a skateboard and he started skating

and I kind of just got one right after and

so that was it!

AM: When did you realize that you wanted

to go pro and do it as a living?

CJ: That’s never really been a huge thought

of mine! It’s just been about going out and

having fun and skating with my friends,

which has always been my motivator and

I always just want to do whatever I can to

be able to continue to skate for the rest of

my life. I push myself to be able to do better

and it’s not about being any type of

typical thing that people would assume.

AM: How do you approach skating? Do you

have a process when it comes to tricks that

you want to incorporate into the runs that

you want to do?

CJ: My process is kind of me getting

there and just figuring it out when I’m

skating and I want to be comfortable.

I have been skating for awhile now and

skating is 90% mental. If you’re confident

and you know what you want to

do, it will work out you know? I just like

to take it slow.

AM: We love that you have a very chill

and relaxed style!

CJ: Haha thank you, thank you!

AM: So what’s a day like with you when

you’re practicing?

CJ: A typical day for me is pretty chill

honestly! I kind of just wake up and see

what the homies are doing and then

make a plan to go skate somewhere

– if it’s in the street or in the park or

some spot. We’ll just figure it out at

the time. We just kind of get a group

together of all the homies and we just

go, skate and vibe off of each other.

AM: When it comes to working out,

what do you do that allows you to optimize

you in your sport or do you simply

skate?

CJ: I usually just skate, but I just started

doing yoga and PT because I was

battling an injury in Jan. So, I kind of

got into a routine. So I have been doing

yoga twice a week and PT twice a

week for my ankle. My body is healthy,

strong and flexible. I think its great to

do this to just keep it that way and to

prevent injuries.

AM: What’s a typical skateboarding

season like for you? I know that pre-

COVID it was probably different and

now things may still be a bit different,

but what’s a season like in terms of

competitions and how many months

out of the year are you doing this?

CJ: Honestly, the skate competition

season is pretty hectic. There's a lot

of travel and I'm probably gone 6-8

months out of the year normally. Like you

said, it’s been pretty chill the last year and

a half because of COVID, but before that,

it was pretty hectic and I was always traveling,

always doing stuff and trying to get

there and to stay on top of it.

AM: Because you travel so much around

the world, do you have a favorite series

that you like to compete in?

CJ: My favorite series are the ones that

are not so oriented around the contests,

but it’s about having a good time. A lot of

the skate events are set up on the beach

and have that Venice type vibe. I’m a big

fan of Australia, it’s one of my favorite

places and it reminds me of home. I used

to enjoy going out there a lot, but there

hasn’t been a series out there for a few

years! But I’m missing it and I’m itching to

go back.

AM: When it’s game time for you, do you

have a routine or series of things that you

do before you go into a competition – are

you doing extra yoga?

CJ: It’s pretty mellow honestly. I just like

to get a visual of what I want to do and

get my line down and then I like to get it

all down in one run. I just want to make

it happen, you know? Like I said before,

skating is 90% mental. It’s just knowing

that you can do it. I just like to stay relaxed

because what’s going to happen is going

to happen.

AM: It’s a great mindset to have!

CJ: Yeah! I think it works really well for me

and it keeps me relaxed.

AM: Before we get into talking about you

competing in the Olympics, just the idea

that you were part of the inaugural group

of people that had your sport on such a

global stage – how big was it for you to be

in that group and to also have your sport

represented like that?

CJ: It was huge! It’s such a surreal feeling

to having everybody around you being so

supportive and having your back. For me, I

didn’t realize how crazy it was going to be

and how much backing there is. I mean,

obviously, I have watched a few Olympic

events, but it’s something you can’t take

in until you’re there and you see it for yourself.

To go out there to support my city,

Southern California, California as a whole

and the US is huge and super humbling.

To go out there and do well, it was great!

AM: We were excited to watch skateboarding

and to see the preliminaries as well as

the finals! How did you feel winning the

Bronze medal?

CJ: It was so surreal and honestly, it’s been

2 weeks and I’m still taking it in! Because,

it’s been such a long build up, like such a

long journey and road to just get there. I

changed my diet, I started doing yoga, PT,

I was battling an injury for 4 or 5 months

and I’m just grateful that I was able to

make it there and do well. Coming from

the US, we have the largest skate scene in

the world and the fact that I was able to

make it there, I was blown away. I wasn’t

so stressed about the results, I was just

glad that I was there.

AM: Is there a difference between competing

at the Olympics versus your other tournaments

in terms of game play?

CJ: I don’t think that the judging is any different.

What everyone is doing out there

is so authentic and so original and themselves

– you can only be judged against

yourself.

AM: One of the things that struck us when

we were watching especially in seeing the

prelims and then the finals, as a community,

to watch all of you hyping each other

up – it was like a party that you wanted to

be invited to. What is it about the skateboarding

culture that creates this kind of

camaraderie? What are you guys doing

that fosters that feeling?

CJ: Yeah, the camaraderie between us

is truly one of a kind! I think it’s just that

we're all so passionate and we all love




skateboarding so much and it’s so authentically

ourselves. It’s not like anyone else

out there is doing the exact same thing.

So you get hyped up when someone does

their run and does good. So we feed off

that and we take that energy and we put

it into our skating. It’s not like someone

does a good run and it scares you! When

you do it and love it, it’s a good session!

You vibe off of that good energy in the air.

AM: Looking at the Summer Games in Paris

2024, do you anticipate adding that to

your plans?

CJ: It’s something that I would like to do.

It’s a few years away, but everything will

come down again soon and when it starts

up, I will definitely try to make the cut! I’d

love to go back. The experience that I had

was so surreal like I said and I’d love to go

and do it again.

AM: What’s the next tournament that

you’re going to be in?

CJ: Yeah, I’m actually leaving the 31st of

this month to go to Copenhagen for the

Copenhagen Pro. It’s not a serious competition

but it’s where we can get together

with tons of skaters who meet up and

there’s spots all over the city where you

can go from place to place to skate. It’s

a lot of fun! I’ll be out there for a week

and then I’m flying from there to Italy and

I’m meeting up with a lot of the Golden

Goose team as we have a little event out

there that I’m excited for. It’s great to be

able to start some traveling and to have

some fun and to relax a little bit.

AM: How would you define your personal

style? We heard that you like to collect

gold chains – what do you look for when

it comes to adding them into your assortment?

CJ: I wouldn’t say that it’s a collection, I

would say that I have a style of chain that I

wear and I lost a bunch ha! So when I lose

them, I go find another one! My dad gave

me his when I was a kid and then I lost it

so I have always been attached to that

style I guess. They don’t really make that

style of chain anymore because it’s pretty

fragile – when you bend it, it will break.

AM: How did the partnership between you

and Golden Goose come together? Youy

wore a custom style at the Olympics while

you competed. What is it that you love

about the brand and why did you partner

with one another?

CJ: I’ve actually been a fan of Golden Goose

for years. I love their sneaker brand and

I used to ride for a couple of other shoe

companies, but it was never the style that

fit me the best. I just love the distressed

and authentic look to them. There’s nothing

like them and they’re good forever.

They don’t get dirty in a way. My partnership

came together all in good time!

I spoke to my manager and asked him to

reach out and we were in talks back and

forth for about a year and a half and it’s

been coming together for awhile.

It came down to timing. Skateboarding

has a huge influence on the fashion community

and now we’re getting a lot of

recognition because of the Olympics and

I think that these companies are putting

more thought into it and seeing that they

need to support this.

AM: It was interesting to hear that you designed

the shoes that you got to compete in

for the Olympics. There’s something about

taking a brand that is known for their aesthetic

and adding in elements that you like

personally or that optimizes you for your

sport. What was it like for you to do that?

CJ: Working with them has been super

fun and everyone there is super family

oriented. They are focused on making

the best shoes that they can. They really

care about it just like I do. It was great. I

kind of pitched them ideas and they were

cool with everything I had to say. I didn’t

really design a new shoe, I recreated the

Ball Star that they already had, for skateboarding.

We went through different materials and

compounds for the rubber and suede on

the side. We looked at the stitching so it

wouldn’t rip and would be more durable

for skateboarding. It was great and everyone

there was so great to be with.

AM: Do you envision being able to do more

with them whether it’s a collab line or

something along those lines?

CJ: I hope so! I want to work on a collection

with them! I always want to expand

what I am doing to grow and this is the

perfect place for me to do that. They obviously

want to do that too which is really

great. We’ll see what happens.

AM: Tell us about From Venice to Venice.

You’ll be debuting this at the Venice Film

Festival which sounds awesome and you

will be performing. So what is the film and

how excited are you to be part of this?

CJ: It’s huge and I’m super excited. From

Venice to Venice is like a 3 part series that

we’ve done where a lot of Golden Goose’s

style is taken from Venice’s, Southern California

style, vibes and community. They

get a lot of inspiration from there. I’m

from San Diego, but Venice has a huge

impact on all of us. This is like a 3 video

series that has an in the life kind of vibe

from Venice, California, then on the road

to the Olympics and then the final one in

Venice, Italy. So it should be fun. I’m excited

for everything that they have going on

out there. It will be a video on it, but stay

tuned!

AM: When you’re not skateboarding, are

there additional sports that we would

find you doing?

CJ: Yeah – I enjoy everything with my

friends! We go out and play basketball,

soccer, we go to the beach, we play some

pool – you name it! We’re all just a hands

on friend group. Whenever we’re doing

something, we’re just having fun with it.

AM: How do you take time for yourself?

CJ: Skateboarding is my job, but it’s also

what I love! I never think that I’m waking

up going to work, I’m waking up doing

what I want. We all need some me time.

It’s all free time for me! Me talking with

you right now was all that was on my list

to do today.

AM: What do you want your legacy to be

in terms of your impact on the sport?

CJ: That’s a great question and I’ve never

thought about that. I’ve just gone out and

had fun. I want people to know that when

you’re going out, you need to make sure

that you’re having fun. You need to take

it one step at a time! The community of

skateboarding is so small and there is so

much love in it. You go to the park and you

just start talking to people because everyone

wants to mingle and talk to one another

and support one another. It allows

you to go to the park and to just try something.

They’re rooting you on. It’s tough

because it can be hard on your body and

on your mind when you’re trying over and

over again. But you just have to get back

up, be patient and try again. But make

sure you are enjoying it and everything

will come.

AM: We always like to ask our trailblazers,

people who are killing it who others

look up to – who are 3 people whether you

know them or don’t that have inspired you

to be where you are today?

CJ: I grew up watching all of the Rocky

movies and I know they’re not real – but

I’m a fan of Rocky! Mike Tyson, Kobe Bryant

- I have had a lot of influences from

people that push hard and are determined.

That’s what motivates me – people

who push hard enough to get what

they want.

@CoryJuneau

PHOTOGRAPHY | Andrew James Peters



What New Yorkers Need to Know

About COVID-19 Vaccines

New York City is committed to keeping everyone safe and healthy by ensuring that access to

COVID-19 vaccines is fair and equitable. COVID-19 vaccines will likely be available for most

New Yorkers by mid-2021. Some people, such as health care workers, essential workers who

cannot separate from others, and older adults and other people at increased risk of severe

illness from COVID-19 can currently get vaccinated.

When you get vaccinated, you are helping to protect yourself and your family and friends.

You are also helping to make your community safer. We know New Yorkers care about their

communities, including health care workers and small business owners.

Do the vaccines work?

• Two COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) have been approved for emergency

use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In clinical studies, both vaccines were more

than 94% effective at protecting participants from COVID-19.

Are the vaccines safe?

• Yes. You cannot get COVID-19 from the vaccine.

The vaccine does not contain the virus. It teaches your body’s

immune system how to fight the virus, so it can fight the virus

if you are exposed to it.

• The COVID-19 vaccines have gone through large clinical

studies involving tens of thousands of people of various ages,

races and ethnicities. The evidence from those studies was

closely reviewed by the FDA and independent organizations.

• Researchers have been working on vaccines for coronaviruses

for years, so they did not start from scratch.

Are there side effects?

• It is normal to experience side effects after the first or second

dose of the vaccine. Common side effects include soreness

in the arm where you got the shot, headache, body aches,

tiredness and fever.

• If you have any questions or concerns, call 311 or talk to

your health care provider.

• Side effects can be unpleasant, but getting vaccinated

helps protect you may help protect and other New Yorkers.

PACE YOURSELF

MEB KEFLEZIGHI

When it comes to long distance running,

Meb Keflezighi is a global ambassador for

the sport. His energy and enthusiasm he

has is undeniable if you've had the chance

to see him run, attend an industry running

event or even a media day with him. He

believes in putting in the work and preparing

your mind, body and soul when you're

hitting the course. He is well-known for

winning an Olympic Silver medal for Team

USA Track and Field for Marathon, the Boston

Marathon, the NYC Marathon, a number

of NCAA Championships and National

Championships. We talk with this Olympian

who has attended the Summer Games 4

times and has the MEB Foundation where

he gives back to those who are interested

in the sport. He also talks about how he

has used his platform in a positive way to

inspire others!

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you fall in

love with running and what is it about long

distance running that attracts you to it?

MEB KEFLEZIGHI: I was first introduced

to running when I came to the US in 7th

grade when I was in my PE class with

Coach Dick Lord. He told me that if I ran

hard, I would get an A or a B in the class,

and if I was just messing around, I would

get a D or a F. My parents always wanted

me to get an A in the class no matter what

I was taking – Math, Science, Art History

or Physical Education Class. I didn’t want

to disappoint them so I decided to run

hard. It was the mile run. I ended up doing

a 5:20 mile to my surprise and the coach’s

surprise. He told me that I was going to go

to the Olympics and bear in mind, that I

didn’t speak English. He told me that I was

going to get an A and then I started running.

I asked my dad what the Olympics

meant and I fell in love with it because it

gave me confidence and it gave me friendship

with people as well as camaraderie

with others. Obviously, distance running

is great for me because I get to see beautiful

scenery and I am able to travel to

different areas as opposed to just being

around the track.

AM: For those readers that may not be

means, what are the foot races that you

would find in this category?

MK: Well there’s the mile which is a long

one, there’s a 3K which is about 2 miles

which is what I did in high school. It’s debatable

on the 800m which is a half mile

in terms of whether it is mid-distance or

long distance. Anywhere from the mile to

the 3K to the 5K which is about 3.1 miles,

the 10K which is 6.2 miles, a 15K is 9.3

miles, there is a half marathon which is

13.1 miles and of course 26.2 miles which is

a full marathon and is very far. There are

some other people that also do ultra marathons

(editor’s note: this is any race that

is longer than a marathon and these races

tend to be 30 mile trail races to a 200 mile

relay) which I have never done. I ran from

800m to a marathon in high school, college

and professional.


to run professionally?

MK: It’s funny that you asked because for

me, going to school at UCLA on a full athletic

scholarship, I was there from ‘94 –‘ 99.

It was in ’97 that I had a big breakthrough

you can call it. I was doing cross country,

indoor 5K, and 5K as well as 10K outdoors

and I contemplated whether to go pro or

not, but I understood the value of education

and that my degree would mean a lot

more in the long run and I didn’t want to

get injured and get set back. So that was

the first time that it crossed my mind. But

according to others like my 7th grade PE

teacher, my high school coach, my classmates

and others – their standards were

high. They wrote in my yearbook that

they would see me in the Olympics and

that I was going to make it. But I had no

idea how far running was going to take

me until 1997 when I won 4 NCAA titles in

that year (editor’s note: Meb became the

first individual NCAA men’s cross country

champion in school history winning in a

course record 28 minutes 54 seconds, he

won the NCAA indoor track 5,000 meter

title and he won for outdoor in the 5,000

meter as well as the 10,000 meter championships).

AM: You are the only athlete in history to

win the NY Marathon, the Boston Marathon,

4 X Olympian who won the Silver

medal along with all of your NCAA Championships

and National Championships.

How do you prep for your races physically,

mentally and spiritually?

MK: My parents always told me that the

key to success is preparation. Do your

homework and if you do it, you will do a

fine job and that’s whether it’s for school,

running or even a professional job. My

family was like, tie your shoes, go for a

run and of course you have to be systematic

to see what you need to be able to

excel when you run. For me physically, it

was about 100 – 135 miles a week and I do

that 4 times a week. People will ask me,

do you run every day and I’m like, well you

do the math ha! I run multiple times a day.

In the afternoon, I do my long run for one

intense workout. I don’t try to double up

on that. Sometimes I run 10-12 miles in

the morning, on the hard days, I will run

anywhere from 12-16 miles and then in the

afternoon, I will go for a fast mile and an

early leisure easy one just to have time on

your feet. The other ones are pretty rigorous.

Mentally, I guess you have to believe in

yourself and the progress and strengths

that you make. You can see the progress

weekly, monthly and yearly. This is important

for you to be able to see those.

Spiritually, I feel like I have my God given

talent and I understand what my purpose

is for me. I want to capitalize on my abilities

to the fullest and most maximal potential.

AM: I know in terms of your training, you

have been quoted in saying that you have

a 9 day training cycle as opposed to a training

week. Can you tell me more about this

and what do you do during that period of

time?

MK: We all know that there are 7 days in

a week, the 9 day cycle allows me to have

that recovery days in between. As you are

in high school in college and early professionals,

you can get away with a 7 day cycle.

You can recover faster. As I got older,

I wasn’t recovering and I wanted to make

sure that I wouldn’t be injured. So what I

did was, you have Monday – Sunday and

I cycle on through Monday and Tuesday.

For example, if I do a long run on Sunday,

Tuesday and Wednesday it will be easy for

me, but maybe not for everybody else. I

can run in the morning and train again in

the afternoon. Again on Wednesday, it

would be the same thing, 10 in the morning

and 4 in the afternoon. But then Thursday

will be intervals because race days

are faster. So Friday and Saturday would

be the same thing that I did on Tuesday

and Wednesday. It would be 10 miles or 12

miles in the morning and then the same in

the afternoon. On Sunday, I would do my

tempo run which is race days that can go

anywhere from 6 miles to 16 – 18 miles on

race day. You’ve got to warm up before

hand and cool down. So it will be anywhere

from 20-25 miles on that day. So instead

of going back to a hard day on Monday

for that workout, you need Monday

and Tuesday to recover. So Wednesday

would be that next hard session. By doing

this, you get to know your body really well.

You can start alternating whether you’re

doing long runs, intervals or tempo. I can

switch it up if the speed isn’t there and

put two intervals together – like putting

Sunday and Tuesday intervals together

and Monday becomes the long run.

AM: From a nutrition standpoint, what

do you eat to support your efforts when

you’re looking at the next race?

MK: Nutrition is a very important part of

training. You have to have a balance. The

days that I do a hard workout, I have to

have carb load like rice and pasta or potatoes.

The days that I have an intense workout

like a long run, tempo or intervals. I go

with a lot more protein especially as I have

gotten older as you try to eat protein to

stay as lean as possible. Obviously, right

after the workout, I have a drink with a

product called UCAN, a UCAN shake. It’s

the water and powder and you can have a

banana, stretch out, do the ice baths, get

a massage maybe and then 2 hours later,

have a real meal where there’s eggs

whether it’s an omelet or scrambled –

whatever works for you. Then you have

that afternoon run and then after if it’s a

hard run, you have chicken or maybe fish

or steak if I’m getting ready for a hard

work out as you also want those carbohydrates.

AM: We had the pleasure of being able to

meet you in 2016 right before the Summer

Games in Rio. We were at Chelsea Piers for

the KT Tape Media Day which we were able

to meet you and the other athletes as well

that are ambassadors of the brand. Why is

your partnership with KT Tape so important

and how is it synergistic with what you

do?

MK: It’s been a great partnership with KT

Tape because they understand the demands

of what an athlete – not only professional

athlete but every day runners or

those in sports and what it does to their

body. KT Tape understands that they need

to be there for the aches and pains and to

try to make it as easy as possible for those

that are dedicated to their activity. Obviously,

their motto is “to finish strong,” in

not only races but also in training. I feel

very proud to work with them.

AM: We’ve been a fan of their products

and have a number of them that we have

on hand when we’re on our photoshoots,

hitting the tradeshows, being at NYFW,

musical festivals etc. The fact that they

have a number of recovery options from

gels, the Wave+ items that are focused on

blisters etc. definitely assists our team in

what we do! What are your go to products

that you enjoy using?

MK: I usually when I’m training have the KT

Tape generic for the tendons and muscles

to stabilize them. But I also have the KT

Tape Flex for my knees and the KT Tape IT

Band. Obviously the KT Tape Chafe Safe is

important as runners, we chafe and that’s

important. I have also used the recovery

patch as sometimes we have our calves or

your glutes and lower back so that you can

bring attention to that muscle and it can

help you recover and to get you through

the workout!

AM: I’m sure that just like us, you enjoyed

seeing athletes being able to do what they

do best on such a global stage especially

due to the postponement of the Summer

Games due to COVID, what did participating

in the Olympics mean to you as you

have done it a number of times?

MK: Well the Olympics are special and the

pinnacle of any sport – it’s a big dream

whether you’re a runner or any sport!

When you make it there, you’re fortunate

to be able to be there and it’s a wonderful

opportunity to be able to wear that USA

jersey on your chest and to represent that

red, white and blue. That Jersey – it only

becomes real when you put that on. You

have dreams and ambitions, but when

you’re on that flight to the Olympics or

you’re at the Opening Ceremonies and

participating with that Jersey on, it’s magnificent!

You’re the chosen one and for

Track and Field, there are only 3 people in

the whole US and you have to earn your

spot in order to make it.

Especially for me, I mean, my first experience

was the Summer Games in Sydney to

go to the Olympics prior to 9/11. It wasn’t

my best performance obviously, because

I had to stay in the village and I got the

flu that was going around. But I was so

delighted to be able to represent the US,

go to the Opening Ceremony which was

on Thursday and I did the 10K and it was

done by Mon. But I had a whole 2 weeks

to enjoy other sports as long as you have

your USA badge and credential. I was able

to go on the ferry, the train and the buses

and you just flashed your card and could

do what you wanted to do and it was

great.

I was very fortunate to win an Olympic

medal in Athens at the Summer Games in

2004. I was so proud to be able to bring

home a medal – I was able to deliver that.

Obviously, for the Summer Games in 2012

in London, it was a challenging situation, I

came in 4th but to be in the moment and

to keep pushing hard - that's also important

to not give up and not to drop out!

You have to keep going no matter what!

Thinking back, I was 21st half way and I

ended up finishing 4th. And also to be

able to go to Rio for the Summer Games

in 2016 and to be able to understand what

I did for my daughters by them seeing me

make the team.

AM: Wow that’s definitely quite a history

that you have had at the games! Do you

have a favorite race or course that you like

to run?

MK: Well, I’ve been fortunate enough to

do 5Ks, 10Ks, half marathons and full marathons.

In terms of my favorite marathon

race, it’s the NYC Marathon and obviously

I have raced 9 or 11 times there and the

crowd really got into it! My most meaningful

history is the Boston Marathon that

I won in 2014 (editors note: Meb was the

first American to win this race since 1983

and this race was a year after the Boston

Marathon bombing) and of course equally

challenging! Sometimes some of them

are hillier at the end. Some of them it’s

like on the Verrazano bridge at the beginning

you just know you have to take it

easy and then to strategize when to make

those moves when it counts.

AM: When you’re running, how do you

stay motivated and present just like what

you were talking about to get to the finish

line? We can imagine that there are a lot

of mental things going on beyond just running

through the course.

MK: It’s a mind game. I always talk about

preparation and in training, it’s 90% physical

and 10% mental. But once the gun

goes off, it switches to 90% mental and

10% physical. You’re physically healthy and

ready to go, you have to make good decisions

according to your training and what

you can and can’t do. Don’t make sudden

moves, but you also have to know where

you are at certain points of the course to

keep driving strong and to never give up.

Are you willing to hurt a little bit because

you know it’s going to hurt at one point

or another – but you’re going to hold on

to that person that’s in front of you until

you get to that next mile. You know that

they’re not going to be able to keep it up

the whole way and they’re just trying to

break you – so you can’t get broken down.

AM: When you’re prepping for a race on

race day, do you have certain things that

you have to do before you go to the starting

line?

MK: Weeks before the race are very important.

You have to do the extra stretching,

you have to prep your diet because

this is all very important. You can’t eat the

way that you used to eat. You have to hydrate

and it’s very important. It’s interesting

because you might feel a little shaky

and eager to go because you’ve been doing

130 miles a week and now you’re going

to 40-50 miles and so the energy is

there. You just want to be able to go and

you have to control the emotions. You

just have to know that you have the confidence

and that you will do well.

AM: Thinking back in a previous life, we

ran the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge for

years and it’s a 3K race that takes place in

Central Park. In weeks leading up to this

event, our team would do small runs and

try to prep to take this event on. We were

not runners at all, but we always felt so

good after completing the race. What is

your advice to new runners that are looking

to join a race or to simply get into running

for fun?

MK: I mean first time runners have to

put the dedication and effort into running.

If they can do that on a daily basis

or whenever you run, you’re going to be

ok! You’ve got to pay attention to small

things – a small and steady pace will get

it done. Don’t panic and try to do the best

that you can. Just go at your pace. You

don’t know how many years the other

competitor running next to you has so

just be within yourself and don't try to do

what they’re doing. Make sure you have

the camaraderie and to understand why

you came especially if it’s a 5K or anything

longer. Pace yourself.

AM: You’re appearing at the Philadelphia

Marathon later this year. Why are you

coming back to this race and what are you

excited about to see all of these great runners

there?

MK: It’s great to go back to the Philadelphia

Marathon! I think the city is great

and obviously, one of my favorite movies

is Rocky with the Philly steps and Rocky

which I think is pretty cool ha! They’re not

a big time marathon, but they are doing

a great job with what that week they will

have an 8K, a half marathon and then a

full marathon.

AM: In many ways, you’re seen as an ambassador

or a role model for long distance

running and you’re so encouraging to other

athletes whether it’s those who race or

elsewhere whether they’re professional or

enthusiasts. Why is it so important for you

to be so positive in supporting athletes?

MK: For me, I came here as an immigrant

and I struggled with the language. My dad

would sit with myself and my siblings at

4:30am in the morning and we would learn

English through the dictionary, one word

at a time. I understand that runners work

hard and for me to be an ambassador, I

know how hard it is. For people to wake

up at 5am in the morning to do their run

because they have full time jobs and other

commitments, I do understand what

others are going through as I did when I

was a younger kid. To be part of this sport

and if we encourage each other, we will

support all of us!

AM: You’re also known as a motivational

speaker and a NY Best Selling Author,

when did you realize that you wanted to

add this into your platform as well?

MK: My life has been an interesting one

and God gave me the opportunity to discover

running in the 7th grade as I said before.

But when I was taking English as a

second language in 7th, 8th and 9th grade,

I saw that I could help others by writing a

book and that’s when the seed was planted.

Gail and Steven Van Camp, they were

my mentors and they helped me when I

was in high school and that’s when Run to

Win became a philosophy of mine it’s not

about winning 1st place but it’s about not

giving up on yourself. I felt honored to be

able to share my story and to inspire others

so that they could be encouraged. Not

only for those who are running, but something

that’s broader across their lifestyle.

AM: Can you tell us about the MEB Foundation?

MK: The MEB Foundation helps in education

and fitness and the sport has given

me so much that I want to give back.

It’s an honor to give back whether it’s

me being able to give shoes to schools

or through scholarships for their efforts.

I think sports is great for your self-confidence,

time management, dedication and

commitment to be strong in everything

that you do. I love being able to give back

in that way!

AM: The MEB Foundation is going to be

running at this year’s Boston Marathon

and NY Marathon. How can someone participate

in these races and are they able to

still be involved in this year’s marathon or

will they have to wait for next year?

MK: For the MEB Foundation, you can go

to my website MarathonMeb.com to find

out more details. This year, the Boston

Marathon is full and for the NY Marathon,

we’re still looking for runners. It’s one way

to do fundraising and it’s always great to

have people who represent the MEB Foundation

and are able to fundraise. That has

been the only way to fundraise and we

have done amazing work. So head to our

site and you can get in touch with me or

others who work with me and you can get

in touch with us for next year’s Boston

Marathon, this year’s NY Marathon and

future races.

AM: Are there other projects that you’re

working on that you would like to share

with us?

MK: I’m spending a lot of time with my

daughters as much as I can as they’re into

soccer. I continue to do speaking engagements

on interests of mine. In 2000 when

I came back from Sydney, I coached at a

community college which was great to

give back and I also knew I wanted to focus

on my athletic ability, but I was also

proud to be part of that. Down the road,

I will probably give back as much as I can.

Not only to the elite but regular runners

as well.

AM: When you’re not training and inspiring

others, what are you doing to take

time for yourself?

MK: For me, being dedicated to my athletics

as much as I can, but also spending time

with my family and friends. Sometimes, I

just go biking, riding, kayaking in the water.

But I also like to read biographies in

the park, so I go there. It’s a great way to

get out of the house and have some solitude.

AM: You have had such an impact on so

many people inside and outside of the

sport. What do you want your legacy to

be?

MK: Thank you for asking me that question!

I just hope that people have a positive

experience when they interact with

me. I love that people want to meet me

and have waited in lines and even though

the conversations may only be 20 secs or a

minute, they have waited for half an hour

or an hour and I want them to feel positive

when they meet or see me. I’m fortunate

to be able to connect with them!

AM: We love talking with trailblazers that

have inspired others and we want to know

who are 3 people that have inspired you to

be where you are today?

MK: First and foremost, my parents. They

gave up everything that they had and their

opportunities not only for me, but for

all their kids. They came here, we had to

learn the language and we have been positive

contributors to society. I feel very

blessed that they did that and that they

put their life on hold to give us opportunities

to step up to the plate and be better

ourselves.

In the sport world, I am always inspired

by Jackie Robinson breaking barriers in

baseball. The Van Camps introduced me

to his story and I feel blessed that I read

his book and when I was in high school,

obviously Jessie Owens (editor’s note: In

2014 at the end of the season USA Track &

Field selected Meb’s Boston Marathon victory

as the Inspirational Performance of

the Year. Later at the same ceremony, he

was selected as the winner of the 2014 Jesse

Owens Award, the highest accolade given

out by the US National governing body

for track and field, cross country running,

road running and racewalking) was the

same thing. What he did was amazing!

But also Jim Ryun (editor’s note: Olympic

track and field athlete who at his peak was

noted as the world’s top middle-distance

runner. He won a Silver Medal in the 1500m

at the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City

and was the first high school athlete to

run a mile in under 4 minutes. He is the

last American to hold the world record in

the middle run) the high school phenom

and making the Olympics when he was in

high school as I have read up on him and

watched the documentary. It was awesome.

On an international level Haile Gebrselassie

(editor’s note: Haile is a retired long-distance

track and road running athlete. He

won 2 Olympic gold medals over 10,000

metres and four World Championship titles

in the event. He won the Berlin Marathon

four times consecutively and also

had three straight wins at the Dubai Marathon.

In addition, he won four world titles

indoors and was the 2001 World Half Marathon

Champion. He is known for 2 Olympic

Gold Medals, 8 World Championship

victories and he set 27 world records and

remains the world record holder of the 10-

mile run) from Ethiopia has inspired me a

lot to do great things in terms of being a

competitor. Size doesn’t matter, just keep

working hard. Even in challenging situations

in UCLA, I always thought if Haile

could do it, you just need to put in the

work wherever you are. It’s not where

you go but what you do there in the time

that you have!

@RunMeb

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | KT TAPE

THE ART OF

THE SNACK:

J-SPEC

This month's The Art of the Snack takes us

to J-Spec Wagyu Dining and the Omakase

Counter in NYC. Anytime we have the

chance to have Wagyu, it's definitely a

treat and being able to have an Omakase

meal is another one of those indulgences

that have to be enjoyed. We chatted with

Chef Koichi Ando to find out about this

restaurant, what we should get when we

dine there next and more!

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell me about your culinary

background and how it led you to

J-Spec Omakase.

CHEF KOICHI ANDO: I worked at the Michelin

starred Tempura Matsui, the first

authentic tempura restaurant in New

York City, for 4 years from the restaurant’s

opening. I was trained by Mr. Matsui himself,

who was a tempura master in Japan

before moving to New York to open his

own restaurant. He was the executive

chef at that time and, sadly, has since

passed away. I was the last person trained

by him and learned the art of tempura

from him. Combining my love of tempura

and J-Spec's focus on wagyu, the omakase

counter allows us to showcase both sides.

I’m also excited to be able to offer "wagyu

tempura" since no other places serve it as

traditionally in Japan meat is not used in

tempura dishes, which feature vegetables

and seafood.

AM: What can guests expect when they

come to dine at J-Spec Wagyu Dining?

CHEF KE: At J-Spec Wagyu Dining guests

can enjoy real A5 wagyu prepared with

various cooking methods, from raw in a

tartare or sushi to grilled steaks and many

different options in between. A5 wagyu

is the highest quality rating of Japanese

wagyu beef. It is known for intense marbling,

which results in exquisite flavor, texture

and tenderness. Because our parent

company, Tomoe Food Services, brings

some of the best wagyu available in Japan

to New York (and Miami), we not only have

access to the best of the best wagyu, but

are able to offer it to our guests at a more

affordable price point. At J-Spec Wagyu

Dining, guests can try different types

of wagyu from all over Japan, some

of it very rare and produced in small

amounts like the Ozaki beef from a single

farm owned by Mr. Muneharu Ozaki

in Miyazaki Prefecture or Hida beef

from Gifu Prefecture, which we will be

featuring at the restaurant in September,

when we also launch the Omakase

Counter next door to Wagyu Dining.

AM: What are 3 appetizers that you suggest

that we should enjoy?

CHEF KE: A la carte at J-Spec Wagyu Dining:

Wagyu Tartare, Foie Gras & Uni Macaron

is a decadent dish that combines

fresh raw wagyu with foie gras and sea

urchin for a unique and delicious experience.

Overstuffed Wagyu Sushi is over the top

(as the name suggests) with a slice of

seared wagyu over rice accented with

pickled takana (mustard greens) and

nori that’s topped with ikura (salmon

roe) and sea urchin.

Wagyu, Uni & Caviar Hand Rolls – another

delicious combination that showcases

the wagyu.

AM: What are 3 entrees that you suggest

that we should order?

CHEF KE: A la carte at J-Spec Wagyu Dining:

Wagyu Flight is a tasting of two kinds

of wagyu that usually comes with the

prized A5 Ozaki Beef strip loin and another

A5 wagyu, depending on what’s

best that day. You will discover how very

different the two types of wagyu are

even though they will be the same cuts.

Ozaki Striploin Steak – this is a real treat

as no other restaurant in New York uses

Ozaki beef. Usually, the origin of the

wagyu brand name is the prefecture of

the origin or a local specialty. However,

Ozaki beef is named after Mr. Ozaki.

Ozaki beef is truly exceptional with

well-balanced flavors compared to oth-

er wagyu.

Ozaki Surf & Turf is a J-Spec original dish

composed of sliced Ozaki beef, sea urchin

and shiso leaves. We sear the beef tableside

for the guests, then top it with uni

and wrap in shiso to serve.

AM: For our readers that have not had the

experience of Omakase, what is it?

CHEF KE: Omakase means "up to the

chef," the guests let us create a meal for

them. We use the best seasonal ingredients

available at the moment to prepare

it, paying attention not only to the flavors

but also the presentation and aromas for

a full sensory experience for our guests.

I base my approach on three elements:

"Shun" Present, "Nagori" Past, "Hashiri"

Future. Shun presents that the best ingredients

of the season, Nagori represents

ending season for some of the ingredients

that are about to disappear and Hashiri

presents that first harvest of the coming

new season.

AM: Tell me about Omakase Counter and

what this menu is like.

CHEF KE: The counter is a more intimate

experience, seating only up to seven

guests at a time. The omakase showcases

both best quality wagyu and the art of

tempura. It features 8 courses, although

the tempura part of the menu includes

9 or more pieces served one by one with

all the traditional accompaniments so the

entire experience takes about two hours.

The tempura pieces include lightly battered

seafood from Japan, seasonal vegetables,

mushrooms, and filet mignon of

wagyu wrapped in shiso leaf – nobody

else is serving wagyu tempura. Other

parts of the omakase include seasonal appetizers,

sashimi of fish, wagyu sushi (raw

and torched), fragrant broth with seafood

and mushrooms, grilled A5 wagyu,

shokuji rice of the day, dessert and tea.

The menu is seasonally driven and will be

changing frequently.

AM: What sake pairings do you suggest

when enjoying Omakase?

CHEF KE: We have a sake pairing designed

to complement the food, which features

about eight different sakes from Japan,

ranging in flavors, body, styles and aromas.

We also have a list of sake by the

bottle so guests can choose their favorite

sake or discover new ones.

AM: When you're planning your menu,

what are the items that you like to offer

and how does seasonality play into this?

CHEF KE: I always focus on using fresh,

peak quality ingredients to truly experience

the season. I love going to the

greenmarket to buy vegetables and how

they change with the seasons. I want our

guests to enjoy the different ingredients

the four seasons bring us and create memorable

experiences for them at the J-Spec

Omakase Counter.

AM: You open in Sept as we begin transitioning

into fall and looking towards the

holiday season. What are you looking forward

to with the restaurant?

CHEF KE: Autumn is the time of harvest,

there are so many beautiful seasonal ingredients

going into fall that I’m excited

about and look forward to serving our

guests, like matsutake mushrooms, for

example, coming in October.

AM: Are there plans to open additional locations?

CHEF KE: Yes, there are plans to open

more restaurants in the future. J-Spec

Wagyu Dining was the first restaurant for

our parent company and the Omakase

Counter grew out of that. We will be creating

other dining concepts but wagyu

will always be the core ingredient.

@JSpec.Wagyu.NYC

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | J-Spec

ATHLEISURE LIST: NYC + BROOKLYN, NY

BROOKLYN KOLACHE

Brooklyn Kolache launched in Bed

Stuy and recently opened a second

location in the West Village. Kolaches

are Czech-origin pastries made with

yeast dough and an array of savory

and sweet fillings popular in Texas.

Portable, versatile and delicious, they

are as essential to Texans as bagels

are to New Yorkers. These pillowy pastries

were initially brought to central

Texas by Czech immigrants in the mid-

1800s and originally they were sweet

but savory versions developed over

time. Modern day kolaches can be

sweet with fillings like fruit jams, poppy

seeds, cheese and streusel topping

or savory with sausages, cheese, eggs

and vegetables.

Every day, there are around 8-10 sweet

and 8-10 savory options available. Flavors

change with the seasons but signature

ones are always available, like

Poppyseed; Cherry and Sweet Cheese;

Blueberry and Sweet Cheese, as well

as savory Sausage, Jalapeño & Cheese;

Texas Beef Sausage; Spinach & Feta,

and more. Brooklyn Kolache also offers

a host of non-traditional flavors

inspired by the local community that

are not usually found in Texas, including

Bacon, Egg & Cheese; Mushroom &

Goat Cheese and Chocolate Ganache.

Orange and cinnamon rolls as well.

The most popular kolache are the Sausage,

Jalapeño & Cheese; Cherry and

Sweet Cheese and Strawberry Rhubarb,

which is a seasonal summer flavor.

Their seasonal kolache include

Peach and Strawberry Rhubarb in the

summer, Pumpkin Cream Cheese in

October, Candy Pecan in November

and December, Lemon Curd and Coconut;

there are also savory ones like

Brisket.


Brooklyn Kolaches are a wholesome

product, made with care and the best

ingredients. They support local farms

and ethical producers. In addition, they

do not use artificial sweeteners or preservatives,

GMO plants, hormones or

antibiotics, never bleached or bromated

flour. Only humanely raised meat,

dairy, eggs, produce are used. Everything

is made from scratch, including

jams.

teas like hibiscus, plus drinks like Arnold

Palmer (black tea and organic

lemonade) and Laura Palmer (hibiscus

tea and organic lemonade), and a Texas

favorite - Topo Chico mineral water

are featured.

BROOKLYN KOLACHE

185 Bleecker St

NY, NY 10012

Also offered is Brooklyn-based Kitten

Coffee, and the Chai is housemade for

our Chai Latte, one of signature drinks

along with the vibrant Ube Latte;

Golden Agave Latte (organic turmeric,

organic blue agave and steamed

oat milk); Good Morning Latte (brown

sugar, oat milk with a dusting of cinnamon

and nutmeg), and also Macadamia

Milk Matcha. The orange juice is

fresh squeezed, there are hot and iced


520 Dekalb Ave

Broooklyn, NY 11205

brooklynkolache.com

@BrooklynKolache

PHOTOS COURTESY | Dara Pollak


ATHLEISURE LIST: Westlake Village, CA

SPA RELAIS

Spa Relais is a world-class spa retreat

at the Westlake Village Inn. Local residents

and those that are health and

wellness enthusiasts from far and

wide can enjoy their services and treatments.

Spa Relais is inspired by the

spas of Europe. The property includes

a 25,000-square-foot luxury spa, a fully

equipped gym, a magnificent pool and

two lounge areas, a health-conscious

café, and a 14-suite boutique hotel.

For those who wish to experience

the indulgent life for longer than one

day, an on-site, 14-suite boutique hotel

graces the property with views of the

lake, the Santa Monica Mountains, the

golf course, and a koi pond.

They believe in replenishing the body

and mind. Their treatments benefit

the whole body in different ways by

relaxing and stimulating using healing

techniques. Spa therapies are founded

upon healing properties from the

earth, sea, air, and vine.

For those wanting to turn back mother

nature, Starr MedSpa provides all the

top procedures. Services include all injectables,

such as Botox, Dysport and

Fillers. Anti-aging treatments such as

micro needling, PRP, IV hydration and

hair restoration are but a few of the

rejuvenative services that they offer.

Personalized attention is the hallmark

of the spa, upon arrival guests are

greeted with a welcome mimosa to

enjoy before their service commences

and upon completion of their service

they are offered a shot of their signature

green juice that is power-packed

with nutrients improving focus, and

mental clarity. It also provides energy,

reduces inflammation with added


benefits of a stronger immune system

and healthier skin and nails, refueling

the body and mind. They also have relaxing

lounge chairs poolside as well

as a flower-filled courtyard with a fireplace

where guests can order a meal

before or after their service.

Guests can expect complementary,

refreshments, and use of the outdoor

pool, cold-plunge pool, Jacuzzi, quiet

rooms, saunas, and dressing rooms

replete with high-end amenities. The

men’s and women’s locker rooms have

SnoBliss Showers, a therapeutic snowfall

that will refresh and revitalize.

The spa itself offers separate men's

and women's locker rooms that embody

coastal-chic sophistication pristine

whites, sky blue, and earth tones

are set against flooring of custom-cut

marble tile and wood inlays. An expan-


sive sun-filled lounge is crowned by

an imposing Murano chandelier and

accented by objets d'art personally

selected by their owner John Notter.

Spa arevices are enjoyed in any of 13

custom treatment rooms, all with private

patios and outdoor showers; corner

rooms have copper soaking tubs,

and couples' suites have fireplaces and

soaking tubs.

.

SPA RELAIS

4700 Lakeview Canyon Road

Westlake Village, CA 91361

WestlakeVillageInn.com/spa

@SpaRelaisWestlakeVillageInn

PHOTOS COURTESY | Spa Relais


Go!

crispygreen.com

facebook.com/crispygreen @crispygreensnacks @crispygreen

Inspiration

doesn’t just occur.

It’s created.

Perfection isn’t simply achieved.

It’s worked for.

Reserved for those who get out and go. Fueled

by nature. Motivated by spirit. How do you go?


Stay connected and follow us across our

social channels on @AthleisureMag!








STAYING CONNECTED

TYLER RICH

For many of us, this summer has been one

that we have enjoyed adding events to our

schedule, being out and about with friends

and family! We caught up with country

music's singer/songwriter Tyler Rich who

stayed connected with his fans during

quarantine with his virtual shows and who

is in prep to hit the road with his Two Thousand

Miles headline tour as well as touring

with Chris Lane's Fill Them Boots Tour this

fall!

We talk about how he got into the industry,

how he navigated quarantine as an artist,

we chat about songs that he created we're

fans of, being a sports fan, how he stays fit

and other projects that he is working on.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment

that you fell in love with music?

TYLER RICH: When I was 8 years old, my

cousin took me to see George Strait in

concert in Sacramento. I always loved music

as a kid, but it was seeing it performed

live, that sparked the fire that it was what

I needed to do with my life! Also, it doesn’t

hurt when your first concert was the King

of Country Music himself.

AM: Where do you get inspiration as a

songwriter for your songs and what’s your

process like?

TR: It comes from all around me really. My

wife is my forever muse, and she makes

it easy for me. But, a lot of the time I pick

up ideas from conversations my friend’s

and I are having, digging into their lives

for some content. I joke with my wife that

I wish we fought more -- strictly for the

writing content that would come out of it.

I can only write so many happy love songs

about her ha ha!

AM: How do you define your sound?

TR: My music is energetic, fun, upbeat,

and hopefully uplifting for those that listen.

My version of country embodies the

sounds of California and Tennessee, all at

the same time.

AM: We have talked with a number of artists

who prior to COVID-19 were focused

on making music and juggling their touring

schedules to adjusting to what we all

experienced in 2020. How was the last year

for you and how did you approach your

music?

TR: I spent the year really diving in on

what I wanted the next chapter of my music

to sound like, how to do some recording

from home and figuring out ways to

connect with my fans on a deeper level.

We had all the down time in the world to

spend nights on IG live chatting with fans

and creating lasting relationships. It was

really amazing to have so much more time

than a quick handshake at a meet and

greet.

AM: Many artists and creatives found that

during 2020, they wanted to maintain their

connection with fans virtually. What did

you do during that time?

TR: I created a virtual tour called “The Distance,”

a play on lyrics in my song “The Difference.”

This consisted of Tuesday nights

“Tyler & Friends Sing Behind the Scene,”

where I invited songwriter friends of mine

to come on and tell the stories behind hits

they wrote for other artists and then perform

them online. I would also cover one

of their hits, and play a song the two of us

had written together. Friday nights were

“Feels Like Home” where I just hung out

for an hour playing new songs I’d written

that week and getting fan feedback,

since we didn’t have a stage to do that like

usual. We wrapped up with my wife Sabina

and I hosting “Leave Her Wild Sunday

Brunch.” Since we couldn’t be drinking mimosas

on rooftops, I had to do something

to make her happy ha ha. We treated this

like a variety show, opening with good

news in the world, playing drinking trivia

with surprise celebrity guests, and closing

each show with an artist performing their

current single. It was so much fun! And, as

I think about all these now, I'm realizing

how much I miss it all.

AM: In terms of how you connected with

your fans over the past few months, with

all of us re-entering the world again, how

important is it to you to still embrace levels

of the connections that you were able

to have with your fans virtually while going

back to in-person interactions?

TR: I would say my inbox for direct messages

was at an all-time high during quarantine,

and I did my best to respond to

all of them. I still try to be as reachable

as possible for fans that want to chat,

whether it’s about music or just life in

general. I have no career without these

amazing people, so building relationships

with them is special for me as well.

AM: On Two Thousand Miles, we really enjoyed

11:11 what is the inspiration behind

this song?

TR: Thank you! “11:11” is one of the few

songs on the album I didn’t write, but it’s

from some of my favorite writers in Nashville,

including the late Andrew Dorff. The

first time I heard it when it was pitched

to me, I was floored. The emotion behind

it, the desperation and heartbreak in the

lyric, and melody all drew me in. I knew I

needed to cut it right away.

AM: Also on that album is Billie Jean, for

the longest time my favorite cover version

has been Chris Cornell’s but I truly enjoyed

your take on the song. With it being such

an iconic song, how do you approach making

it your own while still paying homage

to Michael Jackson's original?

TR: That’s a massive compliment thank

you! His version is incredible. It’s terrifying

to do a cover of the “King” of pop, when

the brutal Wild West of the internet is

ready to rip you apart, but I tried my hardest

to make it “me,” yet true to the song

as much as possible. I think the most important

part of covering something and

making it your own, is keeping the vocal

melody the same. The music and production

can change, but if the melody and lyric

change, then you're altering the recognizable

part of othe song to fans. I always

felt it was such a dark, dirty, blues bar kind

of story, that was in a pop song’s body, so

I brought a little grit to it.

AM: "Better Than You’re Used To" is such

a beautiful song and really makes me think

of past relationships as well as my current

one. What is the inspiration behind it?

TR: I love that it connects with you that

way! My little sister was going through the

heartbreak of the century. In a conversation

we were having she said “I feel like

I’m putting so much in, and getting nothing

back.” I told her she needed someone

to love her better than she was used to,

it rang right when I said it. So, I wrote it

down to revisit in the studio one day. The

day we wrote the song, I took the inspiration

from that, and mixed it with the state

I met my wife in. She was sad, feeling defeated,

and had given up on love. She just

needed someone to love her the way she

needed. The song really came out pretty

quick, the most honest ones do!

AM: With the vaccines and things opening

up again, I see that you have quite the

schedule coming up. You’re headlining a

tour with Shy Carter and you will also be

on Chris Lane’s tour this fall, what are you

looking forward to as you get back on the

road?

TR: I’m really looking forward to seeing

all the fans that we’ve only virtually been

able to connect with, but in person! Meet

and greets will be so much sweeter, and

it’s gonna feel like seeing old friends I bet.

I’ve released a lot of new music since the

pandemic, and seeing everyone singing

new songs, is always the best.

AM: When it comes to performing, do you

have pre and post rituals/routines that you

do to prepare pre-show or to come down

from the energy post-show?

TR: Pre-show is all about connecting with

my band. Spending time together, some

shots, and building that bond we have all

the way up until we are on stage. We always

play the best shows when we are

having a great time right before running

up there to start. After show is all about

solo time. Spending 5-10 minutes alone.

Cooling down my voice, and taking some

mental health time to appreciate what I

just got to do, make some notes of what

to work on, and then disconnect myself

from that so I don’t think about it for the

rest of the night.

AM: Looking at your IG, we love seeing

you and your wife Sabina. How did you

guys meet?

TR: We met at Stagecoach Music Festival

in Indio, CA in 2016. Just a traditional “hey

what’s your name” meeting, nothing involving

any dating apps or social media

ha. We were all in from that first hello

pretty quickly.

AM: My boyfriend and I have been dating

for 11 years and we are also co-founders of

Athleisure Media as well as other ventures.

What is your advice to power house couples

in terms of supporting one another in

their separate and/or join endeavors and

balancing the hectic schedules that exist?

TR: That’s amazing! Congrats, I love that.

I can just say from personal experience,

the more you try and compete with someone’s

passion, or life outside of you, the

more people pull away from each other.

Lift your partner up, celebrate their wins,

push them hard toward their goals, and be

their rock. You have to love all of the person

you are with, not just part of them,

and their careers and passions make up

most of who they are, so love that side of

them, and I promise your relationship will

be so healthy!

AM: What are you working on currently

and will you be collaborating with anyone

that you’re able to share?

TR: I’m working on what will be following

up "Better Than You’re Used To” so heading

into the studio to cut a couple new

songs this month and have a couple collaboration

ideas coming up that I’m hoping

come to fruition this fall!

AM: With a full summer ahead are there

any projects whether musically or outside

of it that you can talk about?

TR: I’m taking a trip to Sweden in mid-September

for a media tour and possibly

some shows. I’m ecstatic for this trip, and

hoping Covid doesn’t halt the plans! Other

exciting stuff in the works that involves

TV, but I can’t quite talk about it yet, soon

though!

AM: When you’re not performing on

stage, how do you take time for yourself?

TR: I’m such an introvert when I’m at

home. I’m the definition of an extrovert

as soon as we are traveling, but other than

that, I’m quiet, at home, doing anything

but music. I love going to movies, the zoo

or a museum alone to walk around and

take everything in at my own pace, just

disconnect for a couple hours. Alone time

is so important, and really sets me up to

not be so anxious when surround by so

many people every weekend on the road.

AM: What are your go-to workouts to

stay fit?

TR: I love my Peloton at home. It’s become

part of my weekly routine for sure. Sometimes

getting workouts in, can be not as

frequent as we’d like on the road so I try

to be as active as possible when there is

time -- using my jump rope between reps

to keep my heart rate up and making each

workout count a little more. I also enjoy

going for a few-mile run in the cities we

are playing through the downtown, a city

park or wherever I can.

AM: We know you’re a sports fan from

your love with the 49ers and the Warriors

- what are you looking forward to next

season now that we can resume going to

games?

TR: I’m literally counting down the minutes

to go to a 49ers game! Being in the

stadium is one of my happiest places in

the world, surrounded by all the fans, my

friends from back home, and watching

the guys play. It’s just right around the

corner!

AM: Tell me about Rich Rescues and why

this is so important to you.

TR: My biggest passion outside of music

is for animals. My rescue pup, Abby, has

been with me for almost 16 years, and I

wish I could rescue all the dogs and cats

in the world, though my schedule just

doesn’t allow it. So, on the road I visit a

couple rescues a week in the cities we

are in and promote the animals needing

home to my fan’s in that town. Our success

rate is almost 100% of finding homes

for the animals we have promoted online

through Rich Rescues on Instagram and

the in-person visits. I wish I could do even

more, but know we’re still just getting

started.

@TylerRich

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Tyler Rich

GET HYPED

WILL SPARKS

It's always fun to check in with those that

we enjoy listening to their songs when

we're working out, getting work done or

simply passing the time. As we begin to add

more events to our schedules from music

festivals, concerts of our favorite artists

and those that we can still enjoy virtually,

it's exciting to see how we're continuing

to transition into a new normal about the

past 18 months that we have navigated.

We caught up with EDM DJ/Producer,

Will Sparks to talk about the Melbourne

Bounce, how he connected with music and

made it his career, his upcoming EP and

more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you first fall

in love with music?

WILL SPARKS: I became properly obsessed

with heavy metal at around 14,

then Dance music at 16.


to produce/DJ?

WS: Back then, many songs were unattainable.

I was so fixated on the Melbourne

Underground sound, that I figured, if I

can't have them, then i'll make my own.

As a DJ, experimenting on my friend's

set of decks. After a while I finally beat

matched and transitioned a song perfectly.

That's when I knew.

AM: You’re known for pioneering the

“Melbourne Bounce” sound. Can you tell

us more about what this is?

WS: Melbourne had it's own nightlife

community. It was a family. There were so

many clubs, none which tried to compete.

The DJ's made their own music, unique

to them. The sound was like nothing else

in the world, ahead of it's time. The guys

I look up to Kalus, Orkestrated, Stevie

Mink, Joel Fletcher, Chardy & Heath Renata

just to name a few. They influenced

me to how I approached my sound. They

were the real creators and pioneers of the

original Melbourne underground. You can

identify it as a 'kick & low bass, driving

leads and large builds' but you have to

hear to fall in love with it. I was in love

with it - but I also had my own taste and

swing on what it then evolved toward.

I was placed in the perfect timing when

the Melbourne sound became global and

tracks i was making were getting played

by the biggest DJs in the world.

AM: What’s it like when you are producing?

How do you approach creating and

ultimately creating a new sound? Where

does your inspiration come from?

WS: Whats it like? There isn't a better feeling

in the world when you're onto something

you're absolutely loving.

I tend to blur out anything else that's going

on, i don't listen to any music. I have

my original hero's & always reminisce on

my favourite records. This allows me to always

create something that no one else is

doing because it organically comes directly

from within. People are so distracted

by 'whats working' and therefore make

what everyone else is making.

AM: We all have our COVID stories in terms

of what we did while we had quite a lot of

time to focus on various areas of our lives,

what did you do during this time musically

as well as staying in contact with your

fans?

WS: I made an EP. I changed my sound

completely. It was grounding having so

much time instead of being away constantly.

I always respond to as many fans

as i can on Instagram but in terms of live

streams, I like to keep them at a low. As I

said, I don't really listen to any one else's

music, so my sets are very unique and

mostly full of ID's. I'd rather save it for the

live shows to come.

AM: You released “Nothing More, Nothing

Less” via Armada Music – tell us about this

EP and what we can expect from it?

WS: As I said, I changed my sound. You

would call it very techno inspired. I love

the genre, but I also love being different

to the pack. If you like getting hyped, than

expect some energy.

AM: Do you have any projects that you’re

working on that you can share with us?

WS: So many, it's an endless roll out of records

when you make music every day. It's

too bad releases have to be a minimum of

4 weeks apart. If you see my catalogue

you'd notice I don't collaborate much. I've

decided to change that.

AM: What’s your schedule look like in

terms of hitting the road as there’s nothing

like being able to play live with an audience?

WS: I'm in Australia. It's never a certainty

of what's ahead. I am so over it. shows

come up and are then ruined by lockdowns.

I just hope the whole world is back

to normality as a whole ASAP.

AM: When you’re not making music, clearly

you’re in great shape, what are you goto

workouts that you enjoy doing?

WS: Lifting heavy & eating like a freak. To

be honest, I've had some injuries lately

due to working out too much! I have too

much time on my hands these days. My

go to work outs are strength training but

I tend to enjoy the odd HIIT.

@Will_Sparks

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY | Will Sparks

1 in 4 kids

may face

hunger

because

of the

coronavirus.

With schools closed and parents’ paychecks cut, countless children

in America don’t know where their next meal is coming from. You

can help feed them during this crisis, and in the recovery to come.

Find out how you can help at NoKidHungry.org

Bingely Books

WINE STYLE

Ten Speed Press

Kathy Leahy

Here at Athleisure Mag, we enjoy our

wine tasting press dinners and always

love trying various varietals. Even during

the past few months, our sips have continued

and there is nothing better then

finding out the best pairings! In Wine

Style: Discover the Wines You Will Love

Through 50 Simple Recipes, you'll

find a number of easy to make

recipes that you can be paired

with your wines. Don't worry

about the stuffy wine rules that

you may have heard!

Wine Style is a fun and easy approachable

book that will give

you the confidence to find what

you like and what to make with

it for your next gathering, date

night or solo exploration when

you're bingeing on your new favorites!

SHREDDERS: Girls Who

Skate

Ten Speed Press

Sierra Prescott

As our readers know, we have

been sharing a number of adventure

sports in our issues since

2016. Especially with skateboarding

debuting at the Olympics this

year in Tokyo, we suggest adding

Shredders: Girls Who Skate to

your coffeetable collection!

Filled with colorful photographs,

this book focuses on female

skaters and profiles an array of

girls and women who ride! You'll

meet Ariel Cai who hits the largest

indoor skate park in China to

an old school pro who was the

first woman to get a signature

model board, Laura Thornhill

Caswell!

This book also includes X Games

gold winner and Tony Hawk

protégé Lizzie Armanto. It fea-


Choice Superfood Bar and Juicery

launched in San Diego back in 2014 and

has been a go-to destination for locals,

tourists, top athletes, celebrities,

influencers and more. People enjoy

their healthy vegan bites, superfood

smoothies, cold-pressed juices and

more.

tures an array of people that make up

the skateboarding community from

those who are athletes and those that

are hobbysists. An array of skill levels,

ages, backgrounds etc are included in

the paages and really allows you to see

who makes up this growing group of

riders.

For those that are looking to get into

the sport, you'll find tips for setting and

maintaining your board, learning about

skate styles, the history of the sport as

well as the slang!

In this cookbook, you'll find out more

about Natasha's personal journey that

went from overcoming a tragic childhood

to focusing on her passions which

led her to launching her eatery and the

positive impact of a plant-based lifestyle.

Her 100 plant-based recipes are

gluten free and filled with tasty morsels

where food is medicine.

PLANT FOOD IS MEDICINE

Ulysses Press

Natasha McKeon

In Plant Food is Medicine, we find out

about Natasha McKeon, the founder of

Choice Superfood Bar and Juicery who

has a passion for plant-based foods that

are delicious and nutritious. A number

of the recipes come from the popular

menu items from her eatery as well as

Natasha's personal favorites.



Bingely Streaming

AFTER SHOCK

Nomadic Engine, Salmira Productions

+ iHeartRadio

iHeartRadio

This month, we've been enjoying After

Shock on iHeartRadio which looks at an

earthquake that takes place in LA and how

people are disconnected as well as finding

new living dynamics as they try to continue

living after the largest recorded disaster!

Sarah Wayne Callies (The Walking Dead) is

the creator, director, producer and stars in

this scripted podcast which is also executive

produced by Jeffrey Dean Morgan (The

Walking Dead) and David Harbour (Stranger

Things). All 3, in addition to more actors

interact as they meet preppers, indegenous

activists, a utopian cult on the island and

more. Even though they survived the initial

effects of the after shock, there are unex-

plained deaths that take place

that they can't explain and it

seems like there is something

much larger at play than just the

earthquake itself. The all star cast

also includes: Tati Gabrielle (The

100), Janel Parrish (Pretty Little Liars),

Russell Hornsby (Black Mafia

Family), Rockmond Dunbar (9-1-

1), Tovah Feldshuh (Crazy Ex-Girlfriend),

Bethany Joy Lenz (One

Tree Hill), Michael O’Neill (Council

of Dads), Austin Amelio (The

Walking Dead) and EJ Bonilla (Colony).

BAKE SQUAD

Netflix Originals

Netflix

We love a baking competition!

Bake Squad is hosted by the

founder Milk Bar, Christina Tosi

whose cakes and cookies are always

a treat. This show brings

creativity, competitions and over

the top dessert designs. Each episode

has 4 bakers tasked to make

a cake with the specifications of

the client in 7 hours. Only one will

be chosen from what they create

to add to the person's special day!

The 4 bakers you'll get to know

each episode who has participated

in a number of baking

projects for celebs includes: Maya-Camille

Broussard - "the flavor

fanatic" founder of Justice of

the Pies, Ashley Holt - "queen of

cakes" founder of Sugar Monster

Sweets, Christophe Rull - "pastry

illusionist" a pastry chef, and Gonzo

Jimenez - "champion of chocolate"

co-owner of Miette et Chocolat.


LOUD: THE HISTORY OF

REGGAETON

Spotify Original

Spotify

This podcast investigates the historical, cultural

and racial contexts of this while tracking

its Black roots in Panama and Puerto

Rico as well as its mainstage presence as a

global phenomenon today!

When you think about Reggaeton,

you think that it started with Daddy

Yankee in Puerto Rico; however, it

started about 10 years prior in Panama

as it's a blend of reggae + dance

hall in Spanish. In LOUD, an original

podcast, each Wed. our host, Ivy

Queen, a respected voice in reggaeton

dives into the history of the

sound that started on Panamanian

buses to the shores of Puerto Rico to

the vibrant streets of New York City.

We learn how she got into the industry

as well as how in Panama, Black

artists and descendants of West Indian

canal workers who became the

pioneers of reggae en español such

as Renato emerged.







Athleisure Mag AUG ISSUE #68

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