All the Right Moves
On the surface, they seem to have little in common. Queen Harrison: Olympian, hurdler, sprinter. Marc Forgione: acclaimed New York City chef and restaurateur. But they’re both people who strive to go further, to push harder, to stand out from the crowd. And fitness is a big part of that.
For Harrison, of course, the connection is clear. “I am in the business of being the best version of myself… Working out daily and perfecting my craft isn’t just a choice for me, it’s a necessity.” Harrison set records while attending Virginia Tech and competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. She continues to train and compete: “Staying on top of my game in the track-and-field world means always being willing to learn and better myself, from the inside out.” Settling into a groove is not an option.
Forgione uses running to clear his head, which in turn allows him to cook the best food he possibly can. “It’s cheesy and cliché,” he says, laughing, “but you know, the best food really comes from a loving place.” Helming New York City’s Restaurant Marc Forgione, he finds his days can get rather hectic. Running is “my time to unplug,” he says, and he means it literally. Forgione doesn’t even listen to music: He just hits the road. These runs set the tone for the entire day.
Fitness, and running in particular, proved to be Forgione and Harrison’s connection. “You have this master chef. You have this elite athlete,” says Harrison. “What do they have in common?” Commitment to movement drew both of them to work with ASICS on the I Move Me campaign.
The key to continual improvement? Shaking things up. They both recommend changing your routine to stay focused and committed. It could be something as simple as switching your running route, Forgione says, or as complex as trying an entirely new form of exercise. Harrison, for example, loves dancing: “The creative expression that comes with just letting loose and vibing out to the music is both physically taxing and therapeutic.”
Music also plays a key role for both. Harrison says “Celebrate Life” by Will Claye is the song that gets her amped up these days, and Beyoncé is a perennial favorite: “She gives amazing anthems for strong, fearless women, and that is who I am.” For Forgione, it depends on his mood: “I listen to everything from meditation mixes to Pearl Jam to Slightly Stoopid to Bob Marley.”
“Even though we’re in two completely different walks of life,” says Forgione, “it’s amazing to hear how the two of us seem to have pushed ourselves.” Harrison says running with Forgione was a starting point of friendship, but “the more we talked and ran together, I realized there [are] always things that bring people together.”
It’s all about sound body, sound mind for both of them. Forgione says his food “went to a different level when [he] figured out [the] serious symbiotic connection between the mind, body, and soul. Not just when it comes to creating, but being a boss and a leader. It carries over into the restaurant.”
“It’s universal,” adds Harrison. “Equally, men and women need to have this ability to be the best version of themselves—Marc, I do say that all the time. But it’s as simple as that.”
Discover the ASICS I Move Me campaign and more at asics.com/imoveme.
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