1. Grant Gustin,
The Flash
FasTt imes A LIFE
LESS
ORDINARY
He dazzled with song and dance in Glee, and now his footwork gets even fancier. Actor Grant Gustin returns this fall to
television with lightning-fast reflexes and super speed, and uses these gift s for good in The CW’s new action-packed
drama The Flash. After being struck by lightning on an episode of Arrow last season, endearingly geeky forensic investi-gator
Barry Allen awakens from a nine-month coma to discover that he’s literally the fastest man alive. Taking on the mantle of The
Flash, Barry joins forces with STAR Labs and protects his city from evil—superhuman and otherwise. Call him the Scarlet Speedster,
the Crimson Comet or whatever you wish, but we think this superhero won’t be just a flash in the pan.
Grant Gustin
has a need
for speed in
The Flash
cbswatchmagazine.com 111
Kharen Hill/The CW
2. Dancer He may play a superhero on The CW’s The Flash, but
Flash
Michael Muller/CPI-SYNDICATION
in real life Grant Gustin is a song-and-dance man
Grant Gustin,
The Flash
robably best known
for playing bad boy
Sebastian on Glee, Grant
Gustin is now flexing
his biceps instead of his
vocal cords as reluctant
superhero Barry Allen in The Flash. To prepare
for the role, he traded in dance shoes for
running kicks, and has focused on bulking
up without becoming too Hulk-like.
The Norfolk, Va., native, 24, shares
his secrets for perfecting your
running form and looking buff
in front of the camera.
— Michele Shapiro,
with additional reporting
by Deanna Barnert
Have you always been active?
As a young kid I played soccer and baseball,
and I started dancing when I was 10. I did
musical theater my whole life, danced in
high school and college, and toured pro-fessionally
[in the 2010 Broadway revival
tour of West Side Story]. I was never a prima
ballerina, but I have dance training, so it makes
me more fluid as my character. It’s made me agile.
Jesse L. Martin, who plays Detective Joe West,
and I sometimes tap together on set, but that’s all
the dancing I do these days.
How have you gotten in shape for the
role, which requires a lot of running?
I’m doing a full-body training that’s similar to cross-training.
I worked with a track-and-field trainer who
showed me how to start running without hurting
myself and looking silly. I’m long and lanky, and
I’ve always run like I’m reaching in front of me. I
learned that your legs aren’t supposed to go too far
in front or in back of you. It’s almost like an animal
would run. I’m bulking up a little bit and putting
on some muscle, but [the show’s producers] want me to be lean.
It’s been made very clear to me that we don’t need two Stephen
Amells on The CW! I can’t compete with that. I’m Grant and
that’s what I bring to the table.
What piece of equipment or fitness gear do you
swear by?
I do most of my training and working out at gyms, but I’ve got a
pullup bar and a Perfect Pushup [rotating pushup handles
with comfortable rubberized grips] that are the
best when I can’t get to the gym. You just
pound a few of each out before you shoot
and it makes you look bigger, so that’s my
go-to on a shoot day.
You have a tattoo that
says “Superman … I love
him.” What’s the story
behind that?
When I was a kid, I was a huge Super-man
fan. I was also really into drawing
and coloring. My mother would draw
Superman for me and I’d color it in, so
the tattoo is in her handwriting.
How do you stay disciplined
on set with so much food
around?
I just try to eat healthy. I have a lot of smooth-ies
between meals—protein-heavy, to keep the
weight on when I’m working long hours. I have
special requests for catering for a lot of plain,
healthy, boring things. To be honest, I love a
plain chicken breast with a kale salad and some
cucumber. I’m not a foodie. I eat for fuel. I’ve
always been that way.
the flash
airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
body & Soul
112 DECEMBER 2014 | watch! cbswatchmagazine.com
3. 1 2
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3 • Icebug Aurora BUGrip Running Shoes
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1 editor’s
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3
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adidas outdoor; smith optics
Your Get-Fit Gift List
Holiday weight gain isn’t a given, if your wish list includes
these high-style, high-tech fitness finds — Michele Shapiro
FOR THE ALL-SEASONS RUNNER
1 • Moving Comfort JustRight Full Zip
This ultrachic moto-style hoodie
regulates body temperature. It also
has reflective detailing on front and
back to keep you safe after dark.
movingcomfort.com
2 • iriverON Heart Rate Monitoring
Bluetooth Headset
A revolutionary headset continuously
monitors real-time heart rate, physical
FOR THE SKI BUNNY
1 • Helly Hansen W St ella Storm Jacket
This waterproof, windproof ski jacket’s innovative
temperature-regulation technology dramatically
improves comfort and breathability. hellyhansen.com
2 • Bern Berk eley Helmet
Stay safe on the slopes with this helmet that features a
low-profile look and comfortable fit. bernunlimited.com
3 • Smith Optics P ivLock Asana
Interchangeable Performance Sunglasses
These shades for women come with three interchangeable
lenses for a variety of light conditions, and the nose
bridge won’t slip off when you sweat. smithoptics.com
REI VITALITY GYM BAG
The perfect prezzie for
everyone on your list has
ample storage space for clean
and dirty duds, and holds a
yoga mat, too. rei.com
1 • A didas Hiking Comfort Pant and
EDO Boulder Loft Vest
Orange you glad you asked for these styl-ish
hiking pants that have four-way stretch
and a modern, sleek silhouette? Pair them
with this Primaloft-insulated vest to stay
warm at any altitude. adidas.com
2 • Teva Women’s Surge eVent
With their waterproof eVent membrane,
these hikers are comfortable and rug-ged.
Whether you’re on a casual walk
or an intense mountain trek, your feet
will be toasty and primed for adventure.
teva.com
FOR THE TRAILBLAZER
cbswatchmagazine.com watch! | DECEMBER 2014 113
![Dancer He may play a superhero on The CW’s The Flash, but
Flash
Michael Muller/CPI-SYNDICATION
in real life Grant Gustin is a song-and-dance man
Grant Gustin,
The Flash
robably best known
for playing bad boy
Sebastian on Glee, Grant
Gustin is now flexing
his biceps instead of his
vocal cords as reluctant
superhero Barry Allen in The Flash. To prepare
for the role, he traded in dance shoes for
running kicks, and has focused on bulking
up without becoming too Hulk-like.
The Norfolk, Va., native, 24, shares
his secrets for perfecting your
running form and looking buff
in front of the camera.
— Michele Shapiro,
with additional reporting
by Deanna Barnert
Have you always been active?
As a young kid I played soccer and baseball,
and I started dancing when I was 10. I did
musical theater my whole life, danced in
high school and college, and toured pro-fessionally
[in the 2010 Broadway revival
tour of West Side Story]. I was never a prima
ballerina, but I have dance training, so it makes
me more fluid as my character. It’s made me agile.
Jesse L. Martin, who plays Detective Joe West,
and I sometimes tap together on set, but that’s all
the dancing I do these days.
How have you gotten in shape for the
role, which requires a lot of running?
I’m doing a full-body training that’s similar to cross-training.
I worked with a track-and-field trainer who
showed me how to start running without hurting
myself and looking silly. I’m long and lanky, and
I’ve always run like I’m reaching in front of me. I
learned that your legs aren’t supposed to go too far
in front or in back of you. It’s almost like an animal
would run. I’m bulking up a little bit and putting
on some muscle, but [the show’s producers] want me to be lean.
It’s been made very clear to me that we don’t need two Stephen
Amells on The CW! I can’t compete with that. I’m Grant and
that’s what I bring to the table.
What piece of equipment or fitness gear do you
swear by?
I do most of my training and working out at gyms, but I’ve got a
pullup bar and a Perfect Pushup [rotating pushup handles
with comfortable rubberized grips] that are the
best when I can’t get to the gym. You just
pound a few of each out before you shoot
and it makes you look bigger, so that’s my
go-to on a shoot day.
You have a tattoo that
says “Superman … I love
him.” What’s the story
behind that?
When I was a kid, I was a huge Super-man
fan. I was also really into drawing
and coloring. My mother would draw
Superman for me and I’d color it in, so
the tattoo is in her handwriting.
How do you stay disciplined
on set with so much food
around?
I just try to eat healthy. I have a lot of smooth-ies
between meals—protein-heavy, to keep the
weight on when I’m working long hours. I have
special requests for catering for a lot of plain,
healthy, boring things. To be honest, I love a
plain chicken breast with a kale salad and some
cucumber. I’m not a foodie. I eat for fuel. I’ve
always been that way.
the flash
airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
body & Soul
112 DECEMBER 2014 | watch! cbswatchmagazine.com](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)