CKTH FOUNDING MEMBER & CONTRIBUTOR: Born in Detroit, raised in Jamaica and hailing from Boston, MA. Mustafa is an alumnus of Dartmouth College where he majored in Engineering and was a 4-time All-American and 4-time Academic All-American. At the age of 25, Mustafa was the 25th ranked Decathlete in the world and the first alternate on the United States Olympic Team in the Decathlon. Today, he resides in Boston with his family — where he can also be found coaching Track & Field at UMASS Boston and Exeter. Mustafa is the definition of Sabiqoon.
WHEN DO YOU WAKE UP
7:30 — or when one of my daughters is up. But if it’s a Sabiqoon training day it’s an hour before fajr (dawn) and I’m probably at the Reggie Lewis Center.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST CONSISTENT MOTIVATION
Being the best Muslim I and family man I can be.
WHAT’S YOUR TYPICAL MORNING ROUTINE - WEEKDAY VS WEEKEND
When the weather is right I go on a 2.5 mile loop through Roxbury and then make a stop at Dunkin when I’m through.
HOW DO YOU CAFFEINATE?
I caffeinate when I’m hungry because I find it gives me the best kick when I have yet to eat. As a coffee, I like the Dunkin Dirty Chai blend with almond milk — and maybe something sweet like a plain donut — though I never take sugar in my coffee anymore.
WHAT IS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE OR LUXURY ITEM YOU WANT?
I never like to go out of my reach but I’m down with a Toyota TRD — to just drive out with the leather seats, a serious radio or whatever. But if I’m going up a level sign me up for the latest Tesla.
DO YOU MEDITATE?
Off the bat I would say that I definitely meditate 5 times per day, right? But if I’m coaching at Exeter or UMass Boston, I sometimes like to just find a quiet spot and gather myself before my athletes hammer a workout.
WHAT’S YOUR IDEAL FITNESS ROUTINE?
A morning shoot around then capped off with a 20 minute run and 5 x 60 meter strides and then a light breakfast. Lay back for about 4 hours and work hard on whatever it is and then get back to it around 4PM with a weight lift session after a functional movement sport like rec soccer or rock climbing that engages your full kinesthetic system. I do jujitsu for the same reason.
WHAT IS YOUR SPIRIT ANIMAL?
A Lion — because of the whole Mustafa sounding like Mufasa connection from the Lion King...They are noble, move in groups and I like being with family and they’re just beasts. King of the jungle man.
WHAT IS THE PROJECT YOU’RE MOST DEVOTED TO RIGHT NOW?
Raising two daughters alongside my beautiful wife. After that it’s athletics. So basically ... Family and Track like always.
WHAT IS THE NEW SKILL YOU WANT TO LEARN OR CLASS YOU WANT TO TAKE?
Home building. Want to master the handyman game.
WHAT IS ONE SNACK AND ONE DRINK YOU’D PICK FROM A CONVENIENCE STORE?
The drink is a cold ginger ale, Canada Dry. And the snack is gonna be Dirty chips … Love Dirty’s sour cream and onion.
IF YOU HAD A “LAST SUPPER” WHAT WOULD BE ON THE MENU?
Vegetarian Lasagna and Chicken Lasagna - side by side. And a bean pie for desert with JP Lick’s Vanilla.
WHAT’S AN ALBUM THAT YOU COULD LISTEN TO FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE?
Mobb Deep "the Infamous" album. Although Hell on Earth was cracking and you can’t go wrong with Wu Tang’s double CD. Kind of an impossible question to give only one answer.
WHAT’S A BOOK YOU COULD READ A SECOND OR THIRD TIME?
WHAT’S A MOVIE YOU COULD WATCH ONCE A WEEK?
WHAT IS THE MOST MEMORABLE CONCERT YOU’VE BEEN TO?
This is slim pickings because I’m not a big concert guy and haven’t been to one in a while. But I did see Busta and Naughty by Nature at Dartmouth back in the day. And I do want to see Travis Scott. Butterfly Effect! I love that song.
WHAT IS YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITE VACATION OR DESTINATION SPOT?
Mecca / Medina in 2005, 2018 and 2019.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SUPERHERO?
It might be Wolverine but I feel like it’s Batman. Wolverine is an indestructible mutant while Batman is obviously a normal dude with great gadgets, know-how and all-around skills — like a Decathlete.
WHO DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST STYLISH ATHLETE OF ALL TIME?
Flojo.
WHO ARE THE HISTORIC FIGURES YOU’D INVITE TO DINNER AND THEN GO SPRING BREAKING WITH?
Malcom X. Kobe Bryant. Abraham Lincoln because I want to see what he’s all about. And Monica Belluci from the Matrix. That’s my girl yo.