Hurdle with Emily Abbate

In this edition of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY , Emily dives deep into a word that gets tossed around a lot in the wellness world: alignment . Stripping away the superficial aesthetics of social media, she shares what true alignment actually feels like in practice—and why she is finally experiencing it after seasons of feeling out of it. Plus, she shares a powerful mindset shift for handling good season...

Welcome Olympic Champion Masai Russell back to Hurdle ! Fresh off her historic performances in the 100-meter hurdles, recently clocking a 12.14 for the second fastest time in history and a win at Pre Classic, Masai opens up about her rapid rise to the top and the evolution of her mindset. Emily and Masai dive deep into the essential difference between having confidence and being cocky, and how Mas...

In this installment of Five-Minute Friday , Emily checks in from the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. After a whirlwind week of travel—flying from Paris back to Brooklyn, and then straight to Oregon—she opens up about overcoming the mental hurdles of getting back onto the running track. Emily reflects on pushing past old narratives of self-doubt during a challenging interval wor...

In this episode of Hurdle , host Emily Abbate sits down with two-time Olympian and 2018 Boston Marathon champion  Des Linden for a conversation about redefining limits. Fresh off completing the legendary  Marathon des Sables (MDS) —a grueling, self-supported 167-mile stage race across the Sahara Desert—Des takes listeners directly inside her tent. She shares the realities of...

In this episode of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, Emily checks in from a very warm Paris after a whirlwind trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen. She dives deep into her experience spectating her first-ever HYROX World Championships, as a guest of Red Bull, sharing her top takeaways on the booming fitness phenomenon, the unique dynamics of competing in doubles, and why running endurance might just be your secret wea...

Welcome to Season 21 of Hurdle ! To kick off this brand-new chapter, host Emily's going solo to share the deeply personal evolution of her relationship with running, her career, and herself. From being cut from the JV volleyball team in high school to weighing 200+ pounds as a college freshman, Emily opens up about the pivotal moment that changed everything and the simple decision that started it...

News: Hurdle is heading into a brief summer season break for the next two weeks! This week: Talking about the powerful feelings of purpose and intention that accompany the start of a new training cycle as she gears up for the Sydney Marathon. Emily reflects on the concept that we become better at the things we do repeatedly—whether that means running, writing, or even letting anxious thought...

In this episode, Emily sits down with her own fertility specialist, Dr. Michelle Kappy, a board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at Spring Fertility. After undergoing her own egg freezing journey under Dr. Kappy's care, Emily opens up about the intimate, often overwhelming logistics and physical realities of the procedure. Together, they pull back the curtain on the entire process...

Can you even believe that it is about to be June? As I approach my 38th birthday, I'm feeling a certain way and doing a lot of reflecting. Sharing a powerful prompt from my Substack newsletter to help you do a personal inventory of your own life. Plus, answering a listener question from Shannon about running shoes, breaking down the difference between a classic neutral shoe and plated carbon-fiber...

Samirah Moody is a professional runner for On, recednt USC graduate, and a founding member of the newly minted OAC (On Athletics Club) Sprint team. Coming off a stellar collegiate career—including a 2025 NCAA championship in the 100 meters—Samirah is stepping onto the global pro circuit with a fresh perspective, a deeply hardened sense of resilience, and a powerful inner drive. In this...

Checking in from sunny Los Angeles! Talking about OAC's new Sprint team, and reflecting on a recent run at the Silver Lake Reservoir following my Brooklyn Half Marathon completion. Talking about my journey of embracing grace, slowing down, and practicing mindfulness during seasons of flux. Plus: Answering a listener question from Jen in Seattle regarding heart rate spikes and mastering diaphragmat...

In this week's rewind episode, Emily sits down with four-time Olympian Katie Ledecky, the most decorated American female Olympian in history. Ledecky brings us back to her roots, talking about her first-ever goals in swimming and how she originally fell in love with the sport at age six. The swimming legend shares her perspective on the grueling work required to maintain excellence over a two-deca...

As she prepares for the Brooklyn Half, Emily's looking back at her first 13.1-mile race in 2008 and the massive health transformation that led her there. Today, Emily discusses the beauty of progress and the reality of "readiness." She's sharing her perspective on why being a beginner is a prerequisite for greatness and how she maintains her fitness routine today—not for a specific time goal...

Amanda Lucci is the Director of Special Projects at Women's Health , where she has spent the last decade evolving the brand’s digital presence and spearheading their expansive coverage of women’s sports. From the sidelines of the WNBA to the mixed zones of the Paris Olympic Games, Amanda is on a mission to tell the stories of the women transforming the future of the industry—both...

It's absolutely beautiful in Brooklyn right now. After a whirlwind of travel to Boston, London, and Portland, being back home feels like a massive exhale. But as the weather warms up, social calendars tend to fill up fast. Today, Emily's evaluating how she navigates this busy season without overcommitting. She's sharing a couple essential gut-checks: asking yourself if an event provides energy or...

In this episode of Hurdle , host Emily sits down with elite volleyball champion, Carli Lloyd. Carli shares her journey of grit and professional longevity, from a decorated 13-season international career to leading LOVB Austin to back-to-back League One Volleyball (LOVB) championships. She opens up about the "hurdle" of being cut from the national team multiple times before ultimately reaching the...

Yesterday I got to sit down with the "Quad God", Ilia Malinin. Reflecting on that event—and a specific question about whether or not I have a manager—led me down a path of gratitude for the "hustle" and the career I've built by simply putting myself out there and treating people well. I’m diving deep into why we need to stop the comparison trap and start giving ourselves more cre...

In this episode of  Hurdle , host Emily sits down with professional runner Jess McClain fresh off her monumental performance as the top American finisher at the 2026 Boston Marathon. Recorded in London, where the duo got to run in the upcoming Brooks' upcoming Hyperion Elite 6 and cheer at the 2026 London Marathon, Jess unpacks the physical and mental evolution required to clock a personal be...

Talking about how to focus on feel versus external data and validation. Plus: Answering a question about the best shoes to wear for a HYROX. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Nike Pegasus 42 SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast @iheartwomenssports JOIN :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week's guest is a true powerhouse in the sports media landscape: Sarah Spain. An Emmy, Gracie, and Peabody Award-winning journalist, Sarah spent over a decade as a mainstay at ESPN, becoming one of the most versatile and respected voices in the industry. She recently made waves by joining iHeartMedia to launch the iHeart Women’s Sports Network, where she serves as the content director a...

What a week! Recapping, talking jury duty, a fun run of a 5K, and answering a listener question about my latest workhorse sneaker, the Pegasus 42 . SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast @iheartwomenssports JOIN :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP :  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠...

This week on Hurdle, I’m sitting down with Jasmine Caccomo, an entrepreneur and elite personal stylist who has spent over 15 years redefining the intersection of fashion and professional sports. Jasmine has built an incredible career styling some of the biggest names in the industry, most notably Alex Morgan , whom she’s worked with for the past 13 years. In this episode, Jasmine talks...

Diving into the highs and lows of the Scottsdale trip for the Final Four. Plus: How what started as an ambitious plan for a high-mileage run along the canal turned into a powerful lesson in grace, body awareness, and the "both/and" of recovery. Also! Answering a listener question from Christine about navigating energy slumps after long runs, offering practical advice on recovery windows and the es...

This week Emily's sitting down with Laila Edwards, a true pioneer in the world of women’s hockey. Edwards recently made history as the first Black woman to compete for—and win gold with—Team USA Hockey. Beyond her Olympic success, she is a national champion and was a prolific scorer during her final collegiate season at Wisconsin, leading the nation with 35 goals. In this convers...

This episode, I'm talking about my spontaneous decision to go to Phoenix for the NCAA Final Four! As a proud UConn alum, I couldn’t pass up the chance to cheer on the Huskies and spend some quality father-daughter time. I dive into the power of listening to your "whispers"—those gut feelings that nudge you toward exciting possibilities—and challenge you to shift your mindset from...