Hurdle with Emily Abbate

This was one of those weeks where I felt like I was staring at my computer for far too long without doing anything. After day two of experiencing minimal wins at my desk, I made the conscious decision to do something about it and step away. In today's episode, I'm talking about how I got unstuck, and the lessons I learned along the way. TLDR; There is always something that you can do to move forwa...

Man, the last six-or-so months have been a rollercoaster, eh? In today's episode, I'm getting candid about where I'm at — the good and the bad. Opening up about some challenges I've dealt with, especially lately, and how I'm reframing my perspective to get the most out of every day despite uncertainty. After my real-talk check-in, I'm offering up the strategies that can help you boost your own men...

Briohny Smyth knows a thing or two about overcoming hurdles. In fact, today’s conversation is full of so many hurdles, that at one point I was sitting next to my microphone literally holding my hands over my heart. Today, she’s an Alo Moves instructor, yoga teacher, and mother of two based in Los Angeles. But growing up, Smyth was actually a young pop star in Thailand, creating 10 albums in 10 yea...

This week, I've been reflecting on 2020 versus 2019. Let's be real: The pandemic has thrown us a lot of curveballs. And while a lot of things are different, different isn't necessarily a bad thing. Chatting on this topic today for 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, triggered by Hurdle's book club pick —  Mindset , by Carol Dweck, Ph. D.  PROMPT : What’s one thing that happened in this month you didn’t exp...

I find that September is a time that everything happens at once. Summer is winding down, everyone is trying to get on top of their to-do list, and life feels hard to catch up with. Which — can be exciting! However, it can also be mega overwhelming. In today's #HURDLEMOMENT, I'm chatting my five strategies for beating the anxiety-ridden feeling of overwhelm when the going gets tough. Remember:...

At 26, Olivia Perez (called Livv by her friends) is motivated as all hell, and it's invigorating. For episode 128, I chat with the serial entrepreneur, co-founder of System of Service , Forbes contributor, and host of the 'Friend of a Friend' podcast about her journey thus far — from her first-ever internship at Teen Vogue to her partnerships with big-name brands like Coach and Tory Burch (pl...

This week had its fair share of small, annoying instances. (Don't they all?) The intercom/buzzer in my building went out, and I didn't know. This caused a slew of packages to be returned to sender. Funnily enough, the technician that came to fix it actually gave me an important reminder, which I'm sharing today on 5-MINUTE FRIDAY. PROMPT : What’s one thing you can do for someone else today? Why di...

I told myself for months and months now that virtual racing was NOT something I was on board with. Then, my curiosity got the best of me. Last week, I ran a half-marathon PR doing the Seawheeze Virtual Half, and this week — I'm talking all about it for #HURDLEMOMENT. In today's episode, I'm offering up my five best-practice tips if you too want to tackle a virtual race, and get real honest about h...

There's something about this conversation with Aisha Praught-Leer that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. Sure, she may be married and an Olympian, but it felt like we were just two women in our thirties rapping about life and our similar struggles. In episode 127, the steeplechase athlete-turned-middle-distance runner talks to me about hitting her stride in her sport within the last 5 years, and w...

For years now, I've made it a priority to tell the people that I care about I appreciate them. "I appreciate you." In today's episode of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I'm chatting about "friend dating" and how this phrase feels particularly important right now. I'm also chatting about the importance of vulnerability when it comes to establishing solid, deep relationships, and how I'm willing to get uncomfortab...

Finding the "right" pace can be super confusing. For this week's #HURDLEMOMENT, I'm chatting with Coach Sam Tooley on how to zero in on your ideal 1-mile, 5K, 10K, half-marathon, marathon pace and beyond. We chat about how often you should be running at goal pace (spoiler: it's less than you might think), how to pick up the pace, and his best tips for all runners while racing IRL is off the table....

Man, was I excited for this one. Allyson Felix is officially a hurdler! (Just, not at the actual track.) She's also a total legend. For episode 126, I'm chatting with the most decorated female athlete in track and field history. Felix realized her Olympic dreams early on at age 18, and has been unstoppable ever since. In today's episode, we talk about all of it. She tells me about what it was like...

I've been on a tear lately of throwing out things. A lot of things. I came back from vacation a few weeks ago and had this impulse to upgrade and declutter. In today's episode of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I'm chatting about how it feels, and the unexpected choice I made to ditch the scale I've had for 12 years.  PROMPT : What's one thing you could get rid of today that would make you feel lighter? SOC...

Over the past 7-or-so months, we've had our fair share of challenges. One of the biggest? Dealing with loneliness while adjusting to a completely new routine. Whether you're in a relationship or flying solo, everyone deals with feeling lonely at times. In this week's #HURDLEMOMENT, I'm chatting essential strategies to get through the tough times, embrace alone time, and keep your chin up. Like wha...

In 2008, Mirna Valerio thought she had a heart attack. It actually turned out to be an anxiety attack behind the wheel of her car — something she never thought would happen to her. At the time, her cardiologist told her that if she didn't make some major lifestyle changes, she wouldn't be around long enough to watch her son grow up. Fast forward to today, she's an avid marathoner and ultramarathon...

I never really talk about dating or my personal life on the feed. This week's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY touches on a date I almost went on, so it feels like safe territory. The date never happened that helped give me the confidence boost I needed to embrace my full self.  PROMPT : What’s one personality trait you love about yourself? What is one trait about yourself you would like to change? SOCIAL @hu...

I've included adaptogens — non-toxic plants that help the body resist stressors of all kinds — in my regular diet for over 2 years now. I know why I like them: They make me feel more capable, sort of like meditation. My stress feels more at bay, and although I may not be able to attribute that all to the herbs — I swear they help. I wanted to dive into this topic, because a lot of the product...

The first time I heard Jesse Israel tell his story inside the Guggenheim at The Big Quiet , I knew I wanted to know more. The second I knew more, I knew I needed to share his story with the hurdlers. Now the brains behind the mass meditation movement, Israel went to NYU and started his career doing something entirely different — heading up a record label. After signing multi-platinum artists like...

A friend sent me a really interesting prompt last week that I'm sharing with you all today, one that I thought a lot about on my morning 5K time trial this morning. Spoiler alert: If you're not doing things for YOU, then what's the point? PROMPT: What do you do because it matters to you? And what do you do because you want to signal something to other people? SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate HIG...

You asked, and McKenzie Flinchum answers. Today, I'm catching up with the RD and CPT to get the lowdown on how to properly fuel before, during, and after your workouts. We talk the ever-popular carb:protein ratio, when you should be drinking H20 versus electrolytes, what's the most important post-sweat macronutrient, and so much more. Spoiler alert: Stop. Ignoring. Carbs. SOCIAL @mckenziegracefit...

Be prepared to be ridiculously inspired. This week, I’m sitting down one-on-one with Nichelle Hines, an actor, activist, and CRO at Cycle House , an LA-based cycling studio. Her passion is wild. In episode 123, she gives me her entire backstory, talking me through a college weight gain (and the loss that followed), then moving to LA from San Francisco to follow her dream to acting. She talks about...

Laterpology (noun): A regretful acknowledgment of an offense or failure well after the fact. For today's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I'm talking about how valuable they can be and one I offered recently.  PROMPT: Is there anyone you'd offer a laterpology to, and why? SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE LISTEN: The Michelle Obama Podcast LISTEN: Making Oprah from WBEZ COOK: Chees...

I'm out in Rhode Island this week, and yesterday I took the morning off from work to ride 50 miles to and from Newport. My thoughts were consumed by the fact that there are so many things no one tells you about when you decide to pick up road cycling (and don't even get me started on mountain biking).  So, on the tails of the #HURDLEMOMENT on 8 Essential Lessons I Learned As A New Cyclist , I...

Mary Cain believes that her legacy in sport will have nothing to do with medals. Rather, it will be about the conversation she had on a very public stage last November. For episode 122, I’m chatting with the runner about everything from her early-on success — being the youngest athlete to ever make a World Championships final at age 17 back in 2013 — to her op-ed in The New York Times at the end o...

The moments before the run are big. Monumental, even. I argue, the most important part. They're slightly anxious, a little excited, and often hesitant. During those give-or-take 30 seconds where you’re debating initiating the actual effort, oftentimes you encounter some sort of minuscule annoyance, like the fact that your watch isn’t picking up a GPS signal or perhaps a wonky, unsettled feeling in...