Hurdle with Emily Abbate

Molly Seidel ran her first-ever full marathon on February 29, 2020. She also qualified for the Tokyo Olympics. Coming in second at the U.S. Olympic trials in Atlanta, Seidel made her biggest dreams come true — and headlines in the process. But not all that long ago, Seidel was facing some major hurdles. In episode 1-0-0 (!!!), Molly talks me through what life was like growing up with obsessive com...

In celebration of episode 100, I’m challenging YOU! So many of us are feeling lonely and unsure in these difficult times, so let’s band together to move with intention. It doesn’t matter what you’re putting on your kicks to do, all that matters is that you are committed to making movement a daily habit. Enter #thelaceup, a fun thing I started doing a couple years back on Instagram. Simply sit down...

I’M TRYING SOMETHING NEW! EEEK! Welcome to 5-Minute Fridays, a new segment (maybe permanent, maybe not) that I’m bringing to you weekly in this new “normal.” It’s a phrase that I’m sure you’ve heard other content creators use this before. My goal here: In give-or-take 5 minutes, share a story, offer you a prompt that makes you think, and share a few of my top highlights of the week — whether that’...

Lately it feels just like a lot. From the moment we wake up, the news is overwhelming. I feel as though like there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything that I want to, and as someone that’s super type A — the uncertainty that surrounds planning and scheduling when we don’t know what’s going on in the world with ~coronavirus~ makes me feel the most on the edge. I feel as if no matter how...

You’re overwhelmed. You have questions. Covid-19 is (almost) all anyone's talking about. That’s why I connected with Dr. Darien Sutton , a trained emergency physician and host of Doctors Without Boundaries . We address questions like “is it safe to run outside?” “is it safe to do things in groups?” “how long will this last?” and “how can I better manage my anxiety?” I expect to do a few more of th...

Hundred-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put,  200-meter run (day one). Running long (broad) jump, javelin throw, and 800-meter run (day two). All those events: One. Superstar. Athlete. For episode 99 (!!) I’m chatting with Georgia Ellenwood, heptathlete and Olympic hopeful. We sat down earlier this year at the Under Armour Human Performance Summit, and let me tell you — for a woman in her mid-...

In honor of International Women’s Day, I sat down with a stellar panel of inspiring women — Molly Ritterbeck (Fitness, Training, and Health Director at Runner’s World and Bicycling), Samia Akbar (Marketing Manager at New Balance), and Lindsey Clayton (Barry’s Bootcamp Senior Instructor, run coach, and founder of Brave Body Project) — to chat about how sport has made us who we are today. We swap st...

Impostor syndrome is the pits. Loosely defined, impostor syndrome is when you feel like an impostor — but you shouldn’t. It makes you question whether you’ve only succeeded because of luck or circumstance — not because of your talent or qualifications. This feeling creeps in on even some of the most confident people, but the good news is that we all have the necessary tools to fight it. For #hurdl...

There’s something undeniably contagious about Lindsey Simcik’s personality. It’s no wonder why the podcast and brand she co-founded, Almost 30 , along with Krista Williams is thriving. Real talk: I had a total fangirl moment when the two of us sat down in Los Angeles recently. In episode 98, Lindsey talks to me about her upbringing, what it was like as an aspiring Broadway star (also: part-time dr...

Long runs can be really intimidating. The word “long” is also interpretive, right? Regardless of whether going “long” means tackling a 5K or 50K (or more!) — being out there for some time can get a little mundane. Don’t worry, I’ve got your back. On today’s #hurdlemoment, I’m talking you through a few of my tried-and-true strategies for making long runs more enjoyable. From teaming up with friends...

Popping into your feed today with a special live episode of Hurdle, recorded this past weekend at the Olympic marathon trials in Atlanta at the Brooks Hyperion House. For those unfamiliar with how this works, men and women around the country have the opportunity to go to the Olympics, based on their fastest marathon times. For men that’s 2:19:00 and for women, it’s 2:45:00. (Also, half-marathon ti...

After googling “wellness Southern California” Megan Monahan found herself at a weeklong program at the Chopra Center that awakened her spirit and saved her life. In episode 97, we chat about how studying meditation under the famous Deepak Chopra has positively influenced her in so many ways, including enabling her to forgive her father — who struggled with alcoholism — before he passed in 2013. Me...

In a perfect world, a lot of us would choose to avoid confrontation at all costs. Reality check: Tough conversations aren’t ideal, but there’s always growth on the other side of adversity. In today’s #hurdlemoment, I’m highlighting four strategies I use to navigate rough dialogues, and offer up the best piece of advice I’ve been given over the past few years. Plus: A necessary reminder on what it...

For those of you who feel like you just don’t understand CBD at all, this episode should fix that. For today’s show, I'm chatting with Matt Lombardi and Kevin Moran, the co-founders of Beam, a company that makes CBD products for wellness, rest, and athletic recovery. Both former pro athletes, Matt and Kevin have similar stories about unexpectedly departing from their sports, Matt with hockey and K...

It didn’t hit me until about an hour into last week’s Miami Half Marathon: I wasn’t paying attention to anything around me. I wasn’t taking in the experience. Instead, I was so in my head, worrying about paces and a potential outcome, missing out of the real point of taking on this challenge in a faraway city. An interaction with another runner made me remember the importance of being where my fee...

There is nothing easy about the road to Tokyo for “400M Diva” Natasha Hastings. A two-time Olympic gold medalist, the sprinter recently celebrated another major, magical milestone: Becoming a mom. In episode 95, I sit down with Natasha at the Under Armour Human Performance Summit at their Baltimore headquarters. To say that I’m in awe of her strength, determination, and power would be a total unde...

So, this is a vulnerable one. We meet again, Valentine's Day. Whether you're attached or not this year, there's something I can't stress enough: No other person can fill the void if you don't love yourself. It's called self-love for a reason, right? It starts with you. Today, I'm finally writing myself a letter that I should've written long ago. Today, I'm encouraging you to write one, too, to tak...

Growing up in the Chicago area, Neen Williams knew from a young age that skate was his calling. Moving to Los Angeles on a whim to embrace his passions after dropping out of high school, Williams recalls a life where skate and partying were intertwined. In episode 94, Williams opens up to me about the #hurdlemoment involving a trick gone wrong and an ACL tear that changed his life forever. Now fiv...

New York (4). Boston. Chicago. Dublin. Hartford. I’ve run eight marathons now, but there was a time that I could barely run a mile — nevertheless 26.2 continuously. I’m an entirely different person now than when I started in 2013. Today, I’m recapping eight valuable lessons I learned over the past seven years of marathoning, applicable to everyone — whether you’re a runner or not. MENTIONED IN THI...

Open your bedroom closet. You most likely have a pair of shoes from one of the many companies that Wendy Yang has worked at. Now the president of HOKA One One, Sanuk, and Teva, to say that Wendy’s career path is impressive would be an understatement. In episode 93, I sit down with the New England native to talk about everything from her upbringing as the daughter of a major league baseball player...

It's been a tough week. A thought-provoking week. Today, I'm reflecting on all sorts of ~feelings~ and asking an important question: What is it that you want your legacy to be, and what can you do with the time that you have to make a lasting impact? You don’t need to be an elite athlete, top CEO, or hold some sort of world record to make your mark.  OFFERS Beam | Head to beamtlc.com  to...

Will Ahmed thrived as a college athlete at Harvard. But at least once a season, the top squash player would work so hard that he’d dabble in overtraining, seeing mono-like symptoms that dramatically effected his performance and body. In episode 92, the WHOOP founder and CEO talks about his inspiration for creating the wrist-worn heart rate monitor, and how he took it from an unwearable device the...

Ask and you will receive. “What sneakers should I buy?” is one of the most popular questions I get over email or in my DMs. Fun fact: There is no Goldilocks running sneaker that every single person should get, ASAP. However, there are a slew of popular mistakes that many consumers make when purchasing their next pair. I dive into what you need to know about purchasing your best pick, from sizing t...

Ashwagandha. Rehmannia. Maca. Pearl Extract. Try to say some of the ingredients on a Moon Juice label, and you may wonder if you’re speaking a foreign language. But in her 20s, the frequently used adaptogens were part of the all-natural puzzle that helped to heal Amanda Chantal Bacon of an autoimmune condition — inspiring her to create the cult-favorite brand. What started as a stand-alone fresh p...

I am valuable. I am important. Today, we’re practicing affirmations and working through a few exercises that reinforce your sense of self-worth. This week’s #hurdlemoment hinges on a quote that I read not all that long ago: “Don’t beg people to sit at the table with you.” Plain and simple: We all deserve to feel worthy, and today I’m chatting about how to better invest your time in the scenarios a...