Wake up. Drink coffee. Procrastinate getting work started. Zoom meeting. Go into the kitchen 12 times. Shower. Houseparty invite. Spend too much time on your phone. Repeat. I’m right there with you: These days feel all sorts of wonky. The good news? Although we may not be as productive as we’d like right now, I’ve found some great strategies to amp up motivation and get through. Today, I’m offering up five strategies to get motivated when you feel blah, and encouraging you to have some kindness ...
Apr 15, 2020•15 min
On an October morning in 2005, Gabby Bernstein was sitting on her apartment floor still under the influence from the night before when it hit her like a ton of bricks: She had to make a change. Fast forward almost 15 years later, the then nightlife publicist is now a new mom, New York Times bestselling author, and renowned public speaker, helping people everywhere to walk their own spiritual path. I’m so excited to bring you this long-awaited conversation, which dives into Gabby’s journey of fin...
Apr 13, 2020•34 min•Season 2Ep. 103
Welcome to 5-minute Fridays, a new segment that I’m bringing to you weekly in this new “normal.” My goal with this quick episode is to share a story, offer you a prompt that makes you think, and share a few of my top highlights of the week — whether that’s a podcast, an app, a streaming workout, a quote — you get the idea. PLEASE, let me know what you think. Do you like this? What do you want to hear about? PROMPT : Set a timer for 3 to 5 minutes and write down as many things as you can that mak...
Apr 10, 2020•10 min
There is no such thing as "normal" right now. Some days may feel easy breezy and others feel like you're about to summit Everest. You are NOT alone. Today, I'm chatting up the strategies I've been using to counteract stress and overwhelm, and how to stay positive when — TBH — there's a lot of negativity lingering around at the moment. I also give feedback on my social media cleanse from the weekend, which may have been the best thing I've done so far in 2020. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast...
Apr 08, 2020•14 min
This week I am chatting with Joe Yoon, better known to his 1.3 million Instagram followers @ JoeTherapy . He’s a certified personal trainer and licensed massage therapist, and his client roster includes everyone from Olympic gold medalists and NFL Pro Bowl players to championship bodybuilders. In episode 102, we chat about how getting kicked out of his major in college inspired him to become a fitness professional. We also touch on exactly how he managed to turn that #hurdlemoment into motivatio...
Apr 06, 2020•51 min•Season 2Ep. 102
I went on a quick run yesterday morning. On that run, I marinated on how I would feel if tomorrow I was told I couldn’t go out anymore. If tomorrow, I found out I had to stop being a “runner,” at least for a bit. It got me thinking, how are we evolving during this time? What am I, aside from the labels that are in my Instagram bio? Who is it that I WANT to be? Prompt: How do you define yourself? This is bigger than your occupation or your hobbies. Talk to me about your values and your character....
Apr 03, 2020•8 min
More than ever, people are taking to the streets and trails to try to get in some exercise. As of now, the experts say that if you’re practicing social distancing and exercising SOLO — it’s OK to run outside. In today’s #hurdlemoment, I talk about my why for continuing to run outdoors, and I address the concerns that Hurdlers are sending me via DM and email. I also offer up best-practice tips for newer runners, including how far you should (or shouldn’t) be going, what sneakers to wear, and how ...
Apr 01, 2020•16 min
Natalie Kuhn has helped me a lot over the past few weeks, which have been spent mostly alone in my small New York City apartment. Not over the phone or even via text, but rather by taking her class — The Class . As the Vice President of Programming and a founding teacher at Taryn Toomey’s The Class, a “spiritual fitness” experience (Nat’s words, not mine), she does this for a lot of people all around the globe. For episode 101, I’m getting to know her better, and we’re getting deep. Natalie gets...
Mar 30, 2020•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 101
Welcome back to 5-Minute Fridays, a new segment 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’s a podcast, an app, a streaming workout, a quote — you get the idea. PLEASE, let me know what you think. Do you like this? What do you want to hear about? ...
Mar 27, 2020•7 min
Hi, my name is Emily and I'm one of the many who were signed up to run a marathon this spring. Now that London has been postponed to October (just like Tokyo earlier this year and Boston, too) — I like many of you have the question: What happens next? Today, I'm chatting about this with Nike Running and Brooklyn Track Club trail and ultra coach Jes Woods. We rap about mental strategies to handle the shift, and then exactly what you should do with all of that built up fitness. Should I still run ...
Mar 25, 2020•17 min
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 compulsive disorder and struggling with disordered eating, as well as coming back time and time again f...
Mar 23, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 100
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, tie your sneakers before doing any sort of activity or workout, snap a video, and upload it to the...
Mar 23, 2020•5 min
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’s a podcast, an app, a streaming workout, a quote — you get the idea. PLEASE, let me know what you t...
Mar 20, 2020•6 min
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 many deep breaths I take, it isn't getting easier. Relatable, yeah? Listen . Getting overwhelmed ha...
Mar 18, 2020•11 min
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 these during the next few weeks, so — send your questions to me either via Instagram or over email at ...
Mar 16, 2020•19 min
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-20s, Georgia is wise beyond her years (also: stunning both inside and out). On today’s show, we talk about...
Mar 16, 2020•45 min•Season 2Ep. 99
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 stories about growing up with athletics, coming into our own as women, and the many, many lessons that...
Mar 13, 2020•49 min
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 #hurdlemoment this week, I’m chatting up strategies to navigate impostor syndrome and come out on the othe...
Mar 11, 2020•13 min
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 drink-slinger) in New York City, and the unexpected proposition that had her moving to the west coast....
Mar 09, 2020•59 min•Season 2Ep. 98
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 or joining a run club to building a playlist and setting reasonable expectations, these tricks have...
Mar 04, 2020•12 min
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 times of 1:04:00 and 1:13:00 qualify men and women, respectively.) I sit down with three super-humans ...
Mar 03, 2020•57 min
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. Megan tells me about leaving a job in the music industry and Los Angeles for San Diego to work at the ...
Mar 02, 2020•52 min•Season 2Ep. 97
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 means when someone approaches a situation with unshakeable negativity, and how to best greet that pe...
Feb 26, 2020•11 min
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 Kevin as a pitcher for the White Sox. For episode 96, we talk through the hard times that followed th...
Feb 24, 2020•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 96
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 feet are. This week, I’m tackling the important subject of “presence” for #hurdlemoment. Because really...
Feb 19, 2020•10 min
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 understatement. She talks to me about a few #hurdlemoments in her career that made her realize that she ...
Feb 18, 2020•50 min•Season 2Ep. 95
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 take note of the things that you appreciate about yourself — from strong personality traits to physical...
Feb 12, 2020•13 min
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 five years sober, Williams says he’s in the best mental and physical shape of his life — as he’s shifte...
Feb 10, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 94
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 THIS EPISODE #HURDLEMOMENT: What You Need to Know for Race Day with Robin Arzon Episode 27: Kirsty Gods...
Feb 05, 2020•16 min
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 to what it was like traveling the globe as a professional tennis player. Wendy talks to me about the...
Feb 03, 2020•43 min•Season 2Ep. 93
