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 (plus, all the fun stuff in between). She also shares what it was like to grow up as a serious dancer, how s...
Sep 08, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 128
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 did you choose this person? SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE SEND: A Piñat...
Sep 04, 2020•9 min
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 how the effort made me feel. Today's real MVP is Brett Williams, who was my safe-and-socially-distanc...
Sep 02, 2020•12 min
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 what it was like to pivot on the track. We also chat about her fueling strategy, navigating injury, t...
Aug 31, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Season 3Ep. 127
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 uncomfortable when it comes to making some new connections. PROMPT : Are you willing to show up and be seen whe...
Aug 28, 2020•11 min
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. SOCIAL @coach.samtooley @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast OFFERS UCAN | Head to ucan.co and save 20% on y...
Aug 26, 2020•28 min
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 to succeed in her sport at a young age, and what it was like to fall short of her goal in back-to-b...
Aug 24, 2020•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 126
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? SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE LISTEN: NPR’s Life Kit: How to Vote By Mail: A G...
Aug 21, 2020•12 min
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 what you're listening to? For more insight, check out this week's Hurdle Session: Finding Your Power Al...
Aug 19, 2020•17 min
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 ultramarathoner, known to her rapid social media following as "the Mirnavator." For episode 125, we chat about ev...
Aug 17, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Season 3Ep. 125
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 @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Almost 30: Baring It All with The Birds Papaya Lindsey ...
Aug 14, 2020•11 min
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 products I talk about on the show include them. That's where Danielle Ryan Broida comes in, the national educato...
Aug 12, 2020•35 min
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 MGMT, the Los Angeles native started battling crippling anxiety and panic attacks. So, he took a ste...
Aug 10, 2020•1 hr 18 min•Season 3Ep. 124
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 HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK LISTEN: Zach to the Future WATCH: Uncorked on Netflix READ: Systemic Racism Can’...
Aug 07, 2020•11 min
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 @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle, here . SUPPORT THE SPONSORS : For a comp...
Aug 05, 2020•26 min
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 a tough #hurdlemoment in her career — the writers’ strike in 2007 — which caused her to take on odd...
Aug 03, 2020•1 hr 11 min•Season 3Ep. 123
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: Cheeseburger Chopped Salad with Dill Pickle Vinaigrette from How Sweet Eats BUY: My Cycling Kit Lululemon City ...
Jul 31, 2020•16 min
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'm back with some more takeways. This time, I'm talking about bike-friendly roads (and some not-so-bike-fr...
Jul 29, 2020•12 min
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 of 2019. The 4:24 PR miler (!) talks to me about sharing her truth, speaking out about the emotional ...
Jul 27, 2020•1 hr 34 min•Season 3Ep. 122
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 your right knee. In these moments, you make the valuable, conscious decision to do something for yo...
Jul 24, 2020•11 min
Weight is a pretty taboo topic, like money or sex. This week for #HURDLEMOMENT, I'm sharing a recent conversation I had about mine with a follower, and offering up some insight on how NOT to address such a touchy subject (especially with someone you may not know all that well). As someone who has struggled with hers over the years — and is forever a work in progress when it comes to body confidence and positive self talk — it's interesting to be a part of any conversation where it's implied that...
Jul 22, 2020•14 min
I absolutely adore Jess Sims. If you’re looking for some motivating, fresh perspective on everything from how to tackle a workout when you definitely don’t feel like it to navigating loneliness — she is your woman. For episode 121, I’m chatting with the Peloton instructor about her upbringing in Massachusetts, her first career as an educator, and the big transition that came with pivoting into fitness full-time. We also talk about navigating the pandemic and have an important, tough conversation...
Jul 20, 2020•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 121
I’ve been seeing the same therapist since October. On Wednesday of this week, we had our last session together. I just had an inkling that I was ready to move on to the next chapter. Toward the beginning of our chat, she said “I’d like for us to round out our final session by you telling me what you’ve learned about yourself in our time together.” A few things stood out, but mainly this: It becomes pretty clear what things, people, and relationships you’re giving most of your energy to when some...
Jul 17, 2020•13 min
As Nelly once said: It's. Getting. Hot. Out . There. Summer running, complete with gross, thick humidity, can be uber difficult. Some days, it feels like you're a total slug. Tough conditions can make even the most experienced marathoners wonder whether they've ever laced up before. The good news? There are some tips and tricks that you can use on those hot, hard runs to make things more pleasant. Covering those in today's episode! MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE Episode 120: Chris Bennett, Nike Ru...
Jul 15, 2020•15 min
This is about running. This is not about running. Chris Bennett, better known to athletes worldwide as Nike Running’s Coach Bennett, has a special way with words that encourages athletes of every level to be their best. In episode 120, the first of Hurdle’s season three (!), Bennett talks about the things you may expect from a coach, like best-practice tips for newbies and veterans alike, as well as strategies for nailing hot, summer workouts. But we ALSO get into a subject he rarely talks about...
Jul 13, 2020•1 hr 36 min•Season 3Ep. 120
Easier said than done, that’s for sure. In this week’s 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I’m sharing a valuable lesson I learned a few years back about the difference between facts and feelings. It's been a game-changer for me when it comes to processing emotions and making positive progress. I'm also sharing a big breakthrough from the past week, involving my bike, a few hills, a bridge, and a supercharged fist pump. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast ANNOUNCEMENT Season three (!) of Hurdle kicks off on July 13...
Jul 03, 2020•12 min
At the beginning of April, I got beautiful new bicycle — a Specialized Roubaix. Since then, I've learned a helluva lot. From the must-carry essentials for every ride to the ins and outs of urban cycling, I can vouch that there's a huge learning curve when it comes to being a total newb. Good news: I've got you covered. For #HURDLEMOMENT this week, I'm giving you the download on what I've learned over the past 90 days. From the ins and outs of "clipping in" to the honest truth about padded bike s...
Jul 01, 2020•24 min
What do you get when Whole Foods meets Costco? Cue Thrive Market , an online, membership-driven shop that brings organic, top-quality finds at wholesale, affordable prices. For episode 119, I’m chatting with founder Nick Green, bringing it back to his beginnings outside of Minneapolis. We talk about how healthy living has always been a priority, growing up in a home where his mom sent him to sleepovers with his own no-sugar-added eats. He tells me about starting his first company while at Harvar...
Jun 29, 2020•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 119
I spent a better part of my day yesterday writing. But unlike most days, when I’m working on fitness content or offering up health tips, today’s words were mostly about my love for New York. Every day lately, it feels like someone new is telling me that they’re leaving this special place. Some permanently. Others just for now. New York has been one of the greatest loves of my life, and this week for 5-MINUTE FRIDAY I'm sharing why I'm not going anywhere, not yet. PROMPT : If you could be anywher...
Jun 26, 2020•12 min
Maybe you're having trouble sleeping. Perhaps, you're dreaming a ton. Or, you keep waking up in the middle of the night. Or *feel* as though you can't hit the pillow before taking melatonin. Sleep is one of the most important things in our lives, period. For #HURDLEMOMENT this week, I'm sitting down with Dr. Brittany Blair, a licensed clinical psychologist, board certified in both sleep and sexual medicine. She gives you the answers you've been looking for, including if it's REALLY possible to b...
Jun 24, 2020•31 min
