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 get 15 percent off your purchase using the code “HURDLE” at checkout. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Episode 54, Lei...
Jan 29, 2020•12 min
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 size of a shoe box to a strap worn by everyone from top athletes to average Joes (myself included). ...
Jan 27, 2020•55 min•Season 2Ep. 92
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 tips to science-backed suggestions. Plus: I reveal some of the go-to styles that I wear on the regula...
Jan 22, 2020•16 min
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 pressed juice bar in Venice back in 2011 is now a global holistic company, selling everything from me...
Jan 21, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 91
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 and individuals that build you up. Because once you own your worth, you're ready to vibrate at a high...
Jan 15, 2020•11 min
Season two, episode one! Latoya Shauntay Snell calls herself a “recovering self defeatist.” Today, she’s thriving as a freelance chef, sponsored athlete, and writer. In episode 90, the Brooklyn native tells me about how she found a life drenched in sweat, leaving behind her days as an alcoholic in favor of running. We also chat about what it was like when she became viral sensation after speaking out against hecklers at the 2017 New York City Marathon, running through the emotional pain of multi...
Jan 13, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 90
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HURDLE! Two years ago, Hurdle hit iTunes. In this combo anniversary/new year's episode, I’m giddily recapping eight of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from the past 365 days behind the microphone, including some gems from fan-favorites including Joe Holder, Dorothy Beal, Tia-Claire Toomey, and more. A huge, huge thank you to all of the listeners, guests, and everyone else who helped to make my second year as a podcaster one for the charts (literally). SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast...
Jan 01, 2020•15 min
Take a quick peak at Robin Arzon’s Instagram, @robinnyc . It’s hard to imagine a time when activity wasn’t a part of her everyday life. After a near-death experience at age 20 when Arzon was held hostage at gunpoint in New York City’s East Village, she leaned into movement and running for the first time to help her process the trauma. Soon enough, the then-lawyer turned away from her conventional 9-to-5 with hopes to turn her passion for sweat into her career. That’s when she found Peloton. Toda...
Dec 30, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 89
A Christmas morning car accident was the #hurdlemoment that changed Andy Puddicombe’s life forever. Looking to process sudden loss, he went to Asia to study as a Buddhist monk. After 10 years of practice, Puddicombe wanted to help others understand the benefits of meditation. That’s when he met co-founder Rich Pierson, and Headspace was born. What once started as an events company, Headspace now has more than 30 million users and 1 million paid subscribers. In episode 30, we dive into the endles...
Dec 23, 2019•59 min•Season 1Ep. 88
I did something last week that really made me think. This is that thing . In today's #hurdlemoment, I'm chatting all about what I'm letting go of in the new year. After you listen to this episode, hit me up on Instagram @emilyabbate or @hurdlepodcast, and share with me what it is that you want to release in 2020. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate...
Dec 18, 2019•11 min
Sit down next to Katie Sturino, and you’ll instantly feel like you’ve got a new best friend. The body positivity advocate, Megababe founder, and creator of the blog The 12ish Style has a way about her that’s entirely charming, which is no wonder why 419K people are following her on social media. In episode 87, we chat about the divorce #hurdlemoment from a few years ago that lead to a life-changing weight gain. Sturino tells me about how the extra pounds made her feel more like herself, comforta...
Dec 16, 2019•50 min•Season 1Ep. 87
I ask it to my guests week after week, and for this episode — I'm answering the question myself. The idea came from a lot of time spent reflecting on a recent trip away in Hawaii. TBH, the question provokes a lot of feelings, and makes me realize that I'm just a woman trying to her best self every single day. The goal for this week's #hurdlemoment? To be honest, and to encourage you to be honest, too. After listening, try the exercise I talk about today yourself, and then share with me on Instag...
Dec 11, 2019•9 min
I could listen to Knox Robinson talk for a while, which is no wonder why this is my longest Hurdle to date. The Brooklyn resident writer and runner has his fair share of how-did-that-even-happen stories, from his days logging miles in Ethiopia with Mo Farah and running with Eliud Kipchoge in Kenya to heading up Fader Magazine and writing Kanye West’s first cover article. Upon sitting down with the father-of-two and run coach, I saw a whole other side of him that perhaps his 27.6K Instagram follo...
Dec 09, 2019•1 hr 26 min•Season 1Ep. 86
It's the holidays, which means a whole lot of festivities (wahoo!). With festivities, come food, drink, and a shift in your typical routine. Listen, this stuff comes around once a year. And while you certainly don't need to go for a run or work out to "earn" a meal (I'll take seconds of apple pie, please), it's OK to admit that when you may have overindulged a little bit. Maybe you're already there. Maybe not. Regardless, I'm here to tell you it's OK to want to feel better post-celebrations. The...
Dec 04, 2019•9 min
The biggest lesson I was reminded of talking to The North Face’s Vice President of Global Product Kelly Cortina? You have to put your oxygen mask on first before you can help others. That, and there’s true value in being vulnerable. Excited to bring you my conversation with the Connecticut native in episode 85 of Hurdle, where she gives me the lowdown on her career path — starting at Abercrombie & Fitch and making her way to TNF. We talk about the difficult #hurdlemoment of relocating her fa...
Dec 02, 2019•46 min•Season 1Ep. 85
It's chilly out there! On today's #hurdlemoment, I'm dishing with Nike+ run coach Jes Woods about how to best-handle running come the cooler months. We talk about everything from best practices to what you should be wearing (plus—what you shouldn't), as well as when is the appropriate time to trade in outdoor miles for a date with the tread. Plus, our top gear picks! SOCIAL @jeslynnyc @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The North Face Futurelight Jacket Lululemon Down for It Al...
Nov 27, 2019•16 min
This was some of the most fun I’ve had recording an episode of Hurdle. This week, I’m sitting down with Brendan Dunne, a Deputy Editor at Complex, co-host of the wildly popular weekly talk show Full Size Run , and a good friend of mine. In episode 84, he tells me how he managed to make a career creating content about sneakers (he’s got 60 pairs alone at his desk, nevertheless his Brooklyn apartment). We also chat about the circumstances that inspired him to lace up and become a runner, and how f...
Nov 25, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 84
This feels awkward. But, it also feels necessary. In today's #hurdlemoment., I'm talking about something that a lot of people don't want to, and that's mental health. Just over a month ago, at age 31, I finally started going to speak to a therapist. It's without-a-doubt, the biggest investment (financially, for sure) that I've ever made in myself, and it feels really really special. I give you the lowdown on what took me so long, how I found the right practitioner for me, and the awakening piece...
Nov 20, 2019•12 min
Nina Williams didn’t exactly have a smooth start to her climbing career. At age 13, she felt an intense, overwhelming pressure to win. That, plus a lack of confidence, lead her to cheat in a series of climbing competitions. She reflects on the #hurdlemoment of getting caught as “lucky,” saying that she wouldn't be the climber she is today if she had stayed in that dark place. In episode 83, the fan of highball bouldering talks about how she moved forward and the beautiful lessons she learned abo...
Nov 18, 2019•49 min•Season 1Ep. 83
Robin Arzon. Jaclyn Johnson. Lauren Abedini. D’ana Nuñez . To say that these four women are inspirational would be a total understatement. If you’re in a rut. If you’re in the middle of trying to make a big decision. If you’re starting something new. Maybe, you’re just commuting on the subway. Wherever you happen to be when you listen to this episode, prepare to be motivated. I sat down with these four ladies with the help of ROAR Organic to chat all things bossing up. We chat about everything f...
Nov 13, 2019•53 min
“The relationship you have with yourself is the longest relationship you’ll ever have; make it a good one.” To say this episode with runner Dorothy Beal is special would be a total understatement. With more than 75,000 people following along with her day-to-day body positive insights on Instagram as @mileposts, it’s difficult for the Virginia-born RRCA and USATF-certified run coach to remember a time when the sport wasn’t a part of her everyday life. In episode 82, the mother of three talks to m...
Nov 11, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 82
Well this was pretty fun! Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting down live with three other female rockstar podcasters, including Tina Muir ( Running for Real ), Angie Spencer ( Marathon Training Academy ), and Carrie Tollefson ( C Tolle Run ). We shared a slew of laughs and chatted all things podcasting and marathoning, how we got in to both, and the myriad of lessons we've picked up along the way on everything from racing nutrition to how to handle total "failures." Huge thanks to UCAN for b...
Nov 06, 2019•55 min
Spoiler alert: This may be one of my favorite episodes to date. When Charlie Dark ( @daddydarkrdc ) started running, he was in a bad place. Dropped by his record label, the DJ and poet was teaching a poetry and creative writing class in east London and had recently lost a friend of his. It began under the cover of darkness. Between 1 and 3 a.m., he’d leave the recording studio in the early hours of the morning and run home. “I didn’t want anyone to see me. I didn’t need anyone to watch me fail.”...
Nov 04, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Season 1Ep. 81
Let's. GO! Would you expect anything else from me this week? I've run it four times, after all. In today's #hurdlemoment, I'm offering up some tricks to tackling the November 3 #NYCMarathon. From how to handle the starting village to whether or not runners should really be freaking out about the hills — this is the rundown you've been waiting for. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate...
Oct 30, 2019•12 min
“Call me G,” was the first thing Gilad Jacobs told me when I met him, and that’s pretty indicative of the kind of guy he is. Personable. Friendly. Also — hardworking. For almost eight years now, Jacobs has been the CEO of Boston-based recovery favorite NormaTec — best known for their Pulse 2.0 Recovery system, which hooks up to the big compression boots you see everywhere from NFL sidelines to the local physical therapist’s office. In episode 80, he talks to me about his late mother — an MD and ...
Oct 28, 2019•55 min•Season 1Ep. 80
Now what? It’s the inevitable question we all ask ourselves after we complete any race — whether it’s a 5K or a marathon. Often times, crossing that finish line is a gateway to all sorts of feelings, many of them difficult to handle. In today’s #hurdlemoment, I talk about what I call the “post-marathon blues” (PMB). Those hard-to-handle emotions that come once you’ve tackled your big crazy goal, often associated sentences like “I can’t stop eating” and “I feel like I have no purpose now.” I touc...
Oct 23, 2019•11 min
Lisa Hayim, MS, RD, is a breath of fresh air. The registered dietician and founder of The Well Necessities shoots it straight and isn’t afraid to speak candidly about the journey that’s brought her to where she is today. In episode 79, she opens up about dealing with disordered eating herself when she was younger, and the jarring #hurdlemoment that had her questioning the way she speaks to her audience as a professional. We also chat easy strategies to implement into your regular routine that ca...
Oct 21, 2019•59 min•Season 1Ep. 79
I am a 3:28:08 marathoner. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be saying that sentence. In today’s #hurdlemoment — a recap of last weekend’s Chicago Marathon — I give the rundown on how the 21:08 PR happened, from the prep and what I did differently for my eight marathon to how I got my mind right walking to the starting line. I get emotional (surprise) reflecting on the highs and lows of the race, and talk about what’s next for me (plus, what’s not). SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate ME...
Oct 16, 2019•26 min
The CrossFit Open is here, which means now is the perfect time to bring you my conversation with Katrin Davidsdottir. The Iceland native got into CrossFit because her mom thought that she’d be good at it. Fast forward two years, and she was already competing on an international stage at the CrossFit Games in 2012. Now, she’s a 2x Games champion, but she’s also had her fair share of hardships along the way. In episode 78, we talk about the single event that changed the course of her career as an ...
Oct 14, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 78
What should I eat when I’m training? What about the night before a race? What about DURING? Plain and simple: This episode has been a long time coming. In this week’s #hurdlemoment, I sit down with registered dietitian and nutritionist Keri Glassman. She gives us the lowdown on all the things runners need to know about fuel, touching on topics from carbo-loading to energy gels. Plus: What’s up with people giving up alcohol during training and is that post-race burger and a beer OK? Take a breath...
Oct 09, 2019•27 min
