Hurdle

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 "smaller is better." Fact: You CAN find happiness at many different sizes. In today's episode, I'm asking a very important question: WHY do you really feel compelled to mention size to another person? For those that do want to address a recent weight loss or gain with a loved one, I'm offering up some smart tips on — what I perceive to be — the right way to go about it. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate HOW CAN I SUPPORT HURDLE? I’m so glad you asked! Start by telling your friends and leaving a rating and review in the iTunes store (or, wherever you're listening to this). SUPPORT THE SPONSORS: For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors, their respective vanity URLs, and discount codes — click here. REGISTER FOR A HURDLE SESSION Last week, I kicked off the launch of Hurdle Sessions: New online seminar programming, aiming to provide Hurdlers with education surrounding topics I’m well-versed in as a veteran journalist, entrepreneur, and run coach. Last Tuesday, we covered “Intro to Podcasting,” which is available for purchase on the Hurdle website. Each Hurdle Session includes downloadable materials and a charitable donation. Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle newsletter, here.

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 about race and how it played into both of our upbringings. Fun fact: Jess almost skipped out on the opportunity to become a Peloton instructor because of one huge hurdle. Now two years into her time as an instructor for the mega-brand, she can’t imagine life without the members of the Peloton community. SOCIAL @jsimsfit @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate OFFERS Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary. Green Chef  | Head to GreenChef.com/hurdle80 to get $80 off your first month plus free shipping on your first box! Use code “hurdle80” to at checkout. HOW CAN I SUPPORT HURDLE? I’m so glad you asked! Start by telling your friends and leaving a rating and review in the iTunes store (or, wherever you're listening to this). SUPPORT THE SPONSORS: For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors, their respective vanity URLs, and discount codes — click here. REGISTER FOR A HURDLE SESSION Last week, I kicked off the launch of Hurdle Sessions: New online seminar programming, aiming to provide Hurdlers with education surrounding topics I’m well-versed in as a veteran journalist, entrepreneur, and run coach. On Tuesday, we covered “Intro to Podcasting,” which is available for purchase on the Hurdle website. Coming up on Tuesday is “Intro to Freelance Writing.” Each Hurdle Session includes downloadable materials and a charitable donation. Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle, here.

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 someone offers you 45 minutes to talk about you week after week. For a while, I was giving some of the wrong things too much of mine.  Your energy is your magic. In today's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I talk about this and more, as well as encourage you to do a personal audit. PROMPT: What is one thing in your life that’s draining your energy? What’s one thing that excites you that you can replace it with? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 120. Chris Bennett: Nike Running Global Head Coach #HURDLEMOMENT, How to Protect Your Energy VISIT: LooksLikeYouNeedIceland.com LISTEN: How I Build This with Guy Raz, Tatcha: Vicky Tsai JOIN: Club Hurdlers on Strava BUY: Baronfig Hardcover Notebook ($18) HOW CAN I SUPPORT HURDLE? I’m so glad you asked! Start by telling your friends and leaving a rating and review in the iTunes store (or, wherever you're listening to this). SUPPORT THE SPONSORS: For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors, their respective vanity URLs, and discount codes — click here. REGISTER: Hurdle Sessions Last week, I kicked off the launch of Hurdle Sessions: New online seminar programming, aiming to provide Hurdlers with education surrounding topics I’m well-versed in as a veteran journalist, entrepreneur, and run coach. On Tuesday, we covered “Intro to Podcasting,” which will be available for purchase shortly on the Hurdle website and raised $350 (!) for The Loveland Foundation. Coming up on Tuesday is “Intro to Freelance Writing.” Each Hurdle Session includes downloadable materials and a charitable donation. Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle, here.

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 Running Global Head Coach Episode One: Emily Abbate, Creator of Hurdle Megababe: Thigh Rescue Bodyglide Gatorade Endurance Chews CLIF Chews SUBSCRIBE Weekly Hurdle newsletter SIGN UP FOR HURDLE SESSIONS Support the sponsors: For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors, their respective vanity URLs, and discount codes — click here. Disclosure: Some of the items above are hyperlinked to an affiliate program. I am a (new!) participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

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: Himself. We chat about his backstory, running from a young age in New Jersey through college, and the #hurdlemoments he had along the way (including a sour relationship with the 4:00 mile). He confesses that without his wife, he may not be a run coach today, and talks to me about his hopes for the running boom we’re in right now. As someone who’s constantly showing up to be everyone else’s cheerleader, I found it super, super interesting to get to know the man behind the Nikes. Fun fact: Bennett was one of my original “dream guests.” Thanks for encouraging me to be a better me, Coach. SOCIAL @coachbennett @nikerunning @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Nike Run Club App SIGN UP Hurdle Sessions: Intro to Podcasting Hurdle Sessions: Intro to Freelance Writing Weekly Hurdle newsletter OFFERS Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary. Four Sigmatic | Go to foursigmatic.com/HURDLE or enter code “HURDLE” at checkout to receive 15% off your order. Daily Harvest | Go to DailyHarvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box.

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, and trust me — the guests coming up are not to be missed! The show will be on a one week season break the week of July 6. SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEKLY HURDLE NEWSLETTER! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Lyons Den Power Yoga READ: “A Movement, Not a Moment” from GQ LISTEN: Monovision by Ray Lamontagne BUY: Roka Phantom ($250), District Vision Indigo Mirror ($249), Oakley Frogskins ($164) LISTEN: Brené Brown with Judd Apatow on Vulnerability and Laughter SIGN UP: Daily Writing Dose from Erin Bailey HOW CAN I SUPPORT HURDLE? I’m so glad you asked! Subscribe and review Hurdle:  iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher | Anchor Considering signing up to be a paid subscriber of the Weekly Hurdle. Support the sponsors: For a complete list of Hurdle’s sponsors, their respective vanity URLs, and discount codes — click here.

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 shorts (spoiler: You need them). Plus, offering up some of my favorite gear picks. A huge thanks to my friends at Specialized for making this possible. About 900 miles in, I'm so grateful for my new hobby and the lessons it's teaching me. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Specialized Roubaix Cannondale Synapse Lululemon City to Summit Short Lululemon City to Summit Cycling Jersey Machines for Freedom The Florazzo Print Blackburn water bottle cage

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 Harvard, selling that company and moving to Los Angeles, and the business meeting where Thrive was born. We also discuss his decision to donate his 2020 salary to COVID-19 relief, and his best advice for aspiring entrepreneurs. SOCIAL @thrivemarket @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate OFFERS Beam | Head to beamtlc.com to get 15 percent off your purchase using the code “HURDLE” at checkout. Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary.

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 anywhere with anyone, where would you be and with who? MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The New York City Marathon Jay-Z’s MTV Unplugged album New York or Nowhere Confetti Capsule Collection Where to Begin by Cleo Wade “How to Make Journaling Work for You” from Life Kit by NPR Dr. Darien Sutton (@doctor.darien) DONATE: 1 Million Miles for Justice with Black Girls Run SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate DEALS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT The Best of Beam ($29, a $59 value): You’ve heard me talk about Beam on the show before. They’re doing something that’s pretty awesome right now, offering up a “best-of” Beam pack that has a bunch of their bestselling products, including 2 single serves of dream capsules, dream blends, and revive along with a sample of boost. Use code “HURDLE” at checkout for 15 percent off your order. Four Sigmatic’s Summer Sale: From now through June 28, Four Sigmatic is having their biggest sale of the year with savings up to 50 percent off their most popular products. Get an EXTRA 15% off with code “HURDLE.” My two go-to products are the peanut butter protein (I’m o-b-s-e-s-s-e-d) and the mushroom coffee with lion's mane. 

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 become a morning person. (Spoiler alert: you may have to have a chat with your parents after listening to this.) SOCIAL @drbblair @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast OFFERS Four Sigmatic  |  Head to foursigmatic.com/hurdle and use the code “HURDLE” at checkout for 15 percent off your purchase today.