Hurdle

My 32nd birthday’s next week. With June 2 on the horizon, I’ve been doing a decent amount of reflection. I’ve stopped to think about the past 365 days. I’ve thought about my hopes for the next 365 days. I’ve reflected on all of my years as a whole. The other day I was standing in my bathroom, when I had a really unexpected, emotional moment thinking about where I'm at in my life. In today's episode, I chat about flipping the script, and instead of focusing on the things I don't have, thinking about all of the blessings that I do.  --- PROMPT: What’s one thing you’ve done in the past two weeks that makes you proud? SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Perfect Mile 1110. Matt Taylor, Tracksmith Co-Founder & CEO Dear Sunday #SaveRowgatta Custom Performance’s “Pay What You Like” sessions “We’re In This Together” sweater from Ellsworth + Ivey Running for Real podcast with Tina Muir Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor OFFERS Reebok | Go to reebok.com for 40% off sale and full price items with code “HURDLE” Note: global exclusions apply, including but not limited to Nano X, Zig, and Club C. Items will be marked as excluded on the product description page. Beam | New product alert! Obsessing over Beam’s newest release this week: Dream capsules, with nano CBD, melatonin, magnesium, reishi, and L-theanine. 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. Daily Harvest | Go to dailyharvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box. Power Dot | Go to powerdot.com and use the code “HURDLE” at checkout for 20% off. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP strap plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "HURDLE" at checkout. Four Sigmatic | Head to foursigmatic.com/hurdle and use the code “HURDLE” at checkout for 15 percent off your purchase today.

It’s no secret that I’m a morning person. If you follow me on social media, then you know I’m typically up with the sun. But my morning routine has definitely changed since we’ve been in quarantine, and this experimentation has actually done me a world of good. This week for #HURDLEMOMENT, I’m talking you through the four things I’m doing differently right now that actually make me better and more productive as the day goes on. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur by John Jantsch 108 Days of Mindfulosophy from Lululemon

Matt Taylor is super passionate about the sport of running, and TBH — it makes me pretty giddy. For episode 110, I chat with the Tracksmith CEO & founder about how he got to where he is today. He tells me about his aspirations of running professionally after growing up in Pittsburgh, running cross country in high school and then at collegiate level at Yale. He tells me that his times just weren’t cutting it, and that he pivoted to a few different jobs in the sports industry at places like IMG and Puma before launching Tracksmith. At the time, he says that he was frustrated with the appearance of almost all running gear, and after raising some money — kickstarted the brand with men’s apparel in 2014. Since then, they’ve introduced their magazine, METER, and rolled out a women’s apparel line as well. We chat about everything from the state of running right now and the shift of the 2020 Olympic games to what it was like to open the brand’s first brick and mortar store in Boston and his big hopes for the future of not just the company — but of running. SOCIAL @tracksmithrunning @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. Four Sigmatic | Go to foursigmatic.com/HURDLE or enter code “HURDLE” at checkout to receive 15% off your order.

This week for 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I'm sharing a story about a really special summer. Back in 2008, I was about halfway through my weight loss journey and about to embark on a new job as a programming director at a summer camp in Madison, Conn. Before I pulled up to 463 Summer Hill Road, I stopped to make a purchase that would change my life. The best part? It only cost me $45.  PROMPT: How have you invested in yourself recently? SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Episode One: Emily Abbate, Creator of Hurdle #HURDLEMOMENT: How to Start (and Stay) Running The Adidas Running App "The Last Dance” “Daddy Speaks” from Call Her Daddy Apple TV 4K Eddie Bauer Multiclava “The One Thing” by Gary Keller with Jay Papasan  Note: This week's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY topic (and a lot of feelings) was brought about by the news that Camp Laurelwood, like all other residential camps in Connecticut, won’t be allowed to open this year as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. There will be serious financial implications for Camp to not open this summer for the first time in Laurelwood’s 83-year history. Please, consider donating today. OFFERS Reebok | Go to reebok.com for 40% off sale and full price items with code “HURDLE” Note: global exclusions apply, including but not limited to Nano X, Zig, and Club C. Items will be marked as excluded on the product description page. 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. Daily Harvest | Go to dailyharvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box. Power Dot | Go to powerdot.com and use the code “HURDLE” at checkout for 20% off. Four Sigmatic | Head to foursigmatic.com/hurdle and use the code “HURDLE” at checkout for 15 percent off your purchase today.

First and foremost: Fast is interpretive. When I started running back in college, I was running a half-mile in 14 minutes, trying to learn to love a sport that I was "never good at." Fast forward to now: I’ve run a 6:04 mile, a 1:44:39 half-marathon, and a 3:28:08 full. In today’s #HURDLEMOMENT, I’m sharing strategies on how to become a faster runner. From incorporating speed work into your regular running routine to finding the right gear to help you find your fast, these are all tips and tricks that have worked for me when it comes to picking up the pace. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Men’s Health: How to Use Short Runs to Get Big Gains New Balance 1500x6 New Balance 890 Reebok Floatride Run Fast 2 Episode One: Emily Abbate, Creator Hurdle Episode 100: Molly Seidel, Pro Runner SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEKLY HURDLE OFFERS Reebok | Go to reebok.com for 40% off sale and full price items with code “HURDLE” Note: global exclusions apply, including but not limited to Nano X, Zig, and Club C. Item will be marked as excluded on the product description page. PowerDot | Go to powerdot.com and use the code “HURDLE” at checkout for 20% off.

Ready for a #TBT on a Monday? Today’s episode is with Lo Bosworth. Today she’s the CEO and founder of Love Wellness, but many of you may associate her with MTV classics like Laguna Beach or The Hills. In episode 109, we talk about everything from what life was like back then — dealing with some of the struggles that went along with being a college freshman and simultaneously on a hit TV show — to her decision to up and move to New York City post-college to feed her entrepreneurship bug. Lo takes to me about her stint in culinary school and the extreme health issues she struggled with that eventually lead her to founding Love Wellness. Just an FYI: We use big scary words like “vagina” in this episode. You’ve been warned. SOCIAL @lobosworth @lovewellness @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. Daily Harvest | Go to DailyHarvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box.

For the past couple years, I’ve been running with other journalists and members of the media on Thursday mornings out of Nike’s New York headquarters. When the coronavirus pandemic struck, the #mediamiles group was put on hold. But as May approached, we were presented with the challenge of logging 50 miles solo (and of course, at a safe social distance) on the Nike Run Club app. At first, dealing with injury, I felt scared. I was worried about not doing it to the "best of my ability," and missing out on this time with my friends that have come to feel like family. Today for 5-Minute Friday, I’m talking about the journey, and how I’m #betterforit. PROMPT: What’s one thing you don’t want to do this week that could positively impact you in the long run? What can you learn from checking a tough to-do off your list? SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW HURDLE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER (!) SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE NYCWFF At-Home Cooking Events 4. Michael Chernow, Restaurateur Radio Headspace Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor 14. Deena Kastor, American Record Holder 

It's been about two months of social distancing and face mask wearing, and TBH — this time in quarantine has been filled with a lot of lessons. For #hurdlemoment today, I'm giving you a *me* update: How I'm doing, what I'm doing, where my head's at, and being honest with some of the hurdles I'm facing as the days tick by. My feelings on the absence of physical touch, my thoughts on what life will be like in the post-COVID 19 era, how I'm taking care of my body, and my best advice to anyone else who has been going through this all solo.  SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 35. Ali Feller, Host Ali on the Run Show SELF.com: Social Distancing Alone Is Making Me Crave Physical Touch

There is no better way to describe Rich Froning than a CrossFit legend, even though he gives me some flack for using that term in today’s episode. Whether or not you’re a CrossFit fan, there’s no denying that the sport takes some outrageous athleticism, grit, strength, smarts — and Rich has all of that. He won the CrossFit Games, which is the sport’s annual test to find the “Fittest on Earth,” in 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 as an individual, and then came back on the team side to take first place in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. So, basically he’s a big deal. In episode 108, he tells me all the things, from how he got into the sport — going to his first ever competition on his way to spring break in college — to how he leaned into CrossFit to deal with loss in his family. We talk about the stressful adoption journey he went on with his wife Hillary, and he raves about their beautiful children Lakelyn, Trice, and Violet. We also chat about his go-to recovery techniques, and I’ll let you in on one right off the bat — this guy puts sleep at a premium. SOCIAL @richfroning @thecrossfitmayhem @reebok @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast CHECK OUT CROSSFIT MAYHEM ON YOUTUBE OFFERS Reebok | Go to reebok.com for 40% off sale and full price items with code “HURDLE” Note: global exclusions apply, including but not limited to Nano X, Zig, and Club C. Item will be marked as excluded on the product description page. PowerDot | Go to powerdot.com and use the code “HURDLE” at checkout for 20% off. 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.

In college, I was in a serious relationship with someone In the army who deployed to Afghanistan. During that relationship, I started writing letters on flights home. Wherever I would travel, whether it was for work or personal, my self-imposed rule was that I would write my significant other a little something on the trip back to New York. The relationship didn’t last, but the practice did. Now, to this day, whenever I’m on a plane — I take the time to write someone a letter. A friend, a love interest, a family member, you name it. Often times, these letters are filled with things I may not be ready to say IRL. Things that I really need to get off my chest. Over the past couple months, life has shifted. These letters are something I miss, and something I’m starting to integrate back into my routine — no flight necessary — starting this weekend. PROMPT: Who would you write a letter to, and what would it say? Then, when you’re done, take the time to read it out loud. Ask yourself: How does this make you feel, hearing it? Does it inspire you to change something? Reach out to someone? I’m curious - let me know via DM or email. SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Wave Remind Me What Matters: A postcard in the future Lululemon, #FTW Podcasts on podcasts: I’ll Have Another, Crime Junkie, The Happiness Lab, Unlocking Us, Bad on Paper, Armchair Expert, the Ezra Klein Show Too Hot to Handle on Netflix Journey to the Heart