Hurdle

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, comfortable in her own body, and eventually lead her to start the #makemysize movement. We also chat about how Megababe came to be, what excites her right now and for the new year ahead, and what really goes down in the DMs. SOCIAL @katiesturino @dogmeetsworld @megababe @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. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout.

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 Instagram how it makes you feel.  SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate

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 followers don’t often catch.  In episode 86, the Nike+ Run Club founding coach talks to me about his beginnings as a runner growing up in San Diego, and how his passions landed him running at a collegiate level at Wake Forest. He gets really honest about the #hurdlemoment that made him quit the sport for 10+ years, and the life-changing event that reunited him with his biggest passion. We talk about everything from impossible training tactics and what it felt like to be one of the top 100 male finishers in the NYC Marathon (twice) to his best advice for anyone new to lacing up. SOCIAL @firstrun @blackrosesnyc @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. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout.

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. There's nothing wrong with admitting you're excited to get back to your early morning sweat sessions or post-work yoga classes. In today's #HURDLEMOMENT, I'm helping you out with some actionable strategies on how to get back to a place where you feel better — because that's what's important. I offer up the tips that have worked for me in the past, with hopes that you feel less alone If you're hoping to make a shift. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate

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 family (including her two little boys) not once, but twice, within one year, and how she manages to give back to herself when she feels super alone or stressed. Plus, she talks about what it’s like to be one of the few women in a management position at TNF, and what she hopes to instill in her team as they brave this new chapter in the Mile High City. SOCIAL @thenorthface @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. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout.

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 All Vest Lululemon Flurry Up Tight Nike Pegasus Shield Rapha Cycling Gloves Runner's World "What to Wear Running" Calculator

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 falling in love with the sport changed his life for the better. Recently adding “marathoner “ to his resume, Dunne shares with me his biggest takeaways from his first 26.2 as well as why he’s super proud of his race despite it not going as planned.  And no, this episode is NOT sponsored by Nike, but it’s safe to say he mentions the Swoosh at least 20 times throughout our session. SOCIAL @brendandunne @fullsizerunshow @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. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Music and Strategy (MAS)  | Huge thank you to my friends at MAS for the studio space. Give them a peak over on Instagram. Strong New York | Local to New York City? Get your tickets for the December 15 fitness festival here.

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 of advice that she gave me in my first session that I'll carry with me forever. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate

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 about self-doubt and failure in the process. We also chat about how she musters up the courage to climb 40- and 50-foot rocks without a rope, how climbing grades work, and the admirable way she shoves fear to the side to overcome big challenges. Huge thanks to The North Face for connecting us! SOCIAL @sheneenagins @thenorthface @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. WHOOP | Head to whoop.com to get a free WHOOP band plus 15 percent off any membership by entering the code "hurdle" at checkout.

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 from how they got their starts to the importance of networking; their best tips for aspiring entrepreneurs and overcoming major challenges. This is an episode you don’t want to miss, and definitely share it with a friend. SOCIAL @roarorganic @robinnyc @jaclynrjohnson @iamkittens @itscovl MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE | Roar Organic