Hurdle with Emily Abbate

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jay Ell Alexander wants to squash the notion that Black women don’t run. She herself recalls a time when she was the only Black female running with her training team, as a recent college graduate who wanted to incorporate more physical activity into her routine and get healthier. Today, she’s the CEO and owner of Black Girls Run, an organization that encourages and motivates women to get active and make a change in some tough statistics (as listed on their website), including that about four out of five African American women are overweight or obese. In episode 118, Alexander talks to me about her early days involved in the organization and the leap of faith she took to become the CEO and owner in 2018. We chat about the current social climate in the U.S., and her best tips for anyone asking “what can I do now?” or “how can I help?” She also serves up her best-practice tips for new runners, and gets real honest about the difficulties that come hand-in-hand with being a new mom and an entrepreneur. SOCIAL @jayellalexander @officialblackgirlsrun @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE 1 Million Miles for Justice with Black Girls Run Subscribe to the Weekly Hurdle newsletter! OFFERS Daily Harvest | Go to DailyHarvest.com and enter promo code “HURDLE25” at checkout to get $25 dollars off your first box. Athletic Greens | Head to athleticgreens.com/hurdle to get 20 free travel packs ($79 value) with your first purchase, no code necessary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April I was in a really bad place. Emotionally and physically. On the 10th of that month, I shared a story on Instagram about going into my kitchen 14 different times in one day. I was using food to cope with my problems, and I wasn't feeling good. I wrote about it some for SHAPE. Stepping on the scale was the final straw, reminding me of a difficult college #hurdlemoment, and thus began a lot of inner work trying to get to a better place. Journaling. Talking. Therapy. Strengthening. Less judgement. More acceptance. Setting boundaries. Better interactions. Now, a couple months later, I'm really proud of my progress. But here's the thing: No one's reaching out to me and commenting about my attitude. What I'm hearing, from friends and complete strangers alike, are comments on my appearance. In today's 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I'm opening up about how that makes me feel.  PROMPT: What is something you're working on that no one knows about? SOCIAL @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast SUBSCRIBE TO THE WEEKLY HURDLE NEWSLETTER! HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK WATCH: Uncomfortable Conversations With a Black Man, Episode 3 with Emmanuel Acho BUY: Under Armour Mid sports bra ($28), Lululemon Energy sports bra ($52), Nike Swoosh sports bra ($30) TRY: Pickup Please Free Donation Pickup DONATE: 1 Million Miles for Justice with Black Girls Run READ: Nicole Cardoza’s Anti-Racism Daily Newsletter ... and lastly, Happy Father's Day! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There's a whole lot going on right now. On top of the global pandemic and the fight for racial justice, there's also the everyday hardships that go hand-in-hand with your "regular" routine. It's not easy to have difficult talks with your friends, family members, coworkers, and (especially) complete strangers. But, if there's one thing I do know, it's that a hard discussion is always worth having. So, today for #hurdlemoment I'm offering up six steps to opening and executing tough dialogues. Keep in mind: these tips are coming from a place of love, all strategies that have helped me in the past to get to a better place with the people that I care about. I want to know: What would you add to the list? Reach out to me on social media, and as always — stay kind. SOCIAL @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate Join team "Hurdlers" for One Million Miles for Justice brought to you by Black Girls Run Sign up for the Weekly Hurdle newsletter!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kerri Walsh Jennings is probably one of the best female athletes of all time. Bold statement, I know, but I grew up watching this beach volleyball player dominate year after year. As 5-time Olympian, Walsh Jennings has come back time and time again, showcasing her tenacity and strength not only in her sport — but as a human. In episode 117, I chat with Walsh Jennings about her journey, growing up in Santa Clara, California, and going on to play a number of sports before settling on volleyball in college. We chat about the hurdles she overcame in her professional career, and how the bronze medal in Rio played a huge role in who she is today. She also tells me what it’s like to work with professional performance psychologist Michael Gervais and shares her essential healthy habits for staying sane during this pandemic at home with her three kiddos. SOCIAL @kerrileewalsh @platform1440 @californiaalmonds @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcast 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.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#REPOST: This week on Hurdle, I’m reposting five back-to-back episodes featuring Black guests, hoping to amplify their voices and continue my commitment of being a better ally. Today's episode was originally recorded in November 2019. Spoiler alert: This Is one of my favorite live 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.” Within a year’s time, he had shared his love for the sport with friends. Every Friday night, they’d link up to run a single mile. Soon after this #hurdlemoment, Run Dem Crew was born. Currently at more than 500 strong, Dark says that co-founding the collective gave him new purpose. “We’re changing lives.” In today's episode — recorded live at the Lululemon Re:Pair Lab — we’re chatting everything from how to defeat imposter syndrome to the highs and lows of conquering the marathon distance. Plus, following your true passion and the power of running culture. SOCIAL @daddydarkrdc @run.dem.crew @lululemon @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate NEWSLETTER Sign up for the Weekly Hurdle, here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#REPOST: This week on Hurdle, I’m reposting five back-to-back episodes featuring Black guests, hoping to amplify their voices and continue my commitment of being a better ally. Today's episode was originally recorded in June 2019. If you ask George Foreman III what it’s like to grow up with a two-time heavyweight champion as a dad, he’s pretty humble about it—because that’s all he’s ever known. Graduating with a degree in business administration from Rice University, Foreman went on to preside over his dad’s business, traveling the world meeting celebrities and managing contracts. Amidst all the glamour and chaos, he came face to face with his #hurdlemoment. Standing at 6’5’’ and weighing in at more than 280 pounds, he realized he wasn’t happy in his corner of the world, going as far as to shut himself in a hotel room for three days.  Then, he made the jump into boxing himself. After a year of training, Foreman stepped into the ring for his first fight weighing in at 231 pounds. He’d go on to have an undefeated professional boxing career that ended in 2012, a year before he opened the first EverybodyFights in Boston. In today's episode, we chat about everything from depression and the scary side of entrepreneurship to his goals for expanding EverybodyFights dramatically by 2021. SOCIAL @georgeforman3 @everybodyfights @hurdlepodcast @emilyabbate MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE EBF Live!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#REPOST: This week on Hurdle, I’m reposting five back-to-back episodes featuring Black guests, hoping to amplify their voices and continue my commitment of being a better ally. Today's episode was originally recorded in February of this year. There's nothing easy about the long road to Tokyo for “400M Diva” Natasha Hastings. A two-time Olympian and gold medalist, the sprinter recently celebrated another major, magical milestone: Becoming a mom. For today's episode, I sat down with Natasha at the Under Armour Human Performance Summit at their Baltimore headquarters. To say that I’m in awe of her strength, determination, and power would be a total understatement. She talks to me about a few #hurdlemoments in her career that made her realize that she had to squash negative thoughts to reach her full potential, and how working with a sports psychologist helped her drastically. She also shares what it was like to stand on the podium at the Games in 2016 and — fast forward to now — hit the track for the first time post-baby. Bonus: 5-month-old Liam joined in on our interview (fun fact: at one point she was both podcasting AND breastfeeding, because she’s a champ). This one’s full of inspiration you won’t want to miss. SOCIAL @natashahastings@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcastMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE400M Diva CollectionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

#REPOST: This week on Hurdle, I’m reposting five back-to-back episodes featuring Black guests, hoping to amplify their voices and continue my commitment of being a better ally. Today's episode was originally recorded in December of 2019. I could listen to Knox Robinson (better known to his 28K+ IG followers as @firstrun) 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 today's episode, 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 @emilyabbate @hurdlepodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.