Hurdle with Emily Abbate
by iHeartPodcasts
Hurdle is where real stories meet next-level ambition. Host, veteran journalist and coach Emily Abbate, interviews the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, peeling back the curtain on their journeys through vulnerable, deep conversation. Learn the secrets to their success, including the grit, glory, and crucial mindset lessons that help her level-up. Each conversation, a powerful reminder that we get to overcome, and embrace each hurdle to live happier, healthier, more motivated lives. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
Episodes
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: From Barely a Half-Mile to 16 Marathons
It’s Friday before the New York City Marathon—the running community’s "Super Bowl"! In today’s 5-Minute Friday, Emily opens up about navigating marathon week with calm instead of burnout, the power of setting boundaries and owning your "no," and why showing up for hard things proves that endless...
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Why Intentional Rest Matters: Emma Grace Hurley on Her Record-Breaking Chicago Marathon Debut, Training With Purpose & Eyeing 2028
In this episode of Hurdle, Emily sits down with professional ASICS runner Emma Grace Hurley, fresh off her record-breaking performance as the top American woman at the Chicago Marathon. Hurley shattered the American women’s marathon debut record with a stunning 2:20:47 finish. Emma Grace shares…
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: How to Show Up for What Actually Matters
There is never going to be enough time for everything—so how do we actually make time for what matters most? In this week’s 5-Minute Friday, Emily checks in ahead of a whirlwind weekend in Los Angeles for Nike’s After Dark half-marathon. She unpacks a recent conversation about capacity…
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Your Cycle Is a Superpower: Lydia O’Donnell on Running Through Grief, Understanding Female Physiology & Consistency Over Metrics
Nike Pacific Head Run Coach, competitive trail runner, and Femmi co-founder Lydia O’Donnell sits down to talk about unlearning toxic fitness norms and rebuilding a sustainable, empowering relationship with movement. Lydia opens up about navigating disordered eating, losing her menstrual cycle...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Choosing How We Show Up, Gratitude in Hard Weeks & Race Day Logistics
It is sweater weather in New York, and life has a way of reminding us that we never truly know what the people around us are carrying. In this week’s 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, I open up about navigating heavy personal news, holding space for loved ones, and finding grounding in the small, daily...
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Confessions of a HYROX World Champion: Alyssa McElheny On How Strength Training Made Her a Faster, More Durable Runner
From chasing an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier for over a decade to standing atop the podium as the 2026 HYROX Elite 15 World Champion in just seven months, Alyssa McElheny’s athletic trajectory is nothing short of extraordinary. But behind the rapid ascent lies years of disciplined…
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: I've Run 16 Marathons. Here's What First-Timers Need to Hear.
Peak fall running weather has arrived in New York City, and as race season kicks into high gear, Emily is diving into what it means to be grounded by community and how to show up for yourself when big goals feel daunting. Ahead of marathon weekend, she shares her two biggest pieces of advice for...
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Progress Over Perfection: Olympic Medalist Jess Hull On Grit, Mindset, & What Makes a ‘Good’ Run
Olympic silver medalist, indoor world championship medalist, and 2,000-meter world record holder Jess Hull sits down IRL in Australia to talk through the mindset, patience, and grit behind her historic career. Jess opens up about leaving home at 18 to run for the University of Oregon, the…
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The Magic of the Mundane
Emily's back in the studio after 35 days away! In this episode, Emily reflects on the immense joy of returning home to simple daily routines and the practical ways she resets when a busy schedule starts to feel overwhelming. She also answers a listener question about what makes long-term travel...
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‘I Refuse To Lose’: Olympic Champion Sanya Richards-Ross On the 90% Mental Rule for Winning in Sport & Life
Five-time Olympic medalist, NBC track & field analyst, entrepreneur, and author Sanya Richards-Ross sits down to talk about elite performance, mental conditioning, and redefining life after track. From moving to the U.S. from Jamaica as a kid to holding the 400m American record for 19 years…
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The Power Of 'Why Not Now?'
Emily reflects on wrapping up her travels in Australia, leaning into spontaneous "yes" moments, and answering a listener question about her reading routines. She shares what she’s looking forward to most about returning home to New York City (from her own bed to familiar local spots), the…
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Writing the Playbook: Kayla Green on Building Athlos, Scaling Women’s Track on the World Stage & Why You Shouldn’t Wait for Permission
What does it truly take to disrupt traditional sports and build an organization that puts female athletes first? In this episode, host Emily Abbate sits down with Kayla Green, Acting President of Athlos, fresh off the heels of the groundbreaking Athlos London meet. Kayla pulls back the curtain on...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: If You Run, You're a Runner
Back in Australia! In this 5-Minute Friday, I’m checking in from Bondi Beach to clear up my recent travel whirlwind, AKA why I bounced between Sydney and LA, and preview the upcoming live show with Coach Bennett for the Nike After Dark Tour. Plus, we dive into the psychology of staying consistent...
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My 2026 Sydney Marathon Recap: From Sickness To Finish Line
Sixteen marathons in, and Emily Abbate is still learning what it truly means to hurdle life's surprises. Coming to you live from Melbourne, Emily breaks down the complete journey of running the Sydney Marathon—from the 16-week training cycle and a brutal bout of food poisoning 48 hours before the...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Why Choosing Kindness Always Wins
Fresh off a long-haul flight from Sydney to Los Angeles, Emily reflects on how a chaotic travel day—complete with overweight carry-ons, sprinting through terminals, and a nail-biting luggage scare—served as an unexpected reminder to lead with kindness. When travel (or life) gets stressful and out...
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Hurdling into Your Power: Dawn Harper-Nelson on Olympic Gold, Motherhood & Building an Emmy-Winning Second Act
This week, two-time Olympic medalist, four-time Diamond League champion, and Emmy Award–winning analyst Dawn Harper-Nelson joins the show. From standing atop the podium in Beijing and London to navigating devastating falls, major career transitions, and the vulnerable leap into motherhood, Dawn’s...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Intentional Rest Isn't Selfish
Live from the dreamy landscape that is Fiji, Emily reflects on the art of intentional recovery fresh off 26.2 miles in Sydney. It is easy to step up as an "energy dealer" for everyone else, but you cannot pour from an empty cup. This week is all about prioritizing your own rest, recalibrating…
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The Discipline of a World Champion: Twanisha 'TeeTee' Terry On Navigating Forced Rest, Star Athletics & Finding Clarity In The Comeback
Olympic and World Champion sprinter Twanisha "TeeTee" Terry joins the show to talk about navigating the mental and physical hurdles of forced rest. Sidelined by a lower back injury during what was supposed to be a dominant year, TeeTee opens up about shifting from “Phenomenal 2026” to “Patient...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: G'day, Sydney
Live from Sydney, Australia, Emily checks in ahead of running her 16th marathon. She reflects on navigating the 24-hour travel journey, dealing with an accidental five-hour jet-lag nap, and why experience doesn't eliminate race-week nerves—it just gives you the tools to respond instead of react...
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The Mindset of an American Record Holder: Sinclaire Johnson On Building Self-Belief, Mastering The Mile & Trusting Your Gut
American record holder in the mile and Hoka professional athlete Sinclaire Johnson joins the show to discuss navigating the intense highs, setbacks, and transitions of elite middle-distance running. Sinclaire gets real about rebounding from a misdiagnosed sacral stress reaction, the emotional...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Motivation Follows Action (Not the Other Way Around)
We’re back! In this 5-Minute Friday, Emily gets real about navigating the messy, anxious, and exciting headspace that comes right before leaving for a month-long trip to Australia and running the Sydney Marathon. Between late-night concerts, marathon taper phantom pains, and a packed travel...
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At What Cost: Jess Sims on Setting Boundaries, Injury Lessons & Embracing Imperfection
Peloton favorite, ESPN host, and sideline reporter Jess Sims sits down for an intimate, vulnerable conversation about what it truly means to slow down, listen to your gut, and navigate life’s biggest transitions. Jess opens up about expanding her broadcast career onto national stages like First...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Returning to Seawheeze & Dreaming Bigger
In this episode of 5-Minute Friday, Emily reflects on a major full-circle moment after returning to Vancouver for the lululemon SeaWheeze race weekend. Eight years ago, standing at a lululemon Vision & Goals session in that very same city, she put a terrifyingly big goal out into the universe: to...
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Finding Answers: Colleen Quigley on Injury Lessons, Stepping Into HYROX & Owning Her Worth
This week on Hurdle, Emily sits down with Olympian, lululemon ambassador, and Meridia founder Colleen Quigley for a candid, post-USATF Championships catch-up in New York City. Ten years after making her first Olympic team, Colleen reflects on the physical and mental shifts that have reshaped her...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: 5 Pre-Flight Habits for Stress-Free Travel
This week, Emily's diving into into her personal pre-travel routine and non-negotiables that make traveling—and returning home—a seamless, stress-free experience. Ahead of her trip to Vancouver to run the lululemon Seawheeze Half Marathon, Emily shares the essential prep steps she takes to…
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It's Not Black & White: Amanda Vestri on Trusting Her Training, Embracing Discipline & the Power of Rest
This week, I'm sitting down with professional runner Amanda Vestri, and she opens up about the mental grit required to perform at the highest level, the tricky balance between self-criticism and self-appraisal, and how she’s learning to celebrate her wins while staying hungry for future gains. We...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: If You're Not Joy Spotting, You Should Be
Checking in four weeks out from the Sydney Marathon and reflecting on a foundational mental practice: joy spotting. After an off-feeling weekend interaction, Emily shares how she made a conscious choice to respond instead of react—focusing on present-moment joys like fresh journals, good coffee,...
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Small Island, Big Dreams: Julien Alfred On Channeling Grief Into Greatness, Stepping Away to Reset & Embracing Her Race-Day Alter Ego
This week on Hurdle, Emily sits down with Olympic and Indoor World Champion Julien Alfred. The track and field star opens up about navigating the mental ups and downs of elite competition, moving away from home at age 14 to pursue her dreams, and learning how to protect her inner peace amid…
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: An Unhinged 19 Miles On a Treadmill
When NYC air quality made outdoor running impossible, I faced a choice: split up my 19-mile long run, or take on the "unhinged" challenge of tackling it all on a treadmill. In this 5-Minute Friday, I’m talking about the mental gymnastics of long-distance running, why we need to collect "evidence"...
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Finding Peace On The Trail: Becs Gentry On Pushing Physical Limits, Adventure Beyond 40 & Owning Your Realness
This week, Emily sits down live at Rivian HQ in New York City with long-time friend of the show, Peloton instructor, and HOKA Global Brand Ambassador Becs Gentry. In front of a live audience, Becs opens up about stepping away from the road-racing spotlight and returning to her trail-running roots...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: In Favor Of Consistency Over Perfection
Emily is pulling back the curtain on a massive, exciting new project she’s producing for Nike’s Global Running Head Coach, Coach Bennett, in celebration of their After Dark series. Diving into this international production has Emily reflecting on what it’s like to work within a team again after...
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Mastering Your Mindset: Laura Thweatt On Transitioning From Competitor to Coach & Being Your Own Biggest Hype Human (Hellen Obiri's, Too)
This week, Emily sits down in Paris with Laura Thweatt, three-time US Cross Country National Champion, top-10 finisher at major marathons like New York and Chicago, and the assistant roads team coach for the On Athletic Club (OAC). Fresh off her stellar 13-year professional running career, Laura...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: When Everything Starts Clicking
In this edition of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, Emily dives deep into a word that gets tossed around a lot in the wellness world: alignment. Stripping away the superficial aesthetics of social media, she shares what true alignment actually feels like in practice—and why she is finally experiencing it after...
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No Bad Days: Masai Russell Talks Confidence Over Cockiness & Shifting From Hurdling Underdog To The One To Beat
Welcome Olympic Champion Masai Russell back to Hurdle! Fresh off her historic performances in the 100-meter hurdles, recently clocking a 12.14 for the second fastest time in history and a win at Pre Classic, Masai opens up about her rapid rise to the top and the evolution of her mindset. Emily…
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Me Vs. Me
In this installment of Five-Minute Friday, Emily checks in from the Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon. After a whirlwind week of travel—flying from Paris back to Brooklyn, and then straight to Oregon—she opens up about overcoming the mental hurdles of getting back onto the running track.…
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160+ Miles Of Grit: Des Linden Talks Her Desert Ultramarathon, the Business Of Being An Athlete & The Power Of the Pivot
In this episode of Hurdle, host Emily Abbate sits down with two-time Olympian and 2018 Boston Marathon champion Des Linden for a conversation about redefining limits. Fresh off completing the legendary Marathon des Sables (MDS)—a grueling, self-supported 167-mile stage race across the Sahara...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Why Runners Have a Secret Weapon In HYROX
In this episode of 5-MINUTE FRIDAY, Emily checks in from a very warm Paris after a whirlwind trip to Stockholm and Copenhagen. She dives deep into her experience spectating her first-ever HYROX World Championships, as a guest of Red Bull, sharing her top takeaways on the booming fitness…
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Let Me Reintroduce Myself: Emily Talks Her Running Journey & The Next Chapter For Hurdle
Welcome to Season 21 of Hurdle! To kick off this brand-new chapter, host Emily's going solo to share the deeply personal evolution of her relationship with running, her career, and herself. From being cut from the JV volleyball team in high school to weighing 200+ pounds as a college freshman,...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The Powerful Perk of Repetition
News: Hurdle is heading into a brief summer season break for the next two weeks! This week: Talking about the powerful feelings of purpose and intention that accompany the start of a new training cycle as she gears up for the Sydney Marathon. Emily reflects on the concept that we become better at...
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Egg Freezing 101: Unpacking My Experience & Talking Fertility Q&A With Dr. Michelle Kappy
In this episode, Emily sits down with her own fertility specialist, Dr. Michelle Kappy, a board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist at Spring Fertility. After undergoing her own egg freezing journey under Dr. Kappy's care, Emily opens up about the intimate, often overwhelming...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Stepping Into a New Chapter
Can you even believe that it is about to be June? As I approach my 38th birthday, I'm feeling a certain way and doing a lot of reflecting. Sharing a powerful prompt from my Substack newsletter to help you do a personal inventory of your own life. Plus, answering a listener question from Shannon...
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From College Standout To Pro Athlete: Samirah Moody On Transitioning To the Big Leagues, the Importance Of Staying Even-Keeled & Finding Strength In Faith
Samirah Moody is a professional runner for On, recednt USC graduate, and a founding member of the newly minted OAC (On Athletics Club) Sprint team. Coming off a stellar collegiate career—including a 2025 NCAA championship in the 100 meters—Samirah is stepping onto the global pro circuit with a...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: The Importance Of Finding Your Own Rhythm
Checking in from sunny Los Angeles! Talking about OAC's new Sprint team, and reflecting on a recent run at the Silver Lake Reservoir following my Brooklyn Half Marathon completion. Talking about my journey of embracing grace, slowing down, and practicing mindfulness during seasons of flux. Plus:...
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Built on Consistency: Katie Ledecky on Reframing Hard Days, Swimming Into the Record Books & Inspiring the Next Generation
In this week's rewind episode, Emily sits down with four-time Olympian Katie Ledecky, the most decorated American female Olympian in history. Ledecky brings us back to her roots, talking about her first-ever goals in swimming and how she originally fell in love with the sport at age six. The...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Being A Beginner Is A Prerequisite For Greatness
As she prepares for the Brooklyn Half, Emily's looking back at her first 13.1-mile race in 2008 and the massive health transformation that led her there. Today, Emily discusses the beauty of progress and the reality of "readiness." She's sharing her perspective on why being a beginner is a...
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The Future of Women’s Sports: Amanda Lucci On Breaking Into the Press Room, the Power Of Narrative & Finding Growth In "No"
Amanda Lucci is the Director of Special Projects at Women's Health, where she has spent the last decade evolving the brand’s digital presence and spearheading their expansive coverage of women’s sports. From the sidelines of the WNBA to the mixed zones of the Paris Olympic Games, Amanda is on a...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Stop Overcommitting Your Energy
It's absolutely beautiful in Brooklyn right now. After a whirlwind of travel to Boston, London, and Portland, being back home feels like a massive exhale. But as the weather warms up, social calendars tend to fill up fast. Today, Emily's evaluating how she navigates this busy season without...
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Bigger Than Volleyball: Carli Lloyd On Surmounting Setbacks, Training Your Mind & the Power of Self-Talk
In this episode of Hurdle, host Emily sits down with elite volleyball champion, Carli Lloyd. Carli shares her journey of grit and professional longevity, from a decorated 13-season international career to leading LOVB Austin to back-to-back League One Volleyball (LOVB) championships. She opens up...
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5-MINUTE FRIDAY: Give Yourself Some Credit
Yesterday I got to sit down with the "Quad God", Ilia Malinin. Reflecting on that event—and a specific question about whether or not I have a manager—led me down a path of gratitude for the "hustle" and the career I've built by simply putting myself out there and treating people well. I’m diving...
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Finding The Fun: Jess McClain On Her American Record At The 2026 Boston Marathon, Incremental Gains & The Future Of Women’s Distance Running
In this episode of Hurdle, host Emily sits down with professional runner Jess McClain fresh off her monumental performance as the top American finisher at the 2026 Boston Marathon. Recorded in London, where the duo got to run in the upcoming Brooks' upcoming Hyperion Elite 6 and cheer at the 2026...
About this show
Hurdle is where real stories meet next-level ambition. Host, veteran journalist and coach Emily Abbate, interviews the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, peeling back the curtain on their journeys through vulnerable, deep conversation. Learn the secrets to their success, including the grit, glory, and crucial mindset lessons that help her level-up. Each conversation, a powerful reminder that we get to overcome, and embrace each hurdle to live happier, healthier, more motivated lives. New episodes every Tuesday and Friday.
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iHeartPodcasts