Hurdle with Emily Abbate

Hurdle with Emily Abbate

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

December 19, 2025 8 mins
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This week on Hurdle, Emily is joined by Elyse Kopecky—three-time New York Times best-selling author, educator, and co-author of the Run Fast, Eat Slow cookbook series with Olympian Shalane Flanagan—for a conversation that dives deep into the power of real food and the journey of turning personal struggle into a successful, mission-driven career. Elyse opens up about her intense personal history ...

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    There's a lot going on right now, and I'm catching you all up on what's happening with me and the stuff I've been navigating this week. Plus: Answering a listener question on how to get better quality sleep, and the difference between quality and quantity.

    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
    Expert Tips For a Better Night's Sleep

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    This week, I’m sitting down with Seema Simmons, the General Manager of Running for North America at Nike. Seema’s path to the this role, 25 years in at Nike, has been anything but straight. She shares her journey from playing team sports and loving group fitness to pivoting away from an engineering major in college, and ultimately finding her dream role in Oregon.

    In this inspiring and candid conversation, Seema discuss...

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    Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Sharing the lessons in the aftermath of an unfortunate mistake earlier this week, plus answering a listener question on whether or not everyone could be a morning person. Plus: If morning workouts feel particularly hard for you, this could be the reason.

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    This week, Emily's sitting down with Olympic Gold Medalist, professional volleyball player, founding athlete for League One Volleyball, and co-owner of Love Nebraska, Jordan Larson. A lot has happened since our first chat in 2021. Jordan dives deep into the personal and professional work that has allowed her to maintain elite performance over an impressive 16+ season career. "The Governor" (Jordan's nickname) opens up about the imm...

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    Special episode popping into your feed today, live from Every Woman's Marathon, featuring Molly Huddle and Des Linden. Huddle's a 2x Olympian, and recently toed the line in Scottsdale for her first marathon since having her second child six months ago. Linden, the 2018 Boston Marathon Champion and fellow Olympian, recently ran the TCS New York City Marathon alongside first-timer Anthony Ramos. 

    Talking about why it was a good call for me to forgo my annual turkey trot in favor of taking it easy. Also, answering a listener question about hot to get more comfortable lifting weights.

    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE
    Future, my personal training app

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    On this week's episode of Hurdle, Emily sits down with professional runner Sara Hall. Sara is an athlete whose longevity, incredible range, and commitment to the sport are truly inspiring. She's also the only American athlete in history to win USATF National Titles in both the mile and the marathon.

    Recorded in New York City on the weekend of the TCS New York City Marathon, this con...

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    Talking about the importance of prioritizing yourself in order to handle when things get crazy, whether that's in a busy work season or the holiday craze. Also, answering a listener question on the protein craze and how much you really need, and the dangers of the protein craze.

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    Welcome Kate Martin to Hurdle! This week on the show, the WNBA player for the Golden State Valkyries and Unrivaled competitor takes us on a deep dive into what it takes to thrive in the professional game, sharing how she's constantly evolving both on and off the court. Kate opens up about the major adjustments she’s made since leaving college—not just to the rigorous WNBA schedule, but to her own mindset. She discusses ...

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    Talking through the latest changes to Hurdle, what will be different on the listener side, and why this new chapter is just so meaningful to me. On not giving up, perseverance, and the power of progress (even when it's not at the pace you'd hope). Also, answering a listener question about how to know when you need to buy new sneakers!

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    Today’s episode's incredibly special. Not only is it the Season 20 premiere of Hurdle, but we're bringing you my conversation with the American Record Holder and Olympic Champion in the 100-meter hurdles, Masai Russell.

    Fresh off her win at Athlos in New York City, Russell joins us to peel back the curtain on the mindset that allowed her to make the U.S. Olympic team, emerge victorious on the world stage, and break recor...

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    You don't need to have it all figured out. You do, have to be willing to start, however. Talking about the perks of flexibility in today's episode, and answering a listener question about how to handle a major disappointment.

    As a note: This is the last episode in season 19! Stay tuned, the show will be back November 11 in a ~big~ way.

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    When Kate Veronneau started cycling, she was at a low point. Having to stop playing basketball because of one-too-many injuries, she never anticipated that this rolling coping mechanism would change the trajectory of her life. Now working as Zwift's Director of Women's Strategy, she's embracing the pivot to the fullest.

    In this week's episode, she talks about the power of alignment and following her passions, what i...

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    If you aren't willing to vocalize what it is that you want, then you don't ~get~ to get it. Talking about that mindset, and what happened for me once I spoke my goals into existence. Plus: Answering a listener question about training through menopause. If you're interested in more of that content, check out my friend Liz Plosser's Substack, Best Case Scenario.

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    I didn’t hit my A, B, or C goals for Sunday’s Chicago Marathon—and I may just be better for it. I was on pace for A (3:25!) until around mile 18, and then the heat hit me like a ton of bricks. I kept pushing forward thinking of so much of the advice and takeaways that elites have offered me over the years (pain is a privilege, your mind is stronger than you realize, break it up into little doubles, and so on).
    Talking through th...

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    Well, we're finally here. After 16 weeks of training, I'm ready to run marathon No. I've-lost-count. I'm feeling excited. Nervous. Ready. Proud. Talking about the manifestation work I'm doing going into Sunday to take on my next big goal, and answering a listener question about gift giving for runners.

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    Have you ever allowed perfectionism to be the thing that prevents you from forward progress? I definitely have. Sharing my perfectionism playbook today, including three actionable tips to help you let go of how you believe things "should" be in favor of graduating to what you really want.

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