Hurdle with Emily Abbate

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 phenomenon, the unique dynamics of competing in doubles, and why running endurance might just be your secret weapon to crushing a HYROX event. Plus, Emily answers a listener question about maintaining healthy routines and supplement games while constantly traveling for work. Highlights & Takeaways: The HYROX Breakdown: A run-down of the 8km format and its functional fitness stations, including the ski erg, sled push/pull, rowing, sandbag lunges, farmers carry, and wall balls. Doubles Strategy: Why competing with a partner might be the way to go, and how you can strategically split up stations based on your individual strengths. The Endurance Advantage: Why an aerobic running base is a massive asset in HYROX, and how it differs from a pure strength-focused training approach. Q&A—Routine on the Road: Emily’s top tips for maintaining your workout schedule, journaling habits, and supplement routine (from creatine to AG1) while traveling. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, Emily opens up about the pivotal moment that changed everything and the simple decision that started it all: learning to keep showing up for herself, one step at a time. Whether you are a seasoned marathoner, balancing the demands of a freelance career, or looking for the inspiration to conquer your own current hurdles, this episode serves as a powerful reminder that you belong exactly as you are. Key Takeaways & Highlights The Turning Point: Emily revisits her freshman year at the University of Connecticut, stepping on a dusty scale under her bunk bed, and the counter-intuitive sprint that sparked her health journey. The "Half-Mile" Summer: The hilarious and humbling realization that the "mile" she thought she was running every day at summer camp was actually just a half-mile—and why being bad at something is the first step to getting good. The Career Hustle: A winding look through Emily’s nearly 20-year journalism career—from associate editor at The Stir to fitness editor roles at Rodale and Self, and finally, the leap of faith into full-time freelancing and starting Hurdle. Understanding Opportunity Cost: How a casual glass of wine and a conversation on a New York rooftop redefined the sacrifices required to achieve big athletic and personal goals. Looking Ahead to Sydney: Emily gives an update on her current training block for the upcoming Sydney Marathon on August 30th, balancing high-mileage goals with a busy travel schedule. Memorable Quotes "I am talking about what happens to your mind, and your confidence, and your life when you decide to keep showing up for yourself, one step at a time." "You belong exactly as you are." Links & Resources Follow Hurdle: @hurdlepodcast Follow Emily: @emilyabbate Subscribe to the Newsletter: The Weekly Hurdle on Substack Email the Show: [email protected] If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and don't forget to share it with a friend who might need a little extra inspiration to conquer their own hurdles this week! SOCIAL@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show.  Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 the things we do repeatedly—whether that means running, writing, or even letting anxious thoughts drive our decisions. She challenges listeners to audit what they are pouring their energy into and reminds everyone that they have the power to choose the words and behaviors that define their lives. Later in the episode, Emily answers a listener question from Joan about post-marathon recovery. She offers practical, reassuring advice on handling "fitness FOMO," the importance of taking a full two weeks off from running to let the body absorb its hard work, and how to safely cross-train with low-resistance cycling. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 logistics and physical realities of the procedure. Together, they pull back the curtain on the entire process—demystifying everything from medication protocols and managing your physical movement during stimulation, to understanding the biological changes to egg quality and quantity as women head into their mid-30s. Whether you are actively considering preserving your fertility, are currently in the middle of a cycle, or simply want a better grasp of reproductive health and science, this deep dive offers a comforting, text-book level understanding of the choices available to you. Dr. Kappy brings a patient-centric, empowering approach to the conversation, explaining that information-gathering is the first and most critical step to taking control of your reproductive autonomy. IN THIS EPISODE Emily's personal recovery timeline, physical side effects, and how she safely modified her strength training and running habits post-procedure. Why scaling back physical movement—and avoiding high-stress abdominal workouts—is medically critical to prevent safety risks like ovarian torsion as follicles grow. Demystifying the "35-year-old cliff" and looking honestly at how egg quality and quantity naturally shift as women age. Step-by-step breakdowns of standard stimulation medications, the daily purpose of monitoring appointments, and what actually happens during a 15-minute extraction procedure. Managing expectations around the natural "attrition rate"—from the initial follicle count visible on an ultrasound to the final number of mature, genetically viable eggs that make it to deep freeze. Navigating the intense financial and emotional burdens of the process, and the unique mental load of choosing to freeze your eggs independently. QUOTABLE MOMENTS "It's okay to just get information and just to make a consult and talk to an expert and then decide from there."  "Information gathering is one of the biggest goals that I have for patients... so they can feel armed with that empowerment."  "The ominous 'cliff' is this biological clock that unfortunately really is a thing. It is a biological change... but you don't fall into a black hole where you are no longer fertile."  "People do hang their hats on a number... but it really doesn't define someone. You could have a high number and have done everything wrong in your life, or you could have a low number and have done it all right."  "Don't let the number define you... [Egg freezing] is the only thing that you can do to protect your reproductive autonomy and to give yourself optionality."  SOCIAL@springfertility@michellekappymd@emilyabbate@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show.  Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 about running shoes, breaking down the difference between a classic neutral shoe and plated carbon-fiber options. SOCIAL@emilyabbate@hurdlepodcast@iheartwomenssports JOIN: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Daily Hurdle IG Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠SIGN UP: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Weekly Hurdle Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ASK ME A QUESTION: Email [email protected] to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.