Hurdle with Emily Abbate

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 when plans go sideways.

Then, she dives into a listener question about how to find and vet a credible run coach, breaking down key certifications to look for and why finding someone who understands your "why" matters just as much as credentials.

SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@iheartwomenssports

SUBSCRIBE: Hurdle's YouTube 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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 aftermath of placing fourth at the 2024 Olympic Trials with a personal best, and taking a leap of faith to sign with HOKA. She also breaks down how working with a sports psychologist redefined her inner dialogue from chasing perfection to pursuing excellence, her lap-by-lap tactical mindset during the mile, and her life away from competition—including first-dance choreography and wedding planning with her fiancé and coach, Craig.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Navigating Injury & Recovery: Managing the frustration of a misdiagnosed sacral stress reaction and rebuilding base fitness during an off-year.

• The 2024 Trials Perspective: Processing the heartbreak of missing the team by one spot while still celebrating a two-second PR.

• Coaching & Life Dynamics: What it looks like to be coached by her fiancé, Craig, and how their partnership reignited her joy for training.

• The Move to Hoka: Stepping into a major sponsorship shift, collaborating directly on shoe prototypes in Portland, and feeling valued as an athlete.

• Excellence Over Perfection: Shifting self-talk, overcoming imposter syndrome on global start lines, and leaning into unfiltered vulnerability on YouTube.

• The Anatomy of a Fast Mile: A detailed look inside her race strategy, from staying relaxed through 800m to the physical blur of the final 200m.

• Life Off the Oval: Wedding preparations, practicing dance lifts, and staying true to her everyday self.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"We’re not striving for perfection, because no one’s perfect. Instead, we’re striving for excellence. How can I be excellent today? How can I be excellent tomorrow?"

"There’s nothing that makes you feel more alive than feeling like you’re going to die on the track."

"Your gut, your intuition, will never lead you astray. If you trust yourself and listen to that inner voice, you’re on the right path."

"I am an ultracompetitive person on the line, but at the end of the day, we put the guard down and celebrate each other. That camaraderie is what makes middle-distance running so special."

SOCIAL
@sinclairejohnson
@hurdlepodcast
@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.

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 schedule, one big question keeps coming up: How do you keep showing up consistently?

Emily breaks down the two mindset shifts that keep her moving—even when motivation is nowhere to be found. Plus, she answers a listener question about how to achieve the ultimate slicked-back low bun without damaging your hair.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Jess Sims on Hurdle

• TIGI Bed Head Hair Stick (Wax Stick)

SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@iheartwomenssports

SUBSCRIBE: Hurdle's YouTube 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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 Take and College GameDay, how she actively quiets her inner "Gremlin," and why she now filters every new opportunity through the question: “At what cost?” She also shares how she navigated the profound grief of losing her father, what a multi-year injury journey taught her about self-worth and starting over, and the power of embracing neutral self-talk over toxic positivity.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Slowing Down & Setting Boundaries: Why Jess is moving away from the "it'll slow down after this project" mentality and how she creates restorative space at her upstate home.

• Expanding Her Role at ESPN: Entering her fifth year, making the leap into guest-hosting First Take, and the distinct mindset shift required for live national television debates.

• Taming the "Inner Gremlin": Recognizing negative self-talk, separating automatic emotional reactions from intentional responses, and leading with gut instinct.

• Aligning Decisions with Your Mission: Rooting choices in core values (health, community, purpose) and learning how Jess's background in education and team sports shaped her lifelong mission to uplift others.

• Navigating Difficult Conversations: Why clarity gives you what you need (even if it’s not what you want) and the courage required to live outside the gray area.

• Grief, Loss, and Honor: Experiencing the loss of her father, reframing the non-linear nature of grief, and creating space for raw emotion in fitness classes and community spaces.

• Reframing Injury as Information: Overcoming a torn meniscus, finding joy in being a beginner again, and keeping identity separate from physical output.

• Her Current Training Stack: Transitioning away from marathon training, working with a personal trainer, and balancing discipline with real-life fun.

• Neutrality Over Toxic Positivity: How Jess looks in the mirror today, embracing imperfection, and giving herself grace on the days when "positive" feels out of reach.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"Becoming is better than being ... there's something about learning that excites me."  

"Clarity gives you what you need, even if it doesn't give you what you want."

"I'm me. I'm never going to be anyone else. Might as well hype myself up in the best way that I can. And if I can't push myself to positive, just keep it to neutral."

SOCIAL
@jesssims
@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.

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 make Hurdle her full-time job.

Fast forward to today, and that vision has grown bigger than she could have ever imagined. Emily shares why it's crucial to give yourself permission to "think big," allow room for best-case scenarios, and celebrate every step of the journey. Plus, she answers a listener question about transitioning back into a regular routine post-marathon training and shares her go-to quick post-workout hacks.

WEEKLY THOUGHT PROMPT:

"What is one big goal you want to put out into the universe right now, and how can you take the first step toward going after it?"

MENTIONED & RELATED LINKS:

• Read Emily's Marathon Prep Playbook (Part 1) on Substack

SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 career. After finally getting clarity on a decade-long foot injury, Colleen shares how embracing that answer allowed her to release the pressure of track racing and open the door to exciting new challenges—including stepping into the world of HYROX, navigating a major home renovation in Boulder, and stepping into her power as a brand advocate and team leader.

Together, Emily and Colleen dive into what it takes to own your worth as an athlete, the importance of telling authentic stories beyond a 15-second social clip, and why trusting your gut is the ultimate key to conquering life's hurdles.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Finding Clarity & Letting Go: Colleen details the breakthrough image that revealed a chronic Lisfranc injury and arthritic foot changes, giving her the peace and permission to step away from chasing track trials and shift toward new goals.

• Entering the HYROX World: Why Colleen is diving into HYROX training, how it fulfills her need for high-energy indoor events, and the spontaneous doubles pact forged right on the mic.

• The Evolution of Team Meridia: Transitioning from competing alongside her teammates to serving as a full-time leader and story-teller, giving female athletes the mic to share their full journeys.

• Navigating Brand Deals & Self-Worth: Colleen breaks down how she learned to negotiate without an agent, why saying "no" creates space for the right partnerships, and how she empowers her athletes to recognize their market value.

• Life in Boulder & Modern Content: A look at Colleen and Kevin's massive historic home renovation, plus a discussion on why audiences crave raw, long-form connection over hyper-polished social clips.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"I don't know if there's anything that will make me feel the way that trying to go to the Olympics made me feel ... but I'm just ready for a new challenge. I'm ready for something different that makes me get excited and doesn't make me feel defeated."

"I'm excited to be able to say yes to those things that I've been missing out on... to say yes to fun runs, vacations, or doubles at HYROX. Saying yes to a lot of new, fun adventures." 

"Every single deal doesn't have to work out. It just makes space for something else. You have to have some kind of trust that the world is going to look out for you, as long as you're showing up in a way you can be proud of." 

"If you believe it to be true and you feel like you know something, own it and act accordingly."

SOCIAL
@steeple_squigs
@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.

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 protect her peace, maintain productivity, and stay organized. Plus, she answers a listener question about budget-friendly solo travel, offering practical tips on where to go and how to make the most of your time.

Weekly Prompt

What is one non-negotiable you MUST do before you travel, and what is one non-negotiable you always bring with you?

SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 talk her impressive 2:24 PR at the Boston Marathon—only her second time tackling the 26.2-mile distance—and why even bettering your best can be a disappointment sometimes. 

IN THIS EPISODE

• Reframing Self-Criticism: How Amanda navigates her internal dialogue after big performances and learns to appreciate her progress rather than immediately reaching for the next goal.

• The Long-Term View: Why prioritizing physiological health, consistent fueling, and mandatory rest days takes precedence over quick, short-term fixes.

• The Power of Community: How having supportive teammates like Jess McClain keeps her grounded, keeps training in perspective, and reminds her that individual success never diminishes the win for others.

• Finding the Fun in the Grind: What it takes to enjoy 25-mile long runs in the Florida humidity and why surrounding yourself with family makes all the difference.

• Social Media & Public Visibility: Navigating the vulnerability of putting yourself online, balancing authenticity with performance, and staying present amidst future goal-setting.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"Don't put yourself in these black-and-white categories. Just get up, it's another day, and try again."

"Every workout is not going to be a home run and doesn't need to be a home run... those workouts that are really tough that you have trouble getting through, those are the ones that help you for the marathon."

"I'm going to run the best when I'm the happiest, so that's just kind of what I'm going to do."

"If you learn from [an injury], it's not a waste."

SOCIAL
@a_vestri
@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.

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, homemade shakshuka, and time at the track.

Plus, she answers a listener question from Anna about how to overcome intimidation and launch a podcast of your own.

In This Episode:

• Sydney Marathon Countdown: Emily reflects on her training build as she gets ready to travel to Australia for the big race.

• The Power of "Joy Spotting": How to consciously steer your focus toward micro-moments of joy when stress or negative interactions try to take over.

• Responding vs. Reacting: Recognizing that your body can't always distinguish between physical and emotional stress, and why choosing how you respond is a superpower.

• Listener Q&A: Emily breaks down how she launched Hurdle in 2018, her go-to gear recommendations for beginners, and why consistency is the most important factor in starting your own show.

Weekly Prompt:

What is one thing on your joy list that you can do this weekend?

SOCIAL
@emilyabbate
@hurdlepodcast
@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. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 massive international success and public attention. Julien shares how she overcomes self-doubt, handles the pressure of representing Saint Lucia on the global stage, and why giving herself grace has been key to her growth both on and off the track.

IN THIS EPISODE

• Navigating Mental Rough Patches: Julien reflects on starting the season in a difficult mental space, questioning her abilities, and how stepping back helped her reset and realign.

• Overcoming Loss & Finding Drive: How losing her father at a young age shaped her resilience and continues to inspire her athletic journey today.

• Handling High Pressure: What it’s like to carry the expectations of an entire country while learning to focus on her own personal growth and goals first.

• Protecting Inner Peace: Why Julien steps away from social media and media noise to surround herself with a strong support system that values her for who she is, not just what she accomplishes on the track.

• The Move at Age 14: The immense sacrifice of leaving Saint Lucia as a teenager for Jamaica to train, and how that leap of faith prepared her for college and professional success.

• Game Face vs. Real Life: The contrast between Julien’s calm, peaceful personality off the track and her focused, "all business" alter ego on race day.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

• "I am just such a resilient person, a strong person, that if I'm down for a short time, I know I'm going to find my way to get back to the top."

• "It's okay to give yourself grace. It's okay to mess up sometimes. That's part of being human." 

• "Small island, big things—you can just do whatever you put your mind to, no matter where you're from." 

• "On the track, I'm a different person. It's all business... There's nothing to smile about until I cross that line first."

SOCIAL
@julien.alfred
@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.