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Presented by Picky Bars:
This week has been a whirlwind on Hurdle, with so many beautiful conversations on the feed featuring women I admire as a part of the IN FOCUS: MOTHERHOOD series. It’s hard to believe that, 41 episodes later, season five is coming to a close. Leading up to the kickoff of season six next week, I wanted to reflect briefly on two big takeaways from the past 12 weeks of Hurdle:
Lead with compassion:Alex Silver-Fagan’s story was one that really, really resonated with the Hurdlers. One of the biggest themes? Be kind. You may think you know what’s going on in someone’s life — whether that be because you follow them on social media or perhaps you’ve even chatted recently — but there are likely things going on behind the scenes that aren’t spoken about. Leading with compassion for whoever you may interact with — whether it be a colleague over email or a friend you haven’t checked in on in a minute — will never be something you regret.
When the going gets tough, pivot and keep going: Massy Arias, Alex Elle, Trent Shelton, Alexi Pappas, Megan Roup, Dr. Michael Gervais, Emily Skye — pretty much every episode this season involved a story where someone was going after a h-u-g-e goal, then something didn’t go according to plan, and instead of giving up they made a pivot and kept their eye on the prize. Be willing to be flexible in your methods, don’t judge how you think things “should” go, and you’ll be more likely to get to where you want to be.
See you next week with SEASON SIX!
PROMPT: When was the last time a pivot worked to your benefit? Were you stubborn in making that pivot, and if so, why?
THIS WEEK ON THE SHOW
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: Stephanie Bruce On Humility & The Importance Of A Stellar Support System
Ten years. That's how long Steph Bruce has been chasing her Olympic dreams. During that time, she had two sons within a 15-month period (not planned), has dealt with injuries, launched a successful business, and so much more. She explains how — how she's stayed so steadfast on her goals, how she recovered after a difficult labor while managing diastasis recti, and how proud she is of the children she's raising. She also confesses a shameful moment and unpacks the importance of a great support system, believing in yourself, and working with people (and companies) that believe in your big potential.
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: Tunde Oyeneyin On Life After Loss & Her Mother's Legacy
Peloton's Tunde Oyeneyin is back on the show this week (listen to our first conversation here) to celebrate her late mother. In our conversation, she talks about what it was like to lose three family members within a 6-year span and how she's navigated the grief that comes with such trauma. Her everything-happens-for-a-reason perspective is inspiring, as is her advice on navigating Mother's Day (and all the days) if you’ve shared in a similar loss.
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: Sarah Larson Levey On Fresh Beginnings For Both Her Family & Y7 Studio
The year 2020 was a one of drastic change for Y7 Studio’s Sarah Larson Levey. Between the shuttering of all of the company’s studios because of the pandemic, having a baby boy in June, and moving to Austin from New York — it’s been an emotional whirlwind. Sarah and I chat navigating coming back to her body after the baby and talk about our relationships with the scale. She also mentions how motherhood has taught her the importance of patience and staying calm, both which have helped her while working to reopen studios (Chicago just did so this week!).
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: Rachel Nicks On Choosing Joy & Supporting Black Mothers
A lot of gems with Rachel Nicks, Founder of Birth Queen, Lululemon ambassador, founding MIRROR trainer, actress, doula, and lactation consultant (plus, mother of two!). Big one: Joy is so so important, and we have the conscious choice to choose it each and every day. For Rachel, choosing joy empowers her to be a better mother and be more present with her boys. It also empowers her to show up at home and at work. Rachel also discusses the struggles that she faces as a Black mother, sharing some alarming statistics that encouraged her to become a doula and lactation consultant as well as found Birth Queen, which aims to educates, supports, and empowers Black women and parents, enriching the Black birth experience and saving lives.
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: Annie Thorisdottir On Body Acceptance & Handling Negative Feedback
Always lovely catching up with Annie Thorisdottir, CrossFit’s 2x Fittest Woman on Earth. The Reebok-sponsored athlete is a new mom of a pandemic-born baby. We talk about how Annie navigated critical feedback on her workouts during pregnancy as well as her timeline to getting back in the swing of things after having baby Freya. She also shares the one thing that could make her withdraw from the 2021 CrossFit Games and offers up essential advice to any new mom just trying to make it from day to day. P.S. There’s a giveaway in this episode for two pairs of sneakers. Make sure to check it out for more info!
Thanks to Picky Bars for supporting Hurdle.
Finding products that balance real-food nutrition with the need for performance fuel to sustain my energy throughout training is no small feat. Enter Picky Bars, founded by three pro athletes Lauren Fleshman, Stephanie Bruce, and Jesse Thomas. Not only do Picky Bars taste ah-maz-ing, but their lineup of granola, oatmeal, pancakes, and almond butter, cinnamon, and maca Drizzle (I drool just typing that) is packed with real-food ingredients. It’s also:
Balanced with 4:1:1 ratio (carb, fat, protein) for quick and sustained energy
Easily digestible
Gluten free, dairy-free, soy-free, GMO-free
Complete with several vegan and nut-free options
Of course, we’ve got an offer for you! Picky’s offering show listeners 20% off their purchase of $25 or more at PickyBars.com/Hurdle (no code necessary). They are also offering an additional 20% off if you try a new Picky Club membership.
HURDLE SESSIONS: We’ve got new Sessions on deck, and I’d love to see you in one of them! Click the links below for more details.
So, You Want to Run a Marathon?, May 17 @ 7:30 p.m. ET
It's official, you've committed to the 13.1- or 26.2-mile race that will change your life. As the reality sinks in, so do the questions and we've got the answers! I’ll sit down with Amber Rees and Lindsey Clayton of Brave Body Project to talk you through the entire training process — from finding the right training plan, navigating the long run, and training nutrition to race day tips and everything in between.
Mid-Year Reset, May 11 @ 7:00 p.m. ET
Remember those new year goals you committed to in the final days of 2020? It's time to launch into the final 180 days with clarity and purpose. Maybe you set some big goals and then life just happened. Maybe you conquered one or two goals early in the year but now find yourself searching for motivation to finish out what you set to achieve in 2021. Whatever the reason, it's time for a mid-year reset, and I’ve got your back.
Can’t make it to either? Check out one of these past Sessions:
How to Start (and Stay!) Running
How to Take Your Running to the Next Level
Intro to Freelance Writing
Intro to Podcasting
How to Turn Your Side Hustle Into Your Main Gig
Finding Your Power Alone
How to Build a Social Media Presence
Media Strategy for Fitness Professionals
AND * 30-Minute One-On-One Consulting Call *
LEAVE ME A VOICE MESSAGE! Whether you just want to say hi or have a question you want to ask, I’d love to hear from you! Bonus: Your listener question could be answered in an upcoming episode of the show! No topics are off limits.