I'm Glad I Ditched Wednesday's Workout
A little perspective shift makes the heart grow fonder.
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Presented by Lagoon Sleep:
Wednesday I woke up at 4:45 a.m. My first instinct was to go back to sleep for a bit, but with a loaded day of work ahead I figured it was a better idea to get a jumpstart on things. By 6:15 a.m., after the usual journaling, skincare, get dressed, and make-the-bed combination, I left the apartment for the gym. After my strength training was done, I hopped onto the treadmill and thought “OK, I’ll run a 5K.”
It was my first run after last weekend’s Cherry Blossom 10-miler in Washington D.C. The belt started to round the machine below me, and as my pace quickened — my excitement for the activity dwindled rapidly. I felt a tightness near my knee and overall pretty stiff. I persisted for a few minutes before calling it, making the decision to log one total mile before making my exit.
It’s not something that happens often, me abandoning a workout. Roughly 99.9% of the time, conquering the start is the hardest part. In this case, however, I could tell my body just wasn’t ready to run just yet. Once the screen read 1.00, I grabbed my water bottle and made my way down the flight of stairs for the locker room.
Then, I had a thought. That mile, albeit one that made me question if I was a human trapped in a sloth’s body, happened. It didn’t feel stellar. But! It happened. Something is better than nothing. I thought back to the point in my life where I couldn’t fathom running a mile, nevertheless one in under 10 minutes. Back in the summer of 2008, it took me 14+ minutes to conquer a half-mile (to hear more about the summer I learned to love running, click here).
I thought: Remember when you felt as though you couldn’t run a mile at all?
… That was the lens I viewed Wednesday through. It’s really special to have the level of awareness to listen to my body. To know that mornings like Wednesday happen. Rather than get cranky about “stopping early,” I chose to focus on how far I’ve come.
(Spoiler: I tackled the 5K the following morning, and it felt great.)
TELL ME: Let’s celebrate each other. Tell me about a recent athletic accomplishment you’re proud of yourself for.
Keep hurdling,
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
I’m Listening To: “The Evolution of the Entrepreneur with Bumble’s Whitney Wolfe Herd” on Confessions of a Female Founder
First Netflix, now this? The Duchess is really working overtime.
I’m Buying: This Special Edition Brooks Glycerin 22
Last week Brooks celebrated a new collaboration with with JZD, a queer and Latina-owned apparel brand from Brownsville, Texas. The special edition Glycerin that’s a part of it is absolutely stunning.
I’m Supporting: RUNHER Magazine
My longtime friend and veteran journalist Ashley Mateo launched a Kickstarter earlier this week for RUNHER, a quarterly magazine celebrating women’s running set to debut at the end of 2025. Considering there are currently no print magazines dedicated to women's running in the U.S., this is super exciting for the sport. Click above to learn more and subscribe!
“You’re not stressed because you’re doing too much. You’re stressed because you’re doing too little of what makes you feel alive.”
- Julie Fratantoni, PhD, writer of the Substack Better Brain by Julie
Other thoughts and links: Cosmopolitan launched Cosmo Sports yesterday and I’m sat for this! (That’s how the kids say it, right?) Serena Williams is looking to invest in flag football. Garmin announced a new marathon series, with two races on the calendar for 2025 and more to come in 2026. You need to watch the newest episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman featuring Caitlin Clark. It’s so damn good. Also good: Bad Bunny’s Tiny Desk.
Have something you want me to nod to in an upcoming Weekly Hurdle, or just want to say hi? Slam the button below:
MY SOMETHING NEW
One of my goals for 2025 is to do something new every single week. I wrote about this earlier this year. Dig it? Let me know in the comments below ⬇️
Tuesday, April 1: Anne Frank The Exhibition at the Jewish Museum
This was so well-done. Truly. I’ve been to many different museums dedicated to the Holocaust, but I really appreciated the formatting of this — including a self-guided audio tour so that you can take it all in at your own pace. If you’re local to the New York area, definitely snag a ticket before the exhibit closes in May.
A huge thanks to Hurdle’s newest sponsor, Lagoon Sleep for sponsoring the show.
The secret to performing your best every day? Hello, optimal sleep. That’s why I recently bettered my sleep with a new Lagoon pillow. Let’s face it: Your pillow is the thing you lay your head on for 8 hours a night, and if it’s not exactly right for you, it can lead to needless tossing and turning. Or worse — have you waking up with that unrelenting kink in your neck each morning.
I’ve always prioritized getting a solid night’s sleep. I’m big on blackout curtains, turning devices off 45 minutes before I want to crash, and making sure I get into bed early. But by adding Lagoon into the mix, my sleep quality’s skyrocketed. I’ve seen an increase in both my REM and deep sleep (thanks for keeping tabs on that, Oura Ring). Truly, waking up for my morning routine has never felt better.
Head to LagoonSleep.com/HURDLE and take their awesome 2-minute sleep quiz to find your ideal match. Then, use the code HURDLE at checkout for 15% off your first purchase!
No one likes to be on the bench, unable to do the activities that they love because of an injury. This week, I'm chatting with writer, content creator, and runner Lydia Keating about injury. We swap stories about how injuries have impacted our physical and mental health in the past, and she shares how navigating a sacral stress fracture has actually bettered her current mindset. Plus: Tips for embracing recovery time (and how to spend it), and Lydia shares an unconventional take on the looming TikTok ban.
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Hey Emily! March 30th I completed my first HYROX singles and whoa! At the finish line I said to my sister in law-"that was harder than an Ironman!" Which I have done two among many other marathons and ultras. The intensity really pushed my limits! But I did it : )
My biggest accomplishment is being able to run pain free these past few months. Been working with my PT to improve my running form and be more disciplined in completing my mobility exercises and it has definitely paid off. I feel great in every run :)