On Telling The Little Voice In Your Head to STFU
It's fun! I promise!
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Presented by Priority Bicycles:
The scene: 7:23 a.m. on Thursday morning inside of a small, dimly lit hotel gym in Baltimore. I didn’t want to do the fifth rep. Sweat dripped from every part of my body as I stared down at the small screen on a treadmill that was probably purchased in 2008. I looked as though I had jumped in the pool down the hallway. As my heart rate slowly drifted downward during the 90-second recovery saunter, I gave myself a pep talk: A half marathon, which you’re entirely capable of, is 13 of these fast miles back-to-back without the 90-second break. You’ve done four. You can do one more.
… and so I did. I turned up the speed. I picked up my pace. I double-tapped on my right AirPod every .1 miles to change the song, making the last mile feel like a college-style power-hour sans the whole taking shots part. And I finished it.
Sitting here now showered, caffeinated, and done with that effort, I’m proud. Yeah, because I finished the workout as prescribed. But more so because there was a moment I doubted that I could, and then I told that inner gremlin to — and I mean this in an eloquent, gentle way — STFU. It’s easy to cave to those negative thoughts. But when you don’t? And you remember that you are not your thoughts? That’s where the magic happens.
Now it’s time to harness this empowered feeling and tackle the rest of my to-do list.
Keep hurdling,
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK
What I’m Watching: Inventing Anna
I remember when the original articles came out about Anna Delvey — the con artist (actual name Anna Sorokin) who posed as a wealthy German heiress in mid-2010s New York — and my mind was blown. Watched this entire series within a week, which is equal parts impressive and slightly questionable because they are NOT short episodes.
What I’m Listening To: Brene Brown Returns to Armchair Expert
From Chelsey: “Dax said it perfectly in this episode: Every time I sit down with you (Brene Brown) I think 'damn, I'm going to LEARN something today!’ Brene is such a wealth of knowledge and her conversation with Dax is the perfect mix of really good learning material and candid, funny conversation.”
Gear I’m Loving: Lululemon Crew Neck UV Protection Running Long Sleeve Shirt
I got adventurous and bought this top in the color “atmospheric purple multi,” which is about as bold of a pattern as they come AKA definitely not black. I love the shape of it. Plus: It’s lightweight enough to wear indoors, and a good transitional piece as the temperatures warm up a bit (!!).
What I’m Reading: Attached by Amir Levine
I’m just starting this one, which explains about the three attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, and secure). The goal: Learning about them can help the reader (me!) (you!) find and sustain love. (I’m down for help.)
Quote I’m Loving: “Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow,” — unknown
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: How To Make Yourself a Morning Person
Mornings are pretty polarizing, right? Either you love them and fully embrace the phrase “the early bird gets the worm,” or you’re more of a snooze button enthusiast. If you’re the latter, you may want to reconsider your daily kickoff, and here’s why: Research shows that morning people are more proactive, happier, and more consistent with their workout routines. In this episode, I’m answering the most popular question I see in my DMs: How do I become a morning person, too? Good news! I'm giving you the insights on my early days, and offering seven tips you need to become a morning person, too. You're going to need a fresh notebook and some willpower (a sweat-friendly playlist won’t hurt, either).
🎧 NEW PODCAST EPISODE: 195. Chrissy King, Writer, Fitness Coach & Creator of The Body Liberation Project
This week I’m chatting with Chrissy King. She’s a writer, speaker, and educator, with a passion for creating a diverse and inclusive wellness industry. She is also the creator of The Body Liberation Project, through which she empowers individuals to stop shrinking, start taking up space, and use their energy to create their specific magic in the world. What I thought was special about Chrissy is that we both started getting into fitness with a desire to lose weight, but found so much more within this world beyond the physical. For episode 195, she talks to me about how that shift happened — finding love in powerlifting, competing on a national level, and steering her inner dialogue toward body positivity and what that looks like for her in practice.
She talks openly about her breaking point, a #hurdlemoment that affirmed there’s so much more to life than being small. She also talks to me about the diversity and inclusion work that she’s been doing in the wellness industry and how a business coach really helped her find her voice and home in on growing her brand. My favorite thing about the New York-based entrepreneur? Her passion to empower others from all backgrounds to be celebrated and feel seen.
Shoutout to Hurdle’s newest sponsor, Priority Bicycles!
As we look to health in ‘22, a big part of that can be cycling. Not necessarily hardcore road or mountain bike riding, but incorporating cycling into our lives — like running errands, riding with the fam, or even commuting. The question is: Where to start? It can be intimidating shopping for bicycles, knowing what to get, being pressured into more than you need — and then there’s the stress of upkeep.
That’s where Priority Bicycles comes in. I’ve had my L-Train bike for two years now, and I love it! Priority was founded by cycling industry veterans who weren’t just thinking of how to make bikes faster and more techy but wanted to make bicycles that were easier to ride and maintain. All of their bicycles feature a “low maintenance” design. Their models are light and intuitive, have things like puncture resistant tires, and a carbon fiber belt drive instead of chain.
Get moving in style today. They are hooking up Hurdlers with $50 off their bike purchase using “HURDLE” at checkout. Click on over to PriorityBicycles.com/Hurdle and learn more.
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Another (weekly) Hurdle conquered. Catch you guys next week.