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After 19 days straight of travel, I finally had time to get my feet under me this week. Thank goodness. I’ve been doing my best to get back on east coast hours, prioritizing sleep, and trying to do the best I can to show up every single day at my desk having been away for some time. Lots of recordings are happening. (And also, guests are getting booked! Good for the Hurdlers!)
Busy seasons mean that more often than not, I have to be realistic about the bandwidth I do have. I like to show up with my full self. Still, I believe that consistency is better than perfection. That’s why this week, I want to talk about something we all fall into from time to time: the stubbornness trap.
You know exactly what I mean. The days where you want to decide that come hell or high water, you are going to execute the workout plan, run, or general life effort/task exactly as written. 5x1,000m repeats? Done. Back-to-back meetings when you’re not thinking clearly? Why not! Go to dinner with your friend when you’re falling asleep getting ready? No matter what.
But then real life enters the chat.
Maybe your Oura ring tells you your HRV is tanked because you tossed and turned all night. Maybe you step outside and the air feels less like oxygen and more like disgusting hot soup.
Instead of listening to the very loud data points your body is giving you a la wearable, you push through. (Been there, done that.) You hit the splits, but you finish feeling absolutely destroyed, buried in a hole that will take days to climb out of.
I’m here to give you official permission—though you shouldn’t need it—to modify the day.
Modify! The! Day!
When we lock ourselves into a rigid mindset, we forget that life doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Your body doesn’t know the difference between the physical stress of a fast mile and the physiological stress of:
A terrible night of sleep: Your recovery is compromised before you even lace up.
High heat and humidity: Your heart rate spikes just trying to keep you cool, meaning a “normal” pace suddenly requires maximal effort.
Life stress: Work, family, travel—it all drains from the exact same tank.
Adjusting your plan in response to these things isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of intelligence. So, that means:
If your energy is at a two out of ten, you have options that don’t involve throwing the whole day away. More often than not, our fear of falling short is much louder than the reality of asking for grace.
It’s OK to shift your schedule.
It’s OK to lift less weight or drop the reps.
It’s OK not to do the run altogether.
At the end of the day, we need to zoom out. No single workout makes a training block. No Zoom call is life or death. But forcing an effort that your body isn’t ready for can have repercussions. Longevity comes from flexibility. This week, I lifted less weight. I napped midday. I said “no,” to an invite or two that I just wouldn’t have been my full, most-present self if I’d accepted. SO—while I’ll encourage you every single day to be stubborn about your long-term goals, I’ll also say that it’s critical to be incredibly fluid about how you get there.
The next time the vibe is off, give yourself grace, pivot, and remember that tomorrow’s another day.
Keep hurdling,
Thoughts and other links: Speaking of giving myself grace, some quicker-than-usual highlights for you this week. HOKA released their new Clifton Pro (and had me to their Fifth Avenue store to host their launch last night!). She cute! Speaking of shoe launches, Tracksmith had a special moment to celebrate their new Elliot Rider—launching July 15. If you’re a max cushion fan, you’ll love this new pick. Really loved hearing from Alyssa McElheny, the OTQ runner who recently won HYROX World Championships, on Ali On The Run. This week, the first episode of Coach Chris Bennett’s After Dark Tour series came out on his show, The Coach Bennett Podcast, and he had me on as a special guest. Alison Wade, we love you. Has anyone successfully landed an NYC jersey since they started releasing a select few online every day at 10 a.m.? I haven’t. But I’m trying!
Welcome Olympic Champion Masai Russell back to Hurdle! Fresh off her historic performances in the 100-meter hurdles, recently clocking a 12.14 for the second fastest time in history and a win at Pre Classic, Masai opens up about her rapid rise to the top and the evolution of her mindset.
In this episode, we dive deep into the essential difference between having confidence and being cocky, and how Masai protects her peace by switching her focus from standard expectations to execution. Masai reflects on transitioning from an underdog mentality to navigating the pressure of being the one to beat, sharing how she trains her mind to view every performance—good or bad—as an opportunity to sharpen her greatness. From tracking meticulous micro-improvements to redefining what “speed” truly means to her, she reveals what it takes to relentlessly pursue her potential and become an undeniable legend in her sport.
I’m so, so glad you asked!
SUBSCRIBE, RATE, AND REVIEW HURDLE:
Go on, get after it. It takes 30 seconds!
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Another (weekly) Hurdle conquered.
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