[SOLO] 377. The 2025 Chicago Marathon Recap: Embracing The Power Of The Pivot & Chasing My Moonshot

Hurdle with Emily Abbate

iHeartPodcasts

Health & Fitness

5 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 15 October 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

I didn’t hit my A, B, or C goals for Sunday’s Chicago Marathon—and I may just be better for it. I was on pace for A (3:25!) until around mile 18, and then the heat hit me like a ton of bricks. I kept pushing forward thinking of so much of the advice and takeaways that elites have offered me over the years (pain is a privilege, your mind is stronger than you realize, break it up into little doubles, and so on).
Talking through the race in this week's episode. Detailing the tears, the smiles, and the good times along the course, plus: How I feel now that I've had some time to process.

I know this now: I didn’t need to hit my goals on Sunday to consider this a win. (Also, it’s just not that serious.) I can say without hesitation that the pivot is a privilege. There’s so much damn power in it, too. I went for my moonshot goal, and that’s the whole point, right? To be brave and gutsy and tenacious because we get to.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	It is so wild to me that the woman who, when she started running, couldn't run a single mile in under 14 minutes, stood on that starting line on Sunday and believed wholeheartedly and knew that she was entirely capable of running 26.2 at a 749 pace.
0:35.6	What's going on? Emily here. You are listening to episode 377 of hurdle. A wellness focus podcast where I talk to inspirational people about everything from their highest ties and toughest moments to essential tips on how to live, a happier, healthier, more motivated life. We all go through our fair share of hurdles.
0:56.8	My goal through these discussions is to empower you to better navigate yours and move with
1:01.7	intention so that you can stride towards your own big potential. And of course, have some fun
1:08.2	along the way. She's fresh off of her 15th marathon sitting back at the desk.
1:16.5	I know last week I was like, hurdles going to come out on Tuesdays. This is so exciting. But I got back
1:21.2	on a Tuesday and I knew I wanted to lead with this episode for the week. So a Wednesday morning
1:26.7	episode, it is. Hi, hello. It feels good to be
1:30.9	sitting right now. It feels good to be home. And like I said, on Sunday, I ran the Chicago
1:36.2	marathon for the second time and it was my 15th marathon. And I, I feel so proud of myself for so many reasons, which we will certainly discuss
1:49.2	today. I am geeked on the accomplishment, the day itself, and the vibes surrounding the day
1:58.5	so high, so special to be able to do something that brings me so
2:03.9	much joy, that thing being running, and integrate it in my day to day with so many people
2:13.1	that I care about and that I love, to be in Chicago so far from home, but feel so surrounded and
2:21.1	inundated with community and positivity that is, I mean, it's priceless. And it's something that if I
2:31.4	could tell my younger self this, I certainly would.
2:36.0	Don't do it on your own for this long.
2:40.3	I mean, I didn't start running with other people regularly until 2018.
2:45.1	And I started running in 2008.
2:48.1	For the first 10 years of that journey, I was scared to run with other people.
2:54.2	I was intimidated and worried that I wasn't good enough. And what opening myself up to that
3:01.4	has done for me, the opportunity to not only meet new people, but benefit from a performance point of view and also really just soak in so much goodness that happens when you are moving, sweating, doing hard things with others.
	...

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