This week on Hurdle, Emily sits down with Olympian, lululemon ambassador, and Meridia founder Colleen Quigley for a candid, post-USATF Championships catch-up in New York City.

Ten years after making her first Olympic team, Colleen reflects on the physical and mental shifts that have reshaped her career. After finally getting clarity on a decade-long foot injury, Colleen shares how embracing that answer allowed her to release the pressure of track racing and open the door to exciting new challenges—including stepping into the world of HYROX, navigating a major home renovation in Boulder, and stepping into her power as a brand advocate and team leader.

Together, Emily and Colleen dive into what it takes to own your worth as an athlete, the importance of telling authentic stories beyond a 15-second social clip, and why trusting your gut is the ultimate key to conquering life's hurdles.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS

• Finding Clarity & Letting Go: Colleen details the breakthrough image that revealed a chronic Lisfranc injury and arthritic foot changes, giving her the peace and permission to step away from chasing track trials and shift toward new goals.

• Entering the HYROX World: Why Colleen is diving into HYROX training, how it fulfills her need for high-energy indoor events, and the spontaneous doubles pact forged right on the mic.

• The Evolution of Team Meridia: Transitioning from competing alongside her teammates to serving as a full-time leader and story-teller, giving female athletes the mic to share their full journeys.

• Navigating Brand Deals & Self-Worth: Colleen breaks down how she learned to negotiate without an agent, why saying "no" creates space for the right partnerships, and how she empowers her athletes to recognize their market value.

• Life in Boulder & Modern Content: A look at Colleen and Kevin's massive historic home renovation, plus a discussion on why audiences crave raw, long-form connection over hyper-polished social clips.

QUOTABLE MOMENTS

"I don't know if there's anything that will make me feel the way that trying to go to the Olympics made me feel ... but I'm just ready for a new challenge. I'm ready for something different that makes me get excited and doesn't make me feel defeated."

"I'm excited to be able to say yes to those things that I've been missing out on... to say yes to fun runs, vacations, or doubles at HYROX. Saying yes to a lot of new, fun adventures." 

"Every single deal doesn't have to work out. It just makes space for something else. You have to have some kind of trust that the world is going to look out for you, as long as you're showing up in a way you can be proud of." 

"If you believe it to be true and you feel like you know something, own it and act accordingly."

SOCIAL
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ASK ME A QUESTION: Email hello@hurdle.us to with your questions! Emily answers them every Friday on the show. 

Listen to Hurdle with Emily Abbate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.