We Are The Balanced Athlete

Using Your Sport to Strengthen Your Mental Health

Endurance sports aren’t just a physical game—they’re an intense, often uncharted mental battlefield. Yet when the conversation turns to performance, athletes with mental health challenges rarely get center stage.

At The Balanced Athlete, we recognize that behind every epic athletic adventure is a story of inner resilience, moments of struggle, and the quiet, courageous fight to stay balanced.

This community is for athletes who endure amidst chaos. It’s a safe space not just for those facing mental health challenges head-on, but also for their loved ones, coaches, parents, and supporters who stand witness to their daily battles.

Why Balance Matters

I understand the rollercoaster—because I live it.

As a physician, startup exec, and amateur endurance athlete managing bipolar disorder, I know first-hand that the balance between physical exertion and mental wellness can mean the difference between surviving and thriving.

Being a Balanced Athlete isn’t a lofty ideal. It’s a real-life necessity for those of us with mental health challenges trying to excel in sport—and in life.

The term “Balanced Athlete” comes down to harmony. It’s not just about pushing physical limits. It’s about keeping our inner compass steady when the storms hit. It’s about finding stability—even when your mind feels like an unpredictable ocean.

The Give and Take of Mental and Physical Resilience

One of our guiding principles is that there’s a two-way street between sports and mental health.

You can use athletic tools like mindfulness, self-talk, stress management, and strategic pacing of your day to support your mental wellness.

Conversely, you can use the wisdom earned through living through mental health challenges—like depression, anxiety, mood swings,, addiction, trauma—to sharpen your athletic approach and  improve both performance and fulfillment in your sport.

This is the powerful interplay and we explore here (Figure 1). It’s the constant dialogue between these two spheres that empowers us.

Figure 1. The Interplay Between Your Sport and Your Mental Health Journey

I’ve felt this exchange viscerally.

Trail ultras, long-effort mountain biking, cyclocross racing, skiing—these aren’t just hobbies. They’re lifelines. These pursuits taught me how to suffer well. How to persist. How to recover.

But I’ve also seen the other side. Times when exercise tipped into mania—like during my medical residency, when I was pairing 80-hour workweeks with “midnight century” rides (more on that in a future post...).

Excessive exercise during those times wasn’t just a symptom of my mood disorder. It was fuel for it. Like pouring lighter fluid on a fire.

Learning to (Try to) Stay Balanced

If you’re walking a similar tightrope, you know this: balance isn’t just a buzzword—it’s survival.

Yes, the concept might feel cliché, but for those of us who feel deeply and intensely, it’s real.

Too much or too little training can shake your foundation. Here at The Balanced Athlete, we’ll dig into how to spot those tipping points, steady yourself when your mind starts to spin, and use your sport as a source of healing—not harm.

My Own Long Game

Over time, I’ve realized you can’t separate mental and physical health. They move together.

As a pediatrician pursuing a master’s in applied sports psychology, an endurance athlete, and a human navigating the twists and turns of bipolar, I’ve learned the importance of playing the long game. 

It’s about listening to mood shifts. Embracing recovery. Learning how to transform hardship into strength.

I’ve found a way to push myself athletically while staying grounded mentally. To unlock creativity and purpose at work. And to be fully present in my most important roles as a husband and father.

You can unlock this, too. And the journey? It’s pretty amazing.

We Are the Balanced Athlete

Balanced Athletes—imbalanced athletes chasing the center—are everywhere. And they are powerful.

With intention, we can use the resilience forged through mental health challenges to grow stronger, wiser, and more connected. Even if our steps are small, imperfect, or staggered.

Here, we’ll share stories, hard-won lessons, and the wins and losses that shape us. We’ll explore how exercise can become medicine—when dosed intentionally.

The Journey to a New Kind of Athlete

Exercise hasn’t just improved my symptoms—it’s reshaped how I see mental illness. And I believe it can help others do the same.

Let’s move toward a new paradigm: one where “disorder” is redefined, balance is honored, and athletes on a mental health journey are empowered to thrive.

Join us. Unlock your potential.

The Balanced Athlete journey isn’t linear—but it’s full of breathtaking moments of growth. Let’s walk this road together, through every hill, valley, and unexpected breakthrough.

Amidst the imbalance, strive for balance,

Jud