TBA Mission

To create a supportive, informative, and shame-reducing community at the crossroads of athletics and mental health, with a unique focus on endurance sports. The ultimate goal: empowering each other to use the strategies of our sports to overcome our mental health challenges—while at the same time, using lessons learned from overcoming mental health challenges to skyrocket performance and fulfillment, in sport and life. 

At The Balanced Athlete, we pay particular attention to bipolar disorder, a condition that touches 1-2% of the general population and likely a higher percentage among endurance athletes. Bipolar is quite understudied academically in endurance sports. Our conversations, however, extend beyond bipolar, embracing the full spectrum of mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD and other conditions that typically have the word “disorder” tacked on to the end, which can disrupt an athlete’s balance and performance, but can also become unique forms of strength when harnessed correctly.

What is a Balanced Athlete?

Here, Jud gives his viewpoint.

A few notes for those who may be wondering if they belong here at TBA…

For Parents

Parents belong here. As a pediatrician and coach of youth athletes, I’ve seen firsthand how sports can elevate a young person’s life—and how they can sometimes add pressure, anxiety, or hidden struggles.

If you’re a parent supporting a child who trains hard, feels deeply, and maybe wrestles quietly (or loudly!) with challenges you can't always see, you’re not alone. At The Balanced Athlete, you’ll find reflections and resources to help you walk alongside your young athlete—with strength, empathy, and hope.

For Teen Athletes and Young Adults

This space is also for you. Throughout my career as a pediatrician and coach of youth athletes, I’ve had the privilege of working closely with teenagers, and I understand how overwhelming it can feel to navigate mental health challenges during these years—especially while pushing yourself as an athlete, while also potentially studying for school or entering the early stages of your career.

Many of my posts on The Balanced Athlete are written toward you. You’ll find reflections, strategies, and tools to help you move forward—both in your sport and in your life. You’re not alone. And you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself. If you’re interested in getting some performance coaching to help you on your journey click this link for more information.

For Coaches, Loved Ones, and Supporters

If you coach, love, or support an athlete navigating mental health challenges, your role matters more than you probably hear. At The Balanced Athlete, you’ll find reflections, conversations, and tools that honor the complexity of showing up for someone you care about—especially when the journey isn’t easy.

For Students and Working Professionals

I take on a small cadre of working professionals and students to provide guidance in navigating a pivot to tech. My specialty area in this regard is working with health professions students to make the jump to a health tech career, something I was able to do successfully, but which required a lot of intention, focus, and a decent amount of luck (i.e., being “at the right place at the right time”). I’m happy to coach you on this journey, in addition to the sports-related coaching that I offer. My writings at Substack will touch on these subjects