Developing The Balanced Athlete: Jud Heugel MD

Jud Heugel MD is a pediatrician, father, endurance athlete, health tech startup leader, and mental health advocate blending clinical expertise with lived experience. He’s based in Seattle—though feels most alive on the trails around Bend, Oregon. 

Currently pursuing a Master’s in Applied Sports Psychology and writing on Substack, Jud brings a unique focus on using performance coaching strategies to help athletes—and really, all of us—overcome mental health challenges and thrive. He has shown that athletes can harness the lessons, struggles, and energy of their mental health journeys to unlock deeper fulfillment and stronger performance in sport. 

With a special focus on young athletes, he’s on a mission to help others find their true selves amidst struggle—and thrive both on and off the trail. He lives with bipolar disorder, drawing strength as well as insight from its challenges.

Jud walks the walk in actively moving towards his values, most recently completing the Dark Divide 100 mile ultramarathon!

Learn more about Jud:

Substack: https://thebalancedathlete.substack.com/

Website: www.thebalancedathlete.org

Jud on the Right In Front Of My Face podcast by Shannon Hull: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-balanced-athlete-mental-health-bipolar-and/id1485663501?i=1000708545715

Jud’s guest post featured by Matt Fitzgerald: https://open.substack.com/pub/endurancemastery/p/guest-post-the-8020-rule-for-your?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

Bonus: after Jud and I recorded, Rich Roll mentioned Jud on Substack a few months later! Amazing what happens when you put your goals out there into the universe and take small actions to make them happen. Maybe Rich, Jud, and I will get a run in together one day!

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