Anxiety can show up even when life looks “fine” on the outside—racing thoughts, a body that won’t settle, or that constant sense that something might go wrong.
Whether it’s performance anxiety before a big run, generalized worry that drains your energy, or anxiety tied to past trauma, I help clients understand where it comes from and how it’s trying (sometimes unhelpfully) to protect you.
As a semi-professional ultramarathoner and licensed counselor, I see this pattern often in endurance athletes. Your brain is wired to keep you safe on technical trails, in uncertain weather, or during long efforts where something could go wrong. But when that same protective system gets triggered by everyday life, training decisions, or race goals, it can feel exhausting and limiting.
How Anxiety Shows Up for Runners
Anxiety in athletes often looks different than the classic “worry about everything” stereotype.
It might show up as:
- Pre-race nerves that turn into stomach issues or tight muscles before you even toe the line.
- Overthinking training decisions (“Am I doing too much? Not enough?”).
- Fear of injury or another DNF that makes you hesitant to push in workouts.
- Generalized dread that saps motivation for easy runs you used to love.
- Physical symptoms (racing heart, shallow breathing, restlessness) that linger long after a hard effort.
The tricky part? Anxiety can sometimes motivate you — that extra edge on race day or drive to prepare. But when it crosses into holding you back, it steals joy, consistency, and the freedom to run strong.
Understanding Where Anxiety Comes From
Anxiety isn’t a personal weakness — it’s your brain doing its job too well. It scans for threats and prepares you for them. For runners, those “threats” can include performance pressure, past setbacks (injuries, bad races, trauma), or the high demands of balancing training with life.
Together in therapy, we’ll explore how anxiety shows up in your life — including the ways it might be holding you back — or even pushing you forward — and develop practical tools to calm your nervous system, reframe unhelpful thoughts, and respond differently.
Evidence-Based Tools That Fit an Athlete’s Life
Using CBT (to challenge unhelpful thought patterns), DBT skills (like mindfulness, distress tolerance, and grounding), and ACT (to stay committed to your values even when anxiety shows up), we focus on real-world strategies that fit your lifestyle — especially if you’re an endurance athlete balancing training, recovery, and everyday demands.
Many clients leave sessions with:
- A clearer understanding of their anxiety patterns.
- Personalized coping tools they can use immediately (breathing techniques, worry time, self-soothe skills, and more).
- Greater confidence in handling uncertainty and setbacks.
- Renewed energy to move toward the life (and the finish lines) they want.
Helpful Resources for Managing Anxiety
Exercise, Yoga, and Qi Gong for Managing Anxiety and Depression — Research-backed ways movement helps (beyond just running).
Exercise, Sleep, and Anxiety: Rewire your brain — How consistent training and good sleep can literally change your brain’s response to stress.
The Anxious Brain, Worry Time, Disempowering Thoughts, and Anxiety Management — Learn about worry time, catastrophic thinking, and simple steps to regain control.
Managing Anxiety and Deciding with Uncertainty — Tools for making decisions when anxiety clouds your judgment.
I also share downloadable worksheets and resources during sessions that we can review and personalize together.
You Don’t Have to Figure It Out Alone
If anxiety has been running the show, you don’t have to keep pushing through it. Therapy can help you understand it, work with it, and get back to running (and living) with more freedom and strength.
I offer a free 10–15 minute phone consult so we can see if we’re the right fit. Whether you’re dealing with race-day nerves, daily worry, or deeper anxiety tied to past experiences, I’d be honored to help you finish stronger — on the trails and in life.
Ready to take the next step?
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