The Extramilest Podcast

#128: How to Overcome Race Nerves and Anxiety with Jude Brewer

The Extramilest Podcast

Show Notes

Thanks to Precision Fuel & Hydration, and Heavenly Heat Saunas for sponsoring this video! Get 15% off your first order of Precision Fuel & Hydration at https://visit.pfandh.com/thextramilest2026 | Get 6% off your sauna with code FLO at https://www.heavenlyheatsaunas.com/discount/FLO

Neuroscientist, psychiatrist, and bestselling author Jud Brewer talks about anxiety, race day nerves, flow state, and how to become a stronger, healthier, and happier athlete overall.

Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CqD4C-v0P3o

Chapters: 0:00 — Jud Brewer on race anxiety, sleep, and flow 1:38 — Precision Hydration Sponsorship 3:15 — Why runners experience race day nerves 6:37 — How uncertainty fuels anxiety before races 7:57 — Anxiety as a negative habit loop 13:04 — How to deal with race week nerves and sleep anxiety 16:05 — Observing thoughts instead of fighting them 19:56 — Heavenly Heat Saunas Sponsorship 21:01 — How noting practice and the senses help runners stay present 24:02 — Forest bathing, awareness, and connecting with nature 29:25 — Why trail running encourages presence 32:03 — Gratitude, prayer, and rewiring the nervous system 37:45 — How relaxed running calms the mind and body 44:05 — Making hard workouts more playful 46:10 — How to move from anxiety into flow? 52:42 — Flow inhibitors, curiosity, and letting go of self-consciousness 56:15 — How technology and social media can block flow 1:00:51 — Setting better intentions around social media 1:03:20 — Jud's advice to his younger self 1:08:35 — Breathing techniques for anxiety 1:13:28 — Where to find Jud and his work 1:14:02 — How to become a stronger, healthier, happier athlete 1:14:48 — Jud's upcoming book Going Beyond Anxiety 1:17:40 — Precision Hydration Sponsorship 1:17:58 — The Power of Being Present

Affiliate Disclosure: I may earn commissions if you purchase items via my affiliate links. "As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases." Affiliate links do not increase cost to you. Also, you do not need to use these links. You can also search for these same items in Amazon or on any search engine/shopping site of your choice and buy/research them that way.

FIND JUD: ► WEBSITE: https://drjud.com ► SUBSTACK: https://substack.com/@judbrewer

LINKS & TOOLS MENTIONED: ► Heavenly Heat Saunas (Code: FLO for 6% off): https://heavenlyheatsaunas.com ► Precision Fuel & Hydration (15% off your first order at: https://visit.pfandh.com/thextramilest2026 ► Jakob Ingebrigtsen Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQeh_Pg0Nz0 ► Unwinding Anxiety Book: https://amzn.to/43W8Ncx ► Unwinding Anxiety Program: https://unwindinganxiety.com/ ► Going Beyond Anxiety Program: https://www.goingbeyondanxiety.com/ ► The Craving Mind: https://amzn.to/4o659Gk

YOU CAN FIND ME, FLORIS GIERMAN HERE: ► Buy my new book Running Breakthroughs: https://geni.us/running-breakthroughs ► My Personal Best Running Coaching Program: https://www.skool.com/personalbest ► Podcast: https://extramilest.com/podcast ► Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/1329785 ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florisgierman ► Extramilest Website: https://extramilest.com ► Path Projects Website: https://pathprojects.com

ABOUT THE EXTRAMILEST SHOW: A podcast and YouTube channel where host Floris Gierman interviews world class athletes, coaches and health experts on the topic of how to become a stronger, healthier and happier athlete. More info about our running coaching program can be found at https://www.skool.com/personalbest.

Subscribe and hit the bell to see new videos: https://bit.ly/Flo-YT

#running #raceday #anxietyrelief #anxiety #marathon

More from The Extramilest Podcast

Oct 14, 2026

Thanks to CENTR for sponsoring this video! Build your own home gym and get 10% off at https://shop.centr.com/FLORISGIERMAN | Most runners fall off their rehab plan when life gets busy. Running Injury Specialist Mandy is back for round two, diving into hip pain, shin splints, running shoes, and her own two-and-a-half year knee injury that eventually led to surgery — and what she learned from being on the other side of the treatment table.

Oct 2, 2026

Thanks to Precision Fuel & Hydration for sponsoring this video! Get 15% off your first order at http://visit.pfandh.com/extramilestshow | Can the Norwegian training method help recreational runners get faster without overtraining? I sit down with two-time Olympian and medical doctor Marius Bakken to discuss training intensity, recovery, double threshold training, lactate testing, and building sustainable habits for long-term progress.

Sep 25, 2026

Thanks to Precision Fuel & Hydration for sponsoring this video! Get 15% off your first order at https://visit.pfandh.com/extramilestshow | Penny Jarvis started running at 44 and now has ran 24 marathons. She ran her fastest marathon at 72, proving it's never too late to improve. In this episode, she joins Floris to share her approach to training, strength, recovery, and building confidence, plus how running has brought friendship, adventure, and purpose into her life.

Sep 18, 2026

Thanks to Precision Fuel & Hydration for sponsoring this video! Get 15% off your first order at http://visit.pfandh.com/extramilestshow | Getting faster doesn't mean pushing harder on every run. In this episode, running coach Mario Fraioli shares how to introduce speed work, use hills to build strength, and balance training with a busy life. We also explore running strong in your 40s and beyond, learning to trust your body, and keeping the joy in running while working toward your next personal best.

Sep 1, 2026

Get 10% off your Cooling Sleep System with code FLO at https://somnuslab.com Can better sleep make you a faster runner? Chu Zhu is a sleep expert who's worked with Tour de France winners, Olympic athletes, and elite endurance performers. He's also a runner, swimmer, mountaineer, and founder of Somnus Lab. We dive into one of the most overlooked aspects of performance: sleep, one of the key areas I've been focusing to optimize my health. You'll get a lot out of this one.

See all episodes →