In this very special Clean Break Chats Christmas Special, Andy and Rich are joined by members of the Clean Break community for an honest, moving and uplifting reflection on the year that’s been - and the year ahead.
This episode isn’t about perfect training blocks, PBs or rigid plans. It’s about connection over perfection.
Together, we explore:
You’ll hear raw, real stories from Liz, Stacey and Kris - covering injury, sobriety milestones, weight loss, mindset shifts, family inspiration, and the courage to keep showing up when things don’t go to plan.
If you’re finishing the year feeling tired, stuck, injured, inconsistent - or quietly proud of how far you’ve come - this episode is for you.
🎄 A reminder this Christmas:
You don’t need to be perfect.
You don’t need to do it alone.
And you’re probably doing better than you think.
Victory in Valencia.
But not in the way most people think.
In this deeply reflective episode of Clean Break Chats, Andy and Rich unpack everything that happened before, during, and after the Valencia Marathon - from the electric race-weekend atmosphere to the mental battles after 30km, the heat, the crowds, the doubts… and the breakthroughs.
This isn’t a “what time did you run?” episode.
It’s a conversation about process over pace, connection over consumption, and why the real win happens long before the finish line.
We talk about:
Why marathon success is earned in the months before race day
Managing expectations, nerves, logistics, and controllables
Running alcohol-free and why clarity beats chaos every time
Trusting the process (even when doubt creeps in)
The power of mindset, belief, and staying present in the pain
Why PBs are a by-product - not the point
Community, coaching, and doing hard things together
Whether you’re training for a marathon, returning to running, questioning your relationship with alcohol, or simply navigating a demanding season of life - this episode is a reminder that you’re not behind, you’re building.
🎽 You’re running your own Olympics.
And you’re allowed to be proud of the effort - not just the result.
🎧 Listen now and take what you need from the journey.
In this special in-person episode, Andy and Rich sit down in Spain just days before the Valencia Marathon to reflect on the year, the training blocks, and everything that’s led to this moment.
They talk honestly about pre-race nerves, heat anxiety, gels, hydration, heart rate, and the mental battles that define the marathon experience. But this episode goes much deeper than pacing plans and race strategy. It’s about perspective. About learning to let go of arbitrary time goals. About gratitude, recovery, ageing, reduced training volume, and staying consistent through life’s curveballs.
They reflect on the growth of Clean Break Coaching, the power of alcohol-free connection, and what it truly means to inspire rather than influence. There’s talk of future races, ultras, trail running, community, and why showing up matters more than stopwatch success.
If you’re heading into a marathon, considering your first big race, or simply navigating a demanding season of life - this episode is for you.
🎯 Topics covered:
🎧 A grounded, funny, vulnerable and motivating listen - recorded right on the edge of race weekend.
In this week’s episode of Clean Break Chats, Andy and Rich sit down with the brilliant Denise Hamilton Mace - podcast host, writer, speaker, and one of the most insightful voices in the alcohol-free and mindful-drinking movement.
Denise opens up about:
This is a rich, nuanced conversation about moderation, identity, culture change, and giving people permission to choose what works for them.
If you’ve ever questioned your own drinking, felt in the “in-between” space, or just want to understand the modern mindful-drinking landscape - this episode will give you clarity, compassion, and plenty of aha moments.
In this powerful episode of the Clean Break Chats Podcast, Andy and Rich sit down with running coach, speaker, and all-round mindset powerhouse John Hill - a man who has lived many lives and isn’t afraid to talk about all of them.
John opens up about his early years of low self-esteem, weight struggles, and using alcohol and persona as a mask - and the moment he finally transformed everything by challenging the beliefs he held about himself.
From losing 70 lbs, becoming a marathon runner, and finally breaking the 3-hour barrier in his mid-40s, to choosing to go alcohol-free for reasons far deeper than health, this episode explores:
🔥 How identity shapes every decision you make
🔥 Why belief change is more important than behaviour change
🔥 The mental battles all runners face (and how to win them)
🔥 Alcohol, ego, escapism and the masks men wear
🔥 How to pursue big goals in your 40s, 50s and beyond
🔥 The power of forgiveness, pausing, and choosing differently
🔥 Why the “fat kid” story never really leaves - and how to run anyway
It’s raw, human, funny, deep - and absolutely overflowing with insights for anyone on a journey of change, sobriety, fitness or self-discovery.
If you’re looking for an episode that will shift your perspective and get under your skin in the best possible way… this is it.
This week it’s just the two of us - Andy and Rich - diving into all things running, mindset, training maturity, ego, taper madness, winter motivation, and what really drives long-term progress.
With Valencia Marathon just 3 weeks away, we get honest about:
We also talk about the importance of safety in winter running, adapting your routine, and why joining a social group or run buddy system might be the best move you make this season.
Plus - we announce our FREE 5-Day Running Kickstart Challenge starting Monday 17th. Perfect for anyone wanting accountability, structure, and a fresh start as winter hits. (See link below)
This episode is raw, honest, funny, and packed with takeaways you can use immediately in your training - whether you’re targeting a marathon or just lacing up again.
Small actions. Smart training. Big outcomes.
Tune in and let’s get stuck in.
The FREE 5 Day Running Kick-start For alcohol-free & sober-curious people Who Want to ditch the booze and hit their stride! CLICK ON THE LINK AND GET SIGNED UP - ALL KICKS OFF ON MONDAY 17th November
In this powerful episode of Clean Break Chats, Andy and Rich sit down with performance psychologist Stu Holliday a man who’s worked with Olympic swimmers, England Netball, Liverpool FC, and now helps endurance athletes master their mental game through his Unbreakable Athlete program.
Stu shares practical, game-changing tools for managing your inner critic, building mental toughness, and finding joy in running again - without the pressure of constant performance.
We talk about:
Whether you’re training for your first 10K or chasing a marathon PB, this episode is a masterclass in mindset, recovery, and resilience — not just for running, but for life.
👉 Follow Stu at @endurancemindcoaching
👉 Learn more about the Unbreakable Athlete program
👉 Follow Andy & Rich at @cleanbreakcoaching
Half-term fatigue, long drives, and two back-to-back half marathons… yet we’re feeling strangely good. In EP28 we unpack why: running our easy runs truly easy (heart-rate led), putting intention into the long run, and dropping the ego around paces. Rich talks skipping a 5K time trial to protect the key weekend session, how RunDot’s adaptive plans are earning our trust, and why comparison can be useful - until it isn’t. We dig into process-over-destination goals, “open goals” for mojo, and enjoying the block without pinning self-worth to a PB.
Updates: Rich is now an England Athletics–qualified coach and starting breathwork facilitator training; we’re onboarding runners now for spring races with a big push on base building. Teaser: next week’s guest is sports psychologist Stuart Holliday on mindset, pain moments, and your “own Olympics.” Valencia Marathon is five weeks out -le t’s go.
If your looking to join us in the Clean Break Coaching community and want to take your Spring Goals to the next level https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/memberships
Raw-Dogging Life: Damo on Anxiety, Running & AF Living
Damian “Damo” Sharp joins Andy & Rich for a candid deep-dive into living life unfiltered — no booze, full presence. We unpack anxiety, blips, and the gritty bits of rebuilding confidence with sleep, nutrition, and those “boring” Zone 2 runs that change everything.
We cover:
If you’re AF-curious, in the messy middle, or coming back from a setback, this one’s for you.
👉 Share with a mate who needs it, and DM us your takeaway.
Follow @clean.break.coaching for coaching, community & spring race prep.
This week we pick up Andy’s origin story where we left off — landing in Spain, fusing two drinking cultures, and trying to outrun anxiety with Sunday start lines. We talk about why consistency beats perfection, how to lower resistance to new habits, and what happens when you train hard and drink hard… right up to Andy’s 3:40 at the 2017 London Marathon and the family fallout that followed.
We also reflect on World Mental Health Day: the link between alcohol and anxiety, why connection trumps white-knuckling, and the moment a simple Google search (“Do I have a problem with alcohol?”) opened the door to community and change. We end on a cliff-hanger: the first steps of Andy’s clean break — and what came next.
In this episode
In this episode of Clean Break Chats, Rich and Andy sit down with Scott Woolley, founder of Arklet, to unpack the real conversation around alcohol: not a binary “alcoholic or not,” but a spectrum shaped by culture, mental health, and choice.
Scott shares his own shift from weekend binges to a decade alcohol-free, how picking up a camera opened the door to creativity and nature, and why he’s pro-choice, not anti-alcohol.
We explore the idea of a “hangover problem” vs an “alcohol problem,” the limits of “drink responsibly” messaging, what Gen Z is teaching us about wellness culture, and why swapping nights out for sunrise runs, coffee, and coastline sunsets can be life-changing.
If you’re sober-curious, on a break, or simply rethinking habits, this one’s a grounded, stigma-free listen packed with practical insight - and a reminder that connection beats consumption every time.
Turning 50, mountains on the mind, and no longer chasing a single “peak.” In this solo chat, Rich guides Andy through Part 1 of his origin story - from Bristol roots, rugby and Scouts, to pub-life chaos, backpacking the world, moving to Spain, and becoming a Dad.
Andy shares why “peaking” is a myth, how running taught him to love the process, why depth beats width, and how gratitude and positive psychology re-framed the last decade.
He also connects the dots between ADHD, spontaneity, job-hopping, and the old chase for dopamine.
Part 2 (coming soon) dives into the Spain years and his evolving relationship with alcohol.
Highlights
If this resonates: follow, rate, and share with a friend who’s redefining midlife.
Coaching the Ego: Acceptance, Consistency, Adaptation
Rain on the skylight, a snotty nose, and a missed run—perfect conditions for an ego flare-up. In Ep22, Andy and Rich get brutally honest about the ego we all carry and how to coach it rather than let it coach us.
We dismantle the “minimum 5K” myth, dig into why easy ≠ pointless, and show how the 80/20 split + Zone 2 protects the only sessions that need to be hard: your long run and your quality workout. We talk practical execution—leave 1–2 reps in the tank, keep your intervals even—and map that to the body’s energy systems (ATP/CP, lactate, aerobic) so gains compound instead of stall.
Rich shares a 5K PB (–16s) while running less weekly mileage than his last block, thanks to truly easy recovery and a smarter plan. Andy opens up about moving back to the UK, training for Valencia, and the mindset swings that come with ADHD, self-worth, and FOPO (fear of people’s opinions). There’s a shout to first-timers lining up in Berlin, a debrief on inclusivity vs elitism in big-city marathons (rhino suit memories included), and a riff on The Power of Now—why chasing outcomes can’t fill the hole the ego promises it will.
If you run, you’re a runner. Your job? Acceptance. Consistency. Adaptation. Ours? Giving you the plan and the community to make that stick.
In this episode
On the eve of Andy’s 50th, Rich and Andy welcome Kelly Harman for a grounded conversation about turning a so-called midlife crisis into a midlife awakening. Kelly shares how removing alcohol gave her clarity to recognise misalignment in career and relationships, and why she’s now building Fire & Soul around values-led work and trauma-informed conscious connected breathwork.
Together we translate the science into plain English - how stress “shortens” the breath, what a safe, facilitated session looks like (including breath analysis, acupressure and affirmations), and how polyvagal theory helps you spot when you’re in green/amber/red and use the breath to return to calm. You’ll get a live 4-7-8 downshift you can use before meetings or bedtime, a practical chat on running and breathing (nasal vs. mouth and why easy runs should feel easy), and a look at modelling alcohol-free norms for kids and schools.
We close with smart guidance on choosing accredited facilitators in a fast-growing space and a reminder that midlife isn’t a cliff; it’s a powerful pivot when habits match your values.
HOW TO WORK WITH ANDY AND RICH - Check out the Website - take-a-cleanbreak.com and grab a 30 day FREE Group Coaching experience with our Silver Starter membership.
In EP21 of Clean Break Chats, Andy & Rich sit down with Jimmy Watkins - co-founder of Running Punks, ex-elite middle-distance runner, and over 2,000 days alcohol-free - for a candid conversation about identity, creativity, and choosing a life that actually fits. Jimmy opens up about the moment he realised the live-music lifestyle was costing more than it paid back, and how going AF didn’t shrink his world - it amplified it.
We unpack the transition from late-night gigs to early-morning miles: swapping the buzz of the crowd for the rhythm of breath, using music as a metronome for mindset, and building a community where pace is secondary to joy, expression, and showing up. Jimmy breaks down practical AF strategies - ritual replacements, environment design, crew accountability and how to convert a big milestone like 2,000 days into ordinary daily wins.
Expect real talk on cravings, social pressure, and the myth that you need stress to perform. We get tactical on pre-race nerves, post-gig comedowns, and how to turn “I’ll just have one” moments into momentum. Most of all, this is a story about creating a loud, creative, sober life and inviting others to run alongside.
What you’ll take-away:
In our first-ever face-to-face recording, things start off a bit awkward… footsie under the table, intense eye contact, and lots of laughs — but this quickly evolves into one of the most heartfelt, honest, and reflective episodes we’ve recorded to date.
Andy’s just moved back to the UK after 21 years in Spain - and he opens up about the emotional chaos that comes with big life changes: new schools for the kids, lack of routine, bubbling anxiety, and a sense of not being quite "where he wants to be." Rich shares a powerful moment watching his son embrace the transition into high school - and how it reminded him of the quote: "No man ever steps in the same river twice."
Together, we explore:
This episode is for anyone navigating change - whether that’s a career shift, a lifestyle transition, becoming alcohol-free, or just facing the reality that life never stays still.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re “not quite where you want to be”… you’ll want to hear this.
Why do some of us seek out the hard things - 100km ultras, sleep-deprived 4x4x48s, blizzards on high ridges - when life already hurts? In this deep, honest conversation, Tony Stopforth (founder of Peaky Runners) traces how grief, lockdown and a drifting sense of identity pulled him to the trails…and how doing “crazy” challenges became a way to heal, connect, and lead.
Tony takes us from the moment his father died and running was simply a release “at first it felt like running away” to the point it became running towards purpose. You’ll hear the pivotal vignettes: the NHS fundraiser where he “ran to London” (then to France, adding lake swims for the Channel), the David Goggins 4x4x48 endurance challenge that broke his sleep but built his mind, a spontaneous first marathon on a windy coastline, and a searing hot Lake District race where he learned the hard way about self-reliance (and drank from a stream to finish).
We explore the freedom before structure phase - why curiosity and play often come before plans and data and the moment Tony fell in love with the Peak District: sunset solos, a whiteout epiphany on Derwent Edge, and the simple joy of a coffee by a lone tree. From a 7-person WhatsApp group chat to a thriving movement, he unpacks how Peaky Runners grew organically around three ground rules: no egos, no comparisons, no one gets left behind. It’s not a club; it’s a community - where first-timers mix with elites, and everyone’s win counts (from Mark’s Spine Race to Robin’s Dragon’s Back, to your first trail 10K).
Then comes the hard pivot: two years sidelined by a major knee surgery and early arthritis. Tony shares the anger, the identity wobble, and the slow rebuild (a tentative 10K, a changed gait, gym sessions with his partner) and how witnessing others keep the community alive became the lifeline that pulled him back. The lesson: resilience isn’t only forged in finish lines; it’s also built in the background, together.
If you’re navigating loss, stuck on life’s hamster wheel, or wondering whether a “mad” challenge might just be your doorway to meaning—this episode gives you a map: start messy, find your people, and let hard things reveal who you are.
In Episode 18, it’s just Andy & Rich - no guests, no script, just two mates talking honestly about change, expectations, and connection. Andy shares what it’s been like moving back to the UK after 21 years in Spain, while Rich opens up about parenting, letting go of control, and finding gratitude in the chaos.
They also explore why September feels like a bigger reset than January, the importance of focusing on one intentional thing each day, and how staying alcohol-free underpins it all.
Plus, a huge announcement: the first-ever Clean Break Retreat is coming to Spain in February 2026 - five days of running, mindset, yoga, breathwork, and connection in the sunshine. Get more information HERE - https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/cleanbreak-retreat
In this special episode of the Clean Break Podcast - recorded live when Jodi Clark joined us as a guest inside the Clean Break community - Rich dives deep into Jodi’s powerful alcohol-free journey. From her first steps into sobriety to embracing running, connection, and a more balanced lifestyle, Jodi shares openly about the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the joy she’s found along the way. Her story is proof that going alcohol-free isn’t about giving something up - it’s about gaining so much more.
In this raw and reflective episode, Andy and Rich dive deep into the emotional whirlwind of midlife – from moving countries and raising teens to caring for aging parents and navigating life alcohol-free. They unpack the stress of the "sandwich generation," the evolving meaning of success, and why the question “What’s the rush?” has become central to their mindset.
Expect honest chat about:
Plus, the guys talk retreats, AI-supported coaching, and getting excited about helping people fall in love with running and life again.
A must-listen if you’re juggling a lot, chasing goals, or just need a reminder to breathe and be present. 🙌