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:

• Pre-marathon mindset & race-day nerves
• Training in the heat & adjusting expectations
• The power of consistency over volume
• Fueling, hydration & heart rate awareness
• Letting go of time obsession
• Gratitude, ageing & resilience
• Clean Break community & future race plans

🎧 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:

• Her journey from daily drinking in hospitality to becoming a leading advocate for mindful drinking
• Why the “messy middle” of alcohol use is where most people actually live
• The rise of alcohol-free options and how choice is changing everything
• How rituals, habit loops, and identity shape our drinking behaviours
• Why pubs are missing out on £800 million a year (and what needs to change)
• The future of AF wine, functional drinks, and how the entire category is evolving
• And most importantly: how to make empowered choices without guilt, shame, or labels

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.