The kids are back at school, the summer's officially over, and Rich and Andy are back in a room together - figuratively speaking - for the first time in weeks. Yorkshire Marathon is six weeks away. Autumn race season is here. And this week's episode is one of those ones where a conversation about running quietly becomes a conversation about everything else.
Rich is six weeks out from Yorkshire with no data, no watch, no Strava, and no idea what time he's going to run. He's also having more fun than he's had in any marathon training block he can remember. There's something in that.
Andy is running Yorkshire with his son Johnny - his first marathon - and there's a glass ceiling conversation happening in this episode that's worth the listen alone. Andy's been consistently running 3:33. He wants to go sub-3:30. Five minutes a kilometre, dead on, for 42.2K. He knows he's capable of it. So does Rich. The only thing standing in the way is the bit between his ears.
Which leads to the riff. Rich connects the fear of committing to a marathon goal - fear of failure, fear of what people will think, fear of who you'll become - to the fear that stops people committing to an alcohol-free journey. It's the same fear. Different thing, same mechanism. And the people who get through it aren't the ones who feel less afraid. They're the ones who lean into all of it anyway.
Also in this episode: comparison as the thief of joy, the member of the group who ran their first marathon in their late 60s and is wondering if the running days are ending, and Andy heading off mid-episode for his 3-year post-cancer treatment all-clear. Which arrived. All clear.
What is Clean Break Chats?
🎙️ Clean Break Chats – Mindful Miles and AF Lifestyles.
Hosted by Andy and Rich – two ordinary guys who’ve discovered something extraordinary through living alcohol-free. Andy lives by the sea in sunny Spain, and Rich’s home base is in Leeds, UK. What they share is a passion for running, a commitment to alcohol-free living, and a desire to help others unlock the same freedom and joy.
Formerly known as The Running Dryy podcast, this re-branded podcast is part of their new venture Clean Break – a growing community dedicated to helping runners break free from booze and tap into their full potential. Between them, Andy and Rich have run multiple marathons and ultra events, and they credit going alcohol-free as their superpower.
Each episode features raw, honest conversations between the two – full of laughs, insights, and the kind of chat you'd have on a long run with your best mate. They also invite brilliant guests to share their own stories of transformation, triumph, and what it means to live, run, and thrive without alcohol.
Whether you’re sober-curious, in recovery, or just want to hear real stories about finding meaning through movement and mindset, Clean Break Chats is your new go-to listen.
👟 Come for the running.
💬 Stay for the community.
✨ Leave feeling inspired.