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:

• Navigating injuries, setbacks and frustration - without walking away
• Why community matters more than motivation
• What it really means to train smarter, not harder
• How being alcohol-free creates space for deeper connection - with yourself, your running, and your family
• Patience, sustainability, and learning to play the long game
• The emotional power of running - especially when shared with others
• Identity shifts: “I’m not a runner” → “I am a runner”
• Why failure isn’t the end - it’s part of the path

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:

• 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.