In Episode 39 of Clean Break Chats, we are joined by one of the most honest, respected and quietly formidable voices in endurance sport — Allie Bailey.

Allie is an ultra-endurance athlete, coach, speaker and author of two powerful books:

📖 There Is No Wall
📖 31 Days: a Zero-Bullsh*t Masterclass in Mindset Training For: The Modern Runner

Since this conversation was recorded, Allie has gone on to complete one of the most brutal endurance events on the planet - the Winter Spine Race 2026.

🏔️ 268 miles
❄️ Mid-winter conditions
🌙 18+ hours of darkness per day
🧠 Relentless mental and physical challenge

And she didn’t just finish.

👉 She placed 7th Female which is an epic result.

Allie has taken on some of the toughest terrains on Earth - from crossing frozen Lake Khövsgöl in Mongolia to running the length of the Panama Canal - and has finished 200+ marathons and ultra-marathons around the world. Along the way she’s battled depression and alcoholism, transformed her life, and now helps others find strength through both running and mindset work. 

In this episode, Allie talks candidly about:

 ✔️ What it really takes to stand at the start line of races like the Spine Race and multi-day ultras
✔️ Why process over destination is everything
✔️ How mental training outlives physical wins
✔️ Her experience on the Winter Spine Race/Spine Challenger - one of the toughest winter ultras in the UK - and how she accidentally found her way into doing it despite saying she never would
✔️ Valuable lessons in self-worth, motives for running, and letting go of unrealistic comparison

Whether you’re an ultrarunner, a weekend warrior, or someone navigating life’s tough transitions, this raw, honest and inspiring conversation will challenge how you think about effort, struggle, and success.

Here’s who we’re talking about:

Allie Bailey - British ultrarunner, author, coach, speaker and podcaster.

🏆 Recognised as one of the UK’s most inspiring female adventurers.
📚 Author of the acclaimed “There Is No Wall”.
🥇 Podiumed in numerous long ultras (including Wildhorse 200).
🌍 Has completed 200+ ultra-distance runs including multi-day and extreme conditions worldwide. 
📣 Regular speaker on mindset, endurance and mental health. 
🐕 Lives in Yorkshire with rescue dog, Pickle (a true trail companion!). 

👉 She’s also been part of the Spine Race team in safety and media roles leading up to tackling the Winter challenge herself in 2026

In this episode, Andy and Rich explore the pressure that often arrives with the start of a new year - the sense that things should feel clearer, calmer, and more organised by now… even when they don’t.

They talk openly about:

• Why January can amplify overwhelm rather than motivation
• How avoidance, ADHD task paralysis, and self-criticism can quietly stall progress
• The difference between self-sabotage and learning to protect your future self
• Why going from zero to all-in rarely works
• How focusing on process over perfection creates sustainable momentum

Andy shares his own reflections on feeling scattered and stuck - and how returning to the gym after years of resistance has become a powerful symbol of doing the uncomfortable things that support long-term goals, rather than avoiding them out of fear.

Rich dives into mindset, goal-setting, and belief, sharing how a simple mental shift led to a 19:49 5K, reinforcing that progress doesn’t come from doing more - it comes from doing the right things consistently.

Together, they reflect on how small, repeatable actions, kinder self-talk, and better focus can unlock confidence, clarity, and forward motion - not just in running, but in life.

They also share what’s coming up across Clean Break Coaching, including races, meet-ups, retreats, and a limited-time coaching offer for those wanting structure, accountability, and support as the year unfolds.

If you’re feeling the weight of new-year expectations, this episode is a reminder that you don’t need a perfect plan - just the next right step.

🔓 Current Coaching Offer

For a limited time, you can get 33% off for 2 months on both coaching options:

👉 Group Coaching
https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/silveroffer100

👉 1:1 Coaching + Group Support
https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/silveroffer200

What if going alcohol-free isn’t the change… but the catalyst that unlocks every other change in your life?

In this special guest episode of Clean Break Chats, Andy and Rich are joined by one of the most influential voices in the alcohol-free world - Andy Ramage (One Year No Beer / Dry / coach & author).

For Andy D, this conversation is deeply personal. His alcohol-free journey began back in May 2018 after finding One Year No Beer online, and after months of blipping and slipping, his last “Day One” landed on 28th February 2019 - the same moment he started his first course with Andy Ramage.

Together, we unpack why removing alcohol so often becomes the gateway to transformation, including:

• Why alcohol-free living takes courage - especially when everyone else is walking in the opposite direction
• How our beliefs about alcohol (confidence, fun, connection) get formed early… and keep us trapped for decades
• Why alcohol disconnects us from the micro-moments that create real joy and meaning
• How clarity, sleep, and emotional resilience return when alcohol leaves
• Why men, grief, vulnerability and alcohol are so tightly linked and why we need new spaces for real conversation
• The truth about being accused of “preaching” and why sharing this message matters now more than ever

Andy also shares exciting updates on what he’s building next, including Authentic Brew, a functional wellness drink created to support energy, clarity and connection - and his upcoming documentary tracking real drinkers through an alcohol-free transformation.

This is a powerful, honest, funny and deeply human conversation - and if you’ve ever thought about taking a break from alcohol… this might be the episode that changes everything.

 📲 Follow Andy Ramage: https://www.instagram.com/andyramageofficial and https://andyramage.com
🍃 Authentic Brew: https://www.authenticbrew.com

Happy New Year - and welcome to the first Clean Break Chats episode of 2026.

In this conversation, Rich and Andy reflect on what 2025 really taught them: that success isn’t measured by a bank balance, but by the joy, gratitude, connection, and meaning you’re building day-to-day. They talk honestly about alcohol-free life over Christmas (what felt easy, what still shows up), the “placebo” rituals of special occasions, and the tricky, nuanced question of moderation - especially when alcohol has been part of your identity.

They also explore one of the most powerful tools in any change journey: creating a gap between stimulus and response. Because when you think you’re craving alcohol, you’re usually craving a feeling - relaxation, connection, excitement, relief - and you can learn to meet that need without pouring a drink.

From there, the chat opens up into running, coaching, and what’s ahead: why process goals beat destination goals, why community race-weekends (like Valencia and Benidorm) matter so much, and what 2026 might look like when you “remove what isn’t important” before piling more on.

Andy shares what stepping into 50 feels like (spoiler: it’s not fear - it’s fuel), why the gym suddenly matters for the next challenge, and how he’s thinking about productivity, accountability, and building strength to match big endurance dreams. Rich talks marathon plans, focus, and doubling down on what matters.

If you’re doing Dry January - or just feeling that “new year reset” energy -this one will help you simplify, refocus, and start building momentum.

Mentioned in this episode

• FREE 28-day Alcohol-Free Challenge (code: FREEMAKEACHANGE) - https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/alcoholfreechallege
• Group coaching: £75/month (weekly running + mindset call + weekly alcohol-free call) - https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/memberships
• 1:1 coaching: from £150/month - https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/memberships
• Free discovery call (30 mins) to figure out the best option for you - https://calendly.com/rich-cleanbreakcoaching/clean-break-coaching-30min-discovery-call

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.

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.

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:

• How small, intentional actions compound into big results
• The power of consistency over intensity
• Why most runners massively overestimate effort and underestimate recovery
• The difference between running smarter vs running harder
• Taper fears, niggles, and the psychology of race-week
• Training in winter and “owning the dark months”
• How ego can derail race prep (hello, Benidorm Half 👀)
• Why coaching is WAY more than a plan - it’s mindset, structure, accountability, and community

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

 https://portal.take-a-cleanbreak.com/challenge