In this episode of Clean Break Chats, Andy and Rich dive into the uncomfortable middle ground of alcohol use - the space where you're functioning, coping… but quietly struggling.

They explore the idea of being “not bad enough” to quit, yet not truly thriving either. From emotional reliance and the fading bias effect, to using running as a mask rather than a solution, this conversation gets honest about what alcohol was really doing behind the scenes.

Andy reflects on the anxiety-filled mornings he never wants to relive. Rich opens up about vocational dependence and the subtle ways alcohol embeds itself into identity and routine. Together, they unpack why so many men in their 40s feel stuck - and why removing alcohol might be the first real step toward clarity, not restriction.

This episode is for the runner who drinks.
The dad who feels the pressure.
The man who looks fine on the outside.

If you’ve ever wondered whether alcohol is helping or quietly holding you back....this one’s for you.

In this episode of Clean Break Chats, we’re joined by Ben Gray from Run Talk Run (part of Sport in Mind) for a conversation that goes well beyond running.

We talk about movement as a tool for mental health, why small, consistent community spaces matter, and how simply showing up can be life-changing - even on the weeks when nobody else does.

Ben shares his own journey through ADHD, alcohol, identity, and finding purpose, along with the story behind Run Talk Run and why it works: no pressure, no pace, no fixing - just moving together and being human.

Along the way we cover:

• why “fine” often isn’t fine
• the power of walk-and-talk spaces
• training for ultras versus training for life
• the calm swan… and the chaos underneath
• consistency over perfection (plus an unexpected Cream Egg & pizza 5K PB)

If you’ve ever felt on the edge of joining something - or wondered how movement can support mental health without judgment - this episode is for you.

This one’s a proper sit-down, no-filter chat.

We start with Ali’s Spine Race update (268 miles, barely any sleep, and she still says it was everything she wanted it to be)… and that opens the door to something bigger:

The pain we choose… versus the pain life hands us.

Because not everyone’s “Spine” is a Spine.

For Rhonda, it was her first Parkrun.

For Phil, it was showing up three times in a week.

For Sandra, it was making an alcohol-free choice on a cruise.

And for Johnny, it’s fighting the resistance, the fear of failing, and the pressure of a ticking clock.

We talk about ego, comparison, why confidence doesn’t come first… and why choosing challenge is often how we build the tools we’ll need when life gets hard without our permission.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, unmotivated, or like you “should be doing more”… this episode will land.

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