The Consistency Club - Members Only Podcast

Adam Barski
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  • Health & Fitness

The Consistency Club Podcast is a members-only podcast hosted by Adam Barski, focused on helping everyday people improve their running, fitness and health in a realistic and sustainable way. Each episode covers topics around running, nutrition, mindset and consistency, with a big focus on keeping things simple, enjoyable and achievable long term. Expect honest conversations, relatable stories, practical advice, client experiences and plenty of reassurance for anyone who feels like they’re struggling, overthinking or constantly starting again. This isn’t a podcast for elite athletes or people chasing perfection. It’s for normal people trying to become fitter, healthier, happier and more confident through running and better habits. Whether your goal is weight loss, improving mental health, building confidence, completing your first 5K or training for a race, this podcast is here to help you stay motivated, consistent and heading in the right direction.

  1. Aug 26

    Slow Down to Speed Up: Why Your Easy Runs Should Actually Feel Easy

    Ever been given an easy run… only to finish it absolutely knackered because you couldn’t resist trying to beat last week’s pace? 😂 You’re definitely not alone. In this week’s Consistency Club Guided Run, Adam explains why one of the best things you can do to become a faster, fitter and more resilient runner is surprisingly simple: Slow down. We look at why not every run needs to be a test, what easy running is actually doing inside your body, and why finishing a session feeling like you could have done more can be a sign that you’ve got it exactly right. In this episode: 🏃 Why easy running matters – How slower running helps build the aerobic foundations that eventually allow you to run faster. 🏠 Stop testing and start training – Why trying to beat your previous pace on every run is like attempting your one-rep max every time you go to the gym. ❤️ What happens inside your body – A simple explanation of mitochondria, capillaries, cardiovascular adaptations and why easy running helps develop your aerobic engine. 80️⃣ The 80/20 principle – Why successful endurance training generally involves considerably more easy running than hard running — without becoming obsessed with the exact percentages. 🗣️ How easy should “easy” actually feel? – Why the conversation test and perceived effort can sometimes be more useful than obsessing over your pace. 🚶 Why walking isn’t cheating – How strategic run/walk intervals can help newer runners build fitness and spend longer moving without unnecessarily exhausting themselves. ⌚ Heart rate & Zone 2 – Why heart-rate data can be useful, but you don’t need to panic because Garmin says you’ve drifted a few beats into Zone 3. 🐢 “Running slower feels harder!” – Why deliberately slowing down can initially feel awkward and why that’s completely normal. 💥 Hard sessions still matter – Intervals, tempo runs, track sessions, parkrun and races absolutely have their place. The key is not making every run one of them. 💰 Your weekly energy budget – Why every hard session has a cost and how constantly overspending can eventually leave you in “fatigue debt.” 📱 The Strava trap – Why training to impress the people looking at your activity can be completely different from training to improve the person wearing the trainers. 🧠 Learning patience – Why the individual easy runs that don’t feel particularly impressive can become some of the most important sessions when you stack enough of them together. The biggest message Training isn’t about proving how fit you are today. It’s about creating a body that’s fitter tomorrow. Some sessions are there to test you. Some are there to push you. But a huge amount of your running is simply there to quietly build the foundations. So if today’s plan says easy 5K, you don’t need a PB. Slow down. Relax. Forget what the pace looks like on Strava. And if you finish thinking… “I could’ve done more.” Good. You probably got it right. Key takeaway: “Stop testing your fitness and start training it. We’re not trying to win Tuesday — we’re trying to build a runner who can keep improving for years.” 👊🏃

    Slow Down to Speed Up: Why Your Easy Runs Should Actually Feel Easy

  2. Aug 19

    What Do All Those Numbers on Your Running Watch Actually Mean?

    VO₂ max. HRV. Resting heart rate. Training readiness. Body Battery. Heart-rate zones. Recovery time… Your smartwatch gives you an incredible amount of information — but what does any of it actually mean? And more importantly, which numbers should you genuinely care about? In this week’s Consistency Club Guided Run, Adam breaks down the most common running-watch metrics in plain English, using simple stories and analogies to explain what your watch is actually trying to tell you. No sports-science degree required 😂 In this episode: ⌚ VO₂ Max – What it actually measures, why a bigger aerobic engine can help your running, and why your watch’s number is still only an estimate. ❤️ HRV (Heart Rate Variability) – Probably the most confusing number on your watch, explained simply. Why more variability can actually be a good thing and why you should compare HRV against your own baseline, not somebody else’s. 💓 Resting Heart Rate – How endurance training can make your heart more efficient and why a sudden change from your normal resting HR can sometimes be useful information. 🏃 Heart-Rate Zones – What Zones 1–5 mean, why Zone 2 gets so much attention, and why you shouldn’t panic every time your watch tells you you’ve drifted into Zone 3. 🔋 Body Battery & Training Readiness – How watches combine different information to estimate recovery — and why your watch still doesn’t know everything happening in your life. 😴 Sleep Scores – Why sleep absolutely matters, but obsessing over whether you scored 68 or 82 probably doesn’t help. 😰 Stress – How your watch can detect signs of physiological stress and why things like hard training, poor sleep, illness, travel and alcohol can affect your numbers. 🎒 Training Load & Recovery – Why training is like gradually adding weight to a backpack: enough stress creates adaptation, but too much without recovery eventually becomes a problem. 👟 Cadence – What steps per minute actually means and why 180 isn’t a magical number every runner needs to chase. ⏱️ Pace – Why the same pace can represent completely different efforts depending on hills, heat, wind and fatigue. 🔥 Calories Burned – Why the number on your watch is an estimate rather than permission to spend exactly 687 calories in Greggs 😂 The biggest lesson Your smartwatch can be an absolutely brilliant training tool — but individual numbers rarely tell the whole story. Rather than panicking because your VO₂ max dropped by one point or your HRV was lower this morning, look for patterns and trends. Combine the numbers with the most important piece of information your watch doesn’t fully understand: How you actually feel. Your watch should help you understand your body — not make you frightened to trust it. Key takeaway: “Your watch is the dashboard. You’re the driver. Use the data to help make decisions, but don’t hand an algorithm the keys.” ⌚🏃👊

    What Do All Those Numbers on Your Running Watch Actually Mean?

  3. Aug 14

    What Should I Eat Before a Run? (Guided Run Episode 6)

    Episode 6 – Fuel Your Run: What to Eat Before, During & After Running What should you eat before a run? Do you actually need breakfast before an easy 5K? When should you start using gels? And how should your fuelling change when you go from a short run to a half marathon? In this week’s Consistency Club Guided Run, Adam breaks down running nutrition without making it unnecessarily complicated. Using simple analogies and relatable examples, we look at how your body stores and uses carbohydrate, what glycogen actually is, and why the duration and intensity of your run should influence how you fuel it. In this episode: 🏃 Why an easy 5K and an all-out 5K require different approaches ⛽ Glycogen explained as your body’s fuel tank 🍌 Whether you actually need to eat before an easy morning run ⚡ What to eat before a hard 5K or parkrun attempt 🥣 How to approach breakfast before a half marathon 🍬 When gels and mid-run carbohydrates become useful ⏱️ Why runners going longer than around an hour may benefit from taking carbohydrate during their run 🚽 Why you should NEVER experiment with new gels or food on race day 😂 🏁 How to practise your race-day nutrition during training 🥔 Why carbohydrate after harder and longer runs helps replenish glycogen 🥩 The importance of protein for recovery and adaptation 💧 Hydration, electrolytes and how hot weather changes your requirements 🧠 Why runners trying to lose weight shouldn’t become frightened of fuelling their training The biggest message from this episode is that there isn’t one perfect running diet. An easy 30-minute run doesn’t need to be fuelled like a half marathon, and a hard 5K places very different demands on your body than a gentle 5K. Learn what you’re asking your body to do, practise your nutrition in training, and gradually build your own running instruction manual. Key takeaway: “Train your legs. Train your gut. Fuel the work you’re asking your body to do — and don’t wait until the fuel light comes on before looking for a petrol station.”

    What Should I Eat Before a Run? (Guided Run Episode 6)

  4. Aug 8

    The Day I Nearly Quit (Guided Run Episode 5)

    Episode 5 – The Day I Nearly Quit In this week’s Consistency Club Guided Run, Adam talks about something every runner, dieter and fitness enthusiast experiences at some point… Wanting to quit. The bad run. The missed PB. The injury. The week where the scales don’t move. The moment where you start wondering whether any of this is actually working. Using personal experiences, relatable client stories and simple analogies, Adam explores why failure isn’t the opposite of progress — it’s often one of the most important parts of it. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why one bad run doesn’t mean you’re going backwardsAdam’s recent failed 5K PB attempt and what it taught himWhy failure is information, not identityHow to stop turning setbacks into stories about who you areThe importance of patience when progress feels invisibleWhy injuries and recovery don’t mean you’ve failedThe stonemason analogy and why breakthroughs are built on invisible workThe ice cube analogy and why people often quit just before the tipping pointWhy plateaus aren’t always a sign that nothing is workingHow to stop judging your entire journey from one weigh-in, one run or one bad weekThe difference between recalculating and catastrophisingWhy confidence and identity are often changing before you can physically see the resultsThis episode is a reminder that progress rarely looks impressive while you’re in the middle of it. Sometimes you’re building roots. Sometimes you’re laying bricks. Sometimes you’re one strike away from the rock breaking. You just don’t know it yet. Key takeaway: “Don’t confuse invisible progress with no progress. The days that feel pointless are often the days quietly building the breakthrough.”

    The Day I Nearly Quit (Guided Run Episode 5)

  5. Jul 26

    Stop Waiting Until Monday (Guided Run Episode 4)

    We’ve all said it… “I’ll start on Monday.” Or after the holiday. Or when work calms down. Or when the weather improves. The problem is, the “perfect time” rarely arrives. In this week’s Guided Run, Adam explores why so many of us spend our lives waiting for motivation, confidence or the ideal circumstances before taking action and why that mindset quietly steals years without us even realising it. Through relatable stories, practical examples and honest conversations, you’ll discover why consistency has very little to do with motivation and everything to do with becoming the sort of person who simply keeps showing up. In this episode you’ll learn: 🏃 Running Why waiting until you’re “fit enough” is keeping you stuck.How routine beats motivation every time.Why consistency doesn’t mean perfection.The real reason successful runners don’t rely on feeling motivated.🍽️ Healthy Habits Why extreme diets rarely last.How small daily decisions shape your future more than occasional big efforts.Why building systems is more powerful than relying on willpower.The difference between being “on a plan” and creating a lifestyle.🧠 Mindset Why the perfect time never comes.How every action is a vote for the person you’re becoming.Why “starting again” is often the wrong way to think about setbacks.A simple mindset shift that can completely change how you approach healthy living.This episode is for anyone who’s ever found themselves waiting for Monday, next month or New Year before making a change. Key takeaway: “Don’t wait until life gets easier. Build habits that work even when life gets messy. The people who succeed aren’t the ones who feel motivated every day, they’re the ones who keep showing up anyway.”

    Stop Waiting Until Monday (Guided Run Episode 4)

  6. Jul 21

    Stop Dieting. Start Living. (Guided Run Episode 3)

    For years we’ve been told that losing weight is all about eating less, counting calories and having more willpower. But what if there’s a better way? In this week’s guided run, Adam explains why he moved away from traditional diet culture and why his coaching focuses on building healthy habits rather than chasing short-term weight loss. This isn’t about saying calorie counting or Slimming World “don’t work.” It’s about explaining why lasting success comes from creating a lifestyle you actually enjoy, rather than relying on restriction and willpower. Throughout the run, Adam shares stories from his coaching, practical nutrition advice and the philosophy that’s helped so many people lose weight without feeling like they’re constantly on a diet. In this episode you’ll learn: 🏃 Running & Lifestyle Why running should support your life, not take it over.The difference between proving your fitness and building your fitness.Why consistency will always beat intensity.How running can become the foundation for a healthier lifestyle.🍽️ Nutrition Why Adam doesn’t coach through restriction.The difference between dieting and building healthy habits.Why protein and whole foods help reduce hunger naturally.How simple meals and slow cooker recipes make consistency easier.Why calories matter, but counting them forever doesn’t have to.A simple explanation of blood sugar, insulin and appetite.Why eating more of the right foods is often more effective than simply eating less.🧠 Mindset Why successful people don’t just lose weight—they change their identity.The difference between trying to be healthy and becoming a healthy person.Why healthy habits are like planting a tree rather than buying fruit.How to stop chasing quick fixes and start thinking long-term.Why your future self should influence the choices you make today.This episode is packed with relatable stories, practical coaching advice and simple analogies designed to make nutrition feel less confusing and far more achievable. Key takeaway: “Don’t build a diet you can survive for six weeks. Build a lifestyle you’ll still enjoy in six years. When you become a healthier person, the weight loss often becomes a natural by-product—not the only goal.”

    Stop Dieting. Start Living. (Guided Run Episode 3)

  7. Jun 28

    The Consistency Club Guided Run – Episode 2

    Episode 2 – Run Your Own Race In this week’s guided run, Adam explores one of the biggest obstacles to enjoying running, losing weight and building confidence: comparison. Whether it’s comparing yourself to faster runners on Strava, fitter people on social media or the person you wish you were six months ago, comparison has a habit of stealing the joy from the progress you’re already making. Across this guided run, Adam shares personal stories from his own running journey, relatable client experiences and practical coaching advice to help you stop chasing somebody else’s version of success and start appreciating your own. In this episode you’ll learn: 🏃 Running Why easy runs should feel easyHow comparison quietly ruins the enjoyment of runningWhy your watch should be a tool, not your bossHow to stop obsessing over pace and StravaWhy consistency will always beat intensityThe importance of running your race, not somebody else’s🍽️ Nutrition Why social media has made nutrition more confusing than everThe problem with comparing your diet to other people’sHow whole foods and higher-protein meals help reduce hungerWhy Adam relies so heavily on his slow cookerHow to build a way of eating that fits around real lifeWhy simple, repeatable habits beat perfect meal plans🧠 Mindset Why you’re becoming a different person, not just a fitter oneHow comparison affects confidence in every area of lifeThe power of identity and keeping promises to yourselfWhy one bad day, one missed run or one takeaway changes very littleThe “bricklayer” analogy that explains why small actions repeated consistently lead to extraordinary resultsWhy the only person worth comparing yourself to is the person you were yesterdayThroughout the episode, Adam reminds you that fitness isn’t about proving yourself to other people. It’s about quietly becoming the sort of person who keeps showing up, one run, one meal and one decision at a time. Key takeaway: “Comparison changes the story, not the reality. Run your own race, trust your own journey, and let consistency do the rest.”

    The Consistency Club Guided Run – Episode 2

  8. Jun 24

    You’re Not Starting From Scratch… You’re Starting From Experience

    In this episode of The Consistency Club Podcast, Adam explores one of the biggest misconceptions in running, nutrition and fitness: the idea that a setback means you’re “back to square one.” Whether it’s a missed week of training, a holiday, an injury or simply life getting in the way, it’s easy to feel like all your hard work has disappeared. But the reality is very different. Using personal experiences, relatable stories and practical coaching advice, Adam explains why your body, mind and habits remember far more than you think, and why getting back into a routine is often much easier than starting for the first time. In this episode you’ll learn: Why you’re never truly back at square oneHow experience accelerates your progress after a setbackWhy fitness comes back quicker than you thinkThe importance of dropping the “all or nothing” mindsetWhy one missed run or one unhealthy meal changes very littleHow to recover mentally after holidays, illness or busy periodsThe “next good decision” approach to getting back on trackWhy consistency is built through patterns, not perfectionHow running changes your identity far beyond pace and distanceWhy setbacks are part of the journey, not the end of itPacked with stories, humour and practical advice, this episode is a reminder that progress isn’t about never taking a step backwards—it’s about always finding your way forwards again. Key takeaway: You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting with experience, and that’s one of the greatest advantages you can have.

    You’re Not Starting From Scratch… You’re Starting From Experience
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About

The Consistency Club Podcast is a members-only podcast hosted by Adam Barski, focused on helping everyday people improve their running, fitness and health in a realistic and sustainable way. Each episode covers topics around running, nutrition, mindset and consistency, with a big focus on keeping things simple, enjoyable and achievable long term. Expect honest conversations, relatable stories, practical advice, client experiences and plenty of reassurance for anyone who feels like they’re struggling, overthinking or constantly starting again. This isn’t a podcast for elite athletes or people chasing perfection. It’s for normal people trying to become fitter, healthier, happier and more confident through running and better habits. Whether your goal is weight loss, improving mental health, building confidence, completing your first 5K or training for a race, this podcast is here to help you stay motivated, consistent and heading in the right direction.

Information

  • Creator
    Adam Barski
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    19
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Adam Barski