Dr Punam Krishan on prescribing running for better health and how best to be injury-free

In this episode Giovanna Fletcher is joined by Dr Punam Krishan – GP, mum, and passionate supporter of Couch to 5K.Dr Punam shares her personal journey into running, reflecting on the physical and mental health benefits it’s brought her and why she often recommends the Couch to 5K programme to her patients.A regular on the BBC’s Morning Live, Dr Punam is both a medical expert and a realist. She understands the challenges many of us face in finding time to exercise, but she’s a firm believer in the long-term health benefits of making it part of our lives.She reveals to Giovanna that her running journey began in 2024 when she was invited to take part in Strictly Come Dancing. At the time, she wasn’t a runner – and still doesn’t claim to love it – but she’s found a way to make it work for her.After recommending Couch to 5K to patients, she decided to try it herself, choosing Jo Whiley as her coach. She returned to the programme in 2025 and is now encouraging Morning Live viewers to get involved too.In her GP practice, Dr Punam regularly promotes walking and running to help manage conditions like weight issues, type 2 diabetes, heart problems, perimenopause symptoms, and mental health struggles.Coming from a South Asian background, she speaks passionately about breaking down cultural taboos around exercise. She’s working to challenge old attitudes and create new habits in her community – and she’s proud that her own parents have taken up brisk walking to manage their health, something she couldn’t have imagined growing up.In this episode, Dr Punam also shares practical advice for beginners, especially on how to avoid injury. Her biggest tip? Listen to your body. Rest, stay hydrated, and don’t skip those warm-ups and cool-downs.She finds her most rewarding runs happen when she ditches the music and heads into nature. Listening to the birds, watching the clouds, and soaking up the greenery helps clear her mind and gives her a much-needed break from screens. She calls running her “pill of endorphins.”Her fantasy run takes place in a special part of Scotland, her favourite track comes from an American rapper. Her ultimate advice? Just give it a go – and make it your journey.We also hear inspiring stories from the Couch to 5K community:• Carly and Sandra, a mother and daughter, discovered they’d both started the programme at the same time. Now they cheer each other on and run side by side. • Bex shares her powerful story of taking up running after a miscarriage. It helped lift her out of a dark mental space and gave her a real sense of achievement.What is Couch to 5K?It’s a simple, free running plan for absolute beginnersHow do you do Couch to 5K?Download an app(details below) and away you go!Can you do Couch to 5K on a treadmill?Yes, on a treadmill or outside.How does Couch to 5K work?You will have a trainer in the app starting you off with a mix of running and walking.How long does Couch to 5K take?You’ll be going out 3 times a week for 9 weeks at a pace that feels right for you. You’ll run a little further each week. You can repeat weeks and take longer if you want to.You can download the NHS Couch to 5K app Apple: https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1082307672?pt=117868640&ct=BBC%20Podcast%20Series%201&mt=8 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phe.couchto5K&hl=en_GB&gl=US