Jowita Przystal – the Strictly dancer on running for happiness and joy and being told she would never make a runner.
The Couch to 5K PodcastShow Notes
Strictly’s Jowita Przystal is Giovanna Fletcher’s guest on today’s podcast. She tells how a life-long love of dancing has now been joined by a complete love of running. Jowita started dancing as a little girl in Poland. Giovanna discovers that she loved all forms of dance…except ballroom. Eventually, encouraged by her mother, Jowita took to it, started competing and took the path to becoming a professional. Her ambition was to become a professional on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. And she left her homeland with a one-way ticket, no job, just a suitcase and a determination to get her place on the TV programme. She discovered that doing well on The Greatest Dancer was going to be the best way of achieving her goal. She got on the programme and won it in 2020 which won her a guest spot on Strictly. A year later, she was offered a place on the hit show. And in her first series claimed the Glitter Ball Trophy. Jowita’s running journey has not been so straight forward. When she first tried it, her dancing fitness coach told her she couldn’t run because she was heavy-footed. It put her off! She started running again to take part in the Great Manchester Run in 2025. She wanted to do something to raise money for the Dogs Trust Charity after visiting it with her Strictly Partner Pete Wicks, an Ambassador for the Charity. After her bad experience before, she sought advice on what to do, bought herself some running shoes and after a jog along a beach found she was loving running. However, just 2 weeks before the Run, Jowita injured her ankle which she feared could mean not only missing the race but might also impact her dancing career. She tried a number of remedies as she was desperate to take part. The night before the event, she went on her own fitness test before deciding she was fit. The following day Jowita beat her best time by 9 minutes! Jowita’s fantasy run is somewhere hot by the sea. And her favourite track is something of a classic from Depeche Mode. We also hear from 2 couch buddies who are part of the UK Couch to 5K community. Simon is 36 from Oxford and decided to get fit to improve his health. He’s found it to be something that helps with his mindfulness and finding peace. He now writes about it and encourages others to sign-up. Christine is 27 and from Liverpool, living in Edinburgh. She began the programme because she was embarrassed at her lack of fitness. She says it’s built-up her confidence to the point that she’s a different person. It’s improved her mood, sleep and eating habits. She’s still running 2-3 times a week and her one regret is not starting it sooner. Thanks for listening! What is Couch to 5K? It’s a simple, free running plan for absolute beginners How 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/gb/app/nhs-couch-to-5k/id1082307672 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.phe.couchto5K&hl=en_GB&gl=US The Couch to 5K Podcast Presenter: Giovanna Fletcher Producer: Mark Shardlow Exec Producer: Katherine Hogan
More from The Couch to 5K Podcast
Podcast host, radio presenter and stand-up comedian John Robins opens up to Giovanna Fletcher about his journey from addiction to becoming a runner. It's a frank and honest conversation where addiction recovery and mental health issues meet running. John tells Giovanna he never thought he would be a runner but he now finds himself preparing for a marathon. He talks about the process of becoming sober, what he learnt along the way and how running and exercise have become part of the way he deals with his brain. He admits to not enjoying running. But also not enjoying not running! And John talks to Giovanna about how the skills he's learnt from his training are being adapted to life in general. John says the impact not drinking has had on his fitness is 'nuts'! He says within weeks of giving up alcohol his body began to change and reveals to Giovanna the distraction techniques he used to stop returning to a wine store. He talks through the few injuries he's sustained from pushing himself too hard and has returned to Couch to 5k with a running group called Wellness Warriors. "Accepting what I can't change, changing what I can and knowing the difference." Thanks John for such an honest chat. If any issues in this podcast have affected you, please visit the BBC Action Line https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/ The Elis and John podcast is on BBC Sounds https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0005fdz A new season of John's podcast How Do You Cope? begins in April. John's new book is called Thirst: Twelve Drinks Which Changed My Life John is running the London Marathon 2026 for Standing Together Against Domestic Abuse Presenter: Giovanna Fletcher Producer: Mark Shardlow Exec Producer: Katherine Hogan For more information on the NHS Couch to 5K programme follow the link below and download the free app. https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/?WT.mc_ID=Couch_Podcast_BetterHealth&wt.tsrc=display What is Couch to 5K? It’s a simple, free running plan for absolute beginners How 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'll find the NHS Couch to 5K app in all the usual places you get your apps from.
Giovanna Fletcher introduces Jodie Ounsley as her latest Couch to 5k guest. Jodie has a remarkable back-story. She was profoundly deaf as a baby and became the youngest person in the country to have a cochlear implant. She takes us on her journey to being a sport loving youngster and taking up rugby despite the risks of a contact sport. Jodie became a professional rugby player but her life took another twist when she successfully applied to be a Gladiator on the BBC TV series. She's now best known as Fury from that programme. She's gone on to appear on Masterchef and Strictly Come Dancing and worked as part of the presentation team for Channel 4 at the Paris Paralympics. She's very honest about her struggles to run 5k. She also talks about how deaf people can now use the NHS Couch to 5k app. The NHS Couch to 5K app is audio-based, which can create barriers for people who are deaf, have hearing loss or experience tinnitus. To help address this, the Department of Health and Social care have worked with the charity RNID to help better understand these challenges and identify ways to remove some of the these barriers and improve accessibility. Insights from RNID, combined with technical guidance, have changed the app with things like dynamic transcriptions and haptics (vibrations). Presenter: Giovanna Fletcher Producer: Mark Shardlow Exec Producer: Katherine Hogan For more information on the NHS Couch to 5K programme follow the link below and download the free app. https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/?WT.mc_ID=Couch_Podcast_BetterHealth&wt.tsrc=display What is Couch to 5K? It’s a simple, free running plan for absolute beginners How 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'll find the NHS Couch to 5K app in all the usual places you get your apps from.
McFly’s drummer Harry Judd talks about his switch from a pop star lifestyle to running marathons…quickly. Whilst his wife Izzy, an author and presenter, reveals her exercise journey was surrounded by fertility issues and mindfulness. The pair are great friends with presenter Giovanna Fletcher, who’s husband Tom is also part of McFly. And they’ve known each other for twenty years….in fact back to a time when Harry didn’t exercise and just ate pizzas and sweets whilst on tour. Strictly Come Dancing winner Harry reveals it was during a McFly recording session in Australia when he decided to run a marathon for a cancer charity. He wasn’t exercising at the time and was drinking and smoking. But this didn’t stop him. He did it again 4 years later, as he moved to a healthier lifestyle. And is now committed to (obsessed with) trying to run a marathon in under 3 hours. Izzy, who presents the Music & Meditation Podcast on BBC Sounds, is less competitive and is happy with finding a place for running which fits in to her lifestyle, rather than stress about getting out. The pair talk about the juggles of family life, with 3 children to look after, as well as their own careers – at the time of recording Harry is presenting a Breakfast Radio Show. Presenter: Giovanna Fletcher Producer: Mark Shardlow Exec Producer: Katherine Hogan For more information on the NHS Couch to 5K programme follow the link below and download the free app. https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/?WT.mc_ID=Couch_Podcast_BetterHealth&wt.tsrc=display What is Couch to 5K? It’s a simple, free running plan for absolute beginners How 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'll find the NHS Couch to 5K app in all the usual places you get your apps from.
Javeno McLean brings his enthusiasm and inclusiveness to this episode. Javeno is a Pride of Britain award winner for helping to transform the lives of sick, elderly and disabled people through exercise. He's become known for his viral videos, where he shares his messages of showing gratitude and inclusivity. He tells Giovanna he's driven to try to make people passionate about exercise in order to stay motivated and he believes going out for a run can often be a battle with the mind. Javeno reacts to a powerful story from our couch buddy today. Katie Stevenson, who has incurable cancer and epilepsy. Katie logs her running journey on instagram @iamkatiestevenson Presenter: Giovanna Fletcher Producer: Alex Webb Exec Producer: Katherine Hogan For more information on the NHS Couch to 5K programme follow the link below and download the free app. https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/?WT.mc_ID=Couch_Podcast_BetterHealth&wt.tsrc=display What is Couch to 5K? It’s a simple, free running plan for absolute beginners How 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'll find the NHS Couch to 5K app in all the usual places you get your apps from.
Today's conversation is about running with a life-changing condition. Couch to 5k coach and TV and radio presenter Reece Parkinson talks about his relationship with running after being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Alongside him is Sally Chambers, who used Reece as a coach on the app and became a friend. She talks about how she uses running after being told she has stage 4 bowel cancer. Reece is familiar as one of the voices of the NHS Couch to 5k app. He believes running is an armour for life after being diagnosed with type1 diabetes at just 26 whilst recording a TV documentary. He ‘met’ Sally Chambers on a live radio feature about Couch to 5k. They went on to meet in person at a local Park Run and have become friends ever since. Sally was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and she explains how running has helped her since 2019. She's now part of the 5k Your Way movement for people impacted by cancer. Sally tells Giovanna that she has been through more than 50 cycles of chemotherapy and thought she’d never run again after multiple surgeries. However, she has now completed more than 100 Park Runs. And gets out three times a week between her chemo treatment. She says it’s given her sanity back and provides her with headspace. There's an obvious mutual respect between Reece and Sally with a heart-lifting unity over what running and Couch to 5k can do for people. Presenter: Giovanna Fletcher Producer: Mark Shardlow Exec Producer: Katherine Hogan For more information on the NHS Couch to 5K programme follow the link below and download the free app. https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/get-active/get-running-with-couch-to-5k/?WT.mc_ID=Couch_Podcast_BetterHealth&wt.tsrc=display What is Couch to 5K? It’s a simple, free running plan for absolute beginners How 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'll find the NHS Couch to 5K app in all the usual places you get your apps from.