TJ Holmes and Amy Robach Finish NYC Marathon — with 'Chafing' and 'Lots and Lots' of 'Vomiting'
The couple crossed the finish line but Holmes called it a "near repeat disaster," referring to his inability to complete the Chicago Marathon a few weeks ago
TJ Holmes returned to long-distance racing on Nov. 3, taking part in the New York City Marathon — but even though he finished the race, it wasn't quite the "redemption run" he'd planned.
On Nov. 4, Holmes, 47, shared a photo on Instagram of partner Amy Robach sitting on the floor, looking distraught, while he curled up in blankets on the couch behind her.
"How we got from the starting line to this ⬆️ … on a marathon day that included a near repeat disaster, tons of Twizzlers, iPhone chafing, hanging with [New York] Gov. Hochul, and vomiting. Lots and lots of 🤮," he wrote on the photo caption.
It was a contrast to the Instagram photos Robach, 51, shared, showing the duo smiling with their medals.
"We finished!," Robach wrote in the caption. "First 20 were glorious - last 6 - the toughest I’ve had, ever. It was a gorgeous day with so many highs and a few lows - a huge thank you to the city of New York for pulling off another incredible day, arguably the best day of the year for the city: a day of community and unity and joy ❤️."
The paid finished together with a time of 4 hours and 41 minutes.
As Holmes shared on the Nov. 1 episode of Morning Run, the podcast he co-hosts with Robach, the New York City Marathon was Holmes' first long-distance race after he “fell apart” during the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 13.
"My goal is to cross that finish line uninjured," Robach said, prompting Holmes to chime in, "Mine is to cross it with you one way or another."
At the Chicago race, Holmes said he nearly collided with another runner, which aggravated an existing injury to his IT band — or iliotibial band — on his right side.
As Holmes explained to Robach, on the Oct. 14 episode of Morning Run, “I have a left Achilles injury, but instead of trying to help the left Achilles by putting more weight on my right, my right leg is now injured.”
Holmes said he began “compensating by putting more weight and emphasis on the left leg, which is already injured, and that is where everything falls apart. That's why I fell apart.”
Related: Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' Relationship Timeline
He was in so much pain he began vomiting — and left the marathon in an ambulance.
However, Holmes shared that “before we even got back to the hotel, my thought was all about [how] I gotta get healthy for the New York City Marathon in three weeks.’ ”
When Robach said she’d be his cheerleader, he quipped “I don't need a cheerleader … Obviously, I need a nurse” to complete the 26.2 -mile stretch through all five New York City boroughs.
Holmes promised to share the full story — of how they went from smiles to vomiting on race day — soon.
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