Are we doing this right?

In 2023, Amy Robach introduced her then-colleague TJ Holmes to distance running when she asked him to run the New York City Marathon with her. In just a few years, they collected numerous medals, ran several more marathons (including the Stockholm half marathon in August) and went from friends to suitors.

However, from the first day they laced together, they had a clear policy: “We train together, we run together and we compete together,” says Robach. On Sunday, more than 50,000 people will gather at the starting line in Staten Island and race through all five boroughs of New York City, ending the 26.2-mile race in Central Park.

While Robach, 52, and Holmes, 48, will watch from the sidelines, the training continues, and sticking with each other is one of the many things the couple has learned about running, love and living well side by side. The question they have again and again is: are we doing this right? So they asked a marathon expert, Olympic runner and running coach. Roberto Mange – the answers will definitely help them (and maybe you too).

Training: How strict should your schedule be?

Amy and TJ's journey:

Amy Robach: When we were colleagues and just friends, running was one of the few times we hung out after work; we came up with a thing called “run for fun.” Knowing that in the end you were running for a glass of wine or a good Sunday beer was motivating.

But in everything we choose – where we live, where we relax, in our daily routine – running plays an important role.

TJ Holmes: Of course, where we live now. We literally get out and step on the treadmill. I think we're some running freaks!

We run almost every day. But when we train for a marathon, we use Hal Higdon Methodwhich outlines every week and every day what you should do in the lead-up to the race. We print it out, put it on the refrigerator and check each run. We are careful about this. Is it a good idea to create a schedule that allows you to keep up?

Expert says:

Roberto Mange: The short answer is yes. Everyone enjoys varying degrees of structure and discipline. For most people, a programmable schedule is very useful. That being said, when I work with people one-on-one, I try to be flexible and coach them on a weekly basis. Because people need to balance work and life, and life happens. Everyone has different recovery methods and even mental toughness. So I try to find a balance and work with everyone's individual system.

tj: You just completely confirmed [Amy] Robach. I always say, “I don’t care how late we stayed, the schedule says we’re running tomorrow.” But she’s very good at saying, “Let’s reschedule this one.”

AR: Yes, life happens, and if I know I won't be in the best shape to run those 18 miles today, I change things up.

Do it all with a buddy: yes or no?

Amy and TJ's journey:

tj: Running is more of a start to our day together than a cup of coffee.

AR: We run at different paces, and sometimes we have different points of view. But everything is based on friendship. Whether we decide to go for a run or cook, the design of a home, a vacation spot, whatever the decisions are, we make them because we make decisions based on our friendship, and that has a lot to do with respect. And whether we're getting close to the finish line or going away, we're doing it together.

TH: I'm faster when it comes to running, but I respect her position and want to be with her. Your training schedule and your partner or friend may have different running styles or philosophies, but do you recommend running with a buddy?

Expert says:

RM: I work with a lot of running couples, but hardly any of them run together, including my wife and I! But the fact that you two work together is great because there is responsibility and shared experience. Maybe one day one of you will feel better and be able to carry and support the other.

Having a friend can speed up your run or whatever you do and make it easier to know you're not alone. You have a built-in cheerleader who is as passionate about your running or fitness routine as you are. This is the power of community. There is an old saying: if you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to move on, go together.

Food: (How to) fuel yourself!

Amy and TJ's journey:

tj: We eat keto, so we always eat pretty clean. But as I get closer to race day, I continue to eat lighter and lighter foods. I'll eat less meat, more seafood, and maybe have some pasta before the marathon. But I don't feel like I have anything in my stomach when I run.

AR: I need water and fuel; T.J. no. It's wild. I have low blood sugar and the nausea really makes my racing difficult. I don't usually eat carbs, but when I have long races I add a little carbs. When I ran the half marathon in Stockholm, I was so worried that I would get sick again. But the only thing I could eat that didn't make me sick was thin crust pizza. I felt great the whole race.

Expert says:

RM: Even identical twins have different needs. Some people have what my wife calls an iron stomach. I could have a Thanksgiving feast the morning before the marathon and not worry. But God forbid I take caffeine gel at mile five. I'm going to stop cramping.

That's why you need to try things during your workout to see what works for you. I personally like it Gummy Nerds Clusters and Twizzlers while I'm running.

tj: Roberto, you and I have never discussed this, but only When I run a marathon, I take Twizzlers with me.

RM: See? Clairvoyant.

Injuries and illnesses: survive or calm down?

Amy and TJ's journey:

AR: TJ had to stop 21 miles before Chicago Marathon last year due to a foot sprain that aggravated his previous injury. I looked and saw tears and thought, “Oh God, no.” But three weeks later he ran the New York City Marathon, and I ran with him. He was actually doing better than me because at mile 22 I started throwing up and couldn't stop. We both finished, but we had some difficulties. We will finish together no matter what.

I've always trained for marathons, but when the nausea and vomiting started to get worse during my last two shorter races, I just said, “This is my body telling my body to take a break.” So I made the decision to force myself not to go to New York this year. But TJ still didn't necessarily want to leave.

tj: It sucks to train for a marathon here… and I'm not a part of it. I'm still considering doing it today. I was injured for a whole year. And I haven't taken a break yet, so here we are.

We don't like a day to go by without running. This doesn't seem right. But what is your proposal? How do you maintain a balance between continuing to do what you love and trying to get your body back to health?

Expert says:

RM: Injuries, even minor mishaps, are your body literally giving you feedback saying, “Hey, you're doing something wrong.” If you continue to ignore it or try to work around it, it will show up, perhaps somewhere else. If it starts with you Achilles tendonit ends up moving towards your left hip because your body compensates.

So, as hard as it may be, especially for runners, myself included, take some time off. You'll recover eventually, and yes, you may lose some fitness, but when you come back, you'll come back better and be able to really enjoy running.

tj: Perhaps this will be the final answer about my recovery. You just explained what I went through.

RM: When it comes to nausea, it can be something as simple as nausea. Some people feel sick because carbon dioxide enters their blood when they reach a certain threshold. There are so many different reasons. If you feel unwell after exercising, you should contact your doctor.

Whatever the reason you need to take time off, the fitter you are, the faster you can return. The alternative to taking a break is to continue working and hope that things will somehow get better, but chances are you'll make things worse and delay the inevitable. So take that leap of faith and rest; Believe in your ability to bounce back.