TJ Holmes shares disheartening health update following battle with 'severe' post-marathon pain

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: TJ Holmes is taking a forced breather from running, and he’s not happy about it.

The former 'GMA3' host, who’s been on a marathon journey—both literally and figuratively—just shared a frustrating health update that has sidelined him for weeks. 

“Damn. DAMN. DAMN!!! Hard words for a runner (like me) to hear, ‘You need to stop running,'” Holmes, 47, posted on Instagram on Wednesday, November 27. “Post-marathon pain got severe enough that I went back to the doctor who tells me I possibly have a ligament tear … or a ligament strain, at best.”

Either way, his doctor’s orders were clear: it’s brace time and no running for 4-6 weeks.

TJ Holmes' bumpy road to NYC marathon

The setback is just the latest in what’s been a challenging marathon season for TJ Holmes. In October, his left Achilles gave out during the 21st mile of the Chicago Marathon. But instead of letting that stop him, he pushed through — ultimately injuring his right leg in the process.

On the 'Amy & TJ' podcast he co-hosts with his girlfriend Amy Robach, Holmes shared the gory details. “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,” he explained. “That is where everything falls apart. That’s why I fell apart,” he continued. “I catch myself with my right leg going down and, when I do it, I immediately feel the tweak in my right hip and kind of my right butt cheek." 

After a rough Chicago Marathon that ended in a hospital visit, Holmes set his sights on the New York City Marathon.

“That was something completely new to me. I thought, ‘Oh, my God, I can’t believe he’s in that much pain,’” he recalled. “I cannot wait to get back out there because I’m so frustrated with what happened here in Chicago.”

Determined to make it across the finish line this time, he powered through.

“How we got from the starting line to this ⬆️,” Holmes captioned an Instagram photo of his NYC finish. “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 🤮.”

Not exactly a dream race, but hey, he finished by clocking in at just under five hours, Us Weekly reported.

Amy Robach offers a much rosier take

While TJ Holmes recounted his marathon mishaps, his girlfriend Amy Robach, 51, had a slightly rosier view of the race. Sharing her own Instagram post, she called the first 20 miles “glorious” and the last six “the toughest I’ve had, ever.”

“It was a gorgeous day with so many highs and a few lows,” Robach wrote. “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 ❤️.”

Robach and Holmes have been running partners in more ways than one. The duo started dating after separating from their spouses in 2022, and their relationship became public in November of that year when paparazzi photos of them surfaced.

Their romance, however, came with its own set of hurdles. In January 2023, ABC News announced that the pair would be leaving 'GMA' since their relationship had caused an "internal and external disruption."

While the split from the network wasn’t exactly smooth, Holmes and Robach have since found their footing with their joint podcast that launched in December 2023. The show dives into news headlines, entertainment updates, and, of course, their signature segment: the “Morning Run.”

For now, Holmes is focusing on recovery and already planning his comeback. With his sights set on the NYC Marathon 2025, he’s calling it his #RedemptionRun. In the meantime, he’ll have to trade running shoes for a brace and some much-needed rest.

“Guess that gives me enough time to get ready,” he quipped.