Robin Roberts and Ginger Zee on the management of “GMA” 5K and the power of the movement

Wednesday, “Good Morning America” ​​will host his first 5 km race – the “GMA” 5K – to motivate viewers around the world to move together.

At 7:45 a.m., more than 500 runners will start the road of 3.1 miles on Governors Island in New York, and others should work or travel the 5K across the country while they watch the show. At the finish line, the independent group, the 502, will occur live.

Lara Spencer and Sam Champion will anchor the broadcast while several “GMA” contributors run 5K, including Robin Roberts and Ginger Zee.

In an exclusive interview with Health, Roberts and Zee shared their experiences as runners, how they prepare for the race and why everyone should join the “GMA” 5K.

As an athlete, Roberts has always appreciated fitness, but she has never been really short. Basketball and collegial tennis player said she had always thought of presenting herself as a “punishment” applied by her coaches.

But about a year ago, Roberts broke his wrist by playing tennis. She wanted to continue exercising during her recovery, so she started running.

“You have to change your way of thinking in order to change what you feel. This is one of my mantras. And I had to change the way I think about running,” said Roberts. “Even if I was athletic by nature, it was something new for me and exciting and fun. I really took it.”

Now Roberts describes himself as an “everyday runner” and said that she was delighted to manage the “GMA” 5K, which will be her first. “What better way to do it live on national television?” She said.

Zee, on the other hand, has been a runner since his mother-in-law had her jogging at the age of 12.

“She really showed me the beauty of jogging and the possibility of finding a feeling of calm and liberation,” said Zee. “This is really what it has always been for me.”

ZEE spoke openly about her mental health career – she received a diagnosis of depression at 21 after a suicide attempt. In his lowest moments, Zee turned to physical activity.

“It’s my life buoy,” she said. “My link with the displacement of my body saved me in my mental health attacks in the past. I know it has extended and helped my healing. ”

Zee ran a few kilometers away and she played her first major race last March, finishing the New York half-marathon in less than two hours. She ran every day before having children, but Zee runs again several times a week.

Before the “GMA” 5K, Zee stuck to his racing routine, making a race of 3 to 5 miles a few times a week. Roberts also worked regularly, building up to 3.1 miles with shorter races.

ZEE and Roberts also take several steps to warm up and get back on the day of the race – another important step to increase performance and prevent injury.

The day before the “GMA” 5K, Zee will focus on staying hydrated, and Roberts will be in charge of carbohydrates with a dinner of pasta, then will have a good night’s rest.

On the morning of the race, Zee plans to eat a little breakfast and have five minutes of active stretch before the race. “It doesn’t take long, but if you jump it, you will feel it,” added Zee.

After the race, Zee will be more stretching and Roberts has a massage reserved later in the afternoon. “It’s my little carrot hanging at the end,” said Roberts.

The goal of the “GMA” 5K is to encourage physical activity with a community, something Roberts and Zee said they liked to run.

“I think this is the part that we are missing in our world at the moment, it is that we have no places where people connect,” said Zee. “The race is a beautiful place to do it.”

“You see runners, and you are in nature, and everything falls from your shoulders,” added Roberts, referring to his trail races.

During the broadcast, “GMA” will highlight racing clubs across the country, notably the “GMA” Moves Club, a virtual fits community “GMA” on the Strava application.

“GMA” is also associated with two organizations which aim to break obstacles to the exercise of certain groups of people may be confronted: for all mothers, which focuses on mothers, and Achille International, which supports disabled.

“We want to be very inclusive and make sure that everyone has a chance to overcome this goal together,” said Zee.

Zee and Roberts encouraged everyone to join the 5K “GMA” – no matter where you run, with whom you run, or how fast you go.

“Walking, jogging – it doesn’t matter,” said Zee. “Because at the end, you all achieved this goal together.”

“I’m just a touch,” added Roberts. “Run with us.”