NEW YORK (WABC) — With just days to go before the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, Eyewitness News anchors Liz Cho and Mike Marza stopped by “Good Morning America” to talk about taking on the 26.2-mile challenge and why this year’s race means so much more than reaching the finish line.
The two joined the morning show Friday to share their marathon journey, which includes raising money for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of their friend and longtime colleague, Bill Ritter.
For Cho, Sunday’s race will be her first full marathon. She said she caught the marathon bug after participating in the “Good Morning America” relay last year and experiencing a small taste of race day excitement.
“Getting just a tiny smidge of marathon day was one of the most exhilarating days of my life,” Cho said. “So I continued to train with the hopes of running for the marathon.”
As she trained, Ritter announced he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and would be stepping away from the anchor desk after decades at WABC.
“It is our honor to be running in his honor this weekend,” Cho said. “Bill has meant so much to us, our newsroom, to everyone in this company, to New York City. So we are really proud to be running in his honor and to be raising awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association.”
Marza, meanwhile, will be running his second New York City Marathon and said he’s looking forward to soaking in the atmosphere once again.
“The energy from New York is incredible,” he said.
Marza described the excitement of standing on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge alongside tens of thousands of runners before the start, with Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York” blasting as the race gets underway.
“It’s the best day in this city, hands down,” he said.
The pair acknowledged that training for a marathon while balancing careers, family life and parenting responsibilities hasn’t been easy, but both said the cause has helped keep them motivated through the early morning runs and long miles.
When asked what advice he’d give first-time marathoners like Cho, Marza kept it simple.
“Keep going,” he said. “One foot in front of the other. Run the mile you’re in.”
Cho and Marza will be among approximately 60,000 runners expected to take part in Sunday’s marathon, cheered on by millions of spectators lining the five-borough course. For them, crossing the finish line won’t just be a personal achievement, but a tribute to a colleague who has meant so much to their newsroom and to New York.
The 2026 TCS New York City Marathon takes place on Sunday, November 1. Coverage on Channel 7 and wherever you stream ABC 7 New York begins with pre-race coverage, Marathon Sunday, at 7:00 a.m. Live coverage of Sunday’s marathon begins at 8:00 a.m. only on Channel 7 and ESPN2.
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