Sheinelle Jones Calls Running NYC Marathon the 'Most Rewarding' Experience — and “Today ”Co-Hosts Cheered Her on

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The 45-year-old 'Today' host reflected on completing this year's New York City Marathon

<p>Noam Galai/Getty</p> Sheinelle Jones runs during the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon on November 05, 2023 in New York City.

Noam Galai/Getty

Sheinelle Jones runs during the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon on November 05, 2023 in New York City.

Sheinelle Jones experienced one of the most "rewarding" experiences of her life after completing the New York City Marathon on Sunday.

The Today show host, 45, celebrated completing the 26.2 mile run in four hours and 41 minutes and thanked her supporters in a thoughtful Instagram post after the race.

"One of the best days of my life," she wrote, before thanking some of the people she said she "couldn't have done it without" in her caption.

Jones thanked her Nike running coach Jes Woods in her caption and shouted out Today's producer Rainy Farrell and stage manager Yosef Herzog, who ran beside her on Sunday.

"They are stuck with me for life," she said of the supportive group.

"Did I just run 26.2 miles? My legs just responded …. why, yes I did," Jones continued in her caption.

<p>Jes Woods/Instagram</p> Nike coach Jes Woods supports Sheinelle Jones at NYC Marathon

Jes Woods/Instagram

Nike coach Jes Woods supports Sheinelle Jones at NYC Marathon

Related: Sheinelle Jones Shares the Mom Advice Maria Shriver Gave Her That Changed Her Perspective

The mother-of-three called the experience "the longest and most rewarding 4 hours and 41 minutes of my life," and tagged the marathon's official Instagram account.

Jones is a mother to twins Uche and Clara Josephine, 10, and son Kayin, 13.

<p>Bryan Bedder/Getty</p> Sheinelle Jones participates in the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon on November 5, 2023

Bryan Bedder/Getty

Sheinelle Jones participates in the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon on November 5, 2023

Jones was cheered on during the 26.2-mile journey through NYC's five boroughs by her Today co-hosts, from Al Roker to Savannah Guthrie. Roker posted a picture of him and his family surrounding a sign for Jones that read, "Shout Out Sheinelle," while Guthrie posted a video from the moment Jones ran by her kids.

"Look at our girl go!! @sheinelle_o you amaze me!" Guthrie wrote.

Melvin wrote a sentimental message for Jones after she crossed the finish line in Central Park.

"So proud of my little big sister @sheinelle_o," he posted. "Running a marathon is a feat to behold. She manifested it, trained for it, and did it all while managing a demanding life. She’s doing it to 'prove she can hard things.' Proven!"

In August, Jones announced her intent to run the marathon to help “change the narrative” that moms don't have time “to do hard things.”

During her announcement, Jones told her Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager that she first began running half marathons when she turned 40.

“I am not an athlete,” Jones said. “In gym class, I was never picked. I was a cheerleader, I was a dancer, but I’m not an athlete. When I turned 40, I wanted to change the narrative in my head that I can do hard things and so I ran a half marathon and I swore I would never do it again."

Related: Sheinelle Jones Says She Was 'Really Nervous' to Embrace Her Natural Hair on the Today Show

<p>Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty</p> Sheinelle Jones on Friday, April 14, 2023

Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty

Sheinelle Jones on Friday, April 14, 2023

Jones said that “after it was over, my legs were like ‘What just happened?’ ”

“And so now, I just turned 45 and I’m going to try to do hard things again and so I’m going to run the New York City Marathon!” she excitedly announced.

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Jones, who first joined Today in 2014, told her co-host that “everybody’s biggest critique is that I don’t have time.”

“I have three little ones, I have a high-pressure job, I travel for work, and everybody says ‘We don’t have time.’ But we do have time to make time for ourselves,” Jones said.

“I have to be about that. Whether it takes scheduling, because I pick up my kids every day from school, like I am just gonna figure it out and change the narrative that we can’t do things because we don’t have time.”

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