The Reach Out: Judy Woodruff
The anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour climbed a lot of stairs while her gym was shut down. Her goal now is to play tennis and actually use her exercise bike!
Judy Woodruff is the anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour. She has covered politics and news for five decades at NBC, CNN and PBS.
Woodruff’s previous roles include NBC's White House correspondent, the Today Show’s chief Washington correspondent, and anchor of CNN’s Inside Politics.
She has also served as chief Washington correspondent for PBS’ MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, anchor of PBS’ Frontline with Judy Woodruff, and anchor of Bloomberg Television’s Conversations with Judy Woodruff.
In 2013, Woodruff and the late Gwen Ifill were named the first two women to co-anchor a national news broadcast.
Woodruff has been a visiting professor at Duke University's Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy and a visiting fellow at Harvard University's Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy.
Woodruff is a founding co-chair of the International Women's Media Foundation, an organization that promotes and encourages women in journalism worldwide.
It has been a very heavy news cycle, so I am grateful that Judy Woodruff found time to speak about her exercise and fitness routine.
How do you make being active a part of your life?
For someone whose job is mainly to sit at a computer, read, or talk on the phone, I am lucky to have a fairly high level of energy. When I move, I walk fast! But I also make a point of regular exercise, three mornings a week.
It sounds like you have a very specific exercise routine.
I have a routine three days a week which, during the pandemic, I have done alone in our fitness center. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning at 6:30, I work out for one hour. I’ve had the same sequence for the past few years:
10 minutes on the recumbent bike and 12 minutes on the elliptical.
15 minutes with three rounds of weight-bearing:
1) standing, bending arms;
2) pulling weights down with arms forward
3) 75 squats: 25 with weights; 25 lunges and 25 plain
10 minutes on the floor, lifting weights: 3 X 20 lifts, alternating with 3 X 60 crunches
Finally, 2 minutes of back-strengthening stretches, lying on my stomach.
I’m sure I could update this routine, but haven’t made the time to figure out how!
That is impressive! Is there something that motivates you to exercise regularly?
Yes, I know how important it is for good health, physically and mentally. That’s all the motivation I need! Plus I feel better after I work out.
If I have to skip it due to travel or a tight schedule, I can feel the difference.
Have your exercise habits changed since COVID began?
They did at first, when the fitness facility closed down. I tried to walk more often on weekends, but because it wasn’t built into the calendar, I let it slide. I resorted to climbing/descending 10 flights of stairs, three times, on my weekday exercise mornings, and I did a few other routines at home.
The fitness center re-opened after several months, and I was able to go back to my previous routine. Our facility permits only one person at a time in the cardio and yoga/weights room, so now I plan a week in advance and sign up for work-out times!
As a news person, what are you watching or listening to while you exercise? Any chance that you tune out completely to give yourself a news break?
I do read and watch the news. There’s so much to follow, so I’m always trying to catch up!
Is there a sport or fitness trend that you think you might like to try?
I have an exercise bike at home that largely goes unused, so I need to start using it!
I’d also like to make time again for tennis when the weather warms up.
Plus, on weekday mornings, I need to try some different exercises for variety!
Any thoughts on how we can encourage young people to be more active?
I think by making it more fun -- until they get in the habit. I know it can be hard for young people in their 20’s and 30’s who are working around the clock.
When the pandemic forced her fitness center to close, Judy Woodruff demonstrated flexibility (no pun intended) in switching to stair climbing, so I have no doubt that she’ll make good use of that exercise bike!
Thank you, @JudyWoodruff
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