Results are in…this is not what I expected

I had my MRI yesterday and I wanted to share a quick update — partly to clarify what’s going on, and partly to remind myself that not every pause is a setback.

The results were, thankfully, reassuring. There is no fracture and no major structural damage. Nothing is torn, nothing is broken, and nothing requires anything drastic. 

Hallelujah!!

What is present though are signs of bone stress and inflammation. In plain terms, the bone and nearby tissues are irritated from overuse, not from a sudden injury. This is considered an early stress reaction, not a break — and that distinction matters. Stress reactions are reversible with the right care, patience, and respect for recovery.

There’s also mild irritation where a tendon attaches to the bone, which explains the deep hip or sit-bone discomfort I’ve been feeling. Importantly, there is no tendon tear.

Overall, this is an overuse-related issue — not something permanent, not something surgical, and not something that changes the bigger picture.

Looking back, this most likely happened because I returned to running too soon after running the Chicago Marathon. Marathon recovery isn’t just about how you feel mentally or aerobically — bones and connective tissue often need more time than we think, even when everything else feels ready. In hindsight, I should have taken more time completely off before easing back in. That’s a hard lesson for runners, especially ones like myself who love momentum, but it’s also a valuable one.

With rest, symptom improvement, and a gradual approach, light running is often possible in about 2–4 weeks, as long as pain continues to improve. My last run was almost a week ago so I’m looking at another week at least of stationary biking at Planet until further notice. The emphasis here is gradual — listening closely, backing off when needed, and letting healing lead instead of ego.

For now, the goal is recovery. Not rushing. Not forcing timelines. Just doing the right things consistently and trusting that the body knows how to respond when it’s given space.

Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is pause — and sometimes that pause comes with clarity instead of fear.