Well, here we are.

After months of waiting, I finally got an MRI on my foot… The results are better than I expected, not great, but not worst case scenario either. Here’s the list of what’s going on:

1. Subtle stress reaction of the proximal second metatarsal metaphysis
2. Mild first and third intermetatarsal bursitis
3. Small first MTP joint effusion

Translation: 6–8 weeks of healing, no running, and trying not to spiral. If all goes well, I’ll maybe be running a couple miles pain-free by January.

I’m super bummed…

Running is so much more than running for me. It keeps me grounded. It’s how I clear my head, set goals, feel strong, feel like me. I’m wired to push myself, to compete (even when no one’s competing with me lol), and that’s probably what got me into this mess. I overdid it, as usual, and I’ve basically been in a weird injury loop ever since.

What really stings is that things were finally starting to feel good again. I ran the Las Vegas Half in 2024 with my best friend Matt, and it brought us back from the dead. It felt like a comeback … we were both excited ready to crush a ton of races together.

Lucky for him, he’s absolutely thriving. He’s done three marathons since then (insane times, btw), and I’m SO proud of you, boo boo 🖤. But the FOMO … it hurts. Watching him race while I sit here with a dead-ass foot and unfulfilled dreams is painful.

To be clear, I don’t even really want to run a marathon but there’s still so much I want to do. I had plans. I had momentum. I thought I was finally on my way this June. I had just recovered from tendinitis, ran a 5-mile race in Frederick, and felt the best I’ve felt in YEARS.

And then… one week later. Boom. Foot = dead. Again.

So yeah. Feeling a little defeated, a little mopey, but trying to remind myself that this is temporary. I’ll be back. I just have to be patient (gross) and take better care of myself.

Note to self: stretch, strength train, rest, stop pretending you’re invincible.

“The comeback is always stronger than the setback.”