Kinda a Stress Fracture, Kinda Not? | Chicago Marathon 2026 Recap

This week on the Kinda Fast Podcast, Claire and Travis are talking all things Chicago Marathon 2026, including record-breaking performances, surprising training methods, and some unforgettable finish-line moments. Plus, we're diving into an injury every runner should know about: stress reactions vs. stress fractures.

We kick things off with "What Does That Even Mean?" and explain what a sweep car is, how marathon cutoff times work, and why you definitely don't want Disney's famous Balloon Ladies catching up to you on race day!

Then we're recapping the 2026 Chicago Marathon! From Amos Kipruto and Hawi Feysa's victories to Emma Grace Hurley's record-breaking American marathon debut, there's plenty to talk about. We also discuss Clayton Young's impressive performance despite a hamstring injury, Vinny Mauri's unconventional treadmill training at Planet Fitness, and which running shoes dominated the podium. Plus, we've got a 100-year-old woman making her track and field debut and a heartwarming story about a wife who secretly trained for a half marathon to surprise her husband.

For our deep dive, we're breaking down the difference between a stress reaction and a stress fracture. How do you know if that nagging shin pain is normal soreness or something more serious? We discuss five warning signs runners shouldn't ignore, common causes of bone stress injuries, and how training too hard, increasing mileage too quickly, or not fueling properly can lead to problems. Travis also shares his personal experience running through a bone stress injury and what his recovery looked like.

Finally, we're checking in on our own training, including Travis's acceptance into the 2027 Boston Marathon and Claire's road to the 2027 London Marathon!

Have you ever dealt with a stress reaction or stress fracture? We'd love to hear your experience!

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