Clayton Young defies doctor’s four-week rest advice to run Chicago Marathon personal best with hamstring tear

American runner Clayton Young finished the 2026 Chicago Marathon in 2:05:23 despite a 12-centimeter tear in his hamstring tendon. The October 11 race gave him a personal best and made him the top American man, but reaching the starting line was far from certain. His first doctor had advised him to rest for four weeks. Now, Young has shared how his faith and his wife, Ashley, helped him through those difficult weeks. He also has his sights set on the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.Clayton Young Reveals How a Hamstring Tear Put His Chicago Marathon Plans at RiskIn an October 15 conversation with CITIUS MAG host Chris Chavez, Young explained that he wanted to give himself every chance to race. He had also hoped to challenge the American marathon record of 2:04:43, set by his training partner Conner Mantz in 2025.When Chavez asked if he believed the record was possible, Young replied, “Yeah. Yeah, I mean, or at least I believe that I would do everything I could until I was told not to.”The injury became a concern after the Great North Run in England on September 13. With around 250 metres left in the half-marathon, Young felt his hamstring tighten and had to slow down. He finished seventh in 1:02:04, but the pain did not go away.After cutting a speed workout short, Young underwent an MRI on September 17. The scan showed a 12-centimeter tear in an upper hamstring tendon near the pelvis. His first doctor recommended a platelet-rich plasma injection and four weeks without running. Following that advice would have ended his hopes of competing in Chicago.Young then sought further medical advice and worked with his coach, Ed Eyestone, to adjust his training. He completed a 22-mile run and returned to faster sessions while keeping a close eye on the injury. His hamstring was still not fully healed when he reached the starting line.The physical challenge was only part of the story. Young said the experience also changed how he viewed his faith. He and Ashley leaned on prayer and support from people around them while trying to decide what to do next.“These last four weeks from a faith standpoint have never… I want to be respectful of everybody in their faith. But I’m going to look back on these last four weeks with more faith building experience than I’ve ever seen,” Young said.He added that the couple kept finding reasons to move forward even when running seemed like the wrong choice.“When everything said, don’t run this race, it was so interesting to see how so many of the answers that we were receiving were just like, keep moving forward, take the next step, and trust in God and the plan that he has for you, even though it doesn’t make sense,” he said.Ashley remained by his side throughout the difficult period. Young said the experience brought them closer and strengthened their faith. “Yeah, Ashley and I grew stronger together. Our faith grew stronger together. And yeah, I’m going to look back at this as a miracle,” he said.Young later confirmed that his hamstring had not fully recovered. “My hamstring held up. No, it wasn’t made perfect, but we got through this,” he said.Clayton Young Targets LA 2028 Olympics After Chicago Marathon Personal BestYoung finished seventh overall in Chicago with a time of 2:05:23. According to USA Track & Field, the result made him the second-fastest American man ever on a course eligible for records. It also improved his previous best on such a course, which was 2:08:00 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon.His next major goal is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. In an interview with Men’s Health earlier this year, Young said, “My biggest goals right now are to do everything I can to prepare for the LA 2028 Olympic Games.”Young already has Olympic experience. He finished second at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials before placing ninth in the marathon at the Paris Games. He now has another personal best to build on as he works toward a return to the Olympic stage.For now, his hamstring recovery will be important as he plans his next races. Young has shown what he can do in Chicago, but his focus remains on getting ready for the challenges ahead and earning another chance to represent the United States in 2028.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.