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Frank Shorter ... Deena Kastor ... Dathan Ritzenhein ... Paula Radcliffe ... and me.

The pain in my left shin, which led to a career-first DNF at Saturday's Myrtle Beach Marathon, is the result of a grade 2 tibial stress fracture. That's the diagnosis of Dr. Bert Fields of the Cone Sports Medicine Center.

I have always wanted to meet Dr. Fields. But I didn't want to need to meet him.

At grade 2, out of 5, the fracture is about 2-3 millimeters. So it's not epic. Besides the one tender spot on my left tibia (the medial junction of the middle and distal thirds), Dr. Fields noticed a bit of swelling on the insider lower leg.

Yes, he says, the skull-to-bone accidental collision with an aging Jack Russell in December could have contributed, possibly causing me to alter my gait as I was also ramping up mileage.

And, yes, he believes it's likely that I started Saturday's race with a stress fracture, possibly grade 1. I'm lucky to have run as far as 16 miles and not sustained further damage.

I'll tip my visor to Shorter, who won an Olympic silver in the marathon at Montreal, unknowingly with a stress fracture in his foot. And to Kastor, Ritzenhein and Radcliffe, Olympians who have encountered stress fractures during excellent running careers. Even the stars, with much equipment, technology and medical attention at their disposal, aren't bullet-proof.

As for this rank amateur, I'm on Dr. Fields' multi-week treatment plan. He strapped on an air cast, and I'll apply ice daily. That I've never been a big milk-drinker (I'm told French vanilla creamer doesn't count) should have made me a stress fracture candidate long ago, but I'll be getting better acquainted with calcium and vitamin D. A stationary cycle can help me maintain fitness. And I'll attempt to strengthen muscles in my lower leg.

If all is going well, light running could be back in the picture within a couple of weeks.

Yet there's no rush. Saturday was the scheduled end of my marathon season anyway. I'll be disappointed to be on the shelf for a group run with Bart Yasso in Winston-Salem on Saturday. Hopefully the 12-week plan will go well enough that I can race again at the Ultimate Runner.

But for now it's all about rest and rehab. Then, when it's time, becoming a stronger runner.