An injury has sidelined television personality T.J. Holmes during his quest to conquer the Chicago Marathon, a heartbreaking turn of events. A devastating setback at the 21-mile mark forced the GMA3 co-host, who was running the grueling 26.2-mile race alongside his girlfriend and co-anchor Amy Robach, to call it quits.

Robach’s Instagram posts reveal that Holmes’ Achilles tendon failed, necessitating medical attention and an ambulance ride to a nearby hospital. Emergency personnel wheel away a visibly pained and exhausted Holmes on a stretcher, his legs strapped in, in a series of candid photos and videos shared on social media.

“Mile 21 and the Achilles gave out,” Robach wrote, capturing the heartbreaking moment that their marathon dreams were dashed.

In the aftermath, Holmes and Robach took to their podcast, “Morning Run,” to provide more details on the events that led to the sudden turn of events. Holmes revealed that a series of mishaps plagued the day from the very beginning, from struggling to find the correct check-in tent to starting the race without proper hydration and nutrition.

The truth is, both you and I embarked on a marathon without a single drop of fluid or a single bite of food. That’s stupid,” Holmes acknowledged, noting that they had been banking on being able to refuel along the route.

But as the miles wore on, Holmes’ body began to betray him. Recounting the moment when disaster struck, the 47-year-old explained how he had to suddenly maneuver around a walker in the middle of the course, leading him to catch himself on his right leg—the opposite of the Achilles tendon that had been plaguing him in the lead-up to the race.

“Now, the Achilles that’s the problem is on my left leg. I catch myself with my right leg going down. When I do this, I immediately feel a twitch in my right hip and a slight pain in my right cheek,” Holmes said, his pain and disappointment evident in his voice.

Robach, who was by his side throughout the ordeal, described the heartbreaking aftermath: Holmes’ face streaked with tears as he struggled to even walk, eventually collapsing on the side of the course and vomiting from the sheer agony.

“You looked awful. You were so pale. You were shivering and shaking because you got this wet, sweaty clothing on, and now the wind is whipping, and it was pretty miserable,” Robach recalled.

For Holmes and Robach, this latest setback comes on the heels of a tumultuous year that has seen their personal and professional lives become the subject of intense public scrutiny. Late last year, an internal investigation into their workplace conduct placed the co-hosts, who have been open about their burgeoning romantic relationship, on hiatus from GMA3.

Now, as they grapple with the physical and emotional toll of this latest disappointment, the duo must find the strength to recover and move forward. If their past resilience serves as a guide, they are fully capable of confronting this challenge.

“I know you’re running, and I’ll definitely cheer you on,” Robach assured her partner, even as Holmes quipped that he now needs a “nurse” more than a cheerleader. With the New York City Marathon just three weeks away, the road to recovery will be a steep one. But for these two determined athletes, the quest for redemption has only just begun.