In 4 years she was never mentioned. Essentially "cut out" of the team, marginalized by the fastest (and therefore most popular).
Excluded, ignored, left out.
Sticking with her best friend, and a few others not a part of the "in" runner's crowd, she just kept on running.
After months of hearting about heavy legs, fatigue, and lethargy, her coach asked us to test her iron.
It was low.
Way low. Ferratin level was a 4. I hear that's pretty low.
So, we put her on iron supplements, and after several weeks, she began to PR. In each race.
No longer were her legs heavy. No longer was she "plateaued".
However, she was still ignored.
Award team meals, bus rides, races.
I don't know that I'll ever fully grasp why, in a team environment in high school, cliques happen.
And in the end, The Bink persevered with her small group of friends on the team, and got the Most Improved Runner award after posting a 5:58 mile in her last run of the year.
A goal was reached. More importantly, a lesson was learned. You just keep going, through it all, and usually, good things happen. Life rewards persistence.
So proud of Bink.