At the beginning of our cross country season, the rest of the team and I were getting better meet by meet. At a major invitational, many people on the team, including myself, recorded personal bests. However, instead of celebrating, I worried about a pain growing in my right hip.

In our next race, a low-key home meet, my hip pain was tremendous. I had to drop out a little over half-way through the race. This was the first time ever that I had not finished a race. The next morning, my dad and I went to the Sports Medicine Clinic and learned that I should sit out for at least a week.

When I went to my next physical therapy appointment, I was told that I had strained my right hip flexor. The doctor told me I would be out for about three weeks.

Disappointed, I made a new routine. When the rest of the team went out for runs, I would go on the bike. At every meet, I came along and watched the team progress, even though I still couldn't run.

After my three weeks was up, I finally came back to training with short, slow runs. I was so excited about coming back that I had to slow myself down.

Two weekends ago, our team had our regional meet. I sat out one more meet, just to give my hip a little more time to recover. Then, sectionals came around and I could finally race again.

Sectionals wasn't all I expected it to be. Hip pain nagged me throughout the race, and I could only barely achieve my seasonal best from early in the season.

Sophomore year is usually a breakout year for high school runners. I had to miss it, but I won't let that faze me. I can catch up with others my age if I work hard over the summer and do everything I can to keep my hip strong.