Cross country Options

[jennyjenny]

So I have decided to get off my lazy ass and actually join something.

So I decided to go for cross country because it's possibly one of the things without tryouts so if I suck I'm still on the team.

I haven't ran a mile for over a year, and my best time was like 10-11 minutes. i know, it's not that great.

By August 24 the girls have to be able to run a mile in 7.15 minutes. The coach said to start running a month ahead so we can keep up when it comes to Aug. 24.

But the thing is, it's so hard. I've been running a block (on and off) for a couple of weeks and I don't think I'm getting anywhere. Plus, my neighborhood is filled with hills so it's harder.

Any tips on how to run faster without getting winded easily? Thanks.

[marzipan]

well...i guess that if you run more often regularly, eat healthy, and drink lots of water, you should be fine.

[Crich323]

girl, cross country runners run about 3.1 miles!

Practice is the only thing I can tell you.
I mean even now you should be running a couple miles everyday.

Your coach is crazy if he expects you to be able to run 3 miles with just 1 month of practice.

Try jogging to music and start small then work your way up.

And personally the hills are a + for you because you most likely will be running up and down hills since it's cross country.

[jennyjenny]

no, we don't only run one mile. some people just started out (like me) and aren't that good at running to they're just going to start off with running a mile in 7.15 minutes. we're probably going to do more; we're just starting slow, i guess.

[xXYouMeBedNowXx]

I'm a Cross Country runner, and yes, races are Three Miles for both boys and girls. Considering your shape, getting that mile time down is going to take a LOT of practice. The first time I joined XC I had a 7:30 mile, and with a year of training I got it down to 5:42. The workouts we do are much more rigorous than from other teams though (so I've heard.) We run at least 5 miles a day. I highly doubt that your coach would make you do that much so quickly, or even at all for that matter. For now, start slow, you should try and move on gradually. Do a little more than you expect yourself to do, and you should make fast progress. It's not impossible.

[Gypsy Eyes]

^ 5 miles isn't too bad, the guys coach for my school made them run eight, on and off sprints. We only had to do four.

You are going to have to do a lot more than a block to even get close to that time. Try doing other things besides running as well, swimming and biking help a lot.