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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Does anyone know about year 7 cross country?

27 replies

Lolapinknails · 04/10/2019 17:20

Ds year 7 11yo has been chosen to compete in a cross county tournament at school.

He's a bit baffled and worried. This is because, he never got picked for anything sports wise in primary, even though he tried out for everything, there were just always better kids. He never won any races at sports day. He can't understand how or why he's been chosen out of 200 children. He didn't try out for it.

Now he can run, he runs 5k with me 3 times a week, but we run painfully slow. As in a 45 minute 5k. He's not a fast runner, or if he is he hides it well. We do it purely for fun/fitness/time together.

He's worried he's been chosen because when I filled in his forms, there was a section for hobbies and interests and I listed running, because well it is a hobby of his.

Does anyone know how long they are expected to run? He hasn't been given any info.

He's thinking of declining because he feels he'll be too slow. I know nothing about cross country.

OP posts:

Finfintytint · 04/10/2019 17:26

I’m sure he’ll be fine, especially as he runs so much anyway. Many year 7s will be in the same boat and trying new things. Does he look the part as such? I got put into sprinting competitions initially because I was a short, slim and muscular child.

Original poster

Lolapinknails · 04/10/2019 17:33

He does look the part. Very athletic looking.

OP posts:

starlingsintheslipstream · 04/10/2019 17:41

Ds2 is the most unsporty child in some ways. He dislikes team sports but plays golf and runs with a club. He's definitely one of the slowest in his running club as they are all super fit and keen but at school he was routinely picked for cross country as he was way better than the average child. Some of them can't run distances at all either because of lack of fitness or inclination or both.

I reckon your ds will be fine - not sure of the distance they compete in at that age though.

LynetteScavo · 04/10/2019 17:54

He's probably been chosen because he has a good attitude to running, and doesn't stop to have a walk. I imagine there are lots of Y7s who just aren't fit enough to run a mile around the school.

30somethingandtired · 04/10/2019 17:55

There's probably not many 11year olds that routinely go running so the fact that he does will put him ahead of the pack.

I'd encourage him to have a go but let him pull out if he doesn't like it once he has tried it.

Original poster

Lolapinknails · 04/10/2019 18:05

Thank you, very reassuring. He wants to do it, he's just doubting himself, he's also baffled to be getting chosen for things bless his heart.

OP posts:

coconuttelegraph · 04/10/2019 18:11

I think you'd need to ask the school about the specifics unless it's a national competition I'd imagine that it will be something set by the school itself.

My DC did year 6 cross country inter-school competitions and the pace was a lot faster than 45mins per 5km but of course that has no bearing on what your school will do, just a head's up that I found it to be a very competative business

BrownFence · 04/10/2019 18:53

This has made me smile - we are 4 weeks into year 7 and suddenly children are getting chosen for things in our school as well who have never been chosen for anything before. It is so refreshing. It’s no longer about whether your mum is a governor or your dad will come and complain if his daughter is not chosen for something. I hope your ds has a fantastic time, however he does.

clary · 04/10/2019 21:12

At our county cross country events (first one is tomorrow) u13 boys (which is your ds's age group) run 3k. They will go a lot faster than 45min 5k tho, at least twice as fast. Maybe check with him that he feels he could run a lot faster than he dies with you?

clary · 04/10/2019 21:16

Our club's fastest athlete at that age last year did 3k in sub 12 mins, just for comparison.

Sowingbees · 04/10/2019 21:20

Mine was always the very last but we always said he was still faster than all the kids not brave enough to run it. He is nearly 30 and still runs regularly. He recently saw one of the super fast kids that used to laugh at him who now has no fitness for running. Doesn't matter what speed he goes just tell him to be proud he was asked.

Sowingbees · 04/10/2019 21:24

Ffs clary who gives a fuck Op's kid is obviously not going to win but why shouldn't he take part and enjoy himself. School sport shouldn't be elitist, no wonder we have an obesity problem if that's the response to a kid being chosen.

RainOrSun · 04/10/2019 21:37

I watched primary cross country this week.
Everyone ran what they thought should be about 15 mins -and that meant lengthening the course between the Y3/Y4 races and the Y5/Y6 races. I guess that fits with the around 3km mentioned above - maybe a 20min expectation for secondary?
Yes, there were vast differences in finishing - and these were kids who had already "pre qualified" by being top 20 in their town - some were walking after the first minute, before the hills started - but every single kids was clapped and cheered over the finish line. It was incredibly inclusive, and a brilliant atmosphere.
Let your son go, do his best, and enjoy himself.

Original poster

Lolapinknails · 04/10/2019 21:38

Oh dear, I wonder why they've chosen him for it. He seems to think he hasn't volunteered, he knew nothing about it.

I'm sure he can run faster, but not 3k in 12 minutes. I doubt.

Equally I don't want to make him feel he's not good enough before he's even tried.

OP posts:

AppleKatie · 04/10/2019 21:51

If he needed to run 3k in 12min the teacher would definitely have held a trial.

The teacher has picked him to go and have a go and he should. It’s a year 7 completion it isn’t the national champs. He’ll be fine.

Original poster

Lolapinknails · 04/10/2019 21:54

^*If he needed to run 3k in 12min the teacher would definitely have held a trial.

The teacher has picked him to go and have a go and he should. It’s a year 7 completion it isn’t the national champs. He’ll be fine.*^

Thanks

OP posts:

Yolande7 · 04/10/2019 21:54

They do cross country at our school and out of about 200 children one of my daughters came 10th in Y7. She is athletic and ambitious, but does not do running. So I would not worry too much. BTW my other daughter, who is strong but not particularly well coordinated and not good with balls came first in discus throwing. I don't think a lot is expected. If your son does it three times a week, he can definitely go faster. Speed it up with him a bit and see how it goes, but I would encourage him to do it.

0lga · 04/10/2019 21:59

It will be shorter than 5km for sure. Why don’t you take him to your local parkrun for the next few weeks and see if he can improve his times ?

IToldYouIWasFreaky · 04/10/2019 22:02

At this point in the term, they are probably just picking kids who seem keen or have some experience of the sport. DS has just started year 7 and got chosen to play rugby against other schools last week. He's never played rugby before but loves all team sports and is a keen rugby fan and that appeared to be enough!
If your DS can run 5k 3 times a week then he is going to be among the most able runners in his year, no matter how slow he is. Most 11 year olds would struggle with that distance.
If I was you, I would encourage him to give it a go. It may not be his thing or he may love it and be motivated to improve his time.

Original poster

Lolapinknails · 04/10/2019 22:02

I kind of wished we'd pushed a bit more with our running now! I couldn't possibly tell him not to do it that would just be horrible.

I guess I have to try not to worry and let it be, if he hates it he doesn't have to do it again.

Funny I worried when he never got picked for anything now I'm worrying because he is.

OP posts:

Runningsmooth · 04/10/2019 22:11

You should be able to find last year's time on the internet somewhere.

He will be fine if he is used to running 5k. I would make sure he knows that completing it is achievement enough and that he isn't expected to win it.

clary · 04/10/2019 22:17

I wasn't trying to say he shouldn't do it!

That was a county event, this may well be at a lower level. Also the Op's son may be running slowly to run with her, he may well be able to run much faster, he would know this I'm sure, which is why I suggested she ask him.

However, most 11yos I know would not want to run a race where they would be twice as slow as many of the runners. If 45min 5k is genuinely his fastest (which I doubt tbh) then he might want to know how it will be.

op please let him do it, I was just trying to give you some parameters. The county XC is not the national champs either. But yes, he may well be among those that finish, or run it all. I bet he can run faster than you are doing, have you asked him?

clary · 04/10/2019 22:20

Also does he know if it is an event within his school or one involving other schools? If just within his school then no worries at all, as he's used to running a decent distance he'll be fine I am sure.

Original poster

Lolapinknails · 04/10/2019 22:31

He doesn't know anything about it, but the letter although vague, suggests that it's competing against other schools. I can't find anything much online.

He'll definitely be able to run faster than we do, we just run leisurely because we like to complete a certain route. But he's not a fast runner. He never really won sports day races he'd always finish in the middle.

He hasn't said much, I think he was just baffled as to why he'd been chosen. He thinks he might have got a good time doing laps of the sports hall but that's all.

He wants to do it he's just nervous.

I'll speak to him a bit more over the weekend but I think I'll just take the stance that he should have a go and it doesn't matter if he comes last I'll be proud of him for having a go.

OP posts:

ExCwmbranDweller · 04/10/2019 22:39

Absolutely go and have a go, last is still miles ahead of the children (and there are a LOT) who struggle to make it round the athletics field at school. My DS wasn't a big runner just did a lot of sports and ended up really enjoying the cross country. If you routinely run together he will already be heads and shoulders above at least 3/4 of his year group. He should hold his head high and feel really proud to be selected. Plus if it's been raining like it has now he can come back with stories about the boy who lost his trainer in some deep mud and still kept running etc, it's fun to get out of school and do these things!

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