Does anyone know about year 7 cross country?

[Lolapinknails]

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.

Sometimes schools spot something. I had no idea I could run, neither did my parents. Moved schools age 10 to a private school (scholarship) and we started doing some sports like long jump/high jump etc. We did the 100m and I er obliterated everyone and the PE teacher rang my dad and next thing I was signed up to the local Harriers and on a school team with not a clue about what was going on

Weirdly I can't run distance, never have been able to. I'm a size 16 now but can still sprint, sadly I can't run any more after a spinal op

Encourage him to do it and enjoy it. My son also year 7 was picked out for a spirt in his first week that he has never done before and never considered . His teacher saw something in him and he is loving it and doing really well going to tne school club for it twice a week and volunrarity doing extra training you never know he may love it.