I'm not a cross country runner, but I was a distance runner on my track team, and was going to do cross country before my knees went all fat and pooey on me. (They're not actually fat. That's just my word for disliking them D:) It's honestly up to you. I know running's not for everyone but for me it's like my calling ;D I'd say try it out a couple times. Go for a run through the woods or in the park for a few miles and try to pace yourself. Trust me, it will be misery running that long at first. Last year, I ran the Circuit everyday after school. Three miles of the most excruciating agony you could imagine. Every. Day. But you know what? By the end of the track season I was breezing through that thing and leaning against the fence sipping water when everyone else finished. So don't be discouraged by it not being fun at first. But if you really decide it's not for you, I completely support that, too :D Good luck! I think you'll have a lot of fun if you do it!

Well, I'm not in HS ( I'm Only a 6th grader) but one of my friend's brothers is in cross country and he runs 6 miles per day (me thinks???) but that's just him. I might be in cross country but I'm not sure.....................................

Until reading Koffee's post, I didn't even make the connection between 'X' and 'cross,' and when I read 'X,' what I thought of was actually the scientific/mathematical term for unknown. Is that good or bad? Or neither? Or...

Anyway, I hate running myself, but I know a lot of people love it. This advice probably isn't too helpful, but just think about whether running is really something you enjoy enough to do the entire year, and base your decision upon that. Also, think about why you want to run. If you're just doing it for the exercise (you said you don't really like running, but you like exercise, in case you're wondering where on earth that idea came from), you may want to look into some other form that interests you more, but if you honestly want to run more often and look forward to pursuing it, then chances are you should do it.

Good for you for doing something you don't especially like. I would never be caught dead voluntarily doing running. My mom made me do this track thingy during the summer for kids who were going to do XC during the school year; I was miserable. It was OVER 90 degrees out and I was sweating like a pig (even though pigs don't sweat). The way I encourage myself is not so....encouraging. Like I'd say to myself, "If that dude ran 26 miles at the Battle of Marathon, I can so do this stupid mile!" Then I'd remember, "And he died of exhaustion." :P My advice to you is if you decide to do XC, get started now so you're in better shape to race during the school year.

Running?  I love it though I don't actually do it unless my frequent jogs around the neighborhood count.  Anyway R~D~ I don't think you should run if you don't actually like it.  You'll just get tired of it and complain whenever you have to go. (just like me and swimming...)

If you think you're not in good shape (but you probably are ;-)) then you could try running around th block every now and then to get even more exercise and to get better stamina. (I'd never do x-country, I'll stick to sprint thank you very much) And my friend does x-country; she has good stamina and is pretty fast. So, um, I`m not sure if this is good advice (well it probably is, because this is what almost everyone in my class does before doing laps around the school) but my advice is to stretch before you run. I don`t know how, but it works. XD Hope this helps! Laterz!

Your mile time is pretty good. I'd say probably above average. I know people that run like 10 minute miles, and some that run 5 minute miles (though those are only the super-jocks so don't judge yourself :D) I myself run one a little under 7 minutes. THANK YOU OLIVE for pointing out that stretching is important. I'm taking two years off of running (*tragic sigh*), and stretching is partially the problem. My knees naturally had issues, the way my legs were built, but if I had taken the time to REALLY stretch before and after running those three miles, and after basketball practice, and soccer, and yadda yadda blah, I might not be the mascot for the track team right now. I might be on that track team. So go for it! I think you'll have a lot of fun, but that's just crazy thinks-running-is-fun me :D