Training for xc?

Well, you're kind of SUPPOSED to be out of breath when you run. Especially when you start. Build up your mileage slowly. Try running about one mile a day for 4 to 5 days a week. Then, after a week or so, add a few two mile runs into the week. Week after that, make all of your runs 2 mile runs. You should be tired. But suddenly, you're probably going to realize that running .25 of a mile seems like nothing. You'll be running two to three miles. The key is to take it one week at a time. Start off at 4 mile weeks, then make it 6-7 mile weeks, then maybe 8-9 mile weeks. By the end of the summer, after 2 or more months of this, you definitely will be able to run 5 miles.