Sheppard lieutenant wins cross country championship

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  A lieutenant assigned to the 80th Operations Support Squadron here finished first at the Armed Forces Cross Country Championship Feb. 13 held in Spokane Valley, Wash.

2nd Lt. Caroline White finished the 8-kilometer course with a time of 29:27, running at a pace of 5:55 miles per minute.
 
The win earned her a spot on the combined U.S. Armed Forces Cross Country Team.

"This is one of my favorite races to compete in because of the participation of the other services," Lieutenant White said. "Compared to some of the other services, people tend to think that the Air Force has a more technical image. Winning that race let those people know that we're not just about flying. We're about physical fitness too. Our abilities are balanced."

Lieutenant White said training for events like this race takes extreme dedication and motivation.

"You've got to be ready to push your limits," she said. "I would run daily with an average of 80 miles each week. I trained consistently, and healthy eating habits made it easier. But, the main thing that kept me going was motivation."

During her time in pilot training and before the Air Force, Lieutenant White competed in several other races including distance competitions, marathons and half marathons, Iron Man Triathlons and the World Class Athlete Marathon program.

Lieutenant White said she was glad to have a chance to show some of what the Air Force is about.

"Winning the championship made me so proud that I was able to represent the 80th Flying Training Wing and pilots' contributions to the greater Air Force image," she said.