White wins Armed Forces Race Published Feb. 24, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Second Lieutenant Caroline White, 80th Operations Support Squadron, represented the Air Force to the fullest at the Armed Forces Cross Country Championship when she finished first Feb. 13 at Plantes Ferry Sports Complex, Spokane Valley, Wash. Lieutenant White finished eight kilometers with a time of 29:27, running at a pace of 5:55 miles per minute and earning herself a spot on the combined United States 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," she said. 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 and train consistently. Also, 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 competitions including running distance competitions, marathons and half marathons, and Iron Man Triathlons. She also participated in the World Class Athlete Program and qualified for the Olympic trials. Lieutenant White said that she was glad to have a chance to show a piece 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," Lieutenant White said.