August 31, 2005
Yasmine White - John Dye
One of the State's Top Smaller School runners, it turns out Yasmine White of Arcata has a second athletic area where she is very successful also, the triathlon. Turns out she will soon be heading for Japan for competition in the World Championsips, where she will represent the US in the Age 15-16 division - Story
Biking and swimming offer runners some other ways to condition, especially while injured, with Yasmine appearing to keep really busy with her schedule below.
Yasmin took the time out from her busy schedule to answer some questions for us.
1) What sports were you involved with when you were growing up?
I played a lot of soccer, pretty much second through ninth grade. I also tried softball, basketball, and gymnastics. I joined swim team in sixth grade and got involved in triathlon through that. I started running in ninth grade to get better at triathlon.
2) How along the way did you become involved with biking and swimming?
I was taking swim lessons one summer and the instructor kept talking about swim team, so I decided to try it out. I got involved in biking through triathlon.
3) What was some of your early experience with duathlons or triathlons along the way?
My first triathlon was a local kids triathlon that I did when I was 12. I really had no idea how things worked. The morning of the race I asked someone if everyone stopped between each event. The next summer I got involved in Ironkids (a national triathlon series for kids) and won youth nationals in Sacramento.
4) How do you deal with the obvious weather concerns for something like biking and running up your way with the wet weather and all?
Usually I just bundle up and go outside!
5) Briefly, when preparing for a serious triathlon how do you divide your training week up (nothing complicated detail needed here, just general idea)?
In a normal week I try to run six days, swim three times, and bike once.
6) How do you think running, biking, and swimming help each other, or do they?
I think all three sports are great aerobic cross training for each other. I think swimming develops really strong core muscles which are good for running too. Biking and swimming also just provide fun alternatives to running sometimes.
7) What are some of your goals with your running for the year at the high school level?
I would really like to win NCS for cross country. This has been one of my goals since freshman year. In track I'm hoping to make it to state again.
8) What do you see yourself doing sports-wise after you leave high school?
Running in college (hopefully).
9) Where do you see yourself in ten years?
Hopefully I will be finished with college and have a job in ten years (I really don't know what sort of career I'm interested in yet). I might try to pursue triathlon at the elite level after college, but I'm not sure yet.
Thanks,
Yasmine White
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