Around The Islands
Mini Profile
Lauren Ho:
Pounding the Path of Consistency
by Mike Yoshiura
Keep your eyes on this runner — she always wears red socks when she's competing, a gift from her 9th grade track coach. Self-disciplined and anchored in solid family values and work ethics, Lauren Ho is looked up to as one of the best amateur female athletes in Hawaii.
Keeping It Consistent
Ho, a senior at the Hawaii Baptist Academy, is the reigning girl's state champion in the 800, 1500, and 3000-meter cross-country events. She's also the 2005 Gatorade Hawaii State Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Consistency is the key to everything she does, from her diet regimen to her training activities. She's always prepared.
The Night Before A Race
The champ goes through the same routine. Her strict diet excludes red meat and fried foods. She meticulously chooses what types of food to consume before an event. The night before a race, she will ritualistically eat sushi for dinner; prior to a race, she'll snack on a Power Bar, crackers, and Gatorade. "I like it! I don't do it every race, but most of the time I do it," explains Lauren.
Preference, Not Superstition
The 17-year-old has a particular hairstyle she wears for events. She pulls back her shoulder length brownish-black hair in pigtails, tied together with four-rubber bands. "Last year in track, I didn't wear my hair that way, and I didn't like the way I raced, so I went back to it." She adds, "I'm not superstitious… I've been doing this since eighth-grade, and I just started going through the same routine before races."
'Unluckiest Runner' In The Race
Ho narrowly missed an invitation to a national event by one spot last summer, finishing 9th in the Foot Locker West Regional's 5K run. "People called me the 'unluckiest' runner in the race, but my goal was to finish in the top 24, so 9th was like a dream. I enjoyed it a lot, just because I'm used to having to lead the whole race and pretty much race against the clock, instead of actually racing other people."
Competitive Genes
Lauren learned how to be a competitor from watching her older brother Brett, who was a standout soccer player at Punahou High School. "My brother is a really good soccer player, so I used to go to all of his games and trips to the mainland." Brett, 25, is a resident of Tacoma, Washington, which limits their pep chats to the phone. "Compared to other siblings, we get along really well. I'll call him after races to tell him how I did." Ho also maintains a 3.8 grade point average, making the president's honor roll list. Even for her, she says, "Sometimes, it does get hard and frustrating."
Plans After High School
The Kailua native aspires to someday become a nutritionist. "I'm going to keep it consistent for the rest of the year, and we'll see what happens in college." Ho already has her sights set on the University of Washington. Every summer since 2002, she has been taking part in the Olympic Peaks Cross Country Camp, taught by the University of Washington cross-country coaching staff. During her second summer at camp, she realized this is where she wants to pursue a degree in food and nutrition. "After getting to know what it was about, I thought I'd really like it there. I got along really well with all their coaches, and I liked the team aspect of it."
Whatever the challenge, Lauren Ho's consistency and determination are likely to keep placing her at the top of her game.
