A Love for Learning and Running

Lyda Martin ’26 isn’t afraid of doing hard things.

Whether it’s running a record-breaking race or completing an English honors thesis, she is up for the challenge.

During her time on Smith’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams, Martin—who is captain of both teams—says she has come to view athletic competition more as “a privilege” than a pressure point.

“I’ve realized that race performances are actually just demonstrations of work you have already put in,” she says. “The belief my coaches have shown in me has made such a difference.”

Her own performances have been standouts.

In March, Martin earned Second-Team All-American honors in the 1-mile run at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championship in Birmingham, Alabama. The previous month, she set what was then a new Smith record in distance running at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston, clocking in at 4:54.28 in the mile. 

“It is an incredible challenge to qualify for Nationals, but it is an entirely different challenge to run your best race under the brightest lights,” says Jack Wood, director of Smith’s Cross Country/Track and Field program. “For Lyda to not only qualify, but set a new personal best in a school record time at NCAA is the culmination of years of work. She embodies all of our team values on a daily basis, and is a top example of what a Smith student-athlete can be, both on and off the track.”

Off the track, Martin has won praise for her work as a peer writing tutor for the Jacobson Center for Writing, Teaching and Learning.

“Lyda brings powerful tools as a teacher and editor,” says Melissa Parrish, assistant professor of English language and literature and Martin’s advisor. “She has mentored dozens of students who return frequently for her patient and focused feedback on their essays. One student recently told me that Lyda had singlehandedly transformed the quality of their writing within the span of a few weeks.”

Seated outside the Campus Center during a recent break from her thesis writing, Martin shared some thoughts about her Smith experience.

What drew you to Smith from your hometown of San Antonio, Texas?
“My mom is a college professor and she got me into the whole idea of attending a small liberal arts college. I did creative writing at an arts high school.  When I came to visit Smith, it was Valentine’s Day—and it was freezing. And I thought, if I like it this much when it’s cold out...”

Have you always wanted to run track?
“I actually quit track in high school. I was naturally talented, but I was doing it for all the people around me, not because I enjoyed it. I learned about being a Division III athlete—balancing athletics with becoming a whole person. So, I reached out to the coach here and said, ‘Hey, I haven’t done this in a long time.’ The Smith athletics community is special. It allowed me to fall in love with running again.”

Was it hard to get back into racing?
“I didn’t get to race at all my first year. I got two stress fractures, which was really disappointing and hard. Ultimately, the situation helped me realize how lucky I was when I could run. I started treating competition more like a privilege. I realized race performances are actually just demonstrations of the work you have already put in.”

What’s it like to be a student-athlete at Smith?
“I like being on the Cross Country team, not the women’s Cross Country team. I like being with super competitive, ambitious people. And we do it together. We’re up at 5 a.m. in season to get to 6 a.m. practice. And we’re all in the library together again at 6 p.m.”

You’re writing a thesis on the literature of the Black Diaspora and you’ve also been an editor for The Sophian and an intern at Trinity University Press in Texas. What do you like about editing and writing?
“I’m a peer writing tutor for the Jacobson Center, where I get to learn about other classes and brainstorm with other students. A lot of the job is helping people know that they are good enough. Everyone can write terrible first drafts. But Smithies can write! With editing, you get to see the inside of someone’s brain, how they think—and support them. I think returning again and again to something that’s hard to do is a good practice.”

Do you have plans for after graduation?
“I’m still figuring it all out. I spent the fall applying to English master’s degree programs and I’ve been accepted to Georgetown, Boston College, and UVM. I still have a year of [NCAA] eligibility left. I know I want to keep learning and running.”

As you reflect on your time on campus, what advice do you have for new Smithies?
“It’s like writing an essay. You have to accept that the first ‘draft’ is not going to be how things end up. I don’t want to leave Smith—I love it here. I’m grateful for these last few months of being with people I’ve grown to care so much about. My world has really opened up.”