"When I was only five years old, I remember I used to run around the house and take laps," Smith said. "Twenty-six to be exact."
Over the past few years, his love for running has only grown. Smith, now a junior, was a member of the cross-country team in middle and high school. He added indoor track in high school, and played tennis in the spring. His senior year, though, he decided to focus solely on running, picking up outdoor track in the spring, knowing he wanted to continue to run in college. Today, the boy from Connecticut is a valuable member of the Tufts cross country, indoor, and outdoor track teams.
What is unique about Smith is not his running ability, which is a large strength for Tufts, but his love of running.
"I consider myself a student of the sport. A lot of running is about theory," Smith said.
Of running theory, Smith has been an avid learner. He reads books on running, and is also always talking to other runners and coaches about their training skills so that he may improve his own.
Throughout his years at Tufts, Smith's research of the sport has clearly yielded positive results. Qualifying for Nationals in cross country his freshmen year was one of his greatest achievements, and he has earned that honor every year since. Next year, his ultimate goal is to be able to qualify within the top four spots at the meet.
"I have been to Nationals three times now, and I don't want to leave college without havinggone up on that stage," he said. While cross country has always been his forte, Smith has recently began to spread his focus out into the indoor track season as well. As a result, Smith is having one of his strongest indoor track seasons in his years at Tufts.
"His improvements have always been steady, but he's running more injury free this year, and that stronger base gives him a greater ability to run faster," cross country and track coach Connie Putnam said.
Smith credits his increased healthiness to his new training method this year. Moving away from the aggressive practice styles he once used, Smith now also understands the importance of rest on one's performance.
"A lot of distance running is running as close as you can to the brink of injury, because you want to train as hard as you can," Smith said. "This season I'm more focused on rest though. I want to move away from counting mileage and look more at quality miles. I've learned the importance sleep as well."
Within the track season, Smith had always wanted to take part in the mile run. He always ran the mile in high school because of an inspiration from one of his favorite running books: Once a Runner, by John L. Parker Jr. Yet, after some reflection this year, he feels he is ready to move up to longer events.
Running the 3,000-meter race at Bowdoin this year, Smith felt that he ran one of the best races of his career. His time of 8:38.74 was strong enough to win him second place.
"That was the race that tipped me off to move up in distance," Smith said.
Racing in the 3,000 event again this past weekend, Smith hopes that this event and maybe even the 5,000 can become part of his performance repertoire for the outdoor season.
Smith will captain the cross-country team along with teammate J.R Cruz. Looking past the track seasons and on to next year, he feels that with enough effort the team can be "the best team Tufts has ever had."
As the current cross country and track team captain, senior David Patterson is pleased to be succeeded by Smith.
"He sets the example by working hard, and is always willing to put in the extra effort," Patterson commented. "He's always there to help the younger kids too."
Smith hopes that college will not be the end of his running achievements either.
"Running sustains me," he said. "Many days, it reminds me exactly how much I lovebeing alive. I'm going to run until I die."
