By Don Lowe
The way senior Carthage Lady Tigers cross country and track star Maggie Boyd sees it, her mindset has proven pivotal when competing in endurance events and she says, “I think my greatest gift is my mind.
“I have a good work ethic and I’m super competitive by nature, which I get from my dad. Overall, I have a mental toughness that others don’t typically have. I believe more people could be great distance runners if they believed they could be.”
Boyd’s interest in this sport began at an early age. “I loved running as a kid with my mom. I decided to give cross country a try to help me stay in shape for basketball. Then, I fell in love with track. I love that the pressure is only on me. If I want to go out and compete, then I need to do it for myself.”
Carthage Cross Country Head Coach Brian Crigger appreciates Boyd’s approach, and he says, “Maggie is a smart student, which translates well to running. I give her goal times in workouts and races, and she understands the importance of following the training plan.
“It’s like having another coach with the girls’ team, because she’s such a good leader to the younger ladies. Maggie has an intense competitive spirit. She hates to lose. That mindset serves her well in all the sports she competes in throughout the year.”
While Boyd has fared quite well in cross country and track events (800- and 1,600-meter runs, and 4 x 400- and 4 x 800-meter relays), it takes plenty of perseverance to push forward. She says, “The biggest challenge is the time requirements. I start training early.
“So, to compete in cross country during the fall, I start running in May. Every day in the summer, I’m up and running at 6 a.m. to beat the heat. It’s one of the biggest challenges for me, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make to have a good season.”
Coach Crigger rationalizes, “Running is such a mental sport. When Maggie puts her mind to accomplishing something, she does everything in her power to succeed. She’s tough and has learned how to push herself outside her comfort zone during workouts and races.
“Over the years, Maggie has grown from a little seventh grader who would often run with the varsity girls during the summer to the girl that all our junior high runners look up to now. She’s been consistent with her training, and in distance running, consistent work, over time, is what leads to good results.”
Boyd says, “Running distance events isn’t easy. This sport has challenged me. It has allowed me to learn that I’m truly capable of whatever I set my mind to do.”
“I’m beyond proud of Maggie and the young woman she has become, “Coach Crigger says. “She’s the ultimate team player. She puts other girls on the team before herself and does anything to bring out the best in others.
“I can’t put into words how much I will miss her not being on our team next year. But I’ll be extremely proud to see everything she accomplishes in athletics and life.”