When Nathan Martin took the beginning line of the Marathon Project, a one-time, elite-only race in Chandler, Arizona, in December 2020, he had no intention of breaking information. The 33-year-old Michigan native labored as substitute instructor and high faculty monitor coach to help himself, and in his spare time, he was attempting to construct a skilled running profession. Despite years of marathon training and notching competitive instances at a number of races, marquee occasions ignored him. His most important purpose at Chandler: Get the attention of marathon race administrators.
Then Martin crossed the road in 2 hours, 11 minutes, and 5 seconds to complete ninth amongst a stacked area and lop three minutes off his PR. That put him on each race director’s radar. But he additionally—with out realizing it on the time—turned the quickest ever U.S.-born Black marathoner, besting Herm Atkins’s 1979 time of 2:11:52. That obtained everybody’s attention.
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Martin didn’t precisely come out of nowhere. He had been a star at Spring Arbor University, setting NAIA information within the 5K, his major self-discipline, in addition to the marathon, which he competed in on the urging of his coach, Dante Ottolini. It was Ottolini who suggested Martin to stay shut after commencement so the 2 may proceed training collectively. Martin noticed regular progress within the ensuing years. He nabbed a 23rd place end on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials and 10th place (2:14:35) on the 2017 California International Marathon. And then he bested his time by precisely one second on the similar occasion the next 12 months.
In 2020, issues heated up much more: He received that 12 months’s Naples Half Marathon and along with his record-breaking Marathon Project end, Martin vaulted into the world of elite runners.
Three years later, Martin nonetheless holds the title he earned in Arizona. In truth, he just lately pushed the document 20 seconds sooner with a fourth-place 2:10:45 consequence on the 2023 Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, in June—the fifth-fastest marathon run by an American up to now this 12 months.
“In all honesty, I really wasn’t shocked,” Martin tells Men’s Journal. “I knew as long as I had an opportunity and got a good chance that a personal record was very possible.”
We talked to Martin about how he knocked 20 seconds off his marathon time, how his training has developed through the years, and what problem he’s eyeing subsequent.
New York Road Runners
Men’s Journal: How did your method to training change after the Marathon Project?
Nathan Martin: My time with my school coach [Dante Ottolini, the head coach of cross-country and track and field at Spring Arbor University] got here to an finish with how far he may get me along with his training. It got here to the purpose the place I felt I wanted a new coach, a completely different perspective. So I related with James McKirdy 4 or 5 months in the past and started getting training from him and determining completely different approaches.
Initially, it was actually tough. You’d suppose, “You’re just running. How is it that different?” But if you get into the query of how do you make any person as quick as they are often, there are a lot of various avenues.
How did you and McKirdy method this race in another way than earlier ones?
My previous coach was very targeted on time. He needed me to have high quantity and to have intense workouts, nevertheless it was extra vital that I used to be hitting the instances I wanted to hit.
With McKirdy, we targeted on bulkier workouts the place we weren’t glued to a tempo. Instead, we needed to be utterly managing the workload. So it was, “Let’s try our hardest to get 100-mile weeks in,” whereas my previous coach was like, “Your body doesn’t respond the best with these intense paces, so instead of 100 we’re going to shoot for 80 or worst case, 75.”
I additionally started nutrition and sleep to determine alternative ways to enhance outdoors of the running I used to be doing.
Did setting the document on the Marathon Project change issues for you?
It utterly modified a lot. First and foremost, simply the document itself. I wasn’t even conscious that I broke a document [at first]. Afterward, on my Instagram, so many individuals have been saying, “That’s so amazing, congratulations.” I’m a man who’s like, “Great, I won a race. Great, I broke a record.” I form of give it some thought for a few days after which go about my enterprise. But it meant a lot [to other people], I spotted I actually have to consider this. It impacts me and the way I mission myself. I can use this accomplishment to achieve extra individuals and do good with it.
This is one other alternative to achieve out to individuals and assist them see their potential and what they’ll accomplish. It’s an African-American document, so with the ability to attain out to Black athletes and Black runners and get them to see what they’re able to is de facto large.
Why did you select to enter Grandma’s Marathon?
McKirdy and I simply needed to ensure I obtained in a marathon the place I’d be capable to take a look at my abilities and actually showcase my fitness. New York was a fairly large letdown [Martin finished the 2022 New York Marathon with a time of 2:25:27]. Getting in one other marathon offers me a shot to combat for large issues on the Olympic Trials, and it offers me a likelihood to say to completely different firms which may wish to sponsor me, “These are the kinds of things I’m accomplishing.” Ultimately, it is simply actually good training to return off one marathon and go into one other. [Grandma’s] normally has a high quality area and a course the place you may combat for a PR.
Was setting a new PR your purpose for Grandma’s going into the race?
I needed to be prime 10 and I needed to hit my PR. But I assumed, “If I hit it, I hit it, and if not, I’ll move on.” My training was form of up and down main into this race, and there have been some workouts the place I assumed, “How in the world am I going to run a marathon?”
But then I’d produce other workouts the place I used to be completely crushing, and I assumed I used to be 2:10 or sooner. At Grandma’s, I needed to offer myself a likelihood to get a PR, however not drive it.
What did you eat for dinner the evening earlier than and breakfast the morning of?
I did a conventional pasta dinner: spaghetti, tomato sauce, and meatballs. I’ve change into a actually large fan of fruit smoothies, normally Bolthouse or Naked, so I’ll take these as usually as I can get them—undoubtedly the evening earlier than races. I get up and I really feel higher. Morning of, I preserve it very gentle. I’ve some oatmeal and a banana after which, if I keep in mind—and I didn’t keep in mind this time—I take UCAN. Other than that? Gatorade and water.
How did you gas whereas on the course?
I’ve tried a lot of various merchandise in numerous marathons. There was a stretch the place I used to be taking a lot of Maurten, however the liquid stuff made me really feel bloated and the gel was unbelievably exhausting to get down. For this marathon, I used GU. I feel it has 35 milligrams of caffeine in it. I took seven all through the course.
How did the race unfold?
I started off in a group of 15. Our first mile wasn’t something loopy, 4:58 possibly—a little fast however not sooner than what I can maintain on a tremendous day with a group. Then they started taking off, and I made a decision to allow them to go. If I catch you, I catch you, however I’m undoubtedly not going to die with you.
Then it was me and Alex Monroe, an superior man I used to be in a position to join with on race weekend. He was main the best way and I used to be sticking with him, attempting to take the lead once I may to assist draft. But the vast majority of that first 10Okay was him pushing and me drafting. He finally dropped off, and I want he may’ve held on. He was my roommate for the race and a actually superior man. I simply needed him to do effectively.
Right round mile 14 or 15, I started feeling drained. I attempted to dam it out and preserve pushing by. Around 15 or 16, I started seeing different racers. I assumed, “You know what? Skip my pace, skip my goals, let’s just try to catch those people.”
I stored pushing to catch the teams and I made a lot of floor, however I did not catch them till seven or eight miles to go. It was a four- or five-mile chase.
At that time, I did not have a lot left. But I used to be catching as much as the individuals who have been falling again. I’d get to them and race with them for a little bit, catch my vitality, and suppose possibly if I noticed extra individuals I may catch them. I’d rise up to the teams, they usually have been going approach slower than I assumed they have been. I’d go proper round them.
I ended up seeing yet another person earlier than the end. I used to be like, “Oh my goodness, I have to try to catch this guy.”
There’s this nearly hairpin flip, you go straight up after which curve again downward towards the eventual lead-in to the end. When that occurred, he was both drained or no matter, however I immediately closed a big chunk of that hole going across the flip. I’d finished the half marathon there the earlier 12 months and I knew we have been near the end, so I started kicking.
Three or 4 seconds after I handed him, I’m like, “Wait a minute, where’s the finish?” I had misjudged how far it was, however I could not cease pushing as a result of it might be terrible if he handed me. I simply stored going. It was fairly tough, however I used to be in a position to maintain on and end.
You beforehand known as the 2020 Marathon Project the most effective race you’ve got ever run. With this end, do you continue to really feel the identical approach?
It’s exhausting to say. Both races have been very related in how they performed out. I did not really feel I may go together with the tempo of the leaders. I had a little assist from the individuals I used to be pacing off of. I did a big chunk of it on my own, and on the finish, I attempted to catch as many individuals as I may. I suppose we’ll give it to Grandma’s as a result of it produced a sooner time.
You nonetheless work as a monitor and cross-country coach for Jackson High School in Michigan. Do you get pressure to depart that job and decide to your individual running?
That was a part of why I modified issues with my very own teaching and the way I’m approaching running. It was attending to the purpose the place I could not suppose rationally. I used to be like, “What am I supposed to be doing?” Mentally, 2022 was fairly dangerous. I felt like I used to be doing issues the unsuitable approach. I assumed, “I need to step back, I need to reassess.” I’ve to do issues as a result of I really feel prefer it’s the most effective transfer and works with my philosophy, not as a result of it’s the most effective transfer for my PR, or the most effective transfer for my monetary scenario.
I undoubtedly suppose I’m in a unbelievable spot proper now, and there is nonetheless rising to do and decisions to make.
What’s an expertise you’ve had in your teaching profession that made you’re feeling such as you have been actually making a distinction in a pupil’s life?
I take into consideration that stuff on a regular basis—whether or not or not what I’m doing is making an affect. We had an athlete who determined to return out for summer season running of their sophomore 12 months. When they started, they put forth good effort, nevertheless it wasn’t producing a lot. I did not know in the event that they have been going to complete summer season running, not to mention run cross-country, however positive sufficient they caught it out.
They undoubtedly did not have a lot of confidence of their skills. When I asked what their objectives have been, it was a lot of: “I don’t know.” But slowly and absolutely they started giving a little bit extra. I may inform they have been giving effort, nevertheless it was extra “I need to get through this,” reasonably than actually racing and actually combating. It was like that as much as the final race. They did not bust out some loopy time, however I may inform they actually gave the whole lot that they had in that race, and it was unbelievable and superb to see. It was a kind of moments the place I may inform this expertise modified them.
New York Road Runners
Looking forward, what are your running objectives?
It’s arising on an Olympic 12 months, and I all the time wish to give myself a likelihood to make the crew. That’s what I wish to combat for. I’ve to steadiness it with normal life stuff, with teaching, and with race alternatives that pop up—races which may not be helpful for trials however could be helpful for me general. That’s the most important purpose on the finish: Can I give myself this potential ultimate shot to make the crew? Not to say that I could not preserve running and have a shot on the subsequent Olympics. But that is most likely the most important second for it.
Why are the Olympics so vital for you?
It’s the Olympics. It’s the most important stage. Really, it comes right down to inspiring individuals. It actually will get a lot of attention, and it is the easiest way to showcase who I’m and what I’m doing. I consider that I’ve a shot to get there. I wish to try for that and provides myself a likelihood.
At the 2024 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials in Orlando, a area of 250 athletes will probably be winnowed down to only 3 Olympic qualifiers. What do you suppose it’ll take so that you can qualify?
Going off the final Olympic Trials in Atlanta, it was actually eye-opening to see how many individuals confirmed up able to push and execute on a very difficult course. I’ve zero doubt it’s going to be a related scenario in Florida.
It’s exhausting to reply. My coach believes I need not make any extra fitness jumps, I need not do something loopy, I simply have to execute on the fitness I’m already at. I’ve superb confidence in what I’m in a position to accomplish, and I haven’t got to be first. I simply must be within the prime three. I’m assured I can race who I have to race.
But once more, you by no means know.
What’s your subsequent marathon?
My subsequent race would be the New York City Marathon. I knew it was an choice however I form of had written it off. [But] considering of my running objectives, finally, it is not essentially attending to the Olympics although it is fairly shut; it is with the ability to attain out to individuals and be a illustration of running and what you may accomplish with it, exhibiting those who there are a lot of various paths to take to change into nice. New York is one other alternative to showcase that. It’s not perfect for the trials, however I talked to so many individuals about if I could make each these items work, and a lot of individuals reassured me that we will make it work although New York is fairly near the trials. We’ll push by and see the way it goes.
I undoubtedly wish to method [New York] from a completely different standpoint. There have been a lot of various components final 12 months, the most important one being the warmth, and I did not do a good job respecting the sphere. I need to have the ability to race that final 10 miles, so climate, opponents, course, no matter it’s, I’ve to set myself as much as really feel like I can actually try this as a result of I do know if I can race the final 10 miles of the race, I can race anyone within the area and set myself up for a actually good race. I do not wish to say that I can hit a PR on the course, however training has been going effectively. I feel I can have a actually good exhibiting. If nothing else, I can have a New York City PR.
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
