Editor's note: UT photographer Ana Ramirez follows San Diego distance runner Steven Martinez as he trains for the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials on Feb. 3 in Orlando, Florida.
The bus ride was quiet as 29-year-old Steven Martinez headed to his second U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.
Like the other competitors, he has been training for months for this race. The qualifying time for men is to run 42.2 miles in 2 hours and 18 minutes.
“I want to beat everyone, but at the same time, I'm kind of a comrade because this hurts,” Martinez said. “…you can't compare a marathon to anything else, especially when the pain is so bad.”
Steven Martinez will undergo a running analysis in Prefab on January 29th.
(Ana Ramirez/San Diego Union-Tribune)
Martinez has been running marathons since 2018, and as the exam approached, his running time dropped to 2:14:00. An education specialist at Claremont's Creative and Performing Media Arts Middle School, he conducts training before and after his job. He averages over 100 miles a week.
“I usually race professional runners, runners who do this full time, runners who just run and don't have a 9-5 like me,” he says.
“So for the last few years, I've been telling myself I have to close that gap. I want to run with the pros, I want to be the best marathon runner in the country.”
Steven Martinez runs through his Normal Heights neighborhood in preparation for the U.S. Olympic marathon team selection.
(Ana Ramirez/San Diego Union-Tribune)
Martinez is president of the Lane Zero Athletics Club, a group of talented runners. Five of them, including Martinez, qualified for this year's trials. The group was formed last December after several runners split from the San Diego Track Club.
Martinez takes a few deep breaths while waiting for the race to start.
“I tell myself, 'Just calm down,'” he says. “There's no reason to increase your heart rate. Don't worry, the job is already done.”
Frontman Steven Martinez practices with Lane Zero Athletics Club at the UC San Diego track.
(Ana Ramirez/San Diego Union-Tribune)
Martinez started the race well, averaging just over 5 minutes per mile. The pain started around mile 6, and by mile 18 Martinez was forced to withdraw. The problem is pain in my buttocks and hamstrings. Martinez believes he aggravated his injury after speed training a few weeks ago.
Still, Martinez has no regrets about taking part.
“I've failed a lot in this sport,” he said. “I've had a lot of failed runs, but after those failed runs, I was able to have some really great runs.”
Sure enough, just over a week after the Olympic Trials, Martinez competed in the Cardiff Cook Run. He finished in third place.
