LVRR: What college will you attend and your intended major of study? Do you plan to run while attending college?
Jacob Martinez: I will be attending Lehigh University and will be entering the College of Arts and Sciences undeclared. In addition, I will be running on the varsity cross country and track teams while I am there.
LVRR: What age did you start running and why?
JM: I come from a family of runners that have been involved with the LVRR since the beginning. With that being said, my first race was at the LVRR kids running series when I was just three years old. After that, I just ran for fun and raced here and there until middle school when I decided to really commit to training. I never felt pressured into the sport though. I ran because I loved it on my own and I think that is one of the reasons why I am still so passionate about it today.
LVRR: What is your greatest accomplishment in your running career?
JM: My greatest accomplishment would be medaling fifth in the state in the 1600m run at the PIAA Track and Field Championships. Palmerton hasn’t had a distance medalist since 1999 so to be able to bring back a medal for my school was incredible. In that same race I also managed to break my school record by .01 seconds which was always my goal since middle school.
LVRR: Describe an experience where you had to “sink or swim.” What did you learn from it?
JM: Just throughout high school, being able to deal with injuries and the mental toll of training alone made me make some difficult decisions. There are always days when you don’t want to keep going, but those experiences have not only made me a better athlete but a better person as well.
LVRR: Who has been your most influential role model and why?
JM: It’s hard to pick just one because I have such a great support system, but the person who has left the greatest impact on me is my coach, Fran Gough. He was one of the original members of the LVRR when it was still the Emmaus Road Runners. He’s taught me so much as an athlete and as a person. It’s hard to go anywhere without him getting stopped by someone that he’s left a positive impact on. Throughout his life, he’s always done whatever he wanted while still being the least selfish person I’ve ever met. He’s somebody that I aspire to and I hope that I can at least be half the man that he is. He’s been family friends with us for many years and I look up to him as a second father now.
LVRR: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
JM: I produced my first race when I was 13 years old.
LVRR: What is one word you would say to someone who has just started running– whether it be a youth in the LVRR Kids Series, or an older individual- about why running is worth it?
JM: Persistence. Running is one of the most rewarding experiences and has the best community that surrounds it. It’s always hard getting going, but if you stick with it the opportunities are endless. I feel that I am my best self when I run and I’m sure that many people will agree. Stick with it and be persistent because it will always pay off.
LVRR: Is anyone else in your family a runner?
JM: My entire family has deep running roots. Both of my parents are avid runners that have ran multiple marathons. My twin sister is the school record holder at Palmerton in the 300 hurdles and my little sister is an incredible runner that’s going to be a force to be reckoned with in high school. Going back to my grandparents, both of them have been members of the club going back to the days of the Emmaus Road Runners. It’s neat hearing the stories of the club going all the way back so many years from them.
LVRR: What events did you run in high school?
JM: I ran the 5k for cross country in the fall and my primary events for track in the spring are the 800m and the 1600m.
LVRR: What is your favorite event to watch that you don’t do yourself and why?
JM: I love watching the pole vault. I think it’s so incredible how high the pros get and I have no idea how they do it. The intensity and the skill that is required for that event are astronomical and I’d watch it all day.
LVRR: How do you stay motivated when you don’t want to run?
JM: My high school coach would always tell me, “Only the best in the world are out training today,” whenever I wasn’t feeling it or the weather was terrible. I always wanted to be one of the best so I never missed a day. That consistency truly was the key to the success I’ve been able to have up to this point.
LVRR: What are your favorite pre-race and post-race meals?
JM: Favorite pre-race and post-race meal is pasta. I could honestly eat it every day.
LVRR: If you ever feel unmotivated to get out the door during PA cold winter months, what tips or tricks do you use to push yourself? Also, do you brave the poor weather conditions or stick indoors/on the treadmill?
JM: Once again, Coach Fran always had some of the best sayings for every occasion. For terrible, cold weather when it was just awful out, he would always tell the team, “There is no such thing as bad weather, just improper clothing.” We never had a day inside and we all learned real quick that we better invest in some better cold-weather gear.
LVRR: What are three activities you enjoy doing apart from running?
JM: Any outdoor activities, spending time with friends and family, traveling to new places
LVRR: What extracurricular activities (outside of running) and community involvement have you participated in?
JM: I was the lead organizer of Palmerton Area High School’s first Mini Thon to raise money to fight pediatric cancer. I was also involved in the National Honor Society, Palmerton‘s volunteering based club, Future Business Leaders of America, Student Council, Aevidum, and environmental club.
LVRR: What are three words that describe how you feel when you’re out running?
JM: Limitless, happy, and free.
