Brenda Martinez: World Champion in 4x800 m Relay and World Record Holder in Distance Medley Relay Reveals her Success mantra "Hard work does Pay off "   

Brenda Martinez is an American track and field athlete, specializing in middle distance races. She won a bronze medal in the 800 meters at the IAAF World Championships in Moscow, 2013. She also represented the USA at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the 1500 meters.

On February 7, 2015 she set a world record in the Distance medley relay at New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. Martinez ran collegiate for University of California, Riverside, finishing second at the NCAA Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500 m. She attended Rancho Cucamonga High School, graduating in 2005. Her training is meticulously planned by veteran coach Joe Vigil assisted by Brenda's husband and former Concordia University (California) runner Carlos Handler.

Brenda Martinez earned All-American honors after finishing seventh in the mile at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on March 14, 2009, she earned All-American honors after finishing second in the 1500m at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 13, 2009, Won the 2009 NCAA West Regional in the 1500m. Has three NCAA Outdoor West Region appearances (2007, 2008, 2009), two NCAA Outdoor Championship appearance (2008, 2009), and one NCAA Indoor Championship appearance (2009).

Brenda Martinez was named 2009 Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Year. she earned All-Conference honors in 2009, 2008, and 2007, she was named 2007 Big West Women's Track & Field Freshman of the Year. She also earned seven Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Week awards (March 14 and 28, 2007; March 11, April 9 and 23, 2008; April 22 and May 6, 2009). She still hold the Big West record in the 800m and 1500m events. She won the Big West Championship in the 1500m in 2007, 2008, and 2009, and the 800m in 2008 and 2009.

Brenda Martinez holds outdoor UCR school records in the women's 800m (2:00.85), 1,500m (4:09.52), and 5,000m (16:27.51) events. She was a member of UCR's outdoor distance medley relay that holds the record for fastest time in the history of the program with an 11:13.72. she also hold indoor school records in the mile (4:39.58) and 3,000m (9:17.60) races. She was also member of UCR's indoor distance medley relay that holds the school record with a time of 11:29.34. She was named UC Riverside Female Athlete of the Year in 2008.

Brenda Martinez was a four-year winner in track and cross country at Rancho Cucamonga HS under Coach Carlton Austen. Has been school record holder in the 1,600 (4:55), 800 (2:16), two mile (11:12), three mile (17:28). She ran with the West Coast Gazelle Track Club.

Achievements of Brenda Martinez

USA Championships

2013 USA Outdoor runner-up (1:58.78)
2012 USA Indoor runner-up (4:15.11)

International Championships

2013 World Outdoor 800m bronze medalist (1:57.91)

World Relay Championships

Gold medal at 2014 World Relay Championships Nassau 4x800 m relay
Silver medal at 2014 World Relay Championships Nassau 4x1500 m relay

New Balance Indoor Grand Prix

Gold Medal at 2015 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Roxbury, Boston, United States Distance medley relay set up the World Record 10:42.57

Collegiate Championships

2009 NCAA Outdoor 1,500m runner-up (4:13.97)

Awards and Honors

Three-time NCAA All-American

Brenda Martinez is an exceptionally talented and accomplished American track and field athlete, specializing in middle distance running. She is World Champion in 4x800 m Relay and World Record Holder in Distance Medley Relay. She is also bronze medalist in the 800 meters at the IAAF World Championships. She is in conversation with Namita Nayyar President Women Fitness.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: You first started running with an after-school track club when you were five years of age. You set numerous school records throughout high school and college. Later you started working with Coach Vigil and made your first international team in 2012, competing for Team USA at the IAAF World Indoor Championships and went on to set multiple PR's from the 800 to the 5,000. You reached the pinnacle of success at the Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium in 2013 IAAF World Outdoor Championships with third-place finish in the 800 m, that you ran in a personal-best time of 1:57.91. You are the first American woman to ever get place in the top three in this event at the world championships. What factors do you consider were responsible that made you achieve that?

Ms. Brenda Martinez: I think it was having the correct believe system. Living a healthy lifestyle, surrounding myself with positive people. Listening to and applying everything Coach Vigil told me to do. I think I had many factors that played a huge role and helping me win my Bronze medal for Team USA. I have an amazing support group: my husband (Carlos Handler), my coach (Dr. Joe Vigil), Sponsor (New Balance), physical therapist (Dan Selstad). I had a good routine and I consistently stuck to that routine daily. I found what worked for me and I didn't let anything interfere with what I had going for myself.

Ms. Namita Nayyar: What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine you shall like to share?

Ms. Brenda Martinez: My training regiment is very detailed and its nice to have my husband/ coach facilitate the training and he makes sure I execute the training to the best of my ability. I run about 75-80 miles per week so I do train twice a day. We do hard sessions in the morning.

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