FLINT, MI – A 33-year-old high school running coach won Saturday’s HAP Crim Festival of Races 10-mile run in downtown Flint.
Nathan Martin, varsity cross country coach at Jackson High School, crossed the finish line with a time of 48 minutes and 43 seconds on Saturday, Aug. 26, securing a pace of 4 minutes and 52 seconds per mile.
The city’s annual road running event draws athletes from draws from around the world.
Related: Here’s what you need to know about the 2023 HAP Crim Festival of Races
Martin, of Jackson, said his goal for the year’s race was to “fight for a PR (personal record),” regardless of the conditions and competition.
“I just had to test myself and see what it has,” said Martin about the 46th annual event.
Martin said he has participated in the race for a handful of years, once coming in second place. He said he earned this first victory without clocking his fastest time.
“I ran 46:57 a few years back, that was when there was a little bit more competition,” Martin said. “It’s always harder to push yourself alone.”
The key to running a successful race, it is pace yourself, he said.
“It’s not won in the first three miles, it’s won in the last three,” Martin said. “Know what your abilities are, test yourself and when it comes time to grind – grind.”
Martin said one of his students at the high school also participated in the run.
“Shout out to my athletes,” Martin said. “I actually have one racing right now, so, we’ll see how she does.”
As a Jackson native, he said it’s “really awesome” to be able to represent Michigan and see the support from the community who show up to watch.
“Just seeing everybody, the energy all that kind of stuff, like you can’t mimic that in a workout, right?” Martin said. “So, getting out there, testing yourself, having people cheer you on is awesome.”
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Read more at The Flint Journal:
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