January Runner of the Month: Fred Martell
After moving to Williamsburg in 1989, Fred Martell always thought about running, but never thought it was possible. “It was kind of a dangerous neighborhood. You wouldn’t venture east of Driggs, south of Metropolitan, or north of North 12th Street, and even within those boundaries, there were rough areas. So for the next 26 years, running was absent from my life.”
Fred first started running in August 2015 after a friend asked if he wanted to run a marathon with him in November. So at 55 years old and after 26 years of hibernation from any kind of athletic activity Fred dusted off his cotton sweatpants and hoodie and went out for a run.
“I think I ran a mile before I stopped and said to myself, wow I think I’m out of shape. Fast forward two months and I’m up to 14 miles on a long run two weeks before the marathon. During this time I didn’t know anything about pacing, tapering, or anything running. Didn’t even have a running plan. I just went out and ran. There was very little research on my part.” Feeling tired and sore, Fred kept pushing through and still remembers how sore his legs were a week before the marathon. One week later he completed his first marathon at a time of 6:04.
”In the fall of 2015 I was on a shuttle bus to a particular marathon and saw all these runners with these NBR “tank tops” and said to myself ‘wow they look like an energetic, fun group of runners’. So in the spring of 2016 when I started to train for the Brooklyn Half, I looked up NBR and decided to join. My first run was the Wednesday Night Road Run with John Slaski and HJ, and I’ll always remember how receptive they were to me, talking our marathon experiences that whole run.
“I’m always following the NBR Google group emails and if I’m available for any of the volunteer work or social activities, I’ll try and join. They’re always entertaining and my way of giving back, and a great way to socialize and meet people.”
What he does when he’s not running: “Oh! I got this one. That’s easy. Working! Five, sometimes six days a week, twelve hours a day some days. Other than that I spend time with my family.”
Favorite race distance: “As exciting and amazing that a marathon is, right now I would have to pick the half. For me it’s the just right distance where I can maintain the pace I usually run. With the marathon I have to gear it down a lot to get through.”
Favorite running route in NYC: “I like and do most of my runs in East River Park during my lunch hour only because most of the time it’s the only time I get to go out for a run. The water brings a sense of serenity to me in the hustle and bustle of NY. I also love the easy Monday Night Easy Run when I can get to it.”
Favorite song to run to make you want to run: “I need high-octane to get me out the door, so that would be the Ramones “Blitzkrieg Bop”. And if there’s a run to Rockaway Beach I psych myself up with - you guessed it - “Rockaway Beach”. Other than that, I usually don’t wear earbuds during a run but when I do, I like a little Led Zeppelin. Fun fact: they were the first songs I learned to play on the set of Gretsch drums (our once-local drum maker) I had when I was a kid. When I first moved to Williamsburg in 1989 and saw the Gretsch factory on Broadway, I was in awe. Then soon enough I found myself going to loft parties in the same building that built my drums. How cool is that!”
What do you think is the worst part about being a runner: “Well I think everybody knows one of the hardest parts about being a runner are the injuries. They can stop you dead in your tracks. I’m a big advocate of stretching and rolling even if I’m not running that day. It keeps me limber and loose throughout the day and kept me injury-free for most of the past year.”
NBR was so helpful to me and taught me everything I know in becoming a runner and I’m so thankful for all I’ve learned. And if you ever need them, they’ll always be there come rain or shine.
Favorite running social media account: “For me I use Strava as my sort of social media account, sending kudos and giving comments to others. I remember my first long run with NBR was out to Roosevelt island and running part of it with Caitlin Shu who gave me a wealth of information on Strava and Garmin watches, things I never heard of before. That prompted me soon afterwards to buy my Garmin watch. I think it was almost two years before I synced up Garmin to Strava because I’m such an old school carpenter who’s resistant to technology. But then along came Jose Cordones, another fellow NBR runner. After a run one night that ended in a bar, I noticed runners on their phones and Jose on Strava; I asked him how to get on it and he said, ‘here give me your phone and watch.’ Within five minutes I was all synced up and on Strava. Tada!”
Best advice to running newbies: “I wouldn’t recommend starting out big like I did. My first race ever was a marathon and my second race, a half. Start out small and work your way up. And it’s ok to walk. When I was on the crew team in college the coach told us never to walk during a run and no one ever dared to because that meant death if you were caught. Always imprinted in my head, but through experience I’ve realized taking a break and walking for a spell is ok.”
“Peace and love to NBR.”