UCSD's Triathlete and Coach Terry Martin Plays to Win

Jan Jennings I December 5, 2005

Terry Martin participates in amateur and professional athletic competitive events for that tantalizing carrot — the thrill of victory. And victories are something Martin has had more than her share of.

The head coach of UCSD's Masters Running and Triathlon Program recently returned from the 2005 Hawaii Ironman World Championships in Kona where she was defending champion in her age group for the past two years. This year, she came in third while posting her best time —10 hours, 26 minutes — of the three consecutive championships.

The competition consists of swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles, and running a marathon of 26.2 miles.

The buff and determined Martin, 43, won her age division, 40-44, and the overall amateur title at the 2004 Hawaii Ironman under windy conditions in a time of 10 hours, 47 minutes. The previous year, she took the title in 10 hours, 30 minutes.

"The times can be deceptive because conditions can vary so much," says the triathlete and coach who has been competing in triathlons for more than two decades, with her strongest win as a professional in 1994 taking the Ironman Canada overall in nine hours and 40 minutes.

Terry Martin

"That was a really special win," says the Victoria, British Columbia., native. "My family was there to support and cheer me on and it was quite a thrill."

At a fit-and-anything-but-diminutive 5 feet tall, Martin is a competitive force, and when not training and competing, she is busy coaching other athletes in UCSD's Masters Running and Triathlon Program - from novices to serious competitors.

"It's pretty unusual to have someone who is both a phenomenal athlete and a great coach, but Terry manages to balance both roles," says Kim McDonald, a triathlete, member of the UCSD masters program, and director of science communications at UCSD. "She competes at the highest level, winning the masters title at the Hawaii Ironman World Championship for two straight years. Yet she's on campus every day and often on weekends, devoting her time to make everyone in the UCSD masters program - runners, swimmers, and triathletes - better athletes and competitors."

Martin came to UCSD in 1992, starting out as a volunteer with the running program, working under then head masters coach Ted Van Arsdale. After a "year or so" volunteering, she was hired for workouts.

"Progressively, more duties were added for me," says Martin, who went on to coaching and personal training and ultimately to her current position as head masters coach, coaching swimming, running, and biking.

"Terry heads up the running and triathlon program," says McDonald, "but she also coaches the noon masters swimming workout and the Wednesday 6 a.m. masters swimming workout - then coaches the 5:30 p.m. cycling workout on Wednesday, as well as the Tuesday night running workout. It can be a pretty long day, yet she finds time to train for her Ironman races."

"Some days are pretty long," Martin agrees, "but I love what I do. I feel fortunate to be doing something I really enjoy."

Martin began her lifetime affair with athletics as a child in Victoria, where she participated in swimming competitions. With a number of moves back and forth from Canada to California during school years and college studies, Martin continued her athletic activities with dance - jazz, tap, and ballet - and aerobics, always swimming, running for exercise, biking, and, in general, keeping fit.

In 1985, she along with some friends, decided to enter a triathlon in Victoria - her first one. "I knew I could swim," says Martin, "and I ran for exercise and I biked to work, so, why not give it a try?"

She got hooked. On the competition, and the sport. The next year, she entered the 1986 triathlon in Everett, Washington, and won. "That was it!" she says. Since then she has been competing in triathlons, many of them of Ironman status, on a professional, then amateur level.

But ya gotta wonder: In more than 10 hours of strenuous, competitive activity, what are you thinking about? What goes through your mind? When and what do you eat and drink?

"I eat on the bike," says Martin. "I drink a high calorie liquid, a combination of Cytomax and Carbopro which gives me about 250 calories a bottle and I drink six bottles while on the bike." Martin says she also drinks "gu," yes, gu, a thick syrupy liquid of pure carbohydrates.

As for thoughts en route: "I'm focusing," Martin says. "I'm just plugging away. I realize I have to keep up a strong intensity and must push, but I can't go over the edge. Meanwhile, I am watching where I am in the race. I think that by chipping away, by staying consistent and focused, I always have a real chance to win."

The triathlon begins with swimming, then biking, then running. "The start is always crazy," Martin says. "There is this mass of swimmers all taking off at the same time, no order to it at all!" The biking is just "so long," and by the time you reach the running, "it is really rough, you are all beat up, or soon will be."

Many participants have to go to the "med tent" after the race. Martin said she has been there a few times too, but can now rely on her experience to pace herself.

Though her 1994 Ironman Canada was her biggest win as a professional, her most emotional and memorable win was the 2004 Hawaii Ironman World Championship, which she won as an amateur. "I almost didn't go," she says. "My mother had cancer and was dying. I felt I shouldn't go, but she insisted. After I won, I went home to her (in Canada) and gave her my medal. We had the most wonderful 10 days together after that. She died early this year, but I was so glad I was able to share that whole experience - and the win - with her."

In addition to her coaching position at UCSD, Martin met her husband, Bill Duvel, here as well. Where else? On the track. Today the couple live in Encinitas and enjoy a daily diet of athletic activity.

"A triathlon is really a fun sport," says Martin. "Since it is three different sports, it doesn't get routine or boring. It is also a good balance of upper and lower body activity. And being in the company of others training for it is really enjoyable."

As for a special diet to accommodate all this strenuous activity, Martin says she follows no particular diet, just anything in moderation. Pizza? "Absolutely, anything in moderation - though I guess I generally do follow a healthy diet."

Martin says the UCSD Masters Running and Triathlon Program is open to students, faculty, staff, and members of the community, 18 and older. The range of ability is from beginners on up, with ages ranging from 18 into the 60s. Fees vary depending upon category. For further information on the program contact Martin at (858) 822-0379.