Intense. Entertaining. Unpredictable. Driven. Moody. Funny as hell. Usually a joy to be around.
I would say for at least a 20 year period his whole entire life and existence centered around the sport of distance running. I'm sure it still is his main love but then he took a big job one time and was accountable for other track events.
I remember the time as a high school recruit when I was in his office. He was peeling an orange, wearing his standard grey university issued sweats, looked me in the eye and said, "I don't care about that other f***ing shit" meaning the non-distance track events. At that time he was an assistant and head cross coach.
The thing you have to understand about Martin is he is a black and white kind of guy. When he has a job, he puts every ounce of his existence into it. He will not tolerate or allow anything else that may interfere with the best possible outcome of his job. He is the ultimate competitor.
And he holds himself and everyone else to his high standards.
No shortcuts. Ever. He develops a plan and wants it followed.
I think the problem may be that most people are not as fully committed and intense as he is. And he has little patience for these people who he sees as being weak. Eventually, if you are one of those and are not doing anything to help him he may lose his patience and vent.
A lot of talented kids don't have the single minded work ethic Martin has and are spoiled and immature and get stressed and leave. For a short period they are relieved and may run better. But their character soon catches up with them
Martin is the greatest coach in the world with hardnosed second tier runners who are tough enough to handle a regimented and focused lifestyle, similar to what the best runners in the world exemplify. For some reason, there's a lesser chance of finding these types on the West coast than in the Midwest where he had tremendous success.
I didn't always see eye to eye, but I will always respect the man. He will always be a role model that I reflect on an remember for the good qualities, which far outshine some of his less sociable qualities.