RIP: Dr. Dave Martin - marathon physiology expert - has died at 78. Post your tributes here.

Sad news.

I consider myself very lucky to have had Dr. Dave as a prof and work on a project with him.

Very sad.

I'll always remember calling Dave when Weldon and I moved to Flagstaff in 2000. He was willing to take our call even though Weldon's pbs were like 29:50 and 2:19 at the time. I had lots of questions about iron/anemia and his advice was great.

I remember him telling me something like, "If a ferritin level is below like 40, there is no point to going to altitude as you will become anemic."

Thanks, Dr Martin, for the research but also for keeping the history of the sport.

Long May You Run

In the late 70s and early 80s Dave would join me and other from the area for long runs in the Atlanta suburbs. He was a good runner and we had fun runs together as he taught us about running physiology. I ran in his lab at Georgia State and he pushed me on his treadmill getting me up 227 for a max heart rate, something I didn't think was possible given the 220-1/2age thing. I can still hear his voice in my head. I haven't seen him years, but I will miss him. He was a great guy.

Benji Durden wrote:

In the late 70s and early 80s Dave would join me and other from the area for long runs in the Atlanta suburbs. He was a good runner and we had fun runs together as he taught us about running physiology. I ran in his lab at Georgia State and he pushed me on his treadmill getting me up 227 for a max heart rate, something I didn't think was possible given the 220-1/2age thing. I can still hear his voice in my head. I haven't seen him years, but I will miss him. He was a great guy.

RIP Doc Martin .

This is what I love about LRC - shout out from a big fan to the great Benji Durden !!!!!

Oh dear so sorry and sad to hear of Dr. Dave passing. He was so knowledgeable and very willing to share what he knew with us runners. Because he was one of us.

Rest in peace.

knew Dr Dave back when i was running and in the shoe biz...late 70's to late 80's. He was always supportive and encouraging of my exceedingly modest running career and he was fun and entertaining to hang around with him at the many running events we attended during that time. a very good man, generous with his time and knowledge. sad to know he has departed this world

Have had many wonderful conversations with Dr Dave and he was always happy to help out with advice and testing if you were just trying to get to the trials or looking for a medal. Awful lot of famous sweat in that lab at Ga State. I know his long illness was rough on a lot of people, I hope he is at peace now. A significant impact on our sport and many of its greatest moments. One could make a good argument that he played a significant role in our marathon success in Athens as well as many other races -esp the hot ones. He will be missed but remembered.

The book he co-authored with Peter Coe became was my bible during the most successful years of my coaching career. I never met him, but his knowledge was integral to the successes of many.

Elite hobby jogger wrote:

The book he co-authored with Peter Coe became was my bible during the most successful years of my coaching career. I never met him, but his knowledge was integral to the successes of many.

Indeed, that was a landmark text.

I used to look forward to reading about him when I was a teenager obsessed with running. RIP.

joel wrote:

Elite hobby jogger wrote:

The book he co-authored with Peter Coe became was my bible during the most successful years of my coaching career. I never met him, but his knowledge was integral to the successes of many.

Indeed, that was a landmark text.

True, although it only set British and American distance running back a decade, thanks to Coe's BS.

This is very sad news and a lot of knowledge has gone with him. While famous for helping Denna and Meb to medals he was instrumental in my wife's and my careers as racewalkers . As early as 1992 he was advising our racewalking group at Parkside on how to handle heat and heat acclimatization. It was on his advice that Michelle went to New Orleans 3 weeks before the trials helping make her first Olympic Team. He continued to work with us in Lagrange Georgia as part of the Georgia Foundation for Excellence and as part of the "I train in LaGrange" program. HE was generous with his time and his knowledge and his book is indeed the distance running coaches bible. He will be missed. We lost touch after the 2006 when Michelle retired. I hope the rest of his life was good.

Coe-Conspiracy wrote:

joel wrote:

Indeed, that was a landmark text.

True, although it only set British and American distance running back a decade, thanks to Coe's BS.

It's never your own fault.

When i started running i send he a letter & he answer and give me great information of how to train myself, i have always talk about him he was the first person i contact. Thank you for all your great information & rest in peace.

Dr. Dave. A guy who , for the most part, spent his life behind the scenes in a role of mentor/adviser/coach. Always willing to support any and all regardless of talent level. He loved the sport and gave his life to it. Rare gift. RIP

Greatly appreciated time spent with him in late 80s, early 90s when I lived in Atlanta, including part of the old Ekiden Relay in Central Park. He led our Georgia team, with John Tuttle, etc.

Creator of the best shoes ever. Big and clunky, they were terrible for running marathons but really told the establishment that you were not to be fúcked with in the late'80s and early'90s. RIP