Brenda Martinez stumbles or trips in almost every race that she runs in. What is her deal?

And, not to mention, she is just a dirty racer in general. She practically shoved Jenny when Jenny went to pass.

Most runners’ tactic when they want to hold the lead: I will speed up if somebody tries to pass me!

Brenda’s tactic when she wants to hold the lead: I will body slam anyone that even tries to get on my shoulder!

I remember her in the World Indoor in Portland, again in the 1500m. She was up, down, inside, outside, had used way too much energy when the real racing began.

She is obviously a terrific runner, but as someone else said, she just doesn't have much spatial awareness. I'd suspect that she isn't the smoothest of drivers.

Couple that with the flailing arms, which contribute a higher center of gravity (and more instability), and she's an accident waiting to happen.

There used to be an Australian 1500m runner, Pat Scammel I believe, who was regular menace, although I think that was due to his height and stride length.

Didn't they wheel her off the track? I wonder whether she might have been seriously injured.

Akfkanfls wrote:

And, not to mention, she is just a dirty racer in general. She practically shoved Jenny when Jenny went to pass.

Most runners’ tactic when they want to hold the lead: I will speed up if somebody tries to pass me!

Brenda’s tactic when she wants to hold the lead: I will body slam anyone that even tries to get on my shoulder!

I thought that was strange too. You usually don't see someone intentionally throwing elbows when someone is trying to pass..and it's not like Jenny was cutting her off either. I wouldn't want to race with her

I was willing to give Martinez the benefit of the doubt, until I watched the race again and saw the elbow she gave Schlachtenhaufen at the 2:00 minute mark. It was beyond what was needed to protect her position, and looked more like the elbows Eastern Bloc runners would throw back in the 70-80’s.

I think she's sexy as hell...

uceny again wrote:

Brenda Martinez doing her best Morgan Uceny impression.

Uceny suffers the same condition......some runners just cannot race in a pack. the are always looking to protect space around them and are always aware of anyone entering their space and are very proactive to ensure their space is not entered. This actually causes more problems because it creates a little bubble in the center of a pack that now everyone in the race has to move around causing more bumping and tripping.

Brenda simply doesn't defer the space around herself. It's more common for people to allow themselves to be cut off, hence why it seems unusual when someone doesn't.

She needs to incorporate pack running into her training. Maybe with a group of college guys.

Does she train mostly alone?

But gotta love her attitude ... in it to win it!

https://youtu.be/wr0Qga8rgHw

Race tip for any female mid distance runner in a race with BM - make sure you are nowhere near her in the final 200

The Geomathematician wrote:

Brenda simply doesn't defer the space around herself. It's more common for people to allow themselves to be cut off, hence why it seems unusual when someone doesn't.

but that's part of running track. its more common to defer space because that is the best way to keep from having people fall.

Honestly her form is so agitating to watch. Like one other guy said, I was just watching and waiting to see when she would tie up with somebody.

What happened was she moved from middle lane 1 to the rail to not let that Johnson girl or whatever pass. Which is impeding a runner. She's like 31 or something right? Rookie mistake.

Jah boi wrote:

Honestly her form is so agitating to watch. Like one other guy said, I was just watching and waiting to see when she would tie up with somebody.

What happened was she moved from middle lane 1 to the rail to not let that Johnson girl or whatever pass. Which is impeding a runner. She's like 31 or something right? Rookie mistake.

You should be a coach! You seem to know a lot about form and tactics. Very impressive you are! I'm a little surprised you're not in Iowa coaching some of those athletes instead of typing up a storm on your keyboard.

She was on the middle of lane 1. If you want to pass, you typically have to go around like Jenny did. Lauren was always behind her that lap and trying to sneak through a tight space, that’s why it’s not a good idea to do that. Brenda should have maybe been tucked in, but I can see why she would be on the middle of Lane 1 so she can pass too, or not be stuck behind Grace. It was just incidiental contact at best, no foul.

Might be some sort of internal head game going on, what with her memorable falls in recent championship races. She's so concerned about getting tripped up that she spends her race worrying about getting tripped up. Which of course makes her nervous and tense when anybody gets near and then she gets tripped up.

polarbear wrote:

Might be some sort of internal head game going on, what with her memorable falls in recent championship races. She's so concerned about getting tripped up that she spends her race worrying about getting tripped up. Which of course makes her nervous and tense when anybody gets near and then she gets tripped up.

1500m runners (F) extremely worried about physical contact: 1) Race first lap, 400m sub-62 seconds; or 2) race in last place through 800m or 1000m; or 3) race in third lane the entire race. It's a neuromuscular coordination issue. Does B. Martinez have significantly different hearing ability in each ear? Does B. Martinez have significantly different eye sight per eye?

Amerikano wrote:

She was on the middle of lane 1. If you want to pass, you typically have to go around like Jenny did. Lauren was always behind her that lap and trying to sneak through a tight space, that’s why it’s not a good idea to do that. Brenda should have maybe been tucked in, but I can see why she would be on the middle of Lane 1 so she can pass too, or not be stuck behind Grace. It was just incidiental contact at best, no foul.

This is wrong. Had that been a prelim, Lauren Johnson would have been advanced to the next round. Martinez cut in on Johnson entering the turn.

It is telling that there was exactly one person throwing elbows that entire race - that should tell Brenda something if she watched the replay. Sure there was jostling and bumping but she was literally throwing elbows, often when it wasn’t necessary. She should have been dq’ed before falling. That was a bit embarrassing to watch - Jenny goes to pass (which of course was inevitable anywa) and she throws a stiff elbow. Come on - that isn’t part of racing

Hayduke wrote:

The Geomathematician wrote:

Brenda simply doesn't defer the space around herself. It's more common for people to allow themselves to be cut off, hence why it seems unusual when someone doesn't.

but that's part of running track. its more common to defer space because that is the best way to keep from having people fall.

Uh, yes. But giving up space and losing momentum is not a necessary part of running track. I get that athletes who try to cut in early to gain an advantage (positioning + slowing down the person behind them) might get upset about this, but I'm not sure why a fan would.