[2][3] In 2016, Martinez qualified for the U.S. Olympic team competing in the 1500 meters after beating Amanda Eccleston by 0.03 seconds.

Her training is meticulously planned by veteran coach Joe Vigil and assisted by Martinez's husband and former Concordia University (California) runner, Carlos Handler.

In 2015, along with her husband, she started Big Bear Track Club, a nonprofit, working with post-collegians to help develop American distance runners into world-class athletes.

She was a four-year letter winner in track and cross country where she was coached by Carlton Austen.

Martinez ran collegiately for University of California at Riverside ("UCR") from 2006-2010, where she was coached by Joe Vigil.

That same year she participated at the US Olympic Trails held in Eugene, Oregon where she finished 6th in the semi-finals of the 800-meters.

At the 2013 IAAF World Championships at 800-meters in Moscow, Martinez ran a spectacular final 100-meters surging from 6th place to 3rd to capture the bronze medal in 1:57.91; a personal best.

With her 3rd place finish, Martinez became the first American female to medal in an outdoor World Championship 800-meters event.

In a thrilling distance race at the 2015 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at Boston’s Reggie Lewis Center on February 7, 2015, Martinez caught Nicole Tully of the NY All-Stars in the final meters to win the distance medley relay in 10:42.57.

Besides Martinez, the American team included Sarah Brown, Mahogany Jones and former Dartmouth College track star, Megan Krumpoch.

Looking back, competing in my first Olympic Games was a great learning experience and after I took my end-of-season break I decided to approach training and racing a little differently.

"[12] On January 28, 2017, Martinez, along with Emma Coburn, Sydney McLaughlin, and Jenny Simpson set a world-best time of 10:40.31 in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) at the 2017 New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at Boston’s Reggie Lewis Center.

Martinez broke her previous world best of 10:42.57 which was run at this meeting in 2015 by herself and fellow Americans Sarah Brown, Mahogany Jones and Megan Krumpoch.

[16] The application process consists of an open prompt essay and campers have to live in Southern California.

"[16] Over the course of about three full days, the campers, coached by Martinez and a few of her friends, get to know one another over home-cooked meals, seminars, and runs.

Evening seminars, led by Martinez and her physical therapist, range from injury prevention to positive thinking.