Martina Ritchie

“You never get tired unless you take time for it.”

City: Colorado Springs State: CO

Favorite Shoe: Nike Size: 10

Age: 65.3 years old

Marital Status: married 30 years and 10 months to a wonderful guy

Family members:
puppies (they're really dogs but act like puppies) - one is a doberman named Josephine, the other Sadie (a mixed breed who thinks she's a doberman)

What I do for work:
I work in a surgeons office as a Medical Insurance Manager (which means I yell at insurance companies for not paying & patients yell at me when they haven't paid)

Places I’ve called home and why I like where I am now:
New York City, Phoenix and Ohio. I love Colorado as I'm an artist and there is so much beautiful scenery to paint!

When I started running and what got me started:
I started running in 1980; I had lost my job and needed an outlet to express my frustration

What does running mean to me:
--freedom and a level playing field; If I train hard, I can pass runners much younger than myself

Running accomplishments: View my Pikes Peak Ascent/Marathon results
Pikes Peak Marathon (twice); Mt Werner Uphill Mountain Race, Doc Holidy 35 miler, New York City Marathon

What I like about trail/mountain running:
I love the peace and beauty of running on trails indians might have used

Favorite running trail and why:
Doc Holiday trail in Glenwood Springs. The uphill is by a stream cascading downhill by the course; the top of the course is breathtaking with a mandatory 5 minute stop just to look.

Best running experience:
-finishing the New York City marathon; everyone was so generous.

Worst running experience:
--a marathon in Denver. after the turn around 1/2 way through, I vomited about every two mile, but I finished (I wanted that shirt!!)

Neatest thing found on a run:
all I ever found is change

Running related bathroom stop story:
I got quite a scar on my bottom when I thought someone was coming, got up too fast and was attacked by a bush.

Running pet peeves:
People who don't give the right of way when I'm coming down.

Something non running related that no one would guess about me:
I ride a Honda 954 Sports Motorcycle

Other hobbies and interests:
Painting

Other stuff:
I believe the race isn't always to the swift but to the one who keeps on running...

Page last modified: 3/7/2005