Nathan Martin may not win the 2023 New York City Marathon, but he’ll be in the spotlight throughout the race because of his growing fame in the world of elite running.
Martin, 33, is “currently the fastest American-born Black marathoner,” according to NBC News. He claimed that title two years ago, when he finished the Marathon Project race in Chandler, Arizona, in 2:11:05.
“The energy in the Black community is beyond insane,” Martin told NBC News about the support he’s felt from fellow Black runners.
Who is Nathan Martin? Martin finished eighth at last year’s New York City Marathon and will race in the elite open division again this year, NBC News reported.
He’s hoping to beat his personal best marathon time of 2:10:45, which he achieved earlier this year at Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota.
“I don’t want to jinx myself and say I’ll come in with, like, a PR or something, but I’m feeling really good,” he told NBC News.
“And you know, it wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility to get a PR in New York. So if that opportunity presents itself, I’ll definitely try and take it.”