Northport woman keeps running for records

Kathy Martin decided to join her husband for a run 30 years ago. After the first mile, she had to sit down.

That’s when she told herself that if she can’t run a mile, she won’t be able to walk when she’s 60.

“I truly believe nobody knows what talent lies in each of us,” Martin said. “If my husband hadn’t sparked it inside, it could’ve laid dormant.”

Now 60, the Northport woman has been named USA Track and Field Masters Age Group Athlete of the Year in five of the past six years for breaking records in the 800 meter, 1,500 meter, one mile and 3,000 meter indoor race in the 50-54 and 55-59 age groups, according to USATF records.

Last month, Martin added another accolade to the growing list. She set the national record for women ages 60 to 64 at the 10-Mile Run to the Brewery in Patchogue when she finished with a time of 65:25.

She wasn’t able to relish in the victory because she had to run to work -- not literally. But she did have a full day’s worth of work as a realtor for Century 21 Northern Shores in Northport.

“I use the same discipline in real estate as I do running,” Martin said. “That same focus and determination and it’s basically working to find a balance like anything else in life. You live and you work, not the opposite.”

Martin and her husband, Charles Gross, turn nearly every competition into a vacation traveling across the country and internationally to countries like Italy, France and Canada.

“Chuck and I have experienced so many cities just by getting out and running,” Martin said. “We pack a few days on either end of the weekend.”

Gross has been her trainer and motivator since that day 30 years ago. He handles all the research and reading, as well as preparing all of Martin’s workouts and filling out the paperwork when she breaks records.

It’s Gross’ role to keep his wife prepared for the next task, which is not easy since Martin trains for different types of races in short periods of time.

“It’s not conventional to train the way we do, but that’s why we like it,” Gross said. “Most times, we’re biting off a little more than we can chew, but she’s able to pull it off.”

For all of her accomplishments, she still has plenty of goals to achieve.

“She has a tremendous competitive spirit, a tremendous work ethic and tremendous ability,” said Michael Roux, president of the Northport Running Club. “She’s been able to accomplish some incredible things. Yet when speaking with her, you don’t realize you’re talking with someone that’s so dominant in her sport.”

And there does not seem to be any sign of Martin slowing down as she has one race after another lined up, leading up to the couple’s next big vacation in April for the World Masters Athletics 2012 Indoor Championships in Finland.

“She’s very good at putting one foot in front of the other,” Gross said. “Once we got her up and running, there was no stopping her.”