Marty Beene, USA - M62

Marty, who represents the Lake Merritt Joggers & Striders Racing Team based in Oakland, CA, has been competing in track since 1978, when he ran the half mile and 330y lows and triple jumped as a junior at Aragon High School in 1978, setting a San Mateo County record for most DFLs. He got faster as an adult, eventually clocking a sub-4:42 mile and sub-2:05 800m. As a masters athlete, while still enjoying the middle distances, Marty decided to try longer track events, beginning with the 5000m at the PA Masters Championship in Hayward, CA on a very hot day in 2013. Since that was so much fun, why not try the 10? He did at the same meet in 2014 at the College of San Mateo, finishing 2nd in the 50-54 age group with a 42:21. In 2015, the PA Championships was back in Hayward, and he rocked a 41:28, good enough for 7th nationally in the 50-54. Later in the summer, he just missed dipping under 20 minutes in the 5 with a hand-timed 20:00.4 at an all-comer meet in San Jose under the lights. That was good enough for a top 25 national ranking. Now in his first year of the 60-64 AG, Marty looks forward to a post-pandemic season of in-person racing (and high jumping!). Connect with Marty at BeTheRunner.com.