Veteran distance runner Frank Martinez watches from the sidelines in his role with the Dandenong Stingrays.By Marc McGowan
ENDEAVOUR Hills resident and veteran distance runner Frank Martinez thrives on personal challenges, and he has had more than his fair share in his 50 years.
Since the age of nine, the South American expatriate has been hitting the footpaths.
But the sport has taken on a new importance in Martinez’s life after he was twice told he would never run again.
The first instance came 12 years ago when Martinez was struck down by meltdown syndrome, a severe version of dehydration usually attributed to marathon runners.
In Martinez’ case, it came as a direct result of not drinking enough fluids in his 20-plus years and more than 300 Victorian Football Association games as a boundary umpire.
The syndrome cost him 85 per cent of his smaller bowel and 25 per cent of his larger bowel, and he requires injections every 14 weeks to live a normal life.
Meltdown syndrome is a rare disease and it’s even rarer to survive it.
But Martinez has not only achieved that, but after a two-year struggle he has confounded the experts by running again.
Four years later, Martinez’s running career again came under threat, this time from a hernia operation.
Amazingly, he again overcame adversity to the point that he is now enjoying his life more than ever.
“I’m having the best time of my life,” he said.
“I’m as fit as a bull.”
In 2001, Martinez approached Wally Meechan, who has coached many Stawell Gift winners, about joining his training group and Meechan helped him towards the prestigious Stawell Gift meet.
“You’re doing a piece on the ‘garden gnome’ are you?” Meechan joked, in reference to Martinez’s height.
“He’s a very dedicated athlete and a very likeable man. He’s great to coach.”
Meechan was pivotal in switching Martinez from the amateur ranks to the professional running circuit.
Martinez has competed in the veterans’ 1500-metre race at Stawell for the past six years and has established a successful professional career, including victory in 400-metre races at the Maryborough Gift this year and St Bernard’s in 2005.
He trains every day, and Meechan trains him hard.
“Wally thought I took a shortcut one day in a time trial and was going to make me do it again,” Martinez said.
“Whenever you think he’s (Meechan) not around, he’ll come out of nowhere.
“We’ve nicknamed him ‘the Phantom’.”
Martinez’s son is also a successful runner, while his daughter used to be an elite walker.
“I have to make sure I keep ahead of my son,” he said.
Martinez’s work as a boundary umpire has led to a voluntary role with the Dandenong Stingrays, where he is something of an ‘everywhere man’.
He is the club’s vice-president and property steward, and also helps rehabilitate the players through the knowledge he has acquired in his many years in the running caper.
“I have to keep telling the kids that it’s not just a game any more – they’re at an elite level now,” Martinez said.
“Every year I get the challenge of a new batch of kids. I basically help out with everything the head trainer does.”
Meanwhile Martinez’s six-monthly visits to the doctor continue to perplex the specialists.
“They are amazed every time when everything comes back normal,” he said.
Some people view the second half-century of their life as a time to take a step back, but Martinez continues to buck the trend.
