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Martinez made her NYRR podium debut in 2012 when she won the Fifth Avenue Mile on her third try. She repeated as champion two years later, breaking the tape in 4:19, five seconds faster than her previous mark. In 2017, her time of 15:47 was good enough for fifth place in her first USTAF 5K Championship.

Martinez followed up a 2016 Olympic appearance in the 1500 meters by making her third-consecutive IAAF World Championship team as an 800 meters competitor the following year. In her first World Championships appearance, in 2013, she became the first American woman in event history to medal in the 800 meters; after initially placing third, she was upgraded to a silver medal in 2017 after the second place finisher, Mariya Savinova of Russia, was disqualified for doping. Martinez has also contributed to two distance medley relay world records and earned gold (4X800 meters) and silver (4x1500 meters) medals at the 2014 IAAF World Relays.

Martinez graduated from the University of California Riverside as the first in her family to attend college. The three-time All-American set Big West records in the 800 meters and 1500 meters, en route to being named 2009 Big West Women's Track Athlete of the Year.

A native of Big Bear, California, she was one of three children in a working-class family. In her professional life, she’s dedicated to giving back to those with similar backgrounds. Since 2013, Martinez has run a special camp in Big Bear, California, for high school girls where New Balance provides them with three pairs of shoes and a couple running outfits. Martinez pays out of pocket for the rest: meals, transportation, journals, books, equipment, trips to the local bowling alley.