Jimmy Martin was born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. He was one of the province’s greatest marathoners and holds a record for over 100 marathon victories. Martin began competing with the St. Peters Society in the early 1900’s and went on to run for such clubs as the Dartmouth Herriers, North Stars, Halifax Wanderers, and the D.A.A.A.

He was best known as a long-distance runner, and he ran in road races for more than 30 years. In 1904, he won the Major Crosby Cup, and starting in 1907, he never missed a year running in the Halifax Mail Annual 10-Mile Autumn Classic.

Aside from running, Martin was an avid baseball fan and oarsman. One of the originators of the “Boggshire” regatta in Dartmouth, he was also a coach for rowing, football, baseball, and hockey. Jimmy Martin was as well known for good sportsmanship as for winning. He was always gracious and cheerful whether he won or loss and taught his young charges to be the same. His advice to young athletes was to do their best and play fairly.