Editor’s note: In this new series, Micah Dunn explores Midland’s vibrant, growing health and wellness community and the Midlanders engaged in shaping a healthier, more active city.

When Martin and Jennifer Vega first met, they were on the mission field in Honduras. As they envisioned their life together and dreamed of their future on the foreign mission field, they both felt God’s strong call to serve. But oftentimes, as God does, His calling to serve and love their community is the same, but the location looks a bit different now than they imagined.

In 2026, the Vegas are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Midland Athletic Company, now known as The Athletic Company, following its recent expansion and launch at multiple locations, including Mineral Wells and Odessa.

Raised in Midland and shaped deeply by his Midland roots, Martin was impacted deeply by, in his words, “really awesome coaches and elementary school teachers.” One in particular was Mrs. Morgan, who, with her students, helped plan and present a veterans program to honor those who have served our country.

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As Martin remembered the profound impact of the veterans program, he recalled using P.E. and art classes to prepare songs and dances with excellence, teamwork, and patriotism for months leading up to Veterans’ Day in November.

One distinct memory Martin recalled was the rare opportunity to meet a World War I veteran. He told the kids that he had entered the service at fourteen years old because he loved this country so much and wanted to protect and honor his family. The veteran died later that year at age 101.

Mrs. Morgan and the veterans program changed Martin’s perspective. It opened his eyes to the reality that everything he has today, privileges and opportunities, came at the sacrifice, cost, and service of someone else. It taught him to pursue excellence and to always think about serving others and pouring into and impacting the next generation.

The lessons of excellence, teamwork, dedication, and service shaped Martin’s personal physical transformation later in life. He had been active in high school as a football player, but settled into a sedentary lifestyle accompanied by highly processed convenience food and weight gain. As Jennifer said, “ We were overweight and unhappy.”

One day, Martin realized he just couldn’t move anymore. This sparked him to set out on a path to change. He began going to the track to walk, determined to start moving.

As he kept moving, he increased his distance by walking, then began running, then added bleachers, and as his progression and discipline continued, he lost over 100 pounds. He also made massive changes to the food he ate and focused on nutritious, real, and natural food, as he stated, “as God made it.”

Through the incredible journey of personal transformation, Martin had developed a passion for distance running and started participating in a variety of different races and distances. When an opportunity arose to share and spread his love for running, service, and community through a local specialty running shoe store and a company that supports local races, they jumped at the chance.

The journey has come with great trials and obstacles as every growing small business does. They’ve endured the early days of wondering if they could make ends meet, moving locations, expanding to multiple sites, COVID lockdowns, and other hurdles, all with resilience. Through their steadfast commitment to our community, The Athletic Company has become a local Midland staple.

They’ve become the trusted storefront and local go-to for exceptional customer service, personalized shoe fitting, athletic clothing, supplements, socks, and sunglasses. They’ve helped local nonprofit organizations astoundingly raise over $1 million through their race logistics and events.

They want more for Midland than just great running shoes and races to participate in. They want to see people thrive and our community healthy and flourishing. In an age of isolation and individualism, Martin and Jennifer are living out their dream of rich, deep community. In a blur of endless scrolling and fluorescent lights, they see people enjoying God’s beautiful creation, sunshine, and outdoor activities.

Their testimony of transformation is inspirational. It shows just how far daily discipline, commitment, and serving others can take you.

Martin and Jennifer, and now their growing family of three boys, don’t really see themselves as simply selling shoes and fitness gear or helping organizations host races. They see themselves on a mission, driven by their deep faith and desire to serve both God and their neighbors. Shoes and events are simply the avenue to live out their true passion.