WASHINGTON — On a park bench in front of the Kennedy Center, Daniel Hincapie looks like a man on a mission—coming to terms with the death of his fiancé, Wendy Martinez, and carrying on her legacy.
"It feels like I'm running right next to her,” said Hincapie. “It’s almost like she's there."
It was running that brought Martinez and Hincapie together. He was training for his first marathon and Martinez, a competitive runner, was helping him get ready for the race. From there, the two developed a close relationship and eventually were engaged. But weeks after their engagement, Martinez was killed.
“The nights are difficult. You do your daily routines. You go to work. You’re surrounded by friends, family, colleagues but then you go home, and no one is there.”
Martinez was stabbed multiple times while on a jog in Logan circle in 2018. After the attack, video shows the 35-year-old stumble into a nearby carryout and collapse. Patrons inside tried to help, but there wasn't much they could do. Police later arrested and charged Anthony Crawford, 23, with murder.
“She was a devoted Christian. So, it gives me a lot of peace,” said Hincapie without hesitation.
To honor her legacy and raise money for charity, Hincapie is training to run the Boston Marathon in two weeks.
"Boston was her dream. So, I think the fact I have the opportunity of running this race… it’s important,” he said.
The 26.2-mile race is one of the most coveted and competitive marathons in the country. Thousands setup to the challenge and the training is tough.
“It’s been a great experience because its physically challenging but at the same time, from a spiritual point of view, it’s been healing,” he said. “It’s been helping me a lot.”
He's also raising money for the newly formed Wendy Martinez Legacy project; a charity designed to support women through running and technology.
Hincapie knows both the race and the journey ahead will be difficult, but he refuses to give up because he's serving something larger than himself.
"You have to go out there. You have to continue pursuing the dreams of your loved ones. The violence and the hate are not going to win," he explained adamantly.