J. R. Martinez

“I've continually reminded myself that I never want to change. I could be on the cover of a magazine today, but next week someone else is going to be on that cover. You always have to remain the same person because when those opportunities end, guess what you have? You have you. And if you change from being you, you have nothing anymore.”

“I don't have a weapon in my hand, and I don't have a uniform on my body, but my uniform now is my scars and weapon is my words, so I'm still serving.”

“I have good stamina and good endurance.”

“Not every kid plays football, basketball. Running can be a source to vent and let things out.”

“My mother has done so much for me in my life and has continuously been there and been my rock.”

“In this life, all you need is for someone to believe in you.”

“My mother is my hero.”

“Running for me is a sport. It's not a joke. It's serious.”

“I think I'm a lot funnier and goofier than people were able to see on 'Dancing With the Stars.'”

“When the body doesn't want to go on, the mind continues to fight.”

“It's hard for people sometimes to relate to me. They weren't in the military, they weren't injured overseas in Iraq, they weren't burned, they didn't go through 33 surgeries, or two and a half years in the hospital.”

“Dancing is a beautiful thing.”

“I believe that we all have something to share with someone else that can better someone else's life.”

“I want to, at the end of the day, be able to say, 'I am a runner.'”

“Obviously, I don't like to use my new celebrity status as a way to get first class service at a restaurant. For me, it's just more special to use it for good.”

“I love helping out good people who are doing good things.”

“If you're going to play high school football, you do it in Texas or Florida or Georgia for the simple fact it's such a big deal.”

“I'm going to write a book, continue acting, continue motivational speaking and just share with people who I am and what I've learned in my second chance of life and pass it on to people in their first chance of life.”

“The thing is, a lot of our vets come home and they feel displaced, and they don't feel like their voice matters, so for me to be a spokesman and have that honor to educate America about who we are and what we are, it's like I'm doing my job.”

“There are a lot of people who can be classified as heroes and do great things and inspire me.”