Making a run for it with Ryan Hoffman

Determined to have his clothes fit a little less tighter, Ryan Hoffman started running. But, what started out as just as a way for him to get back to being strong, soon became a daily necessity.

Having only competed in his first marathon last month, the avid runner is currently training to take part in the Two Oceans Marathon where he plans to run the sub 90-minute half-marathon.

When he was in high school, he tore his ligaments and had a complete ACL reconstruction to his knee, “I feel running has really strengthened it. Discipline and commitment have also been something I’ve needed to implement in my life. Progress and results are only achieved through these things,” said Hoffman.

He says sports allows him the opportunity to express himself, to channel whatever emotion he may feel and deal with it in a healthy way. It offers him the opportunity to escape whatever issues he faces and move on from them. It fills him with pride when he reflects on what he has achieved and the person all these experiences have shaped him into. He hopes to be the absolute he can be. “I learnt to never compare your times and achievements to those of others. My ultimate goal will be to one day achieve a silver medal at the Comrades.”

Though running has become a vital part of his daily routine, he has other forms of sports he fills his days with, as he also takes part in cricket and football. “I have had the opportunity to play cricket overseas in some of the most beautiful places like Singapore and Malaysia. I still play most Sundays.”
While he loves playing and watching football, he plays whenever he gets the opportunity to.

A lover of most sporting codes, Hoffman is also a coach at King David Victory Park, where he shares with learners skills and knowledge he has acquired over the six years of him coaching. Proving that anything is possible, last year he took part in his first Midmar Mile, even though he describes swimming as never having been one of his best sports, “But, after the first one and some hard training, I was able to achieve a pleasing result this year.”

Sports have spilled into so many aspects of his life, “It taught me how to be skilled, disciplined and focus. It taught me to persevere in moments I wanted to quit. It taught me how to take care of my body. I learnt how to deal with disappointment and to be proud of small achievements. I was taught how to work with a team, to be gracious in defeat and humble in victory.”

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