Peter Hoffmann (runner)

Peter Hoffmann
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing the United Kingdom
European Athletics Junior Championships

Peter Hoffmann (born July 1, 1956) is an author, blogger, diarist, journalist, strategic consultant and international sportsman.

Early life and education

Born in Edinburgh, Peter Hoffmann was brought up in Oxgangs, Edinburgh and educated at Hunters Tryst Primary School and Boroughmuir High School. His father was a chief officer in the merchant navy training at the renowned Edinburgh shipping company, Ben Line Agencies. His mother attended Edinburgh University in 1954. In 1976 Hoffmann began studying for a degree in English: Sports Science and Recreation Management at Loughborough University but decided to leave shortly after commencing the course. He instead graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Studies (1981) and Dunfermline College of Physical Education with a postgraduate Diploma Recreation and Leisure Practice (1983).

Career

For a quarter of a century Hoffmann worked in the field of education, culture and sport in Midlothian and the Highlands and for over a decade at chief officer level. He has written occasional articles for The Scotsman and Lothian Life. He has advised international sportsmen on their training programmes and competition strategy.

He has written eight books including two critically reviewed athletics books, A Practical Philosophy of 800 Metres Running: Festina Lente (2018) and A Life In A Day In A Year: A Postcard From Meadowbank 1973-1978 (2017). Three Retep Nnamffoh books have also been published (An Edinburgh Trilogy) which are based on his teenage Letts' Schoolboy diaries for the years 1971, 1972 and 1973.The third volume of which, The True Confessions Of Retep Nnamffoh: School's Out For Ever, A 1973 Edinburgh Young Athlete's Diary, is a mix of athletics and social history recording the journey of a 16 year old boy progressing from beginner to Scottish Youth 400 metres champion set within the culture of early 1970s Edinburgh.

He is also the author of several social history books on 1960s Edinburgh.

Hoffmann has kept diaries and journals for almost half a century and extracts feature daily on the blog Summer Has Gone site and other Facebook groups.

Sporting career

Hoffmann represented Great Britain at the 1975 European Junior Championships winning the silver medal in the 400 metres. He was a member of the British Olympic 4 x 400 metres relay squad at Montreal, 1976. In 1978 he represented Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in Edmonton in the 800 metres and 4 x 400 metres relay. He had an unusually wide range winning the Scottish 50 metres indoor sprint as well as the British (AAA) 800 metres. Between 1973 and 1978 Hoffmann won 10 Scottish titles at Youth, Junior and Senior level; broke the Scottish Native 400 metres record on 3 occasions and won 7 AAAs medals at 200, 400 and 800 metres. He partnered Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett as Britain's third representative at the 1978 European Athletics Championships Men's 800 metres in Prague. In 2016 he represented Scotland at the 4 Nations Home Fencing Veterans’ International at epee.

Personal life

He lives in Jamestown, Strathpeffer in the Highlands and is married to Alison. They have two sons, Will and Tom; the latter is an international epeeist and was part of the successful Scotland team which won the bronze medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Fencing Championships. With the closure of Meadowbank Stadium Hoffmann founded the Memory Hold The Door-Meadowbank Sports Centre legacy project allowing people from throughout the world to record their memories, stories, experiences, photographs and other memorabilia of the facility. In 2018 he also launched a similar project Oxgangs - A Pastime From Time Past. His hobbies include literature, painting, fencing and exercising. Hoffmann made a cameo appearance in the film Chariots Of Fire in the scene featuring the Scotland v Ireland international.

Books

2012: The Stair An Oxgangs Edinburgh Childhood 1958-1972: Summer Has Gone ISBN 978-1494874131
2016: The Secret Diary of Retep Nnamffoh aged Fourteen and a Half!: An Edinburgh Schoolboy's 1971 Diary ISBN 978-1977723895
2016: A 1960s Edinburgh Christmas ISBN 978-1539997450
2017: In The Season Of The Year: A Celebration Of 1960s Edinburgh ISBN 978-1976318597
2017: A Life In A Day In A Year: A Postcard From Meadowbank 1973-1978 ISBN 978-1973962663
2018: A 1972 Edinburgh Teenager's Diary: The Growing Pains Of Retep Nnamffoh Aged 15 And A Half ISBN 978-1985709850
2018: A Practical Philosophy of 800 Metres Running: Festina Lente ISBN 978-1986928793
2018: The True Confessions Of Retep Nnamffoh: School's Out For Ever, A 1973 Edinburgh Young Athlete's Diary ISBN 978-1719599085

References

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