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Hoffman becoming an ironman
Dennis Wise/denniswise.com
Mark Hoffman chose his tri-bike to match the colors of the Comandos de Salvamento institution.
One day in 2006, Mark Hoffman was doing some free-diving at Lake Chelan. When he came out of the water, he knew immediately something was wrong.
“After an hour in the water I felt like I was totally drunk,” he said.
He soon began to experience hearing loss on his left side and vertigo. He consulted a doctor and was soon diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma, a benign skull-based tumor inside his left vestibular nerve. The tumor was compressing against his cerebellum and therefore was life threatening. When the tumor was removed, so was his left-side hearing.
Recovery took about three months, but Hoffman soon entered into a state of depression. He was having trouble dealing with the fact that he would never be able to live in the “stereo hearing” world again. But thanks to the suggestion of a good friend, Hoffman was able to channel his emotions into an activity that has changed his life.
On June 27, Hoffman, who works in Quincy for Grant Mental Healthcare, will participate in the Coeur d’Alene Triathlon.
Hoffman will be competing in the ironman race, the most taxing triathlon event. He will swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles and run a marathon — 26.2 miles. Participants have to finish the course within 17 hours.
In 2007, Hoffman took part in his first triathlon, a sprint in Chelan. He finished last, but wasn’t deterred by his results. Instead, he became inspired.
“I hadn’t exercised since my high school days,” he said. “But I just wanted to do it. To be out there with the average Joes and average Janes was good for me. After I finished, I decided to do an ironman.”
He put into place a three-year goal. In 2008, he participated in a half-marathon in Wenatchee. Last year he did a full marathon in Wenatchee, the Rock ‘N’ Roll Marathon in Seattle and a half-ironman triathlon in Chelan.
Since November, Hoffman has spent about 20 hours per week training for the Couer d’Alene Triathlon, biking on the weekends, swimming at Wenatchee High School and running on machines at Quincy Valley Fitness during his lunch breaks.
He thinks he’s prepared for the grueling challenge that awaits him.
“Mentally, I’m ready,” he said. “Physically, I think I’m ready, but you never know until you cross the finish line. I’ve lost 10 pounds, four inches on my waist line and 90 cholesterol points. But I’ve gained the mental and physical muscle to see this through.”
When Hoffman crosses the finish line in Coeur d’Alene, he will be carrying the flag of the Comandos de Salvamento, a humanitarian institution in San Salvador that strives to save the lives of people that have been affected by Mother Nature or criminal acts. The context of their work includes, but is not limited to, vehicular accidents, search and recovery, homicides, assaults, earthquakes, flooding, hurricanes, fires and war.
After graduating from Western Washington University, Hoffman went to El Salvador for several years to help rebuild the country after its civil war, which ended in 1992.
“I was trained here as an emergency medical technician and wanted to help out,” he said. “I got connected with the Comandos de Salvamento, and I ended up staying for five years. Those people down there are my second family. I even married a girl from down there. (By carrying the flag across the finish line), I want to raise awareness for what they’re doing. It will be an ode to their work.”
Hoffman, who grew up in Marysville, has been working for Grant Mental Healthcare since 2007 as a social worker.
“I work with kids who are having problems in school, drug and alcohol issues, despression, or some kind of trauma. I also work with some adults,” he said.
After he crosses the finish line in Coeur d’Alene, Hoffman will already be looking ahead to the future.
“I’m not great in any of these events, but I just want to finish. I will finish even if I have to walk,” he said.
“I like triathlons because I’ve always been into independent sports, going up against a clock. It helps you lose weight, but it also helps in a lot of other areas of life. I’m not saying I’m going to go to the Kona triathlon or anything like that, but I want to continue. It’s definitely been a lifestyle change.”
(Note: Hoffman will be holding a raffle to raise funds for the remodeling of a walk-in clinic in San Salvador. Tickets are $5, and the prize is a 25-liter waterproof Overboard backpack. The raffle will end June 27. To purchase a ticket, contact Hoffman at marco@salvamento.org or 509-741-0991. Hoffman also said that donations can be made at any Bank of America in the name of Salvamento Donations or via Paypal at www.salvamento.org.)
