Diane Hoffman, who turned 92 this week, broke one world record and two national records at the 2019 USATF New England Open and Masters Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Worcester last weekend.
“I eat candy, cookies, and ice cream almost every day, so moving, period, whether it’s gardening or shoveling snow, or whatever you’re doing, you should be active, because I’m certainly not a runner,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman’s son and grandson signed her up to compete because she moved faster than them when they took a walk one day, she said.
Hoffman said the crowd went wild for her. She stood out as the oldest woman on the track by 30 years.
Hoffman, a former dancer, is an accomplished tennis player. She was inducted into the US Tennis Association’s New England Hall of Fame in 2011. Hoffman plays tennis four or five times a week and tried to squeeze in some running training while she played.
“I ran a few times on the grass once or twice a week, just a little bit to run up a few courts,” Hoffman said. “I had some good advice. People said stretch and do this and that.”
“I’m very blessed. The good Lord gave me legs and good health. What can I say?” she said.