Former University of New Hampshire soccer player Jonny Wolf has a new athletic pursuit of running.

Hopkinton resident Jonny Wolf is “right on pace” with his training program for the Boston Marathon.

“I have one long run a week,” Wolf said in late March, noting he recently had completed a 19-mile run. “Through the week, I’m mixing in shorter runs and just trying to stay fit and healthy.”

Wolf says his training has been restricted because he started training later than other runners. Still, he is focused on the task ahead.

Wolf has a long history of athletic achievement. A former soccer player at the University of New Hampshire, he grew up in Hopkinton’s athletic programs.

“I did all the camps in town — grew up in all the rec leagues,” he said. He recalled having run races at the high school and participating in other athletic activities.

“I’ve kind of always had a running background,” Wolf mused.

Wolf attended high school at Worcester Academy and went on to UNH, where he maintained an active soccer career while achieving his undergraduate and master’s degrees. That career was sidelined in his 2020-21 season after he tore his ACL. 

His recovery from the injury partly inspired him to take on running the marathon.

“It’s something I wanted to prove to myself that I could do,” Wolf explained. 

Growing up near the start line and a family legacy of marathon running also are sources of inspiration for Wolf. His father, who he describes as a “fitness junkie,” has run three Boston Marathons.

“His brother passed away from cancer when I was growing up,” said Wolf. “[My dad] ran in honor of him and to raise money for cancer research.”

“In a way, I’m honoring my uncle as well,” he added.

Wolf looks to ‘give back to the town’

Wolf will be running to raise money for the Hopkinton Police Association. It’s a cause he says he is happy to support.

“I’m really honored to be running for the police association and all that they do, risking their lives to make our community more safe,” said Wolf.

A combination of searching and connecting with the right people helped Wolf earn the bib from the HPA. He reported that Hopkinton police officer Matt LaTour reached out to him asking if he was interested in running for the organization.

“I was really happy I’d be able to run for them,” Wolf said. ‘I think it’s a really good cause.’

Wolf has set a goal of raising $8,000 for the HPA. As of late March, he had raised nearly 75% of the total funding goal. According to his fundraising website, the money will help enhance the organization’s outreach efforts and “empower [members] to strengthen community bonds.”

For Wolf, the chance to raise funds for the HPA is an opportunity to give back to the community in which he grew up.

“This town has given me so much through sports and friendships, and I think the town kind of made me who I am,” Wolf said. “I want to give back … and running for the HPA is a great way of doing that.”

Wolf still lives in town with his parents, and he works in outside sales for Cintas. Growing up in town, the Boston Marathon always had been an inspiration.

“Going to the marathon start line every year, I was really inspired,” he said. ‘It’s always been a goal of mine.”

With his ACL in a good place and a few years in the workforce under his belt, Wolf said he felt this was the right time to go after his goal. 

Cheering him on at the finish line will be his parents, college friends and former teammates.