For those who are part of the ever growing running community in San Diego, the name Paul Greer is very familiar. His recently published book titled “Going the Distance” emerged from a 20-year-journey for the former San Diego State University scholarship athlete. He interweaves personal experience with fitness tips for those interested in running.
Greer is a formidable athlete infused with the ability to help other athletes as well. He was the SDSU school record-holder for 1500 meters before going on to compete in Olympic trials and internationally across Europe. Holding a master’s degree in Kinesiology from Azuza Pacific University, Greer was inducted into the St. Augustine High School Hall of Fame in 1995. He also ran the mile in under four minutes (3:59.79) becoming U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier at 1500 meters in 1992.
“It’s not so much focused on me, but it’s a way to introduce a certain tip by drawing from a personal experience that I went through and that related to that tip,” said Greer. “Obviously the last three years was a lot more labor intensive as far as the editing and also including my personal experiences.”
In his book, every tip he provides answers basic questions regarding different facets of running and fitness with one fitness tip included on each of the 250 pages. The book compiles 20 years of columns and other essays. Having previously contributed weekly columns for Sign On San Diego from 2003 to 2010 before moving on to write for San Diego Newsroom, Greer’s expansive knowledge and experience in the field makes his book a welcoming source of knowledge for athletes of every level, even the elite.
Greer was recently selected to serve with USA Men’s U20 National Team as a coach for upcoming 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia this March. United States Track & Field picked him to coach after being selected for the Great Edinburgh Cross Country Meet of 2016 held in Scotland.
“It was a triangular meet between Great Britain, the United States and Scotland,” he added. “I was evaluated as a coach by athletes that participated as well as the national staff to be considered for the World Cross Country Championships that I just got appointed to.”
Greer has been teaching at the collegiate level for 34 years, including his currently tenure teaching health and exercise science and Kinesiology at San Diego City College. Greer has also coached the San Diego Track Club for almost four decades along with mentoring and training hundreds of runners each year as part of the “Rockin N Runnin’” full- and half-marathon training program since the mid 1990s.
“It’s been a wonderful journey,” said Greer. “At the end of the day that’s what it’s about in the fitness world. It’s about bringing people together in the spirit of promoting health and participating in these activities through friendship and meeting others.”
The book release party for “Going The Distance” will be on Sunday, February 18 at Kona Kai Resort and Spa, but it is already available for purchase on Amazon.
