Check Out Paul Greer’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Greer.

Hi Paul, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1964 and my parents who were born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland returned back to their home country when I was five years old and I started my schooling in Scotland. After spending two years in Scotland my mother who was tired of the wet rain decided with my father that we move back to America and we resided in San Diego in 1971. I attended Saint Augustine High School and began competing in sports and track and field was my specialty.

By the time I graduated from Saint Augustine, I ran the 7th fastest mile in the nation and received a full track and field scholarship at San Diego State University. At that period of time, SDSU was the 9th ranked program in the United States. I graduated with a Liberal Studies degree in Education at the end of my five years tenure at SDSU and broke the school record in the 1500 meter meters and ran 3:42.22. While I was at SDSU, I began coaching the San Diego Track Club in 1985 and I am currently in my 37th year coaching thousands of runners over the years. After graduating from SDSU, I ran a sub four-minute mile at UCLA on June 10, 1989 and became the 168 American to ever achieve that feat. Shortly after breaking four minutes in the mile, I was offered a Head Coaching position in Cross Country at San Diego City College that ultimately resulted me in landing a full-time position in Kinesiology at San Diego City College. I am now in my 32nd year at San Diego City College. Personally, I am married to Callie Jean Kuklok Greer and we enjoy a great life here in San Diego.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I believe through possessing faith in your own abilities and persevering through hard times, there are amazing things that happen in your life. I am 57 years of age so naturally there has been great times and challenging moments in my life but I believe we are called to love and serve in this lifetime and I have been given wonderful opportunities to share my gifts with others and hopefully make a wonderful difference in people’s lives.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
1. 1992 US Olympic Track and Field Trials Qualifier in the 1500 meters at 3:39.05 (Took place in New Orleans that year)

2. Climbed to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro

3. Climbed to the top of Mont Blanc

4. Ran with the Bulls in Pamplona 5 Times

5. Rode my bike over the Swiss and Italian Alps

6. Climbed the Dolomites in Italy

7. Have coached over 20,000 runners over the past 37 years and founded the Rockin N Runnin Full and Half Marathon Training Program which started in 1998 to present. This year is my 25th Anniversary of that marathon training program that averages over 400 runners each year that register for the program.

8. Coached San Diego City College Men’s Cross Country Team for 26 years.

9. Family is our most important ministry and I am happily married to Callie Jean Kuklok Greer for ten years.

10. Event Director for (4) USA Cross Country National Cross Country Championships (2008; 2011; 2020 & 2022)

11. Team USA Coach for Great Edinburgh Cross Country International Meet (2016)

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Yes, I have taken some great risks earlier in my life that included the following:

Ran with the Bulls 5 times

Climbing Mont Blanc which is a very technical mountain to climb

Rode down two passes on my bicycle through the Swiss and Italian Alps.

Attempted to dive with sharks.

I took a risk professionally by paying my dues and taking the chance in securing a full-time Community College job and spent 14 years as an adjunct when I could have taught at the Elementary School teaching level on year one.

I was a more risk taker earlier in my life but once I got married my risk taking behavior decreased.

Riding my bike is a risk in Southern California as traffic and road conditions are a challenge.

Contact Info:

• Email: pauliegreer@gmail.com
• Website: www.sandiegotrackclub.org