Exceptional runner, coach and teacher

Danny Paul is one of those individuals who has excelled both as a runner and contributor to Maine distance running. His involvement in the sport spans 27 years, as of this writing, at the age of 41.

Paul grew up in Portland and started running at Portland High School to get in shape for freshman basketball. From 1969 to 1972 he ran on five state championship teams (two in cross country, one in indoor track, and two in outdoor track). Individually he made All-State four times. He ran a 4:28 mile and 9:23 two mile at Portland High.

Paul attended Northeastern from 1972-1976 and recorded times of 4:17 in the mile, 9:07 in the two-mile, 9:02 in the steeplechase, and 29:31 for six miles on the oval. He ran the 5-mile course in Franklin Park, Boston in 24:20. At Northeastern he was on several New England and Greater Boston championship teams in track and cross country and competed in the NCAA Division 1 National Championships at Penn State. He was also runner-up in the New England’s in the steeplechase and was Greater Boston champion in the steeplechase in 1974. Paul also finished in the top three in the New England 10,000 meters twice.

His team at Northeastern in 1975 won the IC4A Cross Country Championship (the only Northeastern team ever to accomplish this). The team included Mainers Ken Flanders, Bruce Bickford and Larry Greer.

He started running road races in 1969 as a 14-year-old and his first race was the Patriot's Day race at Westbrook. A member of the Maine Rowdies, Paul had raced a total of 26 years at the age of 41...and continues on as a very talented masters runner. Paul says that his three best lifetime performances were: his 24:20 at Franklin Park, Boston; a 30:16 10-K; and a 1:07:52 half-marathon. "Interestingly, I won none of these races," said Paul. His best racing distance, he believes, was the half-marathon. During the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, he won major half-marathons in Maine, including the Elks Club event in 1977, the Cape Challenge in 1989, and the Maine Half-Marathon in 1993, the last at age 39. He was named Maine Runner of the Year in 1985.

Paul competed in a record-setting 10-man 24-hour relay team in 1972 which established a New England record and was the 7th best in the world, running a total of over 278 miles. He was 18 years old at the time. Paul was a member of two Ekiden Teams from Maine in the 1980s, representing the state of New York.

Among those he lists as having influenced his running the most were: his brothers ("Jim was my hero"): his high school coach, Jack Wilkinson; Ken Flanders, his teammate at Northeastern; Mike Towle, a personal friend; "and many other fellow runners.”

From June, 1979 through July 4th, 1995, Paul won a total of 58 road races. On two occasions he won two races in one day. As a masters runner Paul finished 8th in the National Masters 8-K in Boston in November, 1994. At this writing he was still winning races consistently up in Aroostook County, at age 41, which included a course record 26.21 at Houlton on July 4th.

His best career times include: 4:17 mile (1975); 14:48 5-K (1975); 24:20 5-mile (1979); 30:06 10-K (1983,1985); 51:54 10-mile (1977); 1:07.16 half-marathon (1974); 2:24:58 marathon (Ottawa, 1984); 9:02 steeplechase.

Paul could have been inducted into the Maine Running Hall of Fame on his coaching alone. He was named Maine High School Coach of the Year six times over the years in cross country and track. From 1977 through 1993 he coached 22 state championships teams in track and cross country. His winning record in girls cross country at Greely High from 1983-1993 was 194-0 and included five state titles. He has also taught and coached at Presque Isle High School and Cape Elizabeth High School.

"Running opened many doors for me and made my life very full of incredible experiences," said Paul. "I thank everyone who has helped me do what I love - especially my wife and three children. I am also very happy that I have been able to share my gift with all those runners I have coached and run with over the years. In many ways running is life. I know I will continue to run as long as I can."

Paul has likewise achieved great heights as an educator. An English teacher, he was recognized by Disney as one of 36 outstanding teacher/coaches across the nation in 1994.

"I love kids and I know I can help. I had wonderful teachers growing up; they changed my life and I have tried through teaching and coaching to carry their dreams by positively influencing the lives of my students. Each day offers new challenges and rewards."

Paul currently teaches and coaches at Falmouth High School.