A Naval Officer turned ultrarunner— building a life worth running for.
Coast-to-coast wasn’t just a finish line. It was a promise: show up, tell the truth about mental health, and pull more people into motion with Team RWB.
- Route
- LA → NYC
- Distance
- ≈ 3,000 miles
- Mission
- Mental health
- Cause
- Team RWB
Transcontinental Run
Los Angeles, CA → New York City, NY
0
miles of running across the U.S.
Hi, I’m Paul.
Naval Officer • Ultrarunner • Mental health advocate
“Running was my therapy—my way back to myself.”
Not a slogan. A practice. One day at a time.
Before running: survival mode
In 2018, I commissioned as a Naval Officer and went forward-deployed to a ship homeported in Rota, Spain. The tour brought incredible opportunities—and a level of stress that quietly rewires you.
Like a lot of people in high-pressure environments, I leaned on the wrong coping mechanisms. Alcohol was the default. And I didn’t fully see what it was costing until I stepped away from that constant pace.
The turning point
In San Diego (2021), the symptoms got louder: sleep problems, nightmares, anxiety, depression. A Marine Officer friend asked me to train for the Marine Corps Marathon in 2022—and that invitation changed the story.
Training gave me structure. Running gave me relief. I learned what it feels like when the body becomes a place you can live inside again.
What I’m doing now
January 2, 2023, I started a run streak—running every day. It quickly pulled me into ultras and 100-mile races. But the bigger shift was internal: running became a positive outlet that strengthened my mental health instead of numbing it.
As the journey grew, I committed to sharing it honestly—because the military and veteran communities carry a heavy, complicated load. Team RWB’s mission to enrich veterans’ lives through community and physical activity matches the work I want to do: help more people find movement, purpose, and each other.
Milestones
The moments that shaped the work.
0
0
0
0
