During his time at San Diego State University, Paul Greer was one of few runners in the nation to break the four-minute mile, a record that still stands to this day.

“I was the one hundred and sixty-eighth American to ever do it … I was the fourth San Diego athlete to ever do it,” Greer said. “People thought that it was impossible to break the four-minute mile.”

To add to his list of achievements, he was an Olympic Trials qualifier in 1992 for the 1500 meter.

Greer, a San Diego City College exercise science professor, has been working at City for 33 years. During that time, he has had a positive impact on both the students he teaches and the cross-country team.

Greer had an impressive cross-country career before and during his time as a professor. Greer attended St. Augustine High School, where he was an 800- and 1600-meter champion, and was eventually inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame in 1995. 

He then attended SDSU. “I was fortunate to get a scholarship, a full track and field scholarship,” Greer said.

Greer was approached to coach the San Diego Track Club while he was a sophomore in college. He continued to coach the club for several years until he retired last year.  

“I have been coaching runners longer than I have been teaching,” Greer said. 

While coaching for the club, he was a contributor for Sign On San Diego where he was asked to write running tips for the paper starting in 2003. 

After compiling seven years worth of articles for Sign On San Diego, Greer then wrote a book in 2020 titled, “Going the Distance: Strategies From the First Stride to the Finish Line ” which was published on Jan. 9, 2024.

The book achieved an Amazon best seller in the categories of motivation and self-help, healthy living and running. 

Although Greer is technically not a coach for the City College cross-country team, he is always around to advise those who ask.

“There is never a meet he misses,” said Diandra Jara, a sophomore on the women’s cross-country team. “He always gives me the best strategies.” 

Greer just returned from Belgrade, Serbia where he coached at the World Athletics Cross-Country Championships for Team USA. 

“Working towards fitness is living your best life,” Greer said.