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They say you can’t run away from your problems, but for ultramarathoner and Navy lieutenant Paul Johnson, running is the perfect escape.
“Running gives you a chance to switch off and stop thinking about a lot of the things that bother you every day,” Johnson told Military Times. “For me it’s almost like meditation, an opportunity to relax and reflect.”
And over the next 40 days, the 28-year-old water warrior will have plenty of time to do so as he attempts a mad dash from Los Angeles to New York City to break the world cross-country running record. He will start his job on March 1st.
But Johnson isn’t just competing for a world record title. He also aims to raise his awareness of mental health issues in the military and raise $1 million for the veterans organization Team Red, White and Blue.
To complete the challenge, Johnson will need to run approximately 75 miles each day. And even though he’s nervous, he’s looking forward to the challenge.
“We’re always afraid of jumping into the unknown without knowing what’s going to happen,” he said. “This challenge is the epitome of knowing that failure is almost certain, but here we keep trying, because we will overcome every challenge thrown in front of us. Because we’re going to, and maybe we’ll get through it and come out better.”
Johnson was inspired by current record holder Pete Kostelnick, who ran 72 miles in a day in 2016. While Johnson attended Penn State, Kostelnick took that route through campus. When Johnson began his port tour in January 2023, he began training so-called “transcons.”
“When I started running again for the Marine Corps Marathon, it reminded me of running in Transcon, but I didn’t have time for that kind of thing while serving at sea,” he said.
He had competed in four official races, and his training consisted of 40-mile runs on the weekends.
“One of the hardest things we do in the military is losing the close ties and community that service has formed,” he said. “Even though I’m still on active duty, I sometimes feel lonely because I’ve changed jobs or experienced issues with anxiety or depression.”
Sarah Sicard is a senior editor at Military Times. She previously served as Digital Editor of Military Times and Editor of Army Times. Additional work by her can be found in National Defense Magazine, Task & Purpose, and Defense News.
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