Paul started competitively running during his freshman year of high school at Loch Raven high school. He went on to compete at the DIII level at McDaniel College and was a three time all conference cross country runner. Paul is the only runner in McDaniel history to qualify twice for the national championship cross country meet. 

After college, Paul started teaching math at River Hill high school and coached the cross country and track and field teams from 2010-2021. During that time, he guided the boys and girls cross county teams to multiple county and regional titles. He also coached the boys cross country team to four state titles, the girls cross country team to a state title, and the girls indoor track team to a state title. 

After he stopped coaching in 2021, Paul started to train again more seriously and found success in his late 30s at the 5k, 10 mile, and half marathon distances. He plans to continue to focus on the 10 mile and half marathon while also keeping his options open about road marathons and longer trail races as a masters runner.