Paul McRae earned a running scholarship to Western State College of Colorado (WSC) where he studied Psychology and Therapy. Paul’s undergraduate running achievements include competing in the 5000m on the track at the 2002 World University Games. Paul was part of WSC’s national team which competed in four consecutive NCAA Division II cross-country championships, a first at any division at the NCAA Championship. WSC finished as high as 7th during the 2003 season. One pivotal achievement at WSC was his third place in the 5000m. Paul shares this NCAA Division II Indoor honor with his WSC teammates who finished first through sixth.

His coaching career began in 2004 when he graduated from WSC and was given the opportunity to work as an assistant coach. In 2005 Paul moved to Jacksonville to pursuing a Master’s in Counseling at the University of North Florida. As a UNF Graduate Assistant, Paul coached the university cross country and track teams for two and a half years. His runners excelled and in 2006 one of his runners won the Conference Championship in the 800m. Paul fell in love with the city of Jacksonville, but saw a need within the running community to help local runners of all levels. In 2007 he began Personal Running Solutions to promote the sport he loves and is passionate about. He continues to race often and can be seen fighting for the win with other local elite athletes.

Paul has competed for 15 years as a professional runner both internationally and nationally. He was selected to represent his native home, New Zealand, in World Mountain Running Championships in the 1993, 2001, and 2004. He also earned a position on the New Zealand’s Oceana Championships team in 1990. He has earned many local achievements include winning the 2005 Jacksonville Track Club Male Athlete of the year. Paul is regularly on the podium for winning many of the local road races in Jacksonville. He has also been as high as second in the Jacksonville Bank Marathon when he set his personal best of 2:27:50.