Red Sox win puts Gordon Paul on road to Boston Marathon

When Boston won the World Series in October, Red Sox fan Gordon Paul of Jefferson had more on his mind than celebrating.

During the long, hot days of summer, Paul had cut himself a deal: If the Red Sox won the World Series, he would run the Boston Marathon. Now, the 27-year-old physical education teacher has joined the American Liver Foundation’s Run for Research Team and is training in earnest to achieve his goal.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to run the Boston Marathon. But I really needed something to motivate me to train. And then I said out loud, ‘If the Red Sox win the World Series, I’ll run the Boston Marathon next year.’ I just thought if they could do that, then I could finish the marathon. And plus, there was a little bit of an escape clause – what were the chances the Red Sox were going to win the World Series?” Paul said.

Paul, who teaches at the A.D. Gray School in Waldoboro and the Friendship Village School for grades K-6, will also use his marathon training to demonstrate to his students the importance of setting goals.

“After February vacation I’ll start a fitness unit with my students, which will include weight training and cardio components. I’ll expect them to set goals and design their own programs for achieving them. So I will be able to say, right now my goal is to run the Boston Marathon. Here’s the program I’ve designed and I’m sticking to it, because it’s really important to me to meet my goal,” Paul said.

As important for Paul as the physical training is the challenge of raising funds for the American Liver Foundation. The American Liver Foundation is a nationwide organization dedicated to preventing, treating, and curing liver disease. Liver disease affects one in every ten Americans. Paul hopes to raise $2,500 before he makes it to the starting line in April.

Paul was introduced to the American Liver Foundation’s Run for Research program by fellow Red Sox fan Susan Connell of New Hampshire, who he met in Boston after a Red Sox game. Connell’s brother Michael Connell participated in the Run for Research program last year.

Paul has received extra motivation from his brother, 21-year-old Caleb. Caleb Paul starred in track and cross country at Narraguagus of Harrington and is now a long-distance standout at Bryant College in Smithfield, R.I.

“I wanted to do a marathon before Caleb did, and he can’t train for one until he’s done competing for Bryant,” Paul said.

Paul, a 1995 graduate of Narraguagus, starred in soccer and baseball for the Knights. He helped lead Narraguagus to the 1995 Eastern Maine Class C baseball title. He graduated from the University of Maine in 2000.

Paul has drawn on that athletic background in his training for the marathon, and has been encouraged by his progress. He is currently running about 35 miles a week, with a long run of up to 14 miles. He splits his time between his treadmill, the roads, and the indoor track at the Penobscot Bay YMCA in Rockport. Penobscot Bay YMCA has contributed to Paul’s fund raising by providing him with a free membership until April.

“I’ve been encouraged because I’ve been running faster times than before on the indoor track, although my feet take a beating on the banked track – I feel like Curt Schilling with his bloody socks!” Paul said, referring to the Red Sox pitcher who pitched with a dislocated tendon in his ankle during the playoffs. Schilling, who won Game 2 of the World Series, received a suture treatment on the tendon that caused his ankle to bleed when he pitched. Schilling’s blood-stained sock became one of the most recognizable images of the playoffs and recently was put on display in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

To contribute to Paul’s fundraising, mail checks payable to the American Liver Foundation to Gordon Paul at P.O. Box 327, Jefferson, ME 04348. Contributions may also be made online at the Run for Research Team’s secure Web site, http://www.liverteam.org. Click on “sponsor a runner” to find Paul’s name.