It’s one thing to physically push your limits, but doing it for a great cause takes it to another level. Navy veteran Paul Johnson is proving that in a big way. He’s currently attempting to run 700 miles on a treadmill in just seven days to raise $700,000 for the Bronx Burners, a youth running club, all while wearing a pair of Chubbies shorts.
“My life sucks right now. I hate this. But if I don’t finish, there’s gonna be a lot of people that are pretty let down,” he said in a YouTube video documenting his first day of the challenge. “The worst thing that can happen is you fail. And then you just keep trying. You just try again.”
The Bronx Burners is a running club that offers weekly public track practices, race training programs, and has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships to participants. Their mission is to make running both fun and accessible, while teaching members how to safely challenge their bodies and reach their full potential. Johnson chose the Bronx Burners for the youth aspect.
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“There [are] very few run clubs that pour every single dollar they have into furthering the education, furthering the athletic opportunities for youth,” Johnson said.
Though he’s struggling now, running has been therapeutic for Johnson, helping him navigate life after the Navy. After seven years of service, he struggled with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Running became his lifeline, a form of therapy that helped him regain control and purpose.
In his most recent video update, posted just 13 hours ago, Johnson revealed he was 60 hours into the challenge and had already logged 150 miles. He’s still got hundreds more to go in his race against time for a great cause, but fans seem confident in his record-breaking abilities.
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