With a passion for running and encouraging others, I look forward to connecting our communities together through movement. Let me introduce myself, Johnna Terragna (you can call me JoJ0), Co-Owner and Race Director at Coastal Race Productions, Founder of She Moves NC, Level 1 Certified Run Coach and lover of ALL things running.
Diagnosed with Cancer at age 40 I set a goal to complete a full marathon even though I had never run before. During the course of my treatment I obsessed about all things running. I read about proper training techniques and plans, shoes, gear, races and more. I read everything I could get my hands on and the first day after my last treatment I laced up and headed out the door. Although I only made it to my mailbox, I kept going and eventually completed the 26.2 mile distance. Since that time I have competed in over 150 road races of varying distances including 13 Full and 74 Half Marathons. At first running helped me gain back some of the control or power that cancer took from me but then it became more, so much more. In fact I often say that while cancer changed my life — running saved it.
After training for a while, I realized that the running community is full of some of the most wonderful and encouraging people who are just trying to do and be their best every day. It didn’t really matter how slow or fast anyone was, it was more about just showing up. Showing up for the group but also for yourself. It didn’t take long until I felt I’d found a sort of family I’d never known and not just locally but I’ve had the privilege of meeting truly amazing people from all over the world.
That being said, I think community is a great place for us to start. Whether you’ve been walking or running for a while now or just thinking about getting started, everyone can benefit from training with others. Group activity offers a supportive environment, increases motivation, we tend to challenge ourselves more when we are with others and there is safety in numbers. Plus, if we are meeting others we enjoy we are much more apt to stick with it and not quit.
Coastal Race Productions has partnered up with the Grand Strand Running Club to offer a weekly Brunswick county club meet up. It’s an opportunity to be part of the areas biggest and best running community and for us locally a chance to connect through movement.
We meet every Monday evening 6:00pm at 75 Clubhouse Rd, Sunset Beach (Sea Trail Convention Center) and welcome both walkers and runners, all paces are welcome and absolutely no experience is necessary. There is nothing you need to do, nothing you need to register for, club membership is completely optional. Just show up and join the fastest growing recreational group in the county and let’s keep moving forward together!
JoJo Terragna
Coastal Race Productions
Connect with us on Facebook @RunCRP @CoastalRaceProductions and email any walking or running related questions to jojo@coastalraceproductions.com #RunCoastal