JoAnn Meyer of Havertown has been running since she was a child, when her parents signed her up for the winter track team, and she’s been loving it, writes Caroline Goggin for 6abc.
“I was never that number one-seated person. I was more back of the pack,” she said.
That didn’t make her less determined, conquering mile after mile as the years went by.
She challenged herself even more in 2000 when she moved to Philadelphia.
She did her first Broad Street Run in 2006 and has been a regular ever since.
“I just fell in love with that race. It was just so great taking the train up to the start, running point to point down this major road, through the city, through all these neighborhoods.”
Her enthusiasm was contagious, inspiring others to join her in running, eventually forming the group “Run Strong,” which has grown in 17 years from six runners to 60.
Mostly women, “Run Strong” meets several times a week in Havertown, and many are now training for the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run on May 4.
“I say, ‘You don’t have to run fast, just run strong.’ That’s my motto,” Meyers said.
Find out more about JoAnn Meyer and “Run Strong” at 6abc.
