Coach's Bio

Shannon McGinn is the owner of Creating Momentum, LLC. Shannon is highly educated in the areas of learning theory (as applied to people and animals), training plan development, motivation and acountability, mental skills training, exercise science, nutrition, system/family dynamics, and animal behavior.
Shannon divides her work-life between practicing as a Board-Certified Creative Arts Psychotherapist on an inpatient acute psychiatric rehabilitation unit, teaching at the graduate level, and providing professional endurance coaching, whole-personal resilience development coaching, and animal behavior coaching for pet owners through Creating Momentum Coaching.
She holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology with dual concentrations in Sports Performance and Sports Psychology. She holds a Master of Art degree in Creative Arts Psychotherapy, a Certificate in Divorce Mediation, and a Post-Graduate Educational Specialist degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Shannon earned a Juris Doctor (law degree) and practiced law before returning to work as psychotherapist and coach. She is a USATF, RRCA, and NFHS Certified Running Coach, an ISSA Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist. She is a certified health and wellness coach through Real Balance Coaching. She is currently working diligently to complete the requirments to become Nationally Board Certified as a Health and Wellness Coach as well as Certified as an Animal Behaviorist through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).
Shannon has worked with animals her entire life. Inspired by her exercise training partners who were all once feral dogs, Shannon also rehabilitates feral dogs so they can become happy, healthy companions. She is passionate about using her skills to help pet owners understand how animals learn and how to shape their pets's behavior with compassion and kindness. Shannon designs behavior modification training plans that encouraged wanted behavior while extinguishing unwanted behavior and coaches pet owners on how to implement these plans. Shannon does not just train pets, she coaches pet owners through the process of creating better relationship with their animal companions.
Shannon is a life long runner, becoming more competitive after running helped her recover from cancer. Since completing treatment in 2007, Shannon started over as "run/walker" and became a competitive ultrarunner, specializing in the marathon, 50 km, 6 hour duration, and 50 mile distances. She is most proud of running 43.16 miles in 6 hours setting an American Age Group Record, placing 4th Overall Female at the 2016 USTAF 50 Mile Road Championship, and 7th female at both the 50 km and 50 Mile National Championships in 2013. Her best performances include a 2:55 marathon (6:43 pace), a 4:03 50 km (7:50 pace), 43.16 miles in 6 hours (8:20 pace), a 7:31 50 mile (9:02 pace), and 110.67 miles (13:00 pace) run in 24 hours. Since December 2011, she has not missed a day of running.
In addition to providing private endurance coaching (online throughout the country and overseas, as well as in-person locally), Shannon has volunteered to coach the Monmouth County New Jersey's Team in Training Chapter as well as the Ulman Fund’s Cancer to 5k “At Home” Participants. You can find Shannon posting as a contributing writer for RunJersey.com and the Clifton Road Runners' newsletter. You can also follow her race reports, posted on her blog, Creating Momentum!
Her most favorite type of persons to coach are adults ready, willing, and able to use SMART Goal Setting shaped by evidence-based guidance to make realistic targeted lifestyle changes aiming to achieve health and wellness goals (for humans and their pets) as well as sport performance goals.
Shannon divides her work-life between practicing as a Board-Certified Creative Arts Psychotherapist on an inpatient acute psychiatric rehabilitation unit, teaching at the graduate level, and providing professional endurance coaching, whole-personal resilience development coaching, and animal behavior coaching for pet owners through Creating Momentum Coaching.
She holds a Master of Science in Kinesiology with dual concentrations in Sports Performance and Sports Psychology. She holds a Master of Art degree in Creative Arts Psychotherapy, a Certificate in Divorce Mediation, and a Post-Graduate Educational Specialist degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Shannon earned a Juris Doctor (law degree) and practiced law before returning to work as psychotherapist and coach. She is a USATF, RRCA, and NFHS Certified Running Coach, an ISSA Certified Fitness Nutrition Specialist. She is a certified health and wellness coach through Real Balance Coaching. She is currently working diligently to complete the requirments to become Nationally Board Certified as a Health and Wellness Coach as well as Certified as an Animal Behaviorist through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC).
Shannon has worked with animals her entire life. Inspired by her exercise training partners who were all once feral dogs, Shannon also rehabilitates feral dogs so they can become happy, healthy companions. She is passionate about using her skills to help pet owners understand how animals learn and how to shape their pets's behavior with compassion and kindness. Shannon designs behavior modification training plans that encouraged wanted behavior while extinguishing unwanted behavior and coaches pet owners on how to implement these plans. Shannon does not just train pets, she coaches pet owners through the process of creating better relationship with their animal companions.
Shannon is a life long runner, becoming more competitive after running helped her recover from cancer. Since completing treatment in 2007, Shannon started over as "run/walker" and became a competitive ultrarunner, specializing in the marathon, 50 km, 6 hour duration, and 50 mile distances. She is most proud of running 43.16 miles in 6 hours setting an American Age Group Record, placing 4th Overall Female at the 2016 USTAF 50 Mile Road Championship, and 7th female at both the 50 km and 50 Mile National Championships in 2013. Her best performances include a 2:55 marathon (6:43 pace), a 4:03 50 km (7:50 pace), 43.16 miles in 6 hours (8:20 pace), a 7:31 50 mile (9:02 pace), and 110.67 miles (13:00 pace) run in 24 hours. Since December 2011, she has not missed a day of running.
In addition to providing private endurance coaching (online throughout the country and overseas, as well as in-person locally), Shannon has volunteered to coach the Monmouth County New Jersey's Team in Training Chapter as well as the Ulman Fund’s Cancer to 5k “At Home” Participants. You can find Shannon posting as a contributing writer for RunJersey.com and the Clifton Road Runners' newsletter. You can also follow her race reports, posted on her blog, Creating Momentum!
Her most favorite type of persons to coach are adults ready, willing, and able to use SMART Goal Setting shaped by evidence-based guidance to make realistic targeted lifestyle changes aiming to achieve health and wellness goals (for humans and their pets) as well as sport performance goals.
Qualifications and Experience:
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Personal Bests:
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