John Keeshen

Family:

John is a longtime resident of Kennesaw and resides with his wife Debbie, son Walt, and daughter Ashley.

What is your background in running?

John ran in junior high and high school. Unfortunately a broken foot as a freshman ended his running days in college. Out of college, John competed in local road races, coached youth track & field (Kennworth) for 7 years, and currently run in local and not so local road races.

What first interested you in running?

John first became interested in running for the freedom that it gives, as well as from inspiration from greats of the day…Shorter, Rogers, Galloway, and Pre.

What is your favorite running trail?

Many hours a week are spent at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield.

What do you think is the most pertinent issue in running today?

Given Cobb County’s recent astronomical growth over the past few years, our issues surround finding and having a place for high school and college cross-country athletes as well as club runners to practice our sport.

What other organizations, teams, or other activities are you involved with?

John’s volunteer time is split primarily between Scouting and running. John has been an adult Scouter in Cub Scouts at the Unit and Pack level. In Boy Scouts, he has spent years at the Unit level assisting and Scoutmastering. At the District level, he has spent many years in the Order of the Arrow, at the Committee level and Commissioning positions including Mountain Lake District Commissioner. Currently, John serves scouting as the Assistant Council Commissioner of Service Area II for the Atlanta Area Council with responsibilities for 7 counties or 6 districts in Atlanta. On the running front, John became a member of the Atlanta Track Club shortly after moving to Georgia in 1989, was a volunteer coach for youth track & field, was President of the Kennesaw Mountain High School Booster Club for 2 years, has coordinated a running club at work sponsoring local races, and runs many of the local races, 5k and up.

What do you hope RunCobb will accomplish?

As many runners as there are in Cobb County, there is no united voice. RunCobb needs to be the voice of Cobb County runners, young and old, that can express our concerns and needs. Our pledge, passion, and desire is running, and our intent is to support our community and to allow our community to better support our sport.