SCC's Kesgen Celebrates Marathon Finish and Personal Milestone

Running 26 miles on Halloween might seem scary to most folks but for Annette Kesgen the feat celebrated a milestone. Kesgen ran in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 31 to commemorate being cancer-free for one year.

Last year on Halloween she underwent surgery to remove 90 percent of her thyroid.

While she achieved a personal victory, the marathon was also a group victory for nine local runners who have been training using the Galloway pacing system of run, walk, run, walk. (See Aug. 5, 2004 Herald)

Runners in the photo are from left, (front) Victoria Palmer, Frances Placide (second) Laura Trivette, Annette Kesgen, Pat Elkins, Amy Palmer and Linda Blakley; (back) David Hoenicke and Jenifer Pressley.

Along with Kesgen, team leader and local Galloway organizer Amy Palmer and runners Victoria Palmer, Jenifer Pressley, David Hoenicke, Laura Trivette, Frances Placide and Pat Elkins completed the 26 miles. Linda Blakley, who is six-months pregnant, achieved her goal of running a 13-mile half marathon.

"It was such an emotional high as I crossed the finish line and a distinguished Marine in full uniform placed a medal around my neck," said Kesgen, director of the Upward Bound program at Southwestern Community College. She finished in five hours and 18 minutes, coming in 11,666 out of 23,000 runners.

"I was feeling a tremendous sense of gratitude - for being healthy enough to make it and for the support of my husband, Ed, and my family and our running group; it was such a celebration," she said. The enthusiasm of the cheering crowds energized her along the way.

"We had our names on our shirts and complete strangers would shout, 'Go, Annette!' I got caught up with the crowd and wanted to run faster but the others in my group held me back and helped me pace and for that I'm thankful," said Kesgen, who started running in college when she gained the proverbial "freshman 10."

In addition to a majority of extremely fit Marines who ran so fast Kesgen never caught up with them, runners included colorful characters such as Kermit the Frog, a man in a tutu, lots of patriotic costumes, and several as Superman.

"I loved reading logos on runners' shirts," Kesgen said. "Some were funny and some were touching. One of the Superman-costumed runners had a sign on his shirt that read, 'This one's for you, Chris,' referring to Christopher Reeve. And one guy's sign read, 'I'm 79 and it's my 117th marathon.'"

Running through Georgetown, looping around the Capitol, down by Monument Mall and the Potomac River provided a unique perspective for Kesgen, a first-time visitor to D.C. Beginning and ending at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Va., the race is called the Marathon of Monuments because of all the monuments and memorials runners pass along the route.

Kesgen's achievement encourages other cancer survivors, said Josh Pierce with Jackson County's chapter of the American Cancer Society. Pierce has asked Kesgen, a survivor of both melanoma and thyroid cancer, to chair the Survivor's Committee for Jackson County's 2005 Relay For Life.

Kesgen also inspires her high schoolers enrolled in Upward Bound, a program that provides academic support to help the students be successful in high school and prepare them for college, according to Cecil Groves, Southwestern's president.

"Annette is an inspiration for us all at Southwestern, especially her students. By action and example, she inspires us to do our best and reach for lofty goals in life that make a positive difference for ourselves and others," Groves said.

Looking back, Kesgen said the marathon held great importance for her on several levels.
"When I started marathon training, I did so because I wanted to be part of a team and have the support an athlete can only get from team members. Then I realized the marathon was scheduled for Halloween and would fall on the one-year anniversary of my survival from cancer. The group support made all the difference to me on both levels - both as an athlete and as a cancer survivor.

"With the support of my running group, my family, and friends, I plan to continue running marathons and continue celebrating life in such an amazing way - 26 miles, 385 yards at a time!"