Busey Youth Run

CU Schools Foundation is a charitable partner of the Busey Bank Illinois Youth Run. A portion of all youth run registrations go to support CU Schools Foundation and our local public schools. The roughly 1K Youth Run is held entirely inside Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois, on the same weekend as the Christie Clinic Illinois Marathon events. Children run in separate races or heats, according to age. There is also a sibling heat. Everyone finishes at the 50-yard line of Memorial Stadium. Prior to the race youngsters and their families can participate in the Busey Your Run FunZone. Located in the Great East Hall of Memorial Stadium, FunZone festivities run from 10-12 noon and include face painting, carnival games, and magicians to entertain all ages. Youth Run entrants receive a drawstring backpack with cool race swag and other goodies from Busey Bank, including a commemorative T-shirt. All finishers also receive a unique youth run medal. The school registering the most participants for the Youth Run earn the traveling Top Participation trophy sponsored by Busey. Postrace food, served in the Great West Hall of Memorial Stadium, includes bananas, delicious cookies from Einstein Bros. Bagels, chocolate milk from Prairie Farms, and other goodies. Every youth run entry also includes a separate race bib (at no charge) for a parent/guardian, who can accompany their child on the run if necessary. The Youth Run is for children 10 and under. Children older than 10 should participate in the 5K.