Busey Youth Run
Busey Bank Youth Run returns to Memorial Stadium in 2025!
Saturday, April 26th @ 3:00 PM
Ages 10 and under with a parent or guardian can join in the FUN
New to the Busey Illinois Youth Run for 2025, in collaboration with several local families, we have created the “Welcome Wave” — a heat within our Youth Run event, designed to be inclusive and disability-friendly. This wave is tailored for families and participants with disabilities. Participants in the Welcome Wave will enjoy a fun race experience with additional support in the race environment and from our dedicated volunteers.
See what the FUN looks like!
School Participation Winners
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. 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.
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.
