Busey Illinois Youth Run

Date and time

Saturday, April 25, 2026
3:00pm

This event will be run entirely inside Memorial Stadium. Watch this short video about the Youth Run

If, for some reason, the event on Saturday must be cancelled, then it will be rescheduled the following day (Sunday) at 12:00pm.

Entry fees

Visit the registration page to see the registration fee. A portion of every Busey Illinois Youth Run entry will be donated to CU Schools Foundation.

The course

The route is roughly 1K in length (slightly longer than half a mile). Each heat will start separately at the south end of the football field, make several loops north and south on the field, and then finish at the 50-yard-line.

Packet pick up

For every youth run entry, you’ll receive a companion race bib, at NO charge, so a companion can run with the youngster.

Participants and their companions can register and pick up youth run race packets and instructions on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday of race weekend:

• Thursday, April 23, during the Health & Fitness Expo at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Friday, April 24, during the Health & Fitness Expo at the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Saturday April 25 from noon to 2:30 p.m. at the Youth Run Funzone on Kirby Avenue, just east of the 27th-Mile Street Fest right outside Memorial Stadium

Please note that race packets for all other events can only be picked up on Thursday and Friday at the Health & Fitness Expo.

What to expect on race day

Waves

The Youth Run will be run in multiple heats. Back for 2026 is the “Welcome Wave”—a heat 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. This Welcome Wave heat will be the first wave, immediately following the national anthem, minimizing wait time and the total duration of participation.

The heat will be run on the same course, on the turf inside Memorial Stadium. Running, walking, or rolling this heat in full or shortening this distance is welcomed! Please be aware that the surface material is artificial turf in planning for mobility. Participants in this heat will be able to exit the Stadium directly at the same level, through the Horseshoe exit, and receive their post-race food in individual goody bags. Grade restrictions do no apply to this heat. A caregiver race bib is provided for each participant.

After the Welcome Wave, the remining heats will be run according to grade. There is also a sibling heat. The Youth Run is for children fifth grade and under. Parents/guardians/companions can run with their youth run entrant.

Busey youth run funzone

Celebrate youth fitness with the Busey Youth Run Funzone! Let local children’s vendors keep your little racer entertained as they wait their turn to take the field. Weather-permitting, the FUNZONE will be located at the east end of the 27th-Mile Street Fest on Kirby Avenue, outside Memorial Stadium, starting at noon on race day, Saturday April 25. If the weather is iffy, the festivities will take place in the Great East Hall of Memorial Stadium.Festivities will close prior to the singing of the National Anthem.

Goodies

Youth Run entrants receive a drawstring backpack with cool race swag and other goodies from Busey Bank, including a 100% cotton pre-shrunk commemorative T-shirt. The 2026 youth run shirt color is TBD. All finishers also receive a unique youth run medal.

Postrace food, served in the Great West Hall of Memorial Stadium, includes bananas, delicious cookies from Einstein Bros. Bagels, chocolate milk from Prairie Farms, mac and cheese from Noodles, and other goodies.

To guarantee a shirt, you must register by April 14. Youth shirt sizes run as follows:

• Youth XS (2-4)
• Youth S (6-8)
• Youth M (10-12)
• Youth L (14-16)
• Youth XL (18-20)
• Unisex Extra Small
• Unisex Small
• Unisex Medium
• Unisex Large