After 10 Years, Glenbard North Coach’s Spirit Lives On At Bud’s Run

Tenth annual event on June 22 in Carol Stream continues to raise money for the Sarcoma Foundation of America. 
Harold “Bud” Swanson was the girls’ cross country and track coach at Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream. In April 2003, Swanson died from sarcoma after leading the girls to a series of team and individual championships at the conference, district and state levels. Among the most prominent championships were a Class AA cross country state championship in 1994 and Kristin Whitezell’s dramatic win in the 2003 Class AA 1600 meters a few weeks after Swanson’s death. Running last heading into the final lap, Whitezell passed the entire field to win. "This was the last time I put on this uniform and I refused to lose, and I was doing it for my coach, Bud Swanson," Whitezell was quoted by the Chicago Tribune on the day of her victory. "Coming into the homestretch, he was on my mind. He was our angel in the sky." 

Swanson has remained a source of inspiration for the past 10 years as runners prepare for the 10th annual Bud’s Run (www.budsrun.org). The run will take place on Saturday, June 22, at the Ross Ferraro Town Center in Carol Stream. The schedule is:

• 8 a.m. – 5K Run/Walk (All Ages)
• 8:45 a.m. – 1K Fun Run (Age 12 and under)
• 9 a.m. – “Bud-ding” Run (Age 5 and under)
• Register online at www.budsrun.org or onsite the day of the race.

Swanson has remained a source of inspiration for the past 10 years as runners prepare for the 10th annual Bud’s Run (www.budsrun.org). The run was established by his wife, Sharon Swanson, in June 2004 to raise money for the Sarcoma Foundation of America - http://www.curesarcoma.org. Bud's Run has raised about $82,000 since 2004 from runners’ participation fees and donations from sponsors and friends. This year, between 400 and 500 runners are expected to participate, and Sharon expects to raise between $10,000 and $11,000. “Above all, this race is a celebration,” she said. “Bud loved to run and to race and he loved coaching runners. Bud's Run is a joyous gathering of runners, friends of runners, and those who understand that life is precious and deserves celebration every day.”

Bud’s Run serves as a reunion each year for those who were coached by Bud Swanson, as well as for many others who knew him as a friend. Whitezell is now married and has the last name of Mitchell. She is among the many runners who have participated virtually every year since 2004, and she is looking forward to seeing her old teammates once again, as well as other friends and family. After graduating from Indiana University, she stayed in Bloomington to live and now is following Swanson’s steps as a coach at North High School. “He taught us never take anything for granted – that our gifts were special and that we should be thankful for what we had,” Mitchell remembers. “He taught us to be better people, not just better runners.”