The Buzz Run - Non-Profit
http://www.buzzrun.org

The Buzz Run started in 2004 as The Southern Stampede. The Southern Stampede was a 1 mile and 5K run around the neighborhoods of Cleburne. The first year, we really thought of ourselves as a fundraiser.

The idea came about when Shauna Boles and Monty Gossett took the Coleman Elementary School running team, The Stampede, to run in The Zoo Run at the Fort Worth Zoo. Our principal, Susie Sarchet, went along to help chaperone the event and to see what all the fuss was about. The following Monday, she and I met in the teachers lounge and both had the same idea in our heads. “I think we can do that,” was Mrs. Sarchet’s quote, and the seed was planted.

Throughout the years, Cleburne Independent School District has had an abundance of running teams at the elementary level. Sharon Kimberling has sponsored “The Stingers” at Cleburne Intermediate School since the school first opened. Tammy Blair has “The Marti Wranglers” at Marti Elementary and has been sponsoring that group since Marti opened, as well. When Shauna Boles became the physical education teacher at Coleman, she started “The Stampede”. Of course, the Middle School and High School both have competitive Cross Country Teams, also. It dawned on us that we were taking all of these runners and all of their money out of Cleburne every weekend to support some cause in the Metroplex. Why not capitalize on the local talent we have and keep our runners in town for one weekend out of the year?

The first year, The Southern Stampede drew over 700 runners. The turnout was good enough that we decided to try it again in 2005. Unfortunately, we realized that our name needed to change because there were already too many “Stampedes” in our area. A local runner and Coleman parent, Connie Sloan, came up with the name The Buzz Run. We solicited the help of Jim Abt, a talented local athlete, to help us develop our race course and made the decision to add another race to our event.

The Buzz Run now includes the mile, 5K, Quarterthon (6.55 miles) and Challenge. We added the Quarterthon and Challenge to our event to try to attract runners who might be in training for the upcoming Turkey Trots and Whiterock Marathon and might need a longer distance than just a 5K. The courses are challenging but not overwhelming.

The Buzz Run 2005 drew 996 runners from areas as far as Midland, Texas. The event drew athletes from the Metroplex which we had hoped to do by adding the Quarterthon and Challenge. The overall male winner of the 5K was Clint Bell of Wilmer, Texas. He was also the overall male winner of the Quarterthon. The overall female winner of the 5K was Katie Shaw of Cleburne, Texas. The overall female winner of the Quarterthon was Connie Sloan of Cleburne, Texas.

Coleman Elementary School has partnered with the Cleburne Athletic Booster Club for The Buzz Run 2006. “The run just got to be bigger than Coleman Elementary,” said Shauna Boles, Race Director. “We did not want to sacrifice the quality of the event as it continues to grow; therefore, we had to find a partner that would be a good fit. We think the CABC is a perfect match. They are a large group of athletic minded people who are willing to volunteer for the betterment of good cause.” Together, Coleman Elementary School and the CABC are working hard for the planning of The Buzz Run 2006.

The races and courses will remain the same this year. The Buzz Run has one of the best goodie bags in the area and the volunteers are striving to make it even better this year. The post-race entertainment, food and drink are shaping up nicely as well. In addition, plans are in the works to have a concession stand available for spectators at this year’s event.