Brandon Hudgins

I've got 13 years of experience working with athletes of all ages. I've helped designed strength and conditioning programs for youth sports, coached adult runners to personal records, and everything in between. My specialty is track and field, with a Master's Degree in Exercise Science: Strength and Conditioning, I'm capable of designing comprehensive training programs that fit the individual athlete's needs.

In August 2015, I became the 448th American to run a mile in under four minutes. But to get from State Champion High School runner to elite track and field athlete wasn't an easy task. Back in 2007, I was competing for Winthrop University with a personal goal of running a sub-4:00 minute mile, during my junior year, I began to experience a series of health problems – Bell’s Palsy and a deviated septum, breathing problems, sinus infections, and hearing loss. My performance began to suffer and soon I was unable to run or even exercise. In April of 2008, I was diagnosed with Granulomatosis with Polyangitiis (GPA), a rare autoimmune blood disease.

GPA impacts the body’s small blood vessels, and if left unchecked, can cause cardiac arrest. While I felt relieved to know the cause of my illness, that relief would fade with the realization that running and racing again might not be possible.

Following this diagnosis, I went through chemo and drug therapies. When treatments had been completed, I started back running and was eventually able to compete at the collegiate level again, transferring to Appalachian State University. While at Appalachian State, I helped the Mountaineers win multiple Southern Conference Team Championships in Cross Country and Track and became a published author in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. By the end of my career at Appalachian I was a multiple time Southern Conference Champion, an NCAA Regional Qualifier at 1500m, #3 on the All Time List at 1500m, and was an Academic All-American.

After Graduate School graduation, I decided to continue my quest to break the 4:00 mark, and chase my dream of competing at the Olympic Games. After suffering 2 relapses with my GPA in 2012 and 2013, and frustrated with my health, I gave up on my professional running goals and began pursuing coaching positions. After several months of searching, applying, and interviewing, I realized I wasn't finished with professional running yet, and renewed my mission to compete at the Olympic Trials and break the 4 minute mile barrier. On August 7, 2015, my perseverance paid off when I ran the mile in 3:59.67. With several years of health and momentum on my side, in 2016, I ran a USA top 20 mark at 1500m and qualified for the USA Track and Field Olympic Trials where I was a semi-finalist. In 2017, after another bout with my GPA, I self published my first book, Going the Distance: The Journey of a Vasculitis Patient on the Road to Olympic Glory.

My goal as a coach is simple, I want to help you reach your athletic goals and live a healthy lifestyle. Sessions can focus on strength training, running economy, drills, and aerobic training. Whatever the athlete needs, I am prepared to help.