Brandon Hudgins is a retired professional runner, coach, and motivational speaker with over a decade of experience coaching athletes at every level—from kids just starting out to masters athletes and pros chasing their dreams. No matter where you are in your running journey, Brandon’s got the knowledge and passion to help you chase your goals and go beyond what you thought was possible.

Brandon has been running since the age of 10 and went on to compete at the Division 1 level in track and field and cross country at Winthrop and Appalachian State. During his collegiate career, he earned all-conference honors, set school records, and made it to the 1st round of the NCAA Championships in the 1500m. Diagnosed at age 21 with Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (GPA), a rare autoimmune disease, he fought his way back to compete. He holds degrees in Physical Education from Winthrop and a Master’s in Exercise Science from Appalachian State.

In 2016, Brandon qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 1500m, making it to the semi-finals. His personal story of resilience goes beyond the track. In 2016, Brandon founded the Victory Over Vasculitis awareness campaign with the Vasculitis Foundation, which became a full-time program in 2024, offering resources to guide patients through their own journeys and victories over vasculitis. He shares his powerful story in his book, “Going the Distance: The Journey of a Vasculitis Patient on the Road to Olympic Glory.”

In 2018, he co-founded High Point Athletic Club with local runner Stevven Anderson, creating a supportive space for runners to chase their dreams and connect with other runners in the Triad community. As a head coach at HPAC, Brandon is all about helping runners fit training into their lives so they can reach their goals. His core belief is “it takes a village” and being a part of a great community community like HPAC can make chasing goals a lot more enjoyable.