The Quad-City Times Bix 7 road race is getting ready for a new race season with some familiar faces and sponsors.
Bix 7 leaders announced on Tuesday, Feb. 17, that the Quad-City Times will continue as the title sponsor after race officials and the newspaper inked a 10-year sponsorship contract. The announcement was made on the Bix 7 Facebook page and in a Times newspaper story.
The Quad-City Times has been the title sponsor of the Bix 7 race since 1981.
“Proud of where we’ve been. Energized for where we’re going. Grateful for the Quad-City Times and a partnership that keeps elevating our iconic Quad Cities tradition and world-class race. The 52nd running is ahead and we’re just getting started,” the Bix 7 posted on the race’s Facebook page Tuesday.
The 2026 Bix 7 road race is scheduled for Saturday, July 25, in downtown Davenport.
Some of the other Bix-related events will include:
- The Bechtel Trust’s Senior Bix will be Tuesday, July 21, at the Isle Casino Bettendorf riverfront.
- The Brady Street Sprints will be Thursday, July 23.
- The Arconic Junior Bix will be Friday night, July 24.
Bix 7 Race Director Michelle Juehring told the QCBJ on Tuesday that while many plans for this year’s race and related events are still in the works, she doesn’t see many changes brought on by the fact that the Times no longer has its office in downtown Davenport. For many years, pre-race and post-race events have taken place outside the Times headquarters at 500 E. Third St.
Late last year, the Quad-City Times left its longtime location and moved to 1033 7th St., East Moline. The former Times building is currently listed for sale for $4.2 million at Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors.
“As of right now, the post-race party will still be held at the same location – 500 East Third Street in Davenport, aka the (former) Quad-City Times parking lot. If changes would happen with the ownership of the building, we would adjust accordingly,” Ms. Juehring said in an e-mail message.
She added that the Bix 7 race route will not change. The race starts at the intersection of Brady and 4th streets, goes up Brady Street Hill, turns right onto Bix (Kirkwood) Boulevard, turns up Jersey Ridge Road, turns right onto Middle Road, and turns right onto McClellan Boulevard, to a turnaround at River Drive. The course follows back the same way, turning left onto 3rd Street to the finish line.
More details on this year’s Bix 7 events are expected to be announced at a news conference set for 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 25, at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center in Bettendorf. That conference is the official kick-off event for the Bix 7 season.
The Bix 7 race began in 1975 as it brought together the largest gathering of runners in the Quad Cities at the time – 84 participants. The event was founded by John Hudetz of Bettendorf, who was inspired by the excitement he experienced running his first Boston Marathon in 1974.
