Bix 7’s 50th race to ‘showcase the best’ of the QC

Paul Schmidt held a small statue close to him during a ceremony to help kick off this summer’s 50th running of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 road race. The statue was a small replica of a life-sized sculpture that will honor the late Karl Ungurean. The Davenport man, who died in 2022, was one of […]

Paul Schmidt held a small statue close to him during a ceremony to help kick off this summer’s 50th running of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 road race. The statue was a small replica of a life-sized sculpture that will honor the late Karl Ungurean. The Davenport man, who died in 2022, was one of the founders of the Cornbelt Running Club in 1975, and served as the second Bix 7 race director. The sculpture of Mr. Ungurean will be unveiled this summer during one of many special events surrounding the 50th year of Quad-City Times Bix 7 race. (This year’s race will be Saturday, July 27.)

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But on Wednesday night, April 10, the small replica of the sculpture was treated as a top secret as Bix 7 supporters held a kick-off news conference. It was wrapped in brown cloth with a red ribbon around it so nobody could get an early look at the work of art. “I can’t show it to you.They would break my legs if I showed it tonight,” Mr. Schmidt, the current president of the Cornbelt Running Club, said with a laugh after the announcements were made regarding this summer’s race. That news conference, which attracted more than 100 people at the Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center in downtown Bettendorf, was held to highlight many of the special events and added attractions that will be held during the golden anniversary Bix 7 race. In addition to honoring Mr. Ungurean, one of the race’s pioneers, there will be more of just about everything – more racing events, more parties, more music and more sponsors. Several of the night’s speakers said that instead of a “Bix 7 weekend,” this year’s race will feature a “Bix 7 week” of activities. Some of the new activities will include: Placement of the sculpture to honor Mr. Ungurean outside the Quad-City Times’ newspaper building; a party at the new MLK Park in downtown Davenport; a larger after-race party in the Times’ parking lot and a week of  baseball games being played at Modern Woodmen Park. In addition, the race has 39 sponsors this year, including first-time sponsor Deere and Co.;  and will offer a Senior Bix 7 race for people age 50 and older as well as many other events. “There’s going to be a lot more coming. … This is the year you want to participate in this,” said Michelle Juehring, the Bix 7 race director. She added that another feature Bix 7 runners and fans have to look forward to is a complete list of runners and their running/walking times from all 49 years of the Bix 7 races. This comprehensive list should be available by this summer at the Bix 7 website. Many of those past race results are now available here.  Ms. Juehring said that former Quad-City Times employees, such as the longtime sports Editor Don Doxsie and Joe Engel, who worked 35 years for the Times in many roles, will be among the people putting together that comprehensive list. “This will be our community’s official homecoming. … People will come back to visit with friends and have fun,” said Dave Herrell, president and CEO of Visit Quad Cities, during the kickoff event. While much of the news conference looked forward to big events surrounding the summer, the meeting also reviewed the history of the race. For instance, guests and media watched a “parade of T-shirts” with 49 people modeling Bix 7 T-shirts for the past 49 races. The event also was a time for its 17 speakers to thank the many sponsors, businesses and people who support the race every year. Ms. Juehring gave special thanks to the 4,000 people who become volunteers every year to make the race a success. “They are the people who make this machine work,” she added. Go here to find out more about volunteering for the Bix 7 race. Here are some of the features to this year's Bix 7:

• On July 23, the inaugural Senior Bix, sponsored by new sponsor, The Bechtel Trust, will take place along the picturesque Mississippi River. A 1.5 mile out and back course, all runners and walkers 50 years and older who register for the Bix 7 or Quick Bix gain free entry into this new Senior Bix race. The community can cheer on these seasoned participants, and enjoy live music, food and drinks.
• July 25 features the opening of the Running Wild Sport and Fitness Expo, held at the RiverCenter. The exciting Genesis Sports Medicine Brady Street Sprints take place at 7 pm on Brady Street hill.
• The Arconic Jr Bix takes place on July 26 at 6 pm. All children 0-12 are encouraged to register and participate in their own Go for the Gold race.
• The 7-mile race will be one of eight National Championships for the Road Runners Club of America in 2024.
• Bix 7 is a member of the Professional Road Running Organization Circuit, drawing a competitive field of elite runners to the event.
• There are many races-within-a-race on July 27, including:
• Russell Group proudly sponsors the Beat the Elite competition. Look for the reveal of the Beat the Elite athlete in June.
• Caesars Sportsbook sponsors the competitive Team Challenge
• The High School Challenge, sponsored by Premier Buick GMC Dealers
• The All-City Challenge, sponsored by Scott County Regional Authority
• Local First Responders participate in the First Responders’ Challenge, brought to you by Premier Buick GMC Dealers
• Participants who register by April 30 can personalize their race bib, making their race day even more special.
• Participants can train to Run with the Best at the Iowa American Water Bix @ 6 training runs, held on a secure course June 13, 20, 27 and July 11.

Race and City of Davenport officials also praised city workers for their role in making Bix 7 a success. “This is not just a one-day thing. This is months and months of planning. … It takes a whole team to do this,” said Courtney Jones, Davenport’s senior operations and partnerships manager, during Wednesday’s meeting. Other race organizers said that the entire region is the real winner of the Bix 7 event. That’s because the race attracts thousands of people to the area who will help the local economy and visit many of the great features in the region. “This will showcase the best of the Quad Cities,” said Deb Anselm, who is now executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association. The former Quad-City Times publisher also is a member of the Bix 7 50th Planning Committee.