Senior Bix: 1,000 runners, walkers brave the rainy conditions

More than 1,000 runners and walkers hit the biking/walking trail in Bettendorf for the first Bechtel Trusts Senior Bix event on Tuesday, July 23.  They all had their own reasons for taking part in the event. Some wanted to get in a training run before the Quad-City Times Bix 7 race this Saturday. Some wanted […]

More than 1,000 runners and walkers hit the biking/walking trail in Bettendorf for the first Bechtel Trusts Senior Bix event on Tuesday, July 23.  They all had their own reasons for taking part in the event. Some wanted to get in a training run before the Quad-City Times Bix 7 race this Saturday. Some wanted to visit with friends and family members while getting some exercise. Others wanted to show up to be part of a new event in the Bix 7 week of activities. No matter what the reason, they all had one thing in common on this race day – they were all soaking wet from the rain.

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“When it rains, it pours. We’re just going to make the best of it,” said Joshua Sherrod, director of the Senior Bix race, shortly before the running and walking started on Tuesday at the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, 1777 Isle Parkway,  west parking lot. The first-time event was scheduled to be held along the Davenport riverfront, but had to move because of the flooding Mississippi River. Flooding wasn’t a problem at the new Bettendorf location, but the weather didn’t cooperate.  It was pouring rain at 5 p.m., an hour before the race. The rain slowed by race time, but was still coming down and creating a potential slick running and walking conditions along the race path. Just before the start of the Senior Bix, Ed Froehlich, race director emeritus of the Bix 7 race, reminded runners to be careful on the course. “No shoving. No taking this race seriously,” he told the crowd at a pre-race pep talk from inside the sheltered parking area near the Isle Casino Hotel. The sheltered parking area was filled with music, snacks, drinks, a table filled with grapes for the runners and walkers, and even included a beer section for the post-race party. Mr. Froehlich added that the fastest runners should go to the front of the line when the race starts, followed by the slower runners and then walkers. “We want to get you runners out of the way before our wonderful walkers start. We don’t care about you runners,” he joked with the crowd before the race. Just before the race started, Mr. Froehlich added to the joke by telling the runners he was just kidding and he really likes them more than the walkers. That pre-race ceremony on Tuesday also included running legends Bill Rodgers and Frank Shorter greeting the crowd. Mr. Rodgers told the runners and walkers that when he saw the raining conditions, he had doubts the Senior Bix would be held, “but nothing can stop the Bix,” he added. Both runners also shared a few memories of running the Bix 7 course through Davenport over the years. “This is one of my favorite races with my least favorite hill,” said Mr. Shorter, likely referring to the Brady Street hill at the start of the Bix 7 race course. During Tuesday’s Senior Bix, though, both veteran runners said they were going to be walking the course. Mr. Rodgers asked this favor from the crowd: “You can tell us we’re looking good on the course.” The course offered two options for runners and walkers. There were one-mile and two-mile race options that both started in the west parking at the Isle Casino Hotel Bettendorf, went on along the walking/biking path near the new I-74 Bridge and toward Davenport. Despite the rainy conditions on the course, Mr. Sherrod said he was happy with the event and thanked the sponsors and many volunteers for making the Senior Bix a success. He added the Bettendorf site worked out well for the event. “There’s been a lot of moving pieces to this. … Moving here has been a blessing in disguise because it took one more thing off Davenport’s plate when dealing with the flood,” he added. Mr. Sherrod also thanked the many runners and walkers who attended the first Senior Bix event. As of late Monday, the event had about 940 people signed up to run and walk the event. The race director estimated a little more than 1,000 would take part in Tuesday’s event. For many people, the Bix 7-related events are a homecoming for people returning to the region and seeing old friends, he said. “I’ve run into so many folks who said ‘I’m looking forward to seeing my friend Dave’ or whoever as they got ready for the race,” added Mr. Sherrod. One of those people getting ready for the Senior Bix on Tuesday was State Sen. Mark Lofgren of Muscatine, Iowa. Mr. Lofgren, along with hundreds of other people, was taking shelter from the rain under a parking lot shelter a few minutes before the start of running and walking. Like many people at the event, he was happy to see friends at the event, but was also looking forward to hitting the course. “I think this is a good idea to have this for the older people. … We still like to run,” he added. In addition to the Senior Bix, this week will feature several other Bix 7-related events, including the unveiling of a statue  in honor of the late community leader Karl Ungurean that took place on Monday. Some of the other events scheduled this week include:

• Thursday, July 25: 5-9 p.m. Running Wild Sports and Fitness Expo, RiverCenter, Davenport; 6-9 p.m.; Brady Street Sprints Party, MLK Park; 7 p.m.: Genesis Sports Med Brady Street Sprints, starting line is 5th and Brady streets in downtown.
• Friday, July 26: 8 a.m.: Shakeout Run at Quad-City Times; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Running Wild Sports and Fitness Expo; 3-5 p.m.: Pre-Race Party, St. Ambrose University, Rogalski Center; 5:15-6 p.m.; and an autograph session at RiverCenter starting at 5:15 p.m.; 6 p.m.: Arconic Jr. Bix.
• Saturday, July 27:  8 a.m. Quad-City Times Bix 7 race starts and Prairie Farms Quick Bix starts; 8-11 a.m.: WalMart Post Race Party; 10 a.m., Top 10 at 10 event; 11 a.m., age group awards at R. Richard Bittner YMCA in downtown.