Bix 7 course?

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Great choice! I've ran this animal 3 times. Big 800m hill right in the beginning, actually looks intimidating but not that bad since it's early in the race.

Once you're up it, you're pretty much downhill until just after about 3, then a pretty good gradual climb with an intense short climb once you get to the top. Then downhill again.

Once you make a 180 degree turn you start back the course you just ran. But trust me in saying that coming back is brutal! Long climbs up those "downhills" you ran on the way out, especially from 4ish to 5.

If you have anything left, you get to run down that huge hill at the beginning. But pretty much toast by then. I always try to break 5:00 the last mile, but haven't been successful yet.

In any case, great race with great post party (lots of grub and beer)...

Enjoy yourself and best of luck!

ndorfnz...

Lots of hot chicks in Davenport, don't go out the night before the race or your legs will be like spaghetti.

i definitely agree that the way back can be brutal.

Brady St. (the first hill) isnt that bad, but you have to work your away around a lot of slower runners who somehow started in front of you. That can add some distance to the hill.

I dont know if its possible for you, but the Bix at 6 every Thursday really help. Its pretty much a massive training run on the course and theres water and course protection. It helps.

Just my thoughts...

Good choice and Good Luck!

I'll also be running the Bix again on Saturday. It'll be my 6th time. I can offer this:

The course description ndorfnz wrote is right on. You have to manage that first hill well or you will be toast the rest of the race.

It's going to be impossible to run even splits on this course. I like to think I run at 10K "effort" the entire time. It evens out with the down hills. Your first mile will be slow, your 2nd and 7th miles will be fast.

The weather can be brutal. Although the last couple years its been nice. Its a crap shoot.

When you register they ask you for "estimated" finish time. Most people have no clue. 50% of all the people put "49 mins or less" even walkers. God forbid if you are honest when you register you'll get stuck behind too many slower runners. I always say 49 mins when I register and then get to the start line really early. I pushed my way to the front of 49 min start corrall, as far forward as possible. You HAVE to do this if you want any chance of pulling down a decent time.

There's no Gatorade on the course (in spite of the weather) only water. And its not bottled/filtered water. Its tap water and it tastes like its right out of the Mississippi River. I guess you don't need water stops anyway in a 7 mile race. Good for dumping over your head.

Crowd support is fantastic. Tons of spectators with hoses, spriklers, etc. Bix is a great runner's environment.

There is no chip timing (still) so ignore the clock time when you finish unless you're in the top 100. The finish line is a zoo. About 20 chutes and a million cluess volunteers. Oh well.

On the contrary, I think the post race party is pretty crappy. They offer potato chips, twinkies, pretzels, popcicles. No bananas, bagels, bottle water or Gatorade. There is, though, plenty of beer (I think its Mich Ultra this year again and the Ultra Amber is pretty good). Get to the beer tent early, in fact go straight there. The line grows fast.

Bix is indeed an enormous event. And yes, there's lots of T&A on Friday night at the "Taste of Bix" thing. But for every fine chick you see, there's ten fatasses in denim shorts and big hair showing off their cell phone on their hip. I guess you take what you can get.

I met Bill Rogers and Joan Samualson last year. Incredible. They makes themselves available to regular joes like me.

I'm pretty slow compared to most people here, I'm hoping to break 45 this year. The course is so damn tough that I have to keep coming back every year. See you there.

i've the run bix 11 times in the past and grew up in davenport. good description by the previous poster. i though i would give a bit more info regarding "splits." aside from brady street hill to begin the race, the first half is entirely a down hill grade. this means if you are a competitive runner, you need to manage the initial hill and then let 'er eat for 3 miles. too many good runners try to conserve and "finish strong" but get their ass kicked coming back up the slope anyway. if you have a fast initial split, around 15-15:30 for the first 3 (which is not that fast considering the descent) you should be able to "hold on" for a decent finish. good luck to all running, hope the humidity is high as always.

Chicago-Dave wrote:

There is no chip timing (still) so ignore the clock time when you finish unless you're in the top 100. The finish line is a zoo. About 20 chutes and a million cluess volunteers. Oh well.

The last couple years they have had a clock at the start, so you can see how much time you lost there.

There are actually 24 chutes (3 finish "gates" - men, women, and overflow) and IMO they do a tremendous job - some of these people have been doing the job for 15, 20, 25 yrs. Bolder Boulder and Bloomsday are bigger races and haven't gone to Chip timing either - it's kind of cool to see a well-oiled pulltag finish line, complete w/ swing ropes, etc, work. I've heard Bix is going to Chip timing next year, in any case - sort of sad, in a way.

As for the course, yea, after Brady St. the rest of the way to the turnaround is pretty much downhill, except for the climb up to the Nancy Karpheim fountain. But it's WAY tougher on the way back. Then Brady will pound your quads on the way down, before the final half mile to the finish. Anyone who thinks Iowa is all flat (as I did my first trip there) is in for a rude awakening.

All in all, a damn good event - everyone in town knows about the race, thanks to the pre-race publicity in the QC News-Times. It's nice when the local paper is the title sponsor.

Hell, I have to miss this year, and I work right at the top of Brady Street, at Palmer College. But then, I'm riding RAGBRAI, which is 444 miles this year of hard biking- and the heat better chill by then because if it does nto you will all be running in well over 90 degree heat in the morning, since that is what it was today. The high here hit 98. And humid.

The return is far tougher than the "out" course...

Hawkeyes in the House!!

I think we all know that this race takes place in Cyclone Country.

I think the Hawkeyes have you beat. Kiehl Uhl may be it for the Cycs, buddy. We've got Moeller of the Times tearing up the course! Plus, c'mon, Davenport is NOT cyclone country.

Cedar Rapids Billboard

French up in Cedar Rapids was a Cyclone boy. Let's not forget Trent Corey, Paul Sarris, and Dan Haut..all strong for the Hawkeyes

and i wanted to know if any of you that have run this race before if you could describe the course for me.

If you run a good time, the course will undoubtedly be short, downhill, and with the wind.

Happy Happy Joy Joy wrote:

Kiehl Uhl may be it for the Cycs, buddy. We've got Moeller of the Times tearing up the course! Plus, c'mon, Davenport is NOT cyclone country.

I'm not sure the original poster is even a Cyclone fan - probably just commenting on the goofy billboard that Pollard had put up in Cedar Rapids. It was maybe even sarcasm, because I think even a big Cyclone fan can agree that the Hawkeyes own the market in Davenport.

If you think Kiel is all that ISU cross country has going on, you're clueless. I'd also recommend learning how to spell his name.

Wieczorek is doing a great job in Iowa City but Ihmels and his boys should make it interesting this year. Here in Iowa these two programs could both be at the national level at the same time. It should be a fun fall.

Just saying that Uhl may be the only Cyclone running in Bix. He's not registered as of yet. He's from Davenport, buddy. Got it? Also, don't worry about my spelling. Why do you have two question marks when clearly the second one is not necessary. Good luck with that, buddy. I know that Iowa State has some serious talent and a great coach out there. So just settle down a bit, cowboy. The horse you are on may just be hungry.

Well, there are THREE question marks. But you are right, Uhl may be the only State runner there. I'm a big fan of the Cyclones. Not like i get their autographs or anything. HAR HAR

In what regard is it a "zoo"? Can you relate any specific problems that you've encountered? Or do you just like to whine?

If you don't like walking through the chute (I find it a nice opportunity to congratulate those around me, myself), you might try getting there sooner.

This year will be my 22nd Bix. I don't know what a cluess volunteer is, but I have yet to encounter a clueless one. Why do you keep whining about this thread after thread?

If you don't like the scoring system - which works flawlessly - quit going.

That's odd considering that the Bix post race party is universally considered one of the best in the country. Plus you're wrong on the facts. Of the things you mention the only one I don't remember seeing is bagels. And instead of Gatorade they have whatever their sponsor's sports drink is - it might be Powerade instead. Try walking around a little bit before heading for the beer. Of course that would give you one less thing to whine about.

Happy Happy Joy Joy wrote:

Just saying that Uhl may be the only Cyclone running in Bix. He's not registered as of yet. He's from Davenport, buddy. Got it? Also, don't worry about my spelling. Why do you have two question marks when clearly the second one is not necessary. Good luck with that, buddy. I know that Iowa State has some serious talent and a great coach out there. So just settle down a bit, cowboy. The horse you are on may just be hungry.

Who's from Davenport? Uhl is from Des Moines.