Runner's recommendation-Bix?

[SusanMac]

Wondering if anyone out there has ever run the Bix7 in Iowa? It's coming up next month and I'm on the fence about whether or not to run it. I'm confident about the distance, but heard the course is brutally hilly, hot, hot, hot and too crowded. I've also heard it's a really, really fun race.

Any recommendations (good or bad) are welcome!

[KarenW]

I used to live in Moline and ran in the Bix 2 years in a row. It is all that you described--crowded, very hot and super hilly. I guess there is really only one big hill, but it seems to go on forever. I remember that about half way up I was running so slow I thought I would start going backward down the hill. The race is truly a lot of fun though. I left the Quad Cities quite a few years ago. Do they still have the jazz fest at the same time as the race? That was the really fun part--they had small bands along the course to keep you going. And tons of people cheering you on. I would recommend it.

[elnant]

I used to live in the Quad Cities, and in fact I am going back to do the Bix next month (a friend and I usually walk/run the race -- this year we're planning to run the entire thing!)
It's a seven mile course, with a big hill right at the start, and another steep hill at about the 3 or 4 mile mark. My experience has been the first hill isn't that bad -- but the hill half-way through can be pretty tough. It is very crowded at the start -- but once people get going, it kind of thins out.
As for the weather -- it just kind of depends. Being Iowa and July, sometimes it can be brutally hot and humid! But the race starts at 8am, so it's usually not too bad that early in the morning. And sometimes it's been downright cool. One year, there was a huge downpour, right as the race started (I was standing on the sidelines that year - got soaking wet!)
They do still have bands playing along the route, and of course, there's a jazz festival downtown going on all weekend.
You might want to check out their website www.bix7.com (http://www.bix7.com) -- it includes a map of the course. I believe they also put an updated weather forecast on the site, as it gets closer to race day (probably not until the week before)
I hope this helps you -- I think the race and the jazz fest are a lot of fun. I can't wait to go! I would highly recommend it!

[SusanMac]

Thanks for the input! I didn't think I'd find anyone on the BB who had run this one. I feel better about going for it. DH feels he's not in shape for the distance and hills. But, I might go and let him cheer on the sidelines. The bands actually make a big difference to me. Races that provide that are so much more fun.