Check Out The New Features For The 50th Running Of Eastern Iowa’s Classic Bix 7

We're a few months from the takeoff shot and Bix preparations are underway.

Even if you don't run (or walk) the Quad-City Times Bix 7, you know it's a party weekend in downtown Davenport. We're celebrating the runners that took on Brady Street hill, the whole 7 miles, and we're partying with live music and beer. Obviously.

This July marks the 50th year that the Bix 7 has been ran in Davenport and it's safe to say it has become a staple of a Quad Cities summer.

The Bix main events will be on July 27th this year, and since it's a big anniversary for the race, there are some new additions to the weekend, as was announced this week. According to the Quad-City Times, there are going to be more options for runners this year.

Seniors (those 50 and older) can participate in the Bechtel Trust Senior Bix, which will start in LeClaire Park on Tuesday, July 23rd, and will be a mile and a half of flat surface. Seniors who sign up for that can also compete in the Quick Bix or the full Bix 7 race for free.

The Bix 7 this year will be the first race to feature 2 Olympic gold medalists, 1 Olympic silver medalist, and "Bix Billy" (who has been running the Bix every year since 1980) all running in the same race. The gold medalists are Frank Shorter (1982 Olympics), Joan Benoit Samuelson (1984 Olympics), and silver medalist Meb Keflezighi (2004 Olympics).

Also this year, all participants get gold medals, since the race coincides with the summer Olympics in Paris.

As for memorably extra Bix parties, I'm sure we'll still find out more details about those festivities as we get closer to July.