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Runners Rock!Aug 12th 2008, 12:20pm
Bored in Iraq...Aug 7th 2008, 12:31pm
Bix 7 MilerJul 26th 2008, 6:05am
Less then 40...Jul 21st 2008, 5:20am
Lets talk music...Jul 11th 2008, 6:47am
 

 

Bix 7 Miler

Published by
djsherrod1   Jul 26th 2008, 6:05am
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BIX!!!!  So the Bix 7 miler is this weekend, and if you have never run it before, I suggest you make it a “must run” next year.  It takes place in Davenport Iowa, right on the Mississippi River.  Davenport is a member of, “The Quad Cities”, although that term has become the norm if you are from anywhere in that area.  “I am from the Quad Cities”, have you ever heard of it?  It is a beautiful area, perfect for running, with numerous scenic bike paths, trails, plenty of running groups, and a ton of road races.  The Quad Cities is only 2 hours from Chicago and just a little further from Des Moines if you want to go to the “Big City” with out having to live there and pay all that high cost of living.  

 

This week in July is another favorite of mine.  I am an assistant Cross Country Coach at Saint Ambrose University, (although my coaching picture is now removed due to my current presents in Iraq…lame.) and we host all the Elite Athletes.  So we get to run with them, hang with them, and take them around if there is a need.  I run up in the Elite field so it is nice to meet these people before hand, and although I am not going to have the same finish time as the Kenyans, or Ethiopians, I bust my butt to keep them in a certain range.  It is an out and back course and if I see them just before I hit the three mile, I know I am running well.  The course is known for the hills. It is VERY HILLY and challenging.  It can be unforgiving if you go out way to hard.  A great number of newbies to the race experience this for themselves the first time.  Just like any race, it is good to keep getting faster each mile, not going balls out for the first half of the race and dying.  Well, if you throw in the hills of Bix with that last scenario, you will fade hard core! 

 

My day would have consisted of getting up at 4 am, heading over to set up the sound along the course with one of my guys, (making sure I do not lift anything heavy since I will be running of course) and then heading off to the starting line and warming up, doing some strides with some buddies and then toeing the line waiting for the start.  The course is lined with people, bands, DJs, radio stations, cheer leaders, fans, and just a lot of very supportive people, you can hardly get a street side seat due to the thousands of people who come out on this festive day.

 

Afterwards I always look for my bros so we can all see how we did, if you are a runner in the Quad Cities, the Bix is a true test of your ability.  Everyone compares their Bix times.  Kind of like the military and their two mile times.  What was your time??? J They have a great after party, and that night is the biggest night for the Bix Fest.  It is all centered around Bix Biederbeck. He was a great Jazz musician back in the day.  My great-great grandfather played with him, so this is an extra special weekend for the VanSpeybroeck family.  I don’t know if I mentioned in a previous blog that I am a member of the Davenport Jaycees.  http://davenportjaycee.com/   We basically raise a lot of money for different charities, children’s groups, and the needy all while creating a fun environment in doing so.  The Jaycees exist all over the world, I suggest checking out your local chapter and going to a meeting, it will change your life…well, at least you will have fun, meet new friends, all while helping people. J  Well, Jaycees is great for networking and we know a great number of the big dogs in the Quad Cities who sponsor all these great events and festivities, so we are always called upon to help out.  This usually consists of stocking the beer tents, driving around downtown in golf carts, drinking for free, and just having a BLAST!!  So  I am sad I will be missing that as well.  I think I am one of few that can say I have driven a golf cart all over down town Davenport at night with the police officers just waiving hi…it is kind of a big deal…lol! 

 

 

Well, I hope you all get a chance to run this race one day and visit the Quad Cities.  Make sure you look me up if you do, I’ll make sure you have a blast!!  I will be running next year for sure and I can not wait, just another item to add to my, “Things to do list.”   Well, I hope you are all having a good day and make sure you are running happy!!

 

Sherrod out J

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