You’re sure to see
just about anything at the Bix 7 road race. Last year I spotted Sesame Street’s
Elmo and Mr. Incredible. Back again this year were the Marilyn Monroes (a half
dozen gals in matching white dresses – you know the one – and platinum wigs);
and there was a veteran (I assume) in fatigues and bearing a POW-MIA flag on a
staff; a superhero family; St. Patrick; Tweety Bird and a cow (an odd couple to
be sure); and a giant spine (on behalf of Palmer Chiropractic), though I don’t
think the vertebra made the run.
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| Post-race, still looking pretty fresh. |
Those are just a
handful of the costumed crazies running 7 miles uphill and down. (At least it
was a beautiful, temperate day.) Among the 13,000-plus runners and walkers participating
in the Quad City Times Bix 7, Quick Bix and Jr. Bix were toned athletes, elite
runners from around the world, hardbodies and hardly bodies. There were
beautiful men and women both in shape and only in appearance. There were
average Joes and Janes. Kids, teens, adults, seniors. I passed one guy who
easily topped 300 lbs. and whose legs were wobbly masses of cellulite. I wanted
to take his picture and post it as a challenge: “He ran the Bix 7. Where were
you?”
I know, running isn’t
for everyone, and everyone who does has a different reason for running. I am
just amazed at the people who turn out for an event like the Bix. Last year’s
BIx topped 18,000 participants. This year’s was smaller, but seemed as crowded
nonetheless.
I had the true
pleasure this year of being joined by D2 (daughter No. 2, Amanda), making her
first Bix appearance. You’re looking at one proud dad. Amanda, a college tennis
player and no runner (she’ll tell you), opted for the 2-mile Quick Bix. (Finished in 21:25.) That’s
still a challenge for a newbie – Brady Street hill is a bee-otch. But she’s no
slouch; ran her first 5K (RR Days, a month ago) on no sleep (following in her
DA dad’s footsteps – scary how alike we are). I think she’ll be running 7 miles
next July.
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| Amanda relaxes after the Quick Bix. |
Unfortunately, I’m
not much of a team runner. Once the chute opens (8 minutes and more after the
starting gun for those of us at the back of the pack) I’m off to find my pace
and a ponytail. So, rather than running with my baby girl, I was off on my own
without a glance back. Hey, she’s an adult. Of course, that didn’t happen for
about a block after the starting line. We walked in a jam-packed bunch for the
two or three blocks leading up to the chip-timer line and another block beyond
before there was room enough to pick up our knees.
That’s why I call
those of us not among the elite merely participants. There’s no competition but
with yourself, at least to my mind. And that’s fine. It’s just a hell of an
atmosphere to be in for a while.
Consider: The entire
7-mile route is lined with spectators. People site on lawns, visiting,
partying, drinking, chatting, watching, cheering… Some know runners, some are
just coming out of their homes to watch the spectacle. Several put up
sprinklers to cool the runners. Some offer water and ice (in addition to the
seven official water stations. Bands and DJs are well-spaced along the route. I
thought it funny to hear two DJs playing Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” on
opposite sides of the street in the same block. Great song, that.
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| I thought that was awesome, Bix Number Six and First Time Bix Runner. |
There were country
bands, thrashers, classic rockers. I can’t describe it adequately. I can’t make
you feel it. You have to experience it. If you’re a runner and you haven’t done
the Bix, do it. You’ll love it.
For those of you who
know my modus operandi, I have to tell you the ponytails were plentiful, though
they really didn’t factor in today. Thought I had one picked out early on, but
I passed her too quickly. Then it was all about me. All about determination and
willpower. I’ve said before I have no goals, but then admitted to secret aims.
This year’s secret goals, which I shared with at least one person, were to
better last year’s time and to not walk – keep running! I succeeded on both
counts.
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| I was watching the tattooed girl on the right, but check out the woman on the left. Props to her! |
I’ll admit I was a
little concerned when I crossed the finish at 1:18:10, but I assured myself
(correctly) that was the elapsed time from the starting gun, not my chip time.
And I was able to hold something in reserve. Race sponsors have convenient
banners at ¼ and 1/8 mile to the finish. At 1/8 mile to the finish I fired the
afterburners and gave my all. That put me in at 1:10:00 (70 minutes), just a
few seconds behind fellow area runners Barb Ball and daughters Abby and Andrea.
I didn’t see them ahead of me, though I did see them before the race started.
Barb told me Thursday night at the Taste of Galesburg beer garden that they
would be there, and suggested a mother-daughters angle for my blog, if I needed
something about which to write. Well, you can see I came up with plenty, but I
still mentioned them. Let me give a shout out to Jason Olmstead for finishing
in 49:34! Holy cow!
Now, it is time for
dinner and celebratory drinks.
Today's Stats
Temp: 79 degrees F (after, maybe cooler at start)
Distance: 7 miles
Weekly Total: 17.24
Treasure: 1 white hand towel (Mainstays brand).
Bib: 10293
Weight: 191 lbs.
Time: 1:18:10
Chip Time: 1:10:00
Rank: 4,851 of 10,405
Division: 324 of 555
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| The Palmer Chiropractic Spine! |
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