DAVENPORT, Iowa -- Some of the greatest runners from across the world will be in the Quad Cities this weekend for the annual Bix 7 race. It's the culmination of a full year of preparation, and a lifetime of training for the runners.
See parking restrictions below
Packet pick-up for the race started Thursday, July 28, 2016, during an already busy day in downtown Davenport with the visit from Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Thousands of people will be taking to the road to test their abilities and see how quickly they can run the Bix 7. This is the 42nd year for the race, and it's become a Quad Cities staple each summer.
The events started on Thursday with the Brady Street Sprints, continue Friday with the Junior Bix, and then the main event on Saturday with the Bix 7 through downtown Davenport.
This is a weekend that takes a full year to put together, and for race leaders to see it all work out is a sense of enormous pride and accomplishment.
"There are just so many people that have made this a tradition and continue to keep doing it year after year after year. We have four gentleman that have done every one. They're keeping their streak alive," Bix 7 operations manager Ellen Hermiston said.
The Bix weekend is a tradition for many people that other events are planned in the Quad Cities around the race.
"People plan weddings around it, people plan class reunions around it, family reunions. There's a lot of things going on around the Bix, but I think the Bix is the catalyst for why a lot of that stuff happens," Hermiston said.
Packet pick-up continues at the RiverCenter from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m on Friday, and again on Saturday morning before the Bix 7 race.
Parking restrictions
Parking will not be available in many locations along the Bix and Downtown Street Fest Routes.
While many on-street parking spots will be unavailable, visitors to the event can still park at all three of the city’s parking ramps: River Center Ramp, Redstone Ramp, and the Harrison St Ramp will be accessible from River Drive and Harrison (going the wrong way, on-street parking in the area not permitted). Not to mention the expanded, free parking options along Beiderbecke.
CitiBus Routes will also be detoured during the upcoming events.