One hard way to have a good time

Me, at the walkers' starting line location.

This (below) is the view from the back

A train (below) crosses as we Quick Bix runners descend the Perry Street Hill

In 1982, one way to be introduced to the Bix Weekend in Davenport was through the Bix Jazz Festival.

I moved to Davenport in the early 1980s. My father, Emery Cox, of Tipton, Iowa, was a jazz  and live music enthusiast. We would attend the festival in LeClaire Park, with thousands of other people. This was a night-time event and Dad, eventually, mentioned that there was some kind of road race up the street.

That was my introduction to what became the Quad-City Times Bix 7. I participated with friends for eight years, during the early 1990s. Our first Bix 7 was the coldest and wettest one to date, I believe. It was before my newspaper career evolved into the Times newsroom, where I worked on reporting about this special race.

This year I was free to actually participate, again, and I am so very glad I did. It was made easier by event organizers who set up a shuttle bus system. I had family members on the route, but it was simpler to make my own way to the starting line.

I caught the shuttle at NorthPark Mall and found a seat with another woman who was excited for the race. She was doing the seven-mile Bix, with bad knees. "My friends think I'm nuts," she said.

At the starting line, I got to to the front of the walkers section -- we were behind a temporary fence, divided from those who had signed up to run. I wore my Iowa State University gear and struck up conversations with others who waited. Every person I could see was upbeat, smiling and excited.

We walkers heard, but could not see all the pre-race pageantry. As the clock edged to 8 a.m., the runners moved forward. We walkers were held behind the fence for an extra minute or two. "This is discrimination," one man said, smiling.

The starting gun went off but we could barely spot the race leaders heading up Brady Street Hill. The walkers started, and the crowd parted somewhat on the hill. I had hoped to run up the hill but managed maybe three blocks.

It was especially fun to reach the top, and hear the crowds shouting, "you made it up the hill!"

The Quick Bix folks turned at 15th Street and I was happy to find a water stop. Thank you to those essential volunteers!

I resolved to run down the Perry Street hill but I did stop to take a photo ... A train was going by on the trestle at the bottom, and it was a great photo for my brother, a train enthusiast.

As we reached Fourth Street the music picked up, and we all clapped to hear the sounds. It was a few blocks to the finish line and I made a beeline to the water, at the post-race party. After resting in the shade I made my way back to the shuttle stop and chatted with nice girls as we waited for the bus, sharing our Bix 7 experiences.

The Prairie Farms 2-mile Quick Bix was a great experience for this participant. It was hard but I had an absolute blast! Double the fun: Finding the name (spelled correctly) in Sunday's paper and the time: 26 minutes, 44 seconds, a personal best.