In 1998, eight-year-old runs in first Junior Bix

     

That's Kirstin Baker (yellow top), age 8, at the Junior Bix in 1998

    It was the summer of 1998, and our active 8-year-old daughter, Kirstin, enjoyed running around our Scott County neighborhood.

    It made sense for husband Steve and I, both employed at the Quad-City Times, to register Kirstin for the first "Junior Bix"  event planned for the Friday night before the famous 7-mile race.

    Kirstin had taken part in a children's race before and it seemed a no-brainer. We got everyone loaded into the car on Friday, July 24, and headed for the Times. 

    We had no idea what to expect.

    That first event has been termed "organized chaos" in the 25 years since it was held.

    Those who planned the Quad-City Times Bix 7 thought a special race for children was a great idea. They expected some 1,500 entries, but an additional 5,000 children, parents, grandparents, friends and others actually descended on the site.

    It was a sea of people that night and included children of all ages.

    Steve and I tried hard to keep a close eye on our little girl. But at some point she simply disappeared in the massive crowd. 

    After several panic-stricken moments we thought to check with some of our neighbors who were also at the Junior Bix. She eventually turned up with another family and I still remember how relieved we were.

    There was a front-page story on the first Junior Bix in the Quad-City Times on Monday, July 24, 2023. I read it and thought back to that hectic time. 

    Kirstin was in some fine company, according to the report by Don Doxsie. Another 1998 participant was Devin Allbaugh, who was a stand-out distance runner in high school and college and in 2022 won the Gregg Newell trophy as the fastest local men's finisher in the QCT Bix 7. 

    Allbaugh was also eight years old in 1998. These days he is a managing partner at Running Wild, one of the race sponsors.

    Other 1998 Junior Bix participants who succeeded in other sports became Quad-City Times Athletes of the Year: Willie Argo, age 8, at Davenport Assumption, Tim Jackson, age 11, football at Bettendorf, and Pat Angerer, also 11 years old, who eventually played linebacker in the NFL.

    This year's Arconic Junior Bix is 6 p.m. Friday, July 28. Crawling kids have a carpeted area for their race. Children (ages 5 years and under) race 70 yards that starts and finishes on Third Street. 

    The kids who are 6-7 years old run a half-mile, starting and finishing on Fourth Street. Children who are 8-12 years old run 7/10ths of a mile, also starting and finishing on Fourth Street.

    As always, the participants receive an official race shirt, Victory medal, and their names printed in the Quad-City Times, Sunday edition. There is also the block party, where hot dogs, popsicles and other treats are served. Registration is online.

    Daughter Kirstin Baker ran cross country at North Scott High School, Eldridge, but eventually developed exercise-induced asthma. At 33 years old, she is married and has three young children. She is an instructional coach at an elementary school in Ankeny, Iowa. 

    These days, she does work out regularly but focuses on upper body strength.

   Kirstin's four-year-old daughter, Myla, loves to run. She may participate in the Junior Bix in 2024.

Identification for the 1998 Jr. Bix event.