Safety

Quad-City Times Bix 7 Organizers, Health Officials Lift COVID-19 Race Restrictions

[DAVENPORT, IA — June 25, 2021] — The Quad-City Times Bix 7 organization is proud to announce the Bix is back, the race is on, and we want to invite the Quad Cities Community to the starting line this July 24. Here is a link to the story: https://qctimes.com/sports/running/bix7/quad-city-times-bix-7-organizers-local-
health-officials-lift-covid-19-race-restrictions/article_6a6c61fb-a6e8-5c8f-be5f-a1c5b6010bb5.html#tracking-
source=home-breaking

The 47th Quad-City Times Bix 7 race begins at 8:00 AM Saturday, July 24, 2021. Online registration is open at www.bix7.com. Registration fees will increase on July 2, 2021.

The Iowa American Water Bix @ 6 training runs start at 6 p.m. on Thursdays, July 1 and 8. If you have registered for the Quad-City Times Bix 7, Prairie Farms Quick Bix or Arconic Jr Bix, join the hundreds that train every Thursday on a safe and secure course. It’s a Bix tradition! Participants who register online the day of, in-
person at or volunteers for one of the training runs, receive a special “Bix at 6” t-shirt FREE. The start line is at the intersection of 4th and LeClaire Streets.
**New this year for registered participants** Warm up at your Bittner YMCA. Join your Bix Buddies on the beautiful River Deck of the new Bittner YMCA overlooking the start/finish line of the Iowa American Water Bix@6 training run. 5-5:45 pm, for registered runners, walkers of the Bix 7, Quick Bix and Jr Bix. Click here for more information.

Volunteers are needed for race weekend. Learn more at www.bix7.com/getinvolved.

In addition to the website, you can stay connected with race news and training tips on our social media channels:
Facebook.com/QCTBix7
Instagram.com/quadcitytimesbix7
Twitter.com/BixSeven

Quad-City Times Bix 7 Return to Race Guidelines

[DAVENPORT, IA — June 8, 2021] — Quad-City Times Bix 7 Return to Race Guidelines are in place to reduce risk, ensure our attendees’ safety and are subject to modification as COVID-19 mitigation efforts change.

This plan for race weekend is based on what is currently known about the transmission of COVID-19 as provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We are working with state and local health officials to implement the guidance offered by the CDC, while adjusting to meet the unique needs and circumstances of our local community. As guidelines change around large gatherings and events, our plan will be revised as needed.

CAPPING FIELD SIZE We’re capping our field size to 10,000 participants. While we hope this capacity will increase as restrictions are lifted, we cannot guarantee there will be additional spots available in 2021.

RACE COURSE Measures to increase space use while reducing density at high traffic times and touchpoint areas may result in event reconfiguration to minimize contact at the event. This may include social distancing of 3’ apart, with participants crossing the starting line every 3 seconds.

QUICK BIX STARTS BEFORE BIX 7 We’ve made the Prairie Farms Quick Bix its’ own event, starting at 7:30 am instead of starting at 8:00 with the Bix 7 participants.

IN-PERSON VS VIRTUAL You may switch your race choice from in-person to virtual or virtual to in-person without a fee through June 30.

We will be asking participants and volunteers to follow these protocols race weekend:

MASKS/FACE COVERINGS We will follow CDC guidelines. Masks will not be required while running. This rule will be reassessed relative to current climate surrounding COVID-19 over the next two months. Please check bix7.com for updated information.

Per CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated individuals are not required to wear a mask indoors or outdoors unless otherwise mandated by state or local law or regulations.

Unvaccinated Individuals Per CDC guidelines, unvaccinated individuals should wear a mask indoors at all times and outdoors when they cannot be social distant or otherwise mandated by state or local law or regulations. This would include before the start line, after the finish line, but not while on the race course.

Individuals are considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 2 weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen vaccine For clarity, the second dose with Pfizer or Moderna or single dose with J&J would be considered Day Zero and fully vaccinated would be considered on Day 15. If you do not meet these requirements, regardless of your age, you are NOT fully vaccinated. As such, you should be taking all necessary precautions and following CDC guidance.

Avoid unnecessary touchpoints
Be respectful of others and watch your distance
Stay home if you are feeling ill or display any symptoms of COVID-19

PACKET PICKUP Participants may be asked to undergo a screening process, including a health questionnaire before receiving their race bib.

PRIOR TO ARRIVAL Those who feel ill or are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 will not be admitted to Bix 7 events. For more information on symptoms and procedures for those experiencing them, please visit the CDC’s website, www.cdc.gov.

Guidelines and protocols are continuously changing as it relates to health and safety. Changes will be communicated as they occur. Thank you for treating our volunteers respectfully as we provide a safe and fun world-class event!

For more information, contact bix7info@gmail.com.

BIX IS BACK on the streets of Downtown Davenport

Quad-City Times Bix 7 to Hold In-Person and Virtual Races in 2021

[DAVENPORT, IA — March 9, 2021] — Runners and walkers will return to the iconic Bix course this summer, as race organizers announced today that an in-person event will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2021 to celebrate the 47th running of the Quad-City Times Bix 7.

Balancing sport and tradition with pandemic precautions is paramount and Bix leaders want Quad-Citians and the running world to know they’re working tirelessly towards this goal.

“We are constantly exploring every option to make this year’s race a safe and successful event.” said Race Director Michelle Juehring. “I’m proud of the talent & dedication of our committee, staff, and local medical and safety experts for crafting a plan to keep the safety of our race participants, volunteers, and spectators of upmost importance. And I’m so happy to say, ‘The Bix is back’ on the streets of Davenport,” Juehring added.

In addition to the 7-mile course, the Prairie Farms Quick Bix, Arconic Jr. Bix and Genesis Orthopedic Hospital Brady Street Sprints will also be held in-person Bix weekend.

The Bix 7 created a Covid-19 Task Force, comprised of Bix leaders, officials from the City of Davenport, and experts from Genesis Health System, to make this possible.

“Our primary concern is for the safety and well-being of people and our community as a whole. The evolving recommendations of the CDC, local conditions in our area, the COVID situation regionally, and the constantly improving numbers of COVID vaccinations are driving our protocols and rules. We want to make the Bix both safe and enjoyable for participants, volunteers, and the community,” said Dr. Ed Motto, medical director of the Quad-City Times Bix 7.

Changes planned include face coverings both before and after competing, and a wave start system and extended amount of time runners can be on the course (to increase physical spacing). Organizers will limit the size of the field to 10,000 participants Bix weekend, and offer other additional safety protocols per CDC guidelines to limit person-to-person contact. The Bix 7 will adopt CDC guidelines, since many participants come from across the US and the world.

The Bix team has also teamed up with crowd science professor Marcel Altenburg with Manchester Metropolitan University. Altenburg studies the flow of the world’s largest marathons like London, Berlin, Chicago and New York as well as stateside races such as Grandma’s Marathon in Duluth, MN. Altenburg is assisting the Bix with implementing its plans.

With a limited field of 10,000 participants, which is subject to change, prompt registration at www.bix7.com is highly encouraged.

Other ways race organizers are providing peace of mind for those unsure of July race conditions include two new features: the ability to switch between race categories as many times as they’d like (Virtual to In-Person, In-Person to Virtual) and the addition of Race insurance.

Back by popular demand is the Virtual race, where runners can compete in a space that works best for them.

Keeping with its goal to Run with the Best, the 2021 race will continue its prize purse for elite athletes as well as honor is Buick GMC Dealer’s High School Challenge and First Responder’s Challenge. The Race will also honor its military participants.

Registration for race weekend is now open and will remain open until at least July 1, or when field capacity is reached.

Additionally, The Running Wild Health & Fitness Expo is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 and Friday, July 24, following the safety protocols. Limited vendor booth space will be available on a first-come basis.

Additional details will be available at the Quad-City Times Bix7 press conference on April 7th and updates are always online at www.bix7.com.