This is hands-down the biggest race in our area – the first year I ran it, there were over 17,000 runners & walkers (there are probably more now), and the field always includes elite runners from Kenya – who nearly always take the top honors. The 7-mile course through Davenport has some nice-sized hills, with the first mile consisting mostly of the Brady Street hill (which is not the one that wipes me out). Since it’s at the end of July, it’s always hot and without rain, and spectators are packed like proverbial sardines. Some people have yard parties along the route, both on race day and on the 6 weeks prior to the race, which has course-protected training runs called the Bix @ 6 (run at 6:00 Thursday nights). Honestly, the training runs are more fun to me since the crowds are so thick race day, and I always get pissed because people who have said they’ll finish in under an hour (they have staged starting line areas by anticipated time) often walk up the frickin’ Brady Street hill in the first mile. I couldn’t do this race last year, because I was finishing the RAGBRAI bike ride, but will probably jump back in again this year. Fun race! Oh, and a lot of people run in costume – the post-race party has a costume contest, both for individuals and groups. Some very creative, others just funny – like the perennial guys in coconut bras and grass skirts! The Flying Elvises are a staple; they used to run the race as Elvis impersonators, but now that they’re older, they spectate in costume. Pretty hot at that time of year!