By Nicholas Cunningham, Hola Iowa
For Quad-City Times Bix 7 race director Michelle Juehring, also being the area’s stand-in meteorologist, was not on her bingo card last year. “It was truly a rollercoaster,” said Juehring. “We only had the streets for so long, and the weather would change, and I kid you not, it changed every twenty minutes.”
Because of Juehring’s and the stellar efforts of her team and maybe a little help from Mother Nature, the famed Bix 7 event race was able to happen.
A few months later, Juehring received the MarathonFoto/Road Race Management Race Director of the Year award, and Bix Operations Director, Laura Torgerud, received the NCS4 Emerging Industry Leader award early in July. “It’s just a reflection of our organization as a whole,” explained Juehring. “And how our team just works so hard to put on the best race for our community.”
So, clear skies and building on what runners already know and love about the event are Juehring’s goals for this year’s Bix, which will celebrate its 52nd year on July 25th in downtown Davenport. “The goal is to continue to enhance the runner’s experience,” said Juehring. “I think what’s more important than adding something new is to improve on the things that are working well.” The Geifman Group Friends and Family Area will make its debut, providing a public gathering area next to the finish line with food trucks, live music, and one more big surprise. “We’re going to have a big Jumbotron with live coverage of the race from KWQC,” said Juehring. “Our plan is to have live coverage of the race so you can still see the race while enjoying the festivities.”
Related: Bix 7 brought a new family zone and community celebration to Davenport in 2025
This is Juehring’s seventh year as Bix Race Director, and as each year has been drastically different for her, conversations she has with people leading up to the big day and continuing to keep the Bix 7 race week on the map are what she looks forward to most every year. “I love it when people come up to me and say, ‘I love the Bix’, and then tell me why,” said Juehring. “I get excited hearing other people talk about what the Bix means to them.”
“I like that our event is becoming more Quad Cities while still honoring its roots in Davenport, Iowa,” said Juehring. “We’ve grown from one race to seven races over the course of a week, across three cities, Bettendorf, Moline and Davenport, and two states.” The 2026 Quad Cities running calendar includes the Bix 7 and other major races scheduled throughout the region.
Juehring also hopes the event continues bringing families together throughout race week, especially on race day. “I’m looking forward to our race continuing to be a multigenerational event. I want us to be more than a bucket-list race and for people to keep marking it on their calendars. I want them to know this is the weekend to come back to the Quad Cities.”
For more information or to register for the Quad-City Times Bix 7 visit, bix7.com.
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