Bix7 – The Comeback

I was getting all prepped to make a post covering the recent 100K Ultra Trail race attempt and then discovered I had entirely forgotten the only other race thus far into the 2023 season. Yes, we are talking about the event that started my entire racing career some 20 years back – The Bix 7 held in Davenport, IA.

Hit the jump to read about how the race turned out and the tragedy that occurred before it.

Problem is, my streak of 18 consecutive runnings (minus the Covid cancellation year) since my inaugural race was in some serious jeopardy. Slightly less than a month before, I was on an easy tapering run for the upcoming Cry Me a River 50K race when tragedy struck (link here). Thanks to tired legs from a long workout the day before and apparently some bad karma lingering around, my foot clipped a nasty root a mere 1 mile into a planned 6 mile trail run at Farmdale Reservoir. With full admission, Linda recommended I NOT run with my CITRA buddies that day and instead give myself more time to rest from the 50K simulation (27 mile) training run just the previous day. I need to listen to my better half more often.

Long story short, my direction of fall after hitting the root was toward a tree positioned just off the trail. A bit of a blur, but believe I was able to get my right arm between my face and the tree trunk microseconds ahead of the impact. Without a doubt, saved breaking my nose and highly likely the front teeth. It did come at a cost though. My elbow ball was broke in half and shoved up into my bicep. Pretty damn horrific and still apologizing to those with me for having to see that gruesome sight. Surgery at the start of July to add a plate and 7 screws left my dominant arm immobilized and my dreams of the 50K I had trained so hard for up in smoke. 10 days later my fiberglass cast was removed and I was put in a rather cool brace that gave me a lot more freedom of movement, but still provided protection while it continued to heal.

Linda will confirm, I have to be moving or the crazies start settling in and NOBODY wants that. Figured my legs were fine, I could at least walk, just being careful not to fall. Started off slow, but quickly made it up to 7 miles every day. Does that number ring a bell? I was going to try at all cost to save my streak and that meant doing the full 7 even though Linda was highly recommending I back down and walk the Quick Bix (2 miles) with her. I know I mentioned listening to her more earlier, but this was the Bix and how hard could it be to go 7 when I was trained up to go over 30 miles on the trail at CMAR weeks earlier. Started by walking it all, then slowly started jogging the uphill parts, then added in the straights before finally getting some confidence to run downhill although that was still spooking me purely on the increased chance of falling.

I also learned about a little button on the side of the brace that released the set limits on the range of motion and basically let it move without restraint…note, the arm mechanics itself were still limited, but this little bit of extra freedom was a godsend in the sense I could get more natural swing movements in my arms. Each day I got up and walk/ran transitioning to cautious runs before running under 10 minute miles for the entirety of the hilly 7 mile course I was using to train.

I didn’t exactly let Linda know this, but in my defense, she didn’t come out and ask me if I was running when I went to the park, so her misconception I was just going to walk the 7 (resigned to the fact I wasn’t going to do the 2) miles was technically not a lie or deception on my part. I’ll pause here and let Linda’s loud and sharp contradicting opinion from the other room pass over ha. I did agree to wear the brace during the race to keep the elbow from being jostled by other participants – there is a serious bunching of people during the first part of the race.

There I stood in the chute patting myself on the back that I had overcome quite a lot to once again be toeing the line at my favorite race. As the starting gun was about to go off, I reached over with my left arm and clicked that little button to the unrestrained position – time to “run” the Bix. After the disappointment of missing the CMAR race that I had trained so hard for and the struggle to recover from the injury, I can’t put into words just how elated I was to be back at it. I knew my legs wouldn’t be at peak performance levels and agreed to be happy with whatever they were willing to give even if they opted for breaks – especially with the nasty hills on this course.

Made it to the turnaround point and was still feeling good and made the turn to head back up the 2 mile hill climb. That is the point it occurred to me Linda was going to figure this whole thing out as she could easily calculate my pace was way beyond walking. Eh, I’ll deal with that after the race. Suspect it was the slower pace, but this is probably the best I have ever felt on that long climb back. The arm was starting to tire out at this point, so I clicked the brace back to limit the range and give it some relief. Once I reached the massive Brady St. descent I freed it up again just so I could use my arms to keep me more in control – no need to face plant this close to the end.

This was not the 30 and 50 mile race distances that I have transitioned to for the last 4 years or so, but I can say without a doubt, crossing the Bix 7 finishing line that day felt like an equivalent accomplishment. Linda was on the “situation” as soon as she saw me and let me know it (apparently her sister-in-law had also ratted me out when she saw me running down Brady). We both agreed that my doctors didn’t need to know about this.

All that was left was to enjoy a couple of Whitey’s Popsicles and find a setting for my traditional post race picture. Kudos to these ambulance drivers who let me have some fun with them – definitely one of my favorite post race shots EVER!

It was now time to put the focus on getting healed up enough for the upcoming Farmdale 50 mile race scheduled for the week after the annual Halloween Party. How hard could it be, it’s just 7 times longer than the Bix hehehe.