In a field featuring a number of first-time elite entries, Erin Moeller is no stranger to the Quad-City Times Bix 7.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, runner has tackled the 7-mile course through the streets of Davenport a number of times and Moeller, one of a handful of Iowans who already have qualified for the 2008 U.S. Olympic women’s marathon trials, has three words of advice for her new group of challengers.

“Enjoy the hills,” she said.

She figures that is the only way to approach things.

“Standing at the starting line at the bottom of Brady Street, every year I wonder ‘Why do I do this?’ but something about the Bix always brings me back,” Moeller said. “It’s a special race and a chance to compete against the best and that, along with the atmosphere, that’s why I keep coming back to Bix.”

Moeller will take the course for Saturday’s race at 8 a.m. as one of the elite entries in the female division, an acknowledgement of her rising status among the nation’s female runners.

She is part of a field that blends a number of first-time entries with seasoned Bix 7 veterans.

Wude Ayalew of Ethiopia, who set a blistering early pace to win the Peachtree Road Race in her Atlanta debut earlier this month, is one of the Bix 7 newcomers.

She will be joined by four other highly-seeded first-time competitors, Ethiopians Deribe Alemu and Genet Getaneh, Maryna Dubrova of the Ukraine and Galina Alexandrova of Russia.

“Sometimes, running a race cold for the first time can be a plus,” Moeller said. “Sometimes, experience helps. From one race to the next, you never know.”

Three women who have placed well during previous Bix 7 entries are part of this year’s elite field.

Nuta Olaru of Romania won the Bix 7 in 2005, while Romania’s Luminita Talpos is a four-time top-eight finisher and Kenyan Gladys Asiba has finished in the top nine three times.

“It will be competitive. It always is. It’s Bix,” Moeller said.

Although her primary focus remains on training for a fall marathon, Moeller welcomes the chance to compete. She said she didn’t perform up to her capabilities earlier this month at the Alliant Fifth Season 8K in her hometown.

That has been one of few disappointments in a year that has seen Moeller establish a new half-marathon record at the Drake Relays and repeat as a champion at the Green Bay Marathon in Wisconsin.

“I’m looking forward to getting out and racing again. I need a good run at this point,” Moeller said. “Most of my training and energies are pointing toward the trials in Boston next April, but the competition is something I need.”

Moeller qualified for the 2008 Olympic trials, which will be held the day before the Boston Marathon, with a winning effort at the Green Bay Marathon in 2006.

She repeated that effort in May, but was unable to beat the clock. She finished the 26.2-mile course in Green Bay, Wis., in 2 hours, 40 minutes, 20 seconds, but missed the 2:39 time that would have met “A” standards for the Olympic trials entries, something that would have covered her expenses for competing in that event.

Moeller expects to chase that goal again at either the Chicago or New York City marathons later this fall.

“That’s the objective right now and that’s what I’m working toward, but I’m excited about coming to Bix, too,” Moeller said. “I am so ready to race again and after turning 30 on July 7, this will be my first race in a new age category so I’m looking forward to getting out on the course Saturday morning.”

Moeller expects to find some friendly competition as well.

Her sister, University of Missouri junior Ellen Ries, expects to run as well. Ries was a 13-time Iowa state champion while competing for North Linn High School.

Moeller, raised on a family farm near Ryan, Iowa, has been running competitively since seventh grade. She attended Wartburg College, where she qualified for the NCAA Division III nationals in cross country and track.

“I figured then that it was over, that my days of competing were done,” Moeller said.

She took a job at Benchmark, working as a marketing director for the Cedar Rapids-based roofing and pavement consulting firm.

After meeting several other runners there, she found herself back on the streets.

“The itch was too strong, so about seven years ago I got back into it, and now I want to see where it can take me,” Moeller said. “The people at my job have been so supportive, and that makes it work. It’s been a great situation for me.”

Moeller made her marathon debut in 2000 in Chicago, finishing in 3 hours, 17 minutes.

“I swore after that race that I was never going to run another marathon, but I talked myself into it again and after running it in 3 hours and 59 seconds, there was no way I wasn’t going try to break the 3-hour mark,” Moeller said.

Cutting a few seconds here and a minute or 2 there, she suddenly found herself in a position to qualify for the Olympic trials.

“I remember talking with my husband, Andy, and talking about how I thought I could do this. I stepped back for a year when we decided to have a family and our son, Ryne, came along, but now I’m anxious to see where this takes me,” Moeller said.

Moeller figures she is in good company.

“When people think of running, they think of places like Colorado and New York, but right now, Iowa doesn’t take a back seat to anybody,” Moeller said, pointing to Olympic Trials qualifiers Robyn Friedman of Newton, Iowa; Christy Nielson of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Iowa City native Michelle Lilienthal as examples.

“There are three or four others who are on the brink of qualifying too. It’s impressive when you step back and think about it and events like the Bix only help the sport grow.”

Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.