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The Bix 7-mile race in Davenport, IA has some major hills and to avoid running out of steam on those short steep hills on the way back, you know the ones that curve up the hill and you cannot see the top until you are there.
Start now with your hill workouts. I have a 9-mile Bix training course. I try to run it least once or twice a week in the months leading up to the Bix. This course was laid out with the Bix in mind. There are some short steep hills and some long more gradual hills. In these training runs do not worry about your overall time; you are not after a P.R. here. Just before you start up each one of your hills imagine you are on a flat track, like the one at Augustana College, and you are sprinting in after just finishing the Quad Cities Distance Classic half marathon. Do this even if you have to walk back and you will see you times drop dramatically. Again, when in training at the bottom of the hills sprint up them, do not worry about your overall time. Of course, on race day, the goal is to maintain, a uniform pace throughout the race, but in training be adventurous!
Once you get started up the hill, keep your head up and your arms down. Look straight ahead, put your hands out, grab the air, and pull yourself along.

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