Hiram native returns to run in Peace Race

October 23, 2014 at 12:09a.m.

Hiram native returns

to run in Peace Race

Bridget Franek has spent the past few years training in Eugene, Ore., soaking up the culture of TrackTown, USA.

She’d like to bring some of it back to Ohio.

“I’ve learned a lot about the power of community here in Oregon,” said Franek, a Crestwood High graduate who competed in the 2012 Olympic finals in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. “TrackTown USA is so prevalent as a mantra throughout the community and I’ve seen the power of bringing people together and how awesome running is as far as being a community-builder.

“Having a background in Ohio, it’d be cool to give back to the people who have been there for me.”

She’ll be able to do some of that this weekend when she joins legendary distance runner Dick Beardsley for a free speaking event at the Boardman Performing Arts Center from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Franek will then run in the 10K portion of the 40th annual Peace Race on Sunday morning.

Franek first heard about the Peace Race from her friend Craig Leon, a marathoner who grew up in Van Wert, Ohio, and now lives in Eugene. She was looking for races near her hometown of Hiram and Leon recommended the Peace Race. Franek is also close with local running guru Ted Rupe, who has served as the race director and has been on the Peace Race board for more than two decades.

“I was injured this summer with a hip thing, so I didn’t get to compete at all in the steeplechase,” said Franek, who recently spoke by phone from Eugene. “So I was kind of excited to compete in the fall. I’ve run some cross country races in Portland and this [the Peace Race] is a cool opportunity to do some road running, so it just kind of all fell into place.”

Franek ran in the 2010 Panerathon 10K with her former high school teammate, Liz Sitko, so she’s familiar with Mill Creek Park. (“It’s beautiful,” she said.) But she ran that race as a fun run. On Sunday, she plans to race.

“This is a longer distance for me,” said Franek, who used to run a lot of 10Ks with her family when she was younger. “It’s gonna be my first official 10K since I’ve been a pro. I don’t have a time goal because I’ve been running shorter stuff, 5Ks mostly, so this will set a time precedent.”

Although Franek went to high school 40 minutes away, she’s well known in the Valley since she often competed with area runners during the season. As a senior in 2006, she became the only girl in Ohio history to win state titles in track’s four distance events: the 4x800-meter relay, as well as the 800, 1600 and 3200. She also won an individual state cross country title in the fall of 2005.

She went on to a standout career at Penn State, winning a national title in the 2010 steeplechase, before starting her pro career. And while much of her success is due to good genes — her parents, Tom and Rosalie, ran in high school and college — it’s also because she grew up in Ohio’s running community.

As far as Franek is concerned, she still is.

“In Oregon, they appreciate it so much when Olympians come to start a race or come to talk to high schoolers,” she said. “And here, Olympians are a dime a dozen. If I can bring that back home, I think the meaning behind it would be really awesome and people would really appreciate it. And how much cooler would it be if it’s someone who has roots in the area.

“That’s something I’m hoping to help create.”