Idaho family honors father at Sunriver race event
Ryan Franklin was a treasured member of his Idaho Falls community.
Franklin, a former teacher and coach turned firefighter, loved to serve others.
He was also an avid runner and bike rider, and participated in the Pacific Crest Sporting Events each year with his friends and family.
On May 18, 2016, while on a training ride on his bike, he was hit from behind by a car and died.
This was just a month before he and his family were getting ready to take their trip to Sunriver.
His family and friends decided to participate in the Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival in Franklin’s name, to honor his memory.
This is the second year that his family and friends have gone without Franklin, and this year there are around 50 people participating in various events in his name.
Franklin’s widow, Amie, said that this past year has been rough on her and their four kids, but they are happy to be here to honor Franklin and his memory.
NewsChannel 21’s Jacob Larsen spoke with the family and will have more on KTVZ at 4 on Fox and KTVZ at 5 and 6.
—
Here’s a news release on the events going on this weekend:
Sunriver, OR – This is the premier destination event for athletes and families in the Northwest! Each year, during the last weekend in June, nearly 20,000 people including athletes, volunteers, spectators and vendors from all over the country and across the world converge on the beautiful Central Oregon town of Sunriver to take part in the Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival’s 72.3 BEASTMAN, Olympic & Ultra Sprint Triathlon, Duathlon & Aqua Bike events, the Marathon, Half-Marathon, 10K & 5K, the NEW 25K Trail Run, 2 Bike Tours and 3 kids’ races.
Thousands of athletes will participate in this EPIC event and many make this an annual tradition to launch into summer break and spend the whole week enjoying Central Oregon making it a RACEcation that families look forward to every year!
For more information, directions and registration – http://whyracingevents.com/event/927
This year marks the 21 st anniversary for this event in Sunriver. As the crown jewel of triathlons, the Pacific Crest 72.3 BEASTMAN Triathlon has become a destination race for pros and other athletes from around the world! Triathletes who have competed have said that this is one of the most scenic, challenging and exciting courses they have raced. Top pros in the sport will be in attendance battling it out for the nearly $5000 Prize Purse.
For dedicated runners the challenging Pacific Crest Half-Marathon & Marathon are also picturesque and take place in the surrounding Sunriver areas. The courses wind through the forest and along open meadows and the shimmering Deschutes River, with views of Mt Bachelor. The 5K & 10K Run/Walks were added to provide an opportunity for everyone in the family to have an event to participate in during the Pacific Crest Weekend. These runs alone attract 2000 athletes!
New for 2017 is the 25K Trail Run starting at Wanoga Snow Park and finishing in SR Village. Runners will tackle 688 feet of elevation with a significant amount of descent into Sunriver Village and a fast and flat finish. Athletes will travel along a variety of trails including single track, dirt roads and paved trails through the forest and will be required to run over boulders, rocks, trees, branches and other obstacles. For athletes who like DIRT, this is the event for them!
For friends and families, there is the Tour de Crest, the perfect added event during the Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival. On Friday, June 23 rd , there are two long bike rides that take place along the very same roads that the professional athletes will travel. It’s a great way for families (able to do long rides of 26 or 55 miles) to take in the amazing scenery and have a great time together. NOTE: The roads used are very well-maintained with little traffic. The routes chosen are also moderate in that they do not include any ultra-steep grades, and the scenery is fantastic, however, these routes are not kid-friendly because of the distance and it is not a closed course.
There is also a Kid’s Splash Pedal-n-Dash for kids ages 12 & under. Staged at the SHARC Rec/Pool Center, and within walking distance from the Athletes Village, kids start the Splash at the SHARC Amphitheater by running through water obstacles. They are then directed to their bikes and are directed out on the run path along Abbot Drive, toward the finish at the Official Finish Line in Athletes Village.
Pacific Crest includes a Sports & Fitness Expo, kids events, plenty of live entertainment with Hit Machine (a very popular rock band from Portland) playing Friday and Saturday nights, food booths, plenty of vendors, a Deschutes Brewery beer garden and of course the beautiful scenery surrounding Sunriver, Oregon.
Proceeds from the Kids’ events go to the Three Rivers Care for Kids Foundation which benefits 500+ local children through support of afterschool programs, education enrichment, field trips, science fairs and more. Various other local schools, clubs and non-profits also raise funds by volunteering for the events. In addition, many Central Oregon high school sports groups and non-profit organizations benefit from donations made via this event. Nearly $60,000 was raised and donated last year as a result of Pacific Crest events!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: The event is still in need of volunteers to support the event. “We work with 800 volunteers over the weekend” says Sherri McMillan, Event Director for Pacific Crest. “This year due to the snow make-up days and the extended school year, we are struggling to find enough volunteers. If there are any groups, clubs, schools, non-profits that need to raise funds for their program, please contact volunteer@whyracingevents.com to receive all details.
GENERAL EVENT SCHEDULE
FRIDAY JUNE 23 rd
25K Trail Run – starts at 7am at Wanoga Snow Park Tour de Crest Bike Tours start at 7:30am at SHARC Kid’s Splash Pedal-n-Dash for kids ages 12 & under – 4pm start at SHARC Fitness Expo in Sunriver Village from 10am-70 Hit Machine Dance Party Friday night at 7-10pm at Village Bar and Grill
SATURDAY JUNE 24 th
72.3 BEASTMAN Triathlon, Duathlon & Aqua Bike starting at 8am at Wickiup Marathon & Half-Marathon starting at 7am in Sunriver Village Fitness Expo in Sunriver Village from 9am-6pm Hit Machine Dance Party Friday night at 6-9pm at Village Bar and Grill
SUNDAY JUNE 25 th
Olympic & Ultra-Sprint Distance Triathlon, Duathlon & Aqua Bike starting at 8am at Wickiup 5K & 10K Run/Walks starting at 8:30/8:45am at Sunriver Village Kids Dashes (1-mile & 1/2-mile) starting at 8am at Sunriver Village Fitness Expo in Sunriver Village from 8am-1pm
Registration is now open: http://whyracingevents.com/event/927
The Pacific Crest Endurance Sports Festival is a production of Why Racing Events, Inc. http://whyracingevents.com/event/927
