The Elevation Foundation, which was started in the wake of Fran Crippen’s Tragic Death last year with a mission to “to “Empower athletes who exemplify the principles Fran embodied as they journey to elevate themselves, by providing aid and advocating for safe competitive environments,” has announced the First Annual “Crippen Mile” Open Water Race to take place in Fort Myers Beach, Florida on June 11th, 2011. The race will be a one-mile swim in a “drag-race” style, meaning that it will be in a straight line. All proceeds will go to support the Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation.
The race will be open to both amateurs and professionals in 13 different age groups, and has been labeled a true open event with all comers welcome. In its first year, this race will likely be one wholly centered on the still-fresh memory of the man we lost, but more importantly it will surely serve as an exhibition of how to run an open water event in a manner that ensures the highest levels of safety for all competitors without compromising race integrity.
For more information and to register, go to the official Fran Crippen Elevation Foundation site.