Tragedy struck the 2025 Hardrock 100 on Friday morning, July 11, when Elaine Stypula of Michigan handed away lower than seven miles into the occasion, which began in Silverton, Colorado, just some hours earlier. In accordance with a press launch, the San Juan County Sheriff’s workplace and Silverton Medical Rescue workforce obtained a search and rescue name for an “unknown medical cause” in Little Big Basin, the primary climb on the course, at 9:02 a.m. Race organizers and the sheriff’s workplace confirmed the report on social media. At 10:27 a.m., slightly over an hour after receiving the decision, 60-year-old Stypula was pronounced deceased. No reason for demise was instantly confirmed.
“We’re deeply saddened to share {that a} beloved member of our Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run household has handed away throughout this 12 months’s occasion,” the Instagram profile for the Hardrock 100 wrote in a publish concerning the incident. “We’re dedicated to caring for runners, crews, volunteers, and all members of our neighborhood by means of the occasion’s length and past.”
Stypula was a extremely skilled ultrarunner and had accomplished greater than 100 ultras by means of a exceptional profession spanning a long time, together with such notable occasions because the Marathon des Sables, UTMB, and Badwater 135 Mile.
Search-and-Rescue Report
A second report from Silverton Medical Rescue expanded on the preliminary particulars.
The incident came about close to Gold Lake on the Little Big Path, practically on the high of the primary climb at an elevation of about 12,300 toes. After receiving a name at 9:02 a.m. that CPR was in progress on a person by the Hardrock 100 Security Sweep Crew members, the Silverton Medical Rescue workforce took 4×4 backcountry roads after which hiked in 1 / 4 of a mile on a steep and rugged path to succeed in Stypula. As soon as arriving on the scene, they carried out resuscitation efforts on the affected person, however Stypula was pronounced deceased at 10:27 a.m.
Responding to the decision have been the San Juan County Sheriff and Silverton Medical Rescue, together with a Flight for Life helicopter medical workforce.
“Silverton Medical Rescue is lucky to have a workforce of expert rescue professionals. We assist the neighborhood, our guests and one another even on probably the most troublesome calls,” stated Michael Burton, Incident Commander of this search-and-rescue name for Silverton Medical Rescue.
“The Hardrock 100 Endurance Race has been distinctive in group and security all through the years and a very good accomplice to our neighborhood,” stated Tyler George, Director of the Silverton Medical Rescue.
The San Juan County Coroner has but to launch extra details about Stypula’s demise. The Hardrock 100 group stated that extra info could be obtainable after the conclusion of the occasion on Sunday.
iRunFar extends its deepest condolences to all these affected by this tragedy. We’re so sorry.
[Editor’s Note: This story was first posted on our sister site GearJunkie.com. iRunFar will update this story as more details emerge. Last updated 4 p.m. MDT on Friday, July 11.]
Early morning on the 2025 Hardrock 100, just a few miles away from the place Elaine Stypula handed away. Photograph: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks