Tragedy struck the 2025 Hardrock 100 on Friday morning, July 11, when Elaine Stypula of Michigan passed away less than seven miles into the event, which started in Silverton, Colorado, just a few hours earlier. According to a press release, the San Juan County Sheriff’s office and Silverton Medical Rescue team received a search and rescue call for an “unknown medical reason” in Little Giant Basin, the first climb on the course, at 9:02 a.m. Race organizers and the sheriff’s office confirmed the report on social media. At 10:27 a.m., a little over an hour after receiving the call, 60-year-old Stypula was pronounced deceased. No cause of death was immediately confirmed.
“We are deeply saddened to share that a beloved member of our Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run family has passed away during this year’s event,” the Instagram profile for the Hardrock 100 wrote in a post about the incident. “We are committed to caring for runners, crews, volunteers, and all members of our community through the event’s duration and beyond.”
Stypula was a highly experienced ultrarunner and had completed more than 100 ultras through a remarkable career spanning decades, including such notable events as the Marathon des Sables, UTMB, and Badwater 135 Mile.
The start of the 2025 Hardrock 100. Photo: iRunFar/Bryon Powell
Search-and-Rescue Report
A second report from Silverton Medical Rescue expanded on the initial details.
The incident took place near Gold Lake on the Little Giant Trail, nearly at the top of the first climb at an elevation of about 12,300 feet. After receiving a call at 9:02 a.m. that CPR was in progress on an individual by the Hardrock 100 Safety Sweep Team members, the Silverton Medical Rescue team took 4×4 backcountry roads and then hiked in a quarter of a mile on a steep and rugged trail to reach Stypula. Once arriving at the scene, they performed resuscitation efforts on the patient, but Stypula was pronounced deceased at 10:27 a.m.
Responding to the call were the San Juan County Sheriff and Silverton Medical Rescue, along with a Flight for Life helicopter medical team.
“Silverton Medical Rescue is fortunate to have a team of skilled rescue professionals. We support the community, our visitors and each other even on the most difficult calls,” said Michael Burton, Incident Commander of this search-and-rescue call for Silverton Medical Rescue.
“The Hardrock 100 Endurance Race has been exceptional in organization and safety throughout the years and an excellent partner to our community,” said Tyler George, Director of the Silverton Medical Rescue.
The San Juan County Coroner has yet to release more information about Stypula’s death. The Hardrock 100 organization said that more information would be available after the conclusion of the event on Sunday.
iRunFar extends its deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy. We are 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 at the 2025 Hardrock 100, a few miles away from where Elaine Stypula passed away. Photo: iRunFar/Meghan Hicks
