60-Year-Old Ultra-Runner Dies After Collapsing During 102-Mile Mountain Race: 'Tremendous Loss'
- - - 60-Year-Old Ultra-Runner Dies After Collapsing During 102-Mile Mountain Race: 'Tremendous Loss'
Escher WalcottJuly 12, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Elaine Stypula/Instagram
Elaine Stypula
Elaine Stypula collapsed and died while competing in the Hardrock 100 race in Colorado on Friday, July 11
Stypula, 60, is believed to have collapsed three hours into the race on Little Giant Trail in Silverton
CPR was performed on the runner, however, she died at the scene. Her cause of death has not been disclosed at this time
An ultra-runner has died after collapsing during a mountain race in Colorado.
At 9:02 a.m. local time on Friday, July 11th, emergency responders received a Search and Rescue call about a person receiving CPR three hours into the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run (Hardrock 100) on Little Giant Trail in Silverton, the Silverton Medical Rescue (SMR) team stated in a press release.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s Department and SMR arrived at the scene and took over “resuscitation efforts” on the victim, identified as 60-year-old Elaine Stypula of Michigan. A helicopter medical team also responded to the scene.
“[The SMR] hiked in a ¼ of a mile on the Little Giant Trail to the scene, which is a part of the Hardrock 100 course,” said SMR, per the release. “Once arriving at the scene, the Silverton Medical Rescue Team hiked a ¼ mile up a steep, rugged, remote trail and once arrived, performed resuscitation efforts on the patient.”
Despite their efforts, Stypula was pronounced dead at 10:27 a.m. local time. The cause of her death has not been revealed.
Silverton Medical Rescue/Facebook
A runner, 60, died during a two-day 100-Mile mountain race in Colorado
Michael Burton, SMR’s Incident Commander, released a statement, saying, "SMR 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."
The Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run kicked off on Friday at 6:00 a.m. local time in Silverton, setting off to reach 66,394 feet above ground, according to the Hardrock 100 website. The annual 102-mile race goes through the San Juan Mountains and various Colorado towns, including Telluride and Ouray, before returning to Silverton.
“We are indebted to Silverton Medical Rescue for their professional response to the tragedy at the Hardrock Hundred Mile Endurance Run today. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you,” the race organization said in a statement on their website.
“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. Our hearts are with their family, friends, and fellow runners as we grieve this tremendous loss.”
Silverton Medical Rescue/Facebook
Medical teams responding to the incident in the Colorado mountains on July 11
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Stypula was a family law attorney and ultra runner, according to her Instagram. In a 2021 post, she announced that she had qualified for the Hardrock Endurance Race 2022. The 60-year-old had previously competed in the same race four years prior, but didn’t finish it, according to the New York Post.
"I want to extend my condolences to the family, friends and community of Elaine Stypula," said Keri Metzler of San Juan County Colorado Coroner’s Office.
PEOPLE has reached out to the San Juan County Colorado Coroner’s Office for comment.
on People
Source: AOL Sports
