Elaine Stypula, a 60-year-old runner from Farmington Hills, Michigan, died after collapsing during the Hardrock 100 Endurance Race in San Juan County, Colorado, on Friday, July 11, 2025.
According to reports, she fell on the Little Giant Trail near Gold Lake, just three hours into the race.
The location, described by Silverton Medical Rescue as “steep, rugged, and remote,” required rescuers to navigate off-road paths before hiking a quarter mile on foot to reach her.
The incident took place in the early stages of the 102-mile ultramarathon, set against the challenging high-altitude landscape of Colorado.
Rescue Teams Responded but Could Not Revive Her
According to a press release, at 9.02 am, a call was made to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office and Silverton Medical Rescue, alerting them that CPR was in progress.
Members of the race’s safety sweep team had initiated life-saving efforts shortly after Stypula’s collapse.
However, despite the rapid response and continued resuscitation attempts by emergency personnel, she was pronounced dead at 10:27 a.m.
Additionally, a Flight for Life helicopter was also dispatched to assist in the response.
The cause of death remains unknown.
Experienced Competitor and Attorney
Stypula, a resident of Farmington Hills, Michigan, was identified by the San Juan County Coroner’s Office.
According to Stypula’s Instagram profile, she worked as a family attorney and was a passionate long-distance runner. Her passion for long-distance running was well-documented in her posts.
Hardrock 100, known for its extreme elevation and difficulty, includes multiple mountain passes above 12,000 feet, with the highest point topping out at 14,048 feet at Handies Peak.
Community and Officials Express Condolences
San Juan County Coroner Keri Metzler extended sympathies and offered heartfelt condolences to Stypula’s loved ones as well as the community impacted by the tragedy.
Michael Burton, the incident commander for the rescue team, acknowledged the effort made by emergency personnel.
Meanwhile, Tyler George, Director of Silverton Medical Rescue, acknowledged the longstanding partnership between local responders and the race’s organizers.
He emphasized that the Hardrock 100 has consistently maintained high standards for safety and coordination throughout the years.
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