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Bronda Starling of Garland will be missed by the thousands whose lives she touched in the running and multi-sport communities.

Starling, an active participant, official and volunteer, died Tuesday of complications after a year-long battle with melanoma. She was 50.

Starling was born in Dallas and graduated from Fort Worth Southwest High School. She earned a degree in architecture from UT-Arlington and worked for Highland Homes.

She spent her free time training for, competing in or assisting with area, national and international events. She competed on Team USA in duathlon (a run-bike-run competition) five times. She also served on the South Midwest Regional board from 2003 until her death. She was the secretary and chairwoman of the rankings committee.

Starling received several honors, including USA Triathlon's South Midwest Region's President's Award. The region also named an award in her honor. The individual who participates in the most USAT-sanctioned triathlons and duathlons annually receives the Starling award, said Jack Weiss, Starling's friend and fellow USAT official.

"She competed every weekend unless she was injured, and rarely did she take off then," said her husband, Ron. "She was racing bone-on-one on one knee."

The pair met at a fast-pitch softball tournament in 1980. They married Feb. 25, 1989.

Last July, Starling began having coordination issues and losing her balance. Doctors discovered a malignant brain tumor.

Her friends and family said she refused to let pain or illness stop her. She participated in events even after multiple surgeries and hospitalizations. Her last duathlon was in May. She walked a 5K during Memorial Day weekend.

"The girl could be stubborn," said coach and longtime friend Chris Phelan. "That was evident in her last year as she continued to do as many races as possible, striving to get out every ounce of will and determination to meet her goals."

The funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Williams Funeral Home in Garland. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in Starling's name to the LiveStrong Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Briefly: Stephen Hudgens of Fort Worth, 52, is one of two Texans who will participate in the Badwater Ultramarathon, the legendary 135-mile ultra course starting at Death Valley and ending at Mount Whitney, Calif. The race begins Monday. Hudgens finished last year in 56 hours, 31 minutes 35 seconds.

El Scorcho, the Fort Worth 50K that starts at midnight July 20, is full. For anyone who still wants to run far in the heat, there's the July 19 Too Hot To Handle 15K at Winfrey Point or the Aug. 24 Hottest Half & 10K at White Rock Lake.

Wildfires forced organizers to cancel last month's Western States 100 endurance event. Garland's Matt Crownover, Plano's Stan Roady and Dallas' Tom Crull and Mike Drejci were among the 390 registrants who didn't get to run.

dfetterman@dfwrunning.com

SATURDAY, JULY 12 – Just for the Heck of it IX, Elm Grove Pavilion, River Legacy Parks, 701 Northwest Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, $8 today, $10 race day, 817-265-4578.

SUNDAY, JULY 13 – Fort Worth Runners Club, High Noon 1.2 Mile Run, River Park, Bryant Irvin and the Trinity Trail, Fort Worth, Noon, $8 members, $12 others, 817-654-5390 or www.fwrunners.org.

SUNDAY, JULY 13 –Iron Brothers Super Sprint Tri (400-meter open water swim/11-mile bike/2-mile run), Lynn Creek Park at Lake Ridge Parkway, Joe Pool Lake, Grand Prairie, 7:15 a.m., Individuals: $80 through Saturday. Teams: $140 through Saturday, No race day registration, 817-707-0500 or www.ironheadrp.com. (USA Triathlon membership required. Annual fee $39. One-day permit $10.)

SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2008 –RunOn's late 2008 marathon training including White Rock Marathon and half marathon training, $250, 214-821-0909 or www.runontexas.com.

MONDAYS, JULY 14-28 – Red, White & Blue Summer Trilogy 5K, Heritage Park at the far north end of Taylor Street in downtown Fort Worth, 7 p.m., $12 for individual race, $30 for the three-race series, www.runtimeracingservices.com.

MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY, JULY 14-16 – Badwater UltraMarathon, the 135-mile legendary ultra run, starting at Death Valley and ending at Mount Whitney, Calif.

WEDNESDAYS, JULY 16-AUG. 13 – James Thruston's Jogger 5K Summer Series at Bachman Lake, just east of the Bachman Recreation Center, 2750 Bachman Drive, 7 p.m., $20, 214-821-0909.

THURSDAYS, JULY 17AUG. 28 – Trinity 5000 5K and 1K, Trinity Trail Park, Fort Worth, 7:15 p.m., 817-531-2381 or trininty5000running@yahoo.com.

SATURDAY, JULY 19 –St. Mark's Souls for Souls 5K, St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 2024 S. Collins St., Arlington, 7:30 a.m., $15 through Saturday, $20 race day, 817-265-2537 or 817-881-4578 or www.stmarksepiscopal.org.

SATURDAY, JULY 19 –Too Hot To Handle 15K and 5K, Winfrey Point, White Rock Lake, Dallas, 7:30 a.m., $30 through July 18, $40 race day, 214-821-0909 or www.runontexas.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 20 –Blazing Saddles 5K and Duathlon, Bath House, White Rock Lake, Dallas, 7:30 a.m., Duathlon: $45 through Saturday, $50 after, $60 race day. Relay: $75 through Saturday, $80 after, $90 race day, 5K: $22 through Saturday, $25 after, $30 race day, 214-821-0909 or www.thrustonracing.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 20 – El Scorcho 50k and 25K, Trinity Park, Fort Worth, midnight (00:00), SOLD OUT, 817-731-1760 or www.elscorchorun.com.

SUNDAY, JULY 20 – Town North YMCA Kids Triathlon (100-meter swim/2.5 mile bike/.75 mile run or 200-meter swim/5 mile bike/1.5-mile run for kids ages 7-10 and 11-14, respectively), Town North YMCA, 4332 Northaven Road, Dallas, 7 a.m., Individual: $45 through July 17, $50 July 18-19. Teams: $90 through July 17, $100 July 18-19. No race day registration, 817-707-0500 or www.ironheadrp.com. (USA Triathlon membership required. Youth membership annual fee $5.)

MONDAYS, JULY 21-28 – Red, White & Blue Summer Trilogy 5K, Heritage Park, Park at the far north end of Taylor Street in downtown Fort Worth, 7 p.m., $12, www.runtimeracingservices.com .