Mark down another major milestone for Vernon athlete Shanda Hill.
Competing in the longest triathlon of her storied career, Hill crossed the halfway mark Monday, Sept. 16, of the bike portion of the Tri Deca in La Garda, six hours north of Rome.
At the 360 hour mark on Day 15 of her race, Hill has powered through the 114 kilometre swim and has logged an impressive 3,097 kilometres on her bike.
"Only 2,300 km left on the bike," shouted her support team on her Facebook page Monday.
The bike portion is the equivalent of cycling from Vernon to Miami. When she gets off the two wheels and begins her two-leg final portion, Hill will run 1,266 kms 鈥� Vernon to Saskatoon 鈥� on what's being described as an abysmal course.
Her support team wrote Monday morning that good energy, clear skies, and an end to nasty weather has Hill feeling way better.
"She's pushing 100 per cent, no backing down, and won't quit no matter what," said the team. "Once she knocks out the remaining kilometres on the bike, it's straight into the run.
"Word from the athletes already running from other races is that the course is brutal 鈥� mud, gravel, grass. It's going to be rough on everyone. Shanda's determination is something we can all be proud of."
Hill shared with her support team more about her daily grind; dodging cars honking like mad; climbing an insane hill 45 times daily; battling through wind, rain, and scoring sun. She's getting by without a generator to charge her gears and trying to fuel up properly as a vegetarian.
"Everything's a challenge that becomes the norm," said the support crew. "The aches? They're like old companions, just reminding her she's alive."
When Hill sits down for a minute, she wants to stay there for an hour. But she gets up, pushes herself back out onto the course, and hammers away at the kilometres.
"The mental challenges are just as tough," said the crew. "But Shanda's finding the strength to overcome them."
To be clear, the support crew is home in Vernon. There is no support crew with Hill on the course. She's managing and juggling every aspect, including what clothes to wear for the weather; what's still drying from being soaked; making sure her bike lights are charged; and managing the cold and her food.
While all of it is spinning in her mind as the exhausted athlete powers on, lap after lap, what keeps her going and makes her feel like she's not alone on the course, is the love, support, and encouragement from home.
"Your messages, your belief in her, and your unwavering support keep her going," said the crew. "She is truly unstoppable."
As of 12 p.m. Monday, Hill was in fifth place overall and is the lead woman, 268 kilometres ahead of American Lia Sterciuc.
Overall race leader Tautvydas Grabauskas of Lithuania has completed 3,613 kms of the bike portion, and enjoys a 20 km lead on France's Goulween Trystant.
