Bumps, cuts, fever, typhoon not dampening B.C. athlete’s spirit

A crash. Cuts. Nosebleeds. A fever. Nasty weather that could get nastier. Through it all, Shanda Hill’s determination has not wavered. Vernon’s ultra triathlete continues her quest in Taiwan to become the first woman to complete 50 Iron distance triathlons in one calendar year. As she continued on the bike Tuesday, riding with a competitor named Fabio, she hit a barrier and went head first over the handlebars, striking her knee and lip. A few repairs were made to the bike and to Hill, and she kept on going. Hill pushed through hours of rain, heat, and wind. “Her body is showing the strain,” wrote Hill’s support crew on social medial. “She has some sunburns, a few nosebleeds, and a fever that may be from her long exposure and effort, but she’s still focused on the task ahead. In true Hill fashion, she’s been fueling with whatever keeps her going. On Tuesday, she had two packages of noodles first thing in the morning, two pounds of honey-roasted almonds, six slices of margarita pizza, and close to nine litres of water. “Her body burns through everything she gives it, and she knows how to listen to what it needs,” said her crew. As of Tuesday, Nov. 11, about 6 a.m. local time, Hill had completed 420 of the 1,800-kilometre bike route. She’s well into the ride and holding steady, despite the changing weather, and the physical toll of the past couple of days. With an incoming typhoon, Tainan City – host site for the first-ever ultra triathlon in Asia – will be shutting down schools and workplaces Wednesday. Race officials announced that the event will pause at 12 a.m., Nov. 12, for safety. They’ll review conditions Wednesday evening, and plan to restart the race the following midnight if it’s safe to continue. Hill is taking it all in stride. “She knows the toughest races are never just against distance, but everything that comes with it,” said her support team. “Her focus remains the same. Stay ready, stay strong, and keep moving forward when the time comes.” Each loop on the course is 7.5 km long, and there are 240 laps in total.