Vernon woman completes epic triathlon with 15 hours to spare

A Vernon triathletehas made history as being the first woman to cross the finish line at the USA Ultra Triathlon Quintuple Anvil a1129kilometre endurancegrind.

Last week, 34-year-oldShandaHillhad 132 hours to swim19 kilometres, cycle 900 kilometresand run another 210 kilometres a distance the equivalent offiveback-to-back Ironman races.

She finished the race with 15 hours to spare, making her the first woman to cross the finish line. She's alsothe first Canadian woman to compete in the race.

"I'm feeling pretty darn good," she told host Chris Walker on CBC'sDaybreak South. "[After the race] I was a little stiff. But I've been in the ice bath ... I should be up and going real quick."

Thatresidual stiffness was well-earned. The race took place over five-and-a-half daysand offered little rest for those who decided to test their mettle.

"If you are lucky, you take a couple hours rest," she said. "If not, you get out of the swim and you go straight onto the bike it just keeps going from there"

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Digging deep

On one sleepless night,Hill found herself having to dig deep.

"About 4 a.m. on Thursday [October 13],I was out runningand it got quite cool," she said."I had a bit of a tearing feeling in my quad muscle.It was really hurting.

"I thought you know what, I've hada kid [the pain] isn't going to be as bad [as that] so I just ground right through."

She says those gritty moments are what make the triathlon worthwhile.

"When you're put in a position of having to dig deeper like thatand you choose to I think it's so incredible what we're capable of with our human bodies."

Hill has only been participating in triathlons for two years. She already has her sights set on her next challenge: the Deca triathlon, the equivalent of ten back-to-back Ironman challenges.

With files from CBC'sDaybreak South

To listen to the full interview, click on the audio labelled:Vernon woman makes Canadian history at USA Ultra Triathlon