To merely describe ultra runner Shanda Hill (35) as resilient would be inaccurate for its understatement, but rather to best describe he as incredibly resilient is closer when considering extreme obstacles she’s overcome after recovering from a traumatic brain injury.
It was May 9, 2003, when Hill, the 21- year-old national ranked BMX racer was riding her bike to Silver Star Mountain in Vernon, B.C. and was struck from behind by an SUV.
Hill suffered physical trauma throughout her body, as well as her brain injury. Now, through her iron will and family support, she’s made an athletic comeback.
In a recent interview, the Vernon resident and mother of 13-year-old son Tyrese, shared her story about the accident and her new passion for ultra running. “It was in Vernon, heading up Silver Star Mountain to my parents house,” Hill began, saying, “I have no memory of the accident but was lucky enough to be riding with a good friend who witnessed it and gave the police a statement on site.”
According to Brain Injury Canada, approximately 1.5 million Canadians live with the effects of an acquired brain injury.
Hill continues: “Getting back on track…let me say, without the support of my family, I would not be here, their unwavering support, especially my mother’s, kept me alive. The second best thing mentally to happen was a rehabilitation program that got me to the gym, strengthening around the areas that took the brunt end of the impact in my back, helping with pain management so much, to this day I have a lifetime commitment to staying strong or I hurt more.”
After some time in rehab and getting back into shape, Hill’s first running race was in 2010 and in 2014 her friend challenged her to try a triathlon. Her first ultra was in 2016. “I raced my first Triathlon (Challenge Penticton 2014), on a whim by the prompting of a friend. At the time I knew nothing about Triathlon and didn’t even have a bike or wet-suit,” she says.
Hill has her post-recovery athletic accomplishments indelibly etched on her mind, saying, “I’m a human who was lucky to drop into a sport she loves. In 2017 I was ranked #1 IUTA (International Ultra Triathlon Association) female in the world, but hold a World Record as the only female to complete two decas (24 miles of swimming, 1,120 miles of biking and 262 miles of running) in one year. The deca Ironman is a race to finish 10 Ironman-distance triathlons in 10 days. My real accomplishment though I believe, has been to stay close and connected with my son, family, and friends through all this racing.”
Hill offers more: “I balance motherhood because I have a strong family support system around me – many times my son has come to work with me, but we’re together, like the Switzerland deca this year, he came, we’re together – that matters. We do five and 10km running races together and it’s beautiful that we can enjoy an activity that’s positive and healthy for each of us.”
When it comes to her training she says, “I believe in total strength, not specific as in only swimming running or biking.
If I could tell anyone one important training tip it would be to cross train outside your specific sport, for example, instead of just swimming,
I’ll climb pegboard to work on shoulder strength and mobility. I ride my bike every two weeks, I don’t swim train, I just do pegboard (stability exercise) to keep my shoulders strong enough to take a good beating.
My life has more balance then one would think, on season. My work is very physical – landscaping.
So what’s next for Shanda Hill?
“Truth be told, I have no idea. I always said that my end goal was the double deca 20x Ironman distance but since having a Forrest Gump like experience at the race I’m at, I may simply close this chapter in life and start a new one.
I feel blessed to have been able to accomplish what I have in such a short time, and I’m very much at peace with where things are at,” she says.
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