Shanda Hill (submitted photo/Facebook)

By Pete McIntyre

ultra athlete

Shanda Hill announces her next challenge: a Triple Deca race in Italy

Nov 20, 2023 | 4:10 PM

Vernon’s record-setting ultra athlete has set her sights on her next challenge.

Shanda Hill, who is the first person to complete three Double Deca ultra triathlons in her career, has announced she plans to compete in the world’s first-ever Triple Deca race in Italy next September.

“The IUTA [International Ultra Triathlon Association] has approved it and it’s now on the official calander, and obviously the guys contacted me and they’re like ‘Well, you’re going to do it, right?’ cause I’m a sucker for punishment. And I thought, it may be once in a lifetime, and I didn’t know if they would ever hold a Triple Deca. I think it would be a great challenge,” Hill told Vernon Matters.

A Triple Deca, for those that don’t know, is the equivalent of 30 Ironman races, all at once.

“It is a 114 kilometre swim, then 5,400 km on the bike, and 1,260 km of running,” HIll explained.

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Four other athletes have signed up for the race at this point.

Shanda Hill after completing the Double Deca in Mexico in October. (Shanda Hill/Facebook photo)

Hill said after her two Double Decas over two months, one in Switzerland and the other in Mexico, she expected her body to not function as highly as it is, but she says she “feels great.”

“What amazed me — and what I’ve learned — is that with continual movement — aerobic versus anerobic — I think if you can stay on top of your body’s reserves, your body can do almost anything.”

The race is set to start Sept. 1, 2024 in Italy.

“I believe that they’ve allotted 45 days, and my goal is 33 to 34 days.”

The gruelling races take a toll on the participants, both physically and mentally, but the 41-year-old Hill is philosophical about the pain.

“People think you like pain when you go back for more, and we joke about it, but for me, I have an 18-year-old son and I didn’t appreciate any of the pain that came with childbirth, but look at the beautiful finished product, and look at how incredible that is.”

Hill said she loves the races, the experience, and learning about her body.

“You know the pain will be there, but it doesn’t dictate the final outcome. It’s just something that’s there.”

Hill is back working full time for Rancho Vignola, and training very little, if at all.

“As far as training, I’m taking it fairly easy. I haven’t really run or anything, but I am active moving around at work and lifting boxes and such.”

When she does start working out again, it will be to lift weights, adding she has lost some of her power and strength, and wants to get back up to where it was.

Hill will use money raised from crowdfunding to go to the event in Italy.

“They’re calling it the greatest event in endurance history,” and I’ve thrown my hat in the ring,” Hill exclaimed on her Facebook page.

Hill would be the first woman to conquer a Triple Deca race.

You can see the race’s start list here.