The typhoon that is weather-related, the organizers saw coming.
The typhoon that is Vernon ultra athlete Shanda Hill, announcing her retirement from all ultra triathlon competitions mid-race in Taiwan, nobody saw coming.
On her Facebook page early Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 12, Hill announced her official retirement.
“My dear friends and supporters, it would not be me if I did not speak straight from the heart, so here goes.
“This morning, as I sit here in Taiwan, I find myself surrounded by the stillness that often comes after long days of racing. My body is tired, my mind is full, and my heart is heavy but calm. There are many thoughts running through my head, but one keeps rising to the surface, stronger than the rest.
“I have had a good run. And today, I am ready to share one of the hardest decisions I have ever had to make. It is time for me to retire from ultra triathlon.
“Since I began ultra triathlon in 2016, my life has been shaped by this sport and the incredible people who make it what it is. The highs and lows, the exhaustion and triumph, the quiet moments between laps, and the joy of crossing each finish line have all become part of who I am. My heart has always been in it for the love of the sport and for the ultra community that I proudly call my second family.
“In the past nine years, including the three when racing was paused during COVID, I have completed 175 Iron distance triathlons. Each one was made possible because of all of you, your encouragement, advice, and unwavering belief in me. I cannot thank you enough for walking beside me through it all. It has taken not only a community but something much greater, a shared spirit of strength and kindness that carried me further than I ever dreamed possible.
“As many of you know, I have struggled for years with sensitivity to chlorine in pools. My lungs have benefited from the oxygen therapy I have done with Evolve Wellness at home, but there is only so much the body can take. After more than 20 hours of swimming here in Taiwan, breathing that thin layer of chlorine above the water became my turning point. Since then, I have not been able to take full breaths. Each inhale feels shallow, and right now, I simply cannot get enough air to carry me through the distances ahead.
“My mind is strong and ready to continue, but my body has said no. And that is something I must listen to.
“I always said I would race until I did not love it anymore, but that is not the case. I still love it deeply, but now I will have to love it differently. I am holding onto gratitude for all that I have been able to do while I could. It has been a gift beyond measure.
“This sport has taught me so much, but even more than that, it is the people I have met along the way who have touched my heart the most. The friendships, the quiet moments shared out on the course, the long nights when we pushed through together, and the silent understanding between athletes who give everything they have will always stay with me.
“There are moments and people who have left a lasting imprint on my heart, and one memory stands out above the rest. Last year, after speaking to a group of children about my racing journey and the challenges I had faced, a young girl about 11 years old ran up to me and asked, ‘How old do I have to be to race like you?’ That moment stopped me in my tracks.
“It wasn’t just her question that moved me, but the certainty behind it; that in her mind, there was never a question of if she could, only when. That belief, that simple confidence that anything is possible, reminded me of why I started this journey in the first place. It showed me that what we do out here reaches far beyond the races themselves. If even one person carries that belief forward because they saw me out there trying, then every mile has been worth it.
“So, as I step away from Ultra Triathlon, please know that my love for this sport and this community remains as strong as ever. I am sad to be saying goodbye to the starting lines, but I am also excited for what comes next. I know there will be new challenges, new adventures, and new ways to give back to the world that has given me so much.
“It has truly been a good run, and I am forever grateful that you have shared in the highs and the lows with me.
“With love and gratitude, Shanda.”
Hill had completed more than 420 kilometres of the bike discipline at the first-ever ultra event in Asia, being held in Tainan City, in Taiwan, when the race was halted at 12 a.m. Nov. 12 due to an incoming typhoon in the region.
She was looking to become the first woman to ever complete 50 Iron distance triathlons in a calendar year by finishing the Taiwan ultra race.
Hill owns multiple records in the sport. She was named Tim Hortons North Okanagan Athlete of the Year in 2020.