Orange sun. Black toe.
No big deal for Vernon ultra athlete Shanda Hill, who continues to lead the first South African Deca Ultra Triathlon on Day 3 Tuesday, March 11, in the resort town of Gariep Dam, six hours south of Johannesburg.
Hill 香蕉视频直播� the only woman in the field of 12 香蕉视频直播� was first out of the swim, covering the 38 kilometres in 16 hours and 24 minutes. She's been on her bike for 470 kms of the 1,800km route in 32 hours.
"She told me this morning that the sun is unreal," said Hill's partner, Jacs Spence, on social media. "Despite the heat only being around 32 Celsius, she said the sun down there seems to bake you to the core."
Spence said Hill finds it entertaining to "grind the men into the ground every day," adding she knows she won't always be in the lead, which doesn't bother her, but she enjoys pushing the rest of the pack.
One male athlete, Gustavo Vieira of Brazil, messaged Spence Monday night after he had broken down, and Hill stopped when she saw him in distress. Hill had grabbed Vieira's bike the night before, and carried it on her back to get it as she cycled to get it repaired for him.
"This woman is (expletive) up. I love her," wrote Vieira. "I got a flat (tire) and, look, she helped me and she is in first. She's amazing."
Thought to have broken a toe early in the race, Spence said Hill's injured digit is her ring toe. Despite the fact it's entirely black, it's believed to be only a jammed toe, and should not affect her too much when she enters the final discipline, the 422 km run.
Hill's spirits are being buoyed by the support at home in the North Okanagan from Spence, the love from friends and family around the world, and even in South Africa.
"Shanda's two support people are Jade and her daughter Sage, who flew from Florida to South Africa to support Shanda in her race," said Spence. "Jade is no stranger to us for those who have followed Shanda's career. She was the support person who helped Shanda in her first Double Deca in Mexico in 2019, and was also Shanda's support person in 2023 when she won the Double Deca in Mexico.
"Her daughter Sage is also an aspiring athlete who expressed she would like to follow in Shanda's footsteps one day. There is no better way to learn than from the Lioness herself."