Shanda tough as steel

Shanda Hill is no ordinary woman – she's more like a superhero.

The Vernon resident and ultra-triathlete will be the first and only woman in Canada to compete in a "Quintuple Anvil" in Richmond, Va., on Oct. 10.

"It's the equivalent of five Ironman races back to back. The distances are a 19-kilometre swim, then you go to a 900-kilometre bike ride and then to a 210-kilometre run," Hill said Wednesday.

Hill is no stranger to sports.

She began BMX racing at age 14, attaining two national female titles. To date, she has competed in more than 15 ultra-distance races and in 2014 began taking part in triathlons.

"At any given moment, you have times that are good and then you have times where I say 'Why did I pick this race?' and then when it's done, I'm like 'Yes! Another one off the list!'" Hill explained.

The lifelong vegetarian says she relies on the support of her family, friends and sponsors to get through the gruelling races.

Her message for people looking to try the extreme sport: "Go out and don't put limits on yourself. I think so often people think they can't do this or that, but what if you could? Why can't we just look at things and say 'I can do that!'"