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A world record in 225 hours. Stitches on a gym floor. A typhoon, a temple, and a white bucket that might save your race. I sat down with IUTA Hall of Famer, Shanda Hill, to unpack the mindset, methods, and meaning behind one of the most audacious ultra tri careers ever—and the moment she chose health over history.

Shanda breaks down the true shape of a DECA continuous: 10x Iron distance where the clock never stops and every decision is magnified. She shares the practical systems that carried her—soup-based fueling that works in cold pools, a hydration check using a white bowl to protect kidney function, and a sleep strategy tied to safety and weather rather than ego. We talk oxygen therapy, cold-water immersion, and why time management can beat raw speed across 38 km of swimming, 1,800 km of cycling, and 422 km of running.

The stories are wild and human: riding through a South African deluge, resetting in Brazil to chase a record, crashing in France and getting field-stitched by a fellow racer, and learning the hard way in Poland how one pedal choice can sabotage your stabilizers. Along the way, Shanda spotlights the ultra community—race directors who make impossible events happen, rivals who lift the bar, and athletes finishing doubles and decas with broken bones and unbroken resolve.

If you’re training for Ultraman, DECA, or your own endurance goal, you’ll leave with clear, actionable insights on fueling, electrolytes, recovery, and the mental game that keeps you moving loop after loop.

Contact Shanda at : https://www.shandahillultra.com/

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• IUTA Hall of Fame
• Taiwan Ultra Deca
• Bretzel Ultra Triathlon (Colmar, France)
• Desenzano del Garda (Triple Deca)
• IUTA World Cup 
• Ultra Tri South Africa (Deca)
• Ultra 520K Canada 
• Brazil Ultra Tri (Deca)
• Double Ultra Triathlon Emsdetten
• Poland Ultra Triathlon (Deca)
• Triathlon Triple Lensahn
• Double Deca Mexico
• Switzerland Double Deca
• Virginia Triple Anvil 
• UB515 

Shout outs and mentions in this episode:

• Jacs Spence
• Starting Block
• Rancho Vignola
• Eve-volve Wellness
• Reatha Rousseau
• Steve Brown
• Blaine Ponte  
• Leah Goldstein
• Sergio Cordeiro
• World record holder deca
• Deca Dave Clamp  
• Jorge Rodriguez 
• Mark hohe dorst
• Brad Kelley
• Gustavo Vieira 
• Lia Sterciuc
• Harriet Clamp
• Marius Butuc (S8E1)
• Anelia Butuc
• Ming Ye 
• Ronny Rossler 
• Norbert Luffenberger
• Tyrese Hill
• Micheal Ward
• Beto Villa 
• Wayne Kurtz 
• Laurent Quignette
• Heidi Lindemann 
• Jade Medders
• Paul Bedard
• Daniel Oliveira 
• Tomasz Lus 

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Show Contributors:
Host : Larry Ryan
Contributing Raconteur : Steve King
Announcer : Mary Jo Dionne
Production : 5Five Enterprises
Music : Run by 331

For show notes and past guests, please visit the Podcast Website: https://515theultrapodcast.buzzsprout.com
Facebook: @515TheUltraPodcast
Insta : @515theultrapodcast
Youtube : @515TheUltraPodcast
Email : [email protected]