How do I stop my toddler from hitting me?

[KellyHall]

Dd is 2.5 and hits me when she's over-tired or doesn't want to do/stop doing something when I request it.
Example: I tried really hard to get her to sleep earlier today because she looked almost asleep when we got back from the park but she refused to even sit down for long and when I actually tried to get her in the pushchair she went fucking mental so I gave up (because from past experience she'd get out of the pushchair harness and try to throw herself on the pavement) I just tried to play with her instead but she's spent about 90% of the last two hours hitting me, shouting and screaming because she bloody well was tired but refused to admit it. Now she's passed out on the sofa and I just know it's going to mess up tonight's sleep but I got so sick of her I'm glad of the break.
When she's hits me, I tried to do a time out but she just followed me screaming, and often still hitting me. I set a timer on my phone sometimes and say I'm going to ignore her until it goes off after which she says sorry but then does it again. I've tried taking toys off her for a day and that worked for a while but she's got so many toys, I think she'll happily just play with something else now.

Help!