Her name is Deanna Blegg. And she is the leading female in Australian Obstacle Racing. (Not sure what obstacle racing is? Think Tough Mudder, the Mud Run, the Spartan Race, True Grit, Raw Challenge, The Stampede…)
Blegg has won plenty of races, including first place in the 2013 World’s Toughest Mudder Race (which is a 24-hour event).
Pretty awesome achievement, huh?
Well, what’s even more amazing is that Deanna is 44 years of age, a mother of two and has been living with HIV since the age of 24.
I asked Deanna a few questions to find out more about her incredible story…
N: How did you get started in adventure racing?
D: Working as a personal trainer, I got to travel alongside many people and watch them achieve their goals. One of my clients, who had been 116kg, wanted to run a marathon. I was inspired by her dedication and commitment. She dropped her weight down to 60kg and ran the marathon. I was by her side the whole way. To see her and her families elation at the finish line was overwhelming. She had set an amazing goal and achieved it. I wanted a little piece of that, so was soon looking for a goal of my own.
I saw a flyer for the Anaconda Adventure Race and said to myself, “I am going to win this!” I didn’t win it the first year. I got the adventure bug, though. The second year I won it and felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
Why did you cross over to Australian Obstacle Racing?
Top Comments
There is minimal risk of a HIV+ person compliant with antiretroviral treatment transmitting the virus, even to a sexual partner. Even if a person is undiagnosed and not on treatment, virus survival is dependent on heat, humidity, temperature etc in the outside environment as well as having to have high enough quantities of viral load and having an entry point to another body through cuts and sores etc. So far there are no documented cases of HIV transmission through sport.
Wish the article didn't gloss over HIV, you got me here and then nothing...