MEDIA RELEASE 12 May 2008
Anaconda sponsors top adventure racer
Outdoor adventure retailer Anaconda has signed a sponsorship deal with endurance
athlete Deanna Blegg, who has recently turned her attention to the gruelling
sport of adventure racing.
Adventure racing is a relatively new sport that attracts 'every day' people and
elite athletes from around the globe. Adventure racing, which has sometimes been
called off-road triathlon, has emerged as the big brother to marathons, road
races and triathlons and has seen a significant increase in popularity all
around the world in the past 10 years.
38-year-old Blegg is the mother of two children - Tia-Rae and Xanda. She and her
partner Andrew, have a personal training studio in a 70-year-old church hall in
the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield.
Blegg's interest in sport began as a swimmer at the age of 10 where she reached
the top ten swimmers in her home state of Victoria. She went on to compete in
athletics, biathlons, road cycling and many triathlons before taking adventure
racing in late 2006.
"Adventure racing is a natural extension for me because it combines all the
sports that I've previously competed in and adds the extra discipline of
kayaking," Blegg said.
"My first adventure race was the Anaconda Adventure Race held in Lorne in
December 2006 and I came seventh. This gave me real thirst for adventure racing
and I returned in 2007 to win. I was the first woman across the line and I even
beat a number of the favoured male athletes. It felt absolutely fantastic.
"Anaconda's support is going to make it easier for me to get to a number of
challenging races on the Australian circuit including the Anaconda series later
in the year," added Blegg.
Blegg said she uses a unique blend of diet, yoga and exercise to best prepare
for the gruelling events.
Despite her work and personal commitments, Blegg trains between 10 and 20 hours
every week including running and mountain-bike riding in the Dandenongs, You
Yangs and Lysterfield and kayaking around the Bayside area.
"I juggle family, work and training commitments which doesn't leave much time to
relax but I'm very organised and don't neglect any part of my life. I was
diagnosed with a life-threatening illness about 12 years ago and it really put
my life in perspective," added Blegg.
Blegg will be competing in the Anaconda Adventure Race National Series which
will be held in QLD, NSW, WA and Victoria from August this year. Blegg will also
participate in the Anaconda MTB Eduro and other adventure races throughout 2008.
Anaconda will be covering the cost of airfares, accommodation, travelling
expenses, Anaconda gear and race entry fees throughout 2008. In return Blegg
will wear Anaconda branded clothing in each race and represent Anaconda at these
events.
Typically, the Anaconda adventure races are run over one day with up to 1,000
competitors who race individually and in teams. It generally takes four hours
for the winner to complete the race and eight hours for the slowest competitor.
Anaconda was founded in November 2004 by Toby Darvall, after selling his share
in a camping & army surplus wholesale business he co-founded 13 years
previously. He had formerly been a business reporter at Melbourne's popular
daily, The Age.
Anaconda can be contacted on 1300 669 137 or by visiting
www.anaconda.com.au.
Released for Anaconda by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au)
For further information please call Nicola Rutzou or Kim Larochelle on (02) 9413
4244.
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