Louise and I just took part in one of the most unique fitness challenges in the country: Stadium Stompโa stair-climbing event that turns some of Australiaโs most iconic stadiums into giant obstacle courses. This wasnโt just any workoutโit was 6,300 steps of relentless stair climbing, weaving through both the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) and the Sydney Football Stadium (SFS). And what a wild, sweaty, rewarding ride it was.
The event is billed as the ultimate stair climbing challenge, and it lives up to that reputation. From the first step, you're moving up and down aisles, tier by tier, traversing every section of the stands. There's no flat ground, no break in the action, and no real way to mentally shortcut what lies aheadโjust thousands of steps and a lot of determination.
Louise and I tackled it head-on, climbing and descending with the kind of quiet grit these things demand. Somewhere around the 4,000-step mark, I remember thinking how uniquely punishing it wasโnot just physically, but mentally. Yet the beauty of it all was hard to ignore. The SCG on a crisp winter morning is picturesque, with the iconic Membersโ Stand rising up behind you and the open blue sky stretching overhead.
And while we were in activewear and focused on survival, some of the real legends of the day were dressed in full Star Wars bounty hunter gear. Yes, you read that rightโhelmets, armour, the worksโrunning up and down every stair in both stadiums like it was just another Sunday stroll. Hats off to them!
Crossing the finish line, sweaty and spent, was a moment of genuine achievement. Weโd conquered 6,300 steps, raised money for a great cause, and shared the entire journey side-by-side. Thereโs something about doing a challenge like this together that brings out the best in you.
Stadium Stomp was more than just a fitness testโit was an experience. A celebration of grit, camaraderie, and our incredible Sydney sporting venues. Would we do it again? Letโs just say... weโll see how our legs feel tomorrow.
