Stadium Stomp 2014

Well! I know I have been absent for a few weeks and I have no excuses other than I have been enjoying some amazing holiday time with my family. I love running, but I love my family a whole lot more, so being able to relax and spend some real quality time with them has been amazing.

While on holidays though (back home in Melbourne), it wouldn't have been a great holiday unless I snuck in a little race or something somewhere. So, Stadium Stomp 2014 it was! I completed it last year and had a ball, so making the decision to go again was a pretty easy one (see my blog about it here).

I decided to complete the full course just as I had done last year, and turned up and registered on the day (it actually worked out perfectly as my partner had to work that morning anyway), and watched a very cute on field proposal as I waited for my wave to start. I was little nervous, but knowing exactly what to expect, and knowing I had completed it last year made it A LOT easier!

I took it easy at the start knowing what was ahead- a few people commented as we finished level 1 and moved onto level 4 about being half way. Even though it does feel like half way because you have finished 1 of the 2 levels, in terms of stairs- you are only just over 1/4 of the way. It was great knowing what was ahead of me and it really helped me to pace myself so I could complete the challenge but finished with essentially no gas in the tank. I broke it into mental sections (green chairs, brown chairs, blue chairs) and counted how many sets of 'up' stairs until the next colour section of the stadium. Before I knew it I was nearing the end, and I was feeling it. I mean feeling it. My legs were shaking with every step and I was so looking forward to sitting down!

I pushed hard and I finished in under 1.5 hours, and I think it was faster than last year (but not 100% on that one). I was pretty pleased with myself after no specific stair training and just deciding on the day before to complete it.

I would 100% recommend Stadium Stomp to everyone, whether it be the half or full course. It is an awesome day out with a great atmosphere and provides an awesome challenge to people of various fitness levels. A big thumbs up from me Stadium Stomp!

Feeling very accomplished at the end of the day!

Do you often decide to do a race on short notice?

Ash :)

Stadium Stomp

Last year I completed Stadium Stomp's inaugural event at Melbourne's MCG. Stadium Stomp is a stair climbing challenge, with two levels of difficulty. Those choosing the short course will tackle the lower level of the MCG and those doing the full course will attack both the stairs on the lower and upper levels of the MCG. By this, I mean you go up and down, up and down, up down, and so on, until you do a full loop of the stadium. Now for some people, like myself, just one level didn't sound punishing enough, so we did the full course. Now the upper level is about 3 times as steep as level 1, so it really does ramp up in intensity! To give you idea of the sheer epicness of this challenge- the short course has approximately 1890 stairs, while doing the full course will take you to the craziness of approximately 7343 stairs.

The beauty of this event is it is officially untimed, so if you want to have a quick sit down on one of the chairs and rest those weary legs- you sure can! It is about challenging yourself and not the person next to you, which is a philosophy that really spoke to me. The organisers at Stadium Stomp go to amazing lengths to ensure you have the best day possible- awesome volunteers, greats tunes blasting through the speakers at the MCG, great support on course, great finisher's rewards (commemorative drink bottle, medal and goodie bag with delicious Cob's popcorn) and the finisher's chute getting you onto the MCG!

This year Stadium Stomp has expanded their offering to include Brisbane's GABBA and Sydney's SCG. I would highly recommended completing this challenge to anybody and everybody. I loved it last year, and I am hoping I can return this year (depending on my work schedule). It has a great atmosphere and provides a challenge like no other.

If you are tempted to sign up, I will leave you with some advice:

1) If you want to time yourself go ahead, keep in mind though GPS watches can have trouble in the enclosed environment (apparently the high concrete walls interfere with them) and they can give an inaccurate reading. Also, in reality you are only doing about 4 horizontal km's (for the full course)- it will be the longest 4kms of you life!

2) Don't stop- as tempting as it is, you feel much better if you keep going, slow down if you have to, but DO NOT STOP. You will thank me later.

3) Hydrate- Stop and have something to drink every opportunity you can.

4) If you are like me and a little on the slower side and not so good with heights, stand aside at the top and bottom of staircases and let faster people pass you. It does waste a little time, but you will feel a whole lot more relaxed knowing you aren't holding anyone up.

5) Stretch, wear 2XU compression sleeves, have some protein after- whatever your recovery strategies are-DO IT. I couldn't walk properly for 3 days afterwards.

6) Have fun! It is a huge challenge- do not get me wrong. But awesomely fun! If you are worried about time, pick an earlier wave to start in. Stadium Stomp is an amazingly fun event, and incredibly unique- you get to run on the MCG- so enjoy it!

Some snaps from the inaugural Stadium Stomp MCG!

Have you ever entered a unique event like Stadium Stomp?

Ash :)

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for this post in anyway. All thoughts and opinions are my own.