Spartan is returning to Wollongong with a new race format pushing participants to the limit. Photos: Spartan Australia.
An iconic obstacle race is upping the ante in Wollongong this year, with Spartan pushing participants to the limit with a new challenge format making its debut alongside its more recognisable race styles.
Graham Williamson has taken part in more than 25 Spartan events since he became hooked on the style just a few years ago.
The Berkeley father-of-three first got a taste for obstacle racing at a young age, when he was a cadet in Brisbane. But after 15 years in the air force and a move to Wollongong, Graham rediscovered his love for the activity by chance at a local CrossFit gym.
“It happened at an odd coincidence because we were looking for something for my son and took him there for a trial, and I was talking to them just briefly about it and ended up seeing what I liked a lot and just signing up on the spot,” Graham said.
“One of my goals that I spoke to them about when joining up was doing obstacle course racing.”
The idea of Spartan racing had always been in the back of Graham’s mind, but previously he had struggled with staying consistent and injuries.
“I’d been wanting to do it for years and years and years, but I had some issues with my Achilles and weight fluctuated up and down, as it does over time when things get busy and different priorities and all that stuff,” he said.
“I actually tore my Achilles at a Ninja Warrior gym on the warped wall and fully detached it.
“And it took me ages to try and get back into doing anything — that set me back.”
Then, as his fitness grew and he committed to training, the opportunity finally came up.
“There were some other guys at the gym who had mentioned about the Spartan Picton event a couple of years ago and wanted to put together a team and I did it and loved it,” Graham said.
“I really liked the format for it and going around with friends and helping each other out to get through it.
“I’ve not turned back since.”
Graham was back to competing just months after surgery — donning a moonboot.
As he was thriving with peak fitness and competitive finishes, Graham faced another difficult decision about his health.
“The longer-term Achilles issues were caused from bone spurs that were occurring, so I was getting basically little perforated tears ready to go on the inside of them — and that was happening to both.
“So I actually got my other Achilles fixed as well — I’ve had to have surgery on both of them.
“And that was then a struggle because I was then in my headspace about wanting to get back to where I knew that I was and was capable of.”
But he was determined to get back at it and worked himself up to compete in another Spartan event just four months later.
“I did it in my moon boot, the whole thing,” Graham said.
“The only thing I didn’t wear it for was the rolling mud, because I didn’t want to deal with that.”
Six months after surgery, he ran a half-marathon and before the year was out, he had finally achieved a podium finish in a Spartan race, which he had been aiming for.
“I wasn’t necessarily expecting it, I was hoping for it, I was aiming for it and managed to get one,” he said.
“I felt really proud in setting an example for my kids in terms of setting that goal, putting in a whole lot of hard work and along the way it not happening and then I was able to achieve it through that consistency, showing up and putting in the work.”
Now he is ready to tackle a new obstacle as he takes on the Spartan Multi-Lap Challenge in Wollongong.
Making its debut, the event is based on the fast-growing backyard ultra phenomenon, inviting participants to complete as many laps of the five-kilometre Spartan Stadion course as they can in seven hours.
“It’s compact and a really convenient way for me to test my endurance a little bit more and push it to the point,” Graham said.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of doing that and seeing where I’m at.”
The event will run alongside the usual Spartan Stadion, which features 20 obstacles, including participants running through the bleachers of WIN Stadium; the Doubles Duo, which allows you to share the load with a friend; and a kids’ race for the little ones.
And although the concept of these activities may seem daunting, Graham said it was about achieving personal goals and finding the fun in fitness.
“There’s different levels of it, so you don’t have to be super fit to do a Spartan,” he said.
“You can do it with friends and have fun with it, help each other over obstacles and that sort of stuff, and there’s still a lot of challenge even in relation to doing that.
“It’s a challenge to try and improve and put some work in training and try and get it the next time — it might be instead of failing on the second rung of the monkey bars you make it to the end, except you miss the bell at the very end, and that’s fine because that third time you have that motivation to go all the way and ring the bell and complete the obstacle.”
Now, as he returns to full strength, Graham has his eyes set on competing in the Trifecta World Championships in Greece in his age division, as well as a work-up towards Spartan’s most gruelling races.
“For myself, I haven’t yet tackled the ultra event, so that’s the 50 k one. That’s on the list of one of the ones I do want to do.”
The 2026 Wollongong Spartan Stadion will be run at WIN Stadium on 10 October.
For more information on getting involved or being a spectator, visit the Spartan website.
