Back to page

Kakepuku x 10 challenge: Climbing for those living with MND and Huntington's Disease

  • Givealittle page closing on 18th Dec

      4 December 2023

    Thank you for all your support, the givealittle page will close on the 18th December 2023

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • We did it $26,442 for those with MND and HD!

      4 December 2023
    Main image

    With all the excitement I didn't do an update!

    So, on the 18th November I climbed Kakepuku x10.....all the training and time on my feet paid off for me to achieve the challenge. It wasn't without some extra challenges though, it just kept raining. I started at 0400 with my coach Ian, Euan and his daughter and local Tom. Just before 0400 I said a few words to honor Kakepuku and those who had walked before us and my son Padden had recorded a karakia to start challenge.

    We started at a good pace despite the rain, averaging 1.5hrs a climb for a few climbs. Many people joined different climbs and there were many hugs and a few tears along the way as we all recognized who we were climbing for. My energy was good until climb 8 where I slowed down, climb 9 was sore and climb 10 was dark, wet and sore! My family, my coach and friends joined the last climb so I was well supported. I was suprised by friends welcoming me to the finish line at about 1030pm, the spirits were high and I was just so happy to have completed what I had set out to do!

    I was amazed with the support on the day despite the conditions, so I thank you all, as it made such a difference to my morale and energy!

    Since then I have rested up, been for a run and headed back to the crossfit gym. Inbetween working and enjoying some extra time with the family on the weekends.

    The givealittle page will be open until the 18th Dec, but we have more than smashed our goal!

    Thank you again to everyone here ❤️

    Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • The countdown is on!

      14 November 2023
    Main image

    Hello!

    Saturday is coming up fast. We can't control the weather, but hoping it not too wet. The track is slippery and muddy in places if there has been recent rain. So please take care.

    If you are coming out on the day there will be a coffee cart and a baking stall for refreshments. Please bring cash.

    There is no water or bins out there so please bring your water and take your rubbish home.

    The fire brigade will be doing a climb in full kit for climb 6.

    Please see the Facebook event page or the Kakepuku10challenge Instagram page for more details and updates.

    I completed my last training today. It now time to rest and restore before the big day.

    Thank you to everyone who has donated and supported this big challenge, I appreciate everyone of you!

    Regards Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • We have smashed the fundraising goal with 11 days to go!

      7 November 2023
    Main image

    Thank you to every one of you!

    We have smashed the $15,000 fundraising goal. The money raised will be split between MND new Zealand and MS Waikato, so the more we raise is all the better for both organizations. While the fundraising has been a driving force, the awareness for the conditions and the people it affects has been at the heart of it.

    With 11 days to go It is all becoming very real that the challenge is next week!

    This week my training during the week is similar to previous weeks,but the weekend training is less than 4 hours. As much as I have loved the training, it was nice to spend more time with the family last weekend.

    I was grateful to be featured in the Te Whatu Ora newsletter last week, Andrew Mcally from communications walked Kakepuku with me one Wednesday to hear more about the challenge and the support from the Neurology department.

    This week the Waikato times are keen for a chat, this is thanks to my colleague Kate who emailed them about the fundraising challenge, so it is all go!

    Thank you again for all the support and sharing of the event.

    I will do another update next week.

    Regards Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Just over 3 weeks to go!

      24 October 2023
    Main image

    Well I'm not sure where October has gone! I haven't done an update for a while, but I have certainly been busy with training. The weekly maintenance work has stayed similar, but the weekends have got longer. I have had a few battles over pirongia tracks in some wet and windy conditions but the last couple of weekends have been great. I completed 53km which was 7 climbs of Kakepuku in 12.5 hrs, then did 53 km on pirongia last weekend. My body is pretty good, I'm recovering quite well but the logistics of busy work and busy kids is becoming a little more of a juggle!

    This weekend I climb x5 Kakepuku and crossfit assiduous are joining me for climb 5, this should be entertaining 😅! That's my last climb until the 18th.

    The challenge was featured in the Waikato herald and te awamutu courier last week, this will hopefully raise more awareness for the event. The paper also interviewed someone living with MND and the struggles they face everyday.

    Today I have posted on the Instagram page approximate times I hope to do each climb, I will be starting at 0400. I will add the schedule to the update for those who are keen to join a climb. More details of the day will be released soon.

    Thank you again for all the support so far. Keep up the sharing

    Regards Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • September trainings

      28 September 2023
    Main image

    I am currently heading for my third marathon distance training in 3 weeks. Kinloch off road marathon was stunning, it was a cool frosty start and the lake was serene, it took a good few kms to warm up. I jogged and hiked my way around, taking it quite easy. It was a funny thought that it was my first marathon but it was just a training! It was worth it for the medal!

    I recovered well for a good week of training then completed 48km on pirongia last weekend. That was a battle of the weather, it was torrential rain for the 9hrs! A hot deep bath has never been so good!

    This week is school holidays, I have had busy days at work but I am now on leave to spend some time with the kids. This weekend i am scheduled to climb kakepuku x6!

    Yesterday, Ali from pirongia donated beautiful tulips to be sold at work for the Kakepuku10challenge, they are well received and cheered us all up on a big Wednesday in the Neurology department, what a star she is to do this!

    Thank you for all your donations, not many weeks to go until the 18th November ⛰️

    Regards Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Kakepuku x5

      8 September 2023
    Main image

    Hello September, So over the last couple of weeks we have received more generous donations that brings us nearly to the halfway point more than $7000 raised so far for people living MND and HD. We have about 10 weeks to go to reach our goal of $15000. So please keep up the sharing with anyone you feel maybe interested in supporting the event.

    The last couple of weekends training has amped up, 37km on pirongia and 38km on kakepuku when I completed x5 climbs. X5 climbs took about 8 hours, but the sun was shining for this long training and some podcasts helped when I didn't have company. Hamon joined me for lap 2 and 3 and my awesome colleague Kate did 3 and some of 4.

    This weekend I have a change of scenery and training will be the kinloch off road marathon before kakepuke x5.5 next weekend!

    Thank you for all the support so far, regards Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • A big week

      21 August 2023
    Main image

    Since the last update a lot has happened. I had a good training week that consisted of trail runs, weighted hill climbs, mountain bike, and time on the air bike. It was while spinning on the air bike I emailed the paper with some details of the challenge, I had made August the month to push the awareness as in Sept and October I will have less time. Time is flying by! The paper were quick to get in touch and wanted to hear more about the event. I was a bit shocked the story was on the front page, but grateful Dean at the paper could see the importance of the challenge for those living with MND and HD.

    Then, my amazing colleague Kate had got in touch with Radio NZ and I got the opportunity to talk on the panel with Wallace Chapman on Friday evening, that was quite an experience, i was super nervous! They were really positive and encouraging for people to support.

    Onto the weekend and on Sunday I completed x 4 walks of Kakepuku. A friend Craig who is training to walk the length of NZ from Oct came to join me for x1 walk, then I did 2,3,4 solo. The wet conditions made it a little tricky, but it wasn't cold. I completed it in just under 7hrs. A hot bath was very welcome;)

    Thank you to everyone who is supporting this challenge, let's see what this week brings!

    Go well, Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • August update

      13 August 2023
    Main image

    You are well over due an update!

    The training has been going well, I have completed kakepuku x3. This was a very early start where I met Rachel, Penny and coach Ian in the car park at 0630. We set off with our head torches and Ian set the pace for us all to try and follow! It was wet and slippery and quite tricky in places to navigate the safest route. As we reached the top the sun was starting to come up and suddenly it felt a lot easier to climb being able to see the path without the torch light. After a quick stop at the top we made our way down the slippery slopes and many steps, to do the same another x2.

    I am.learning the key to being successful in endurance distance is to optimize nutrition and hydration, so walking with a hydration pack with electrolytes and regular snacks throughout the climbs is essential. This has been a challenge to get this right, so regular check ins with my coach has been good to dial this in.

    The next climb was kakepuku 3.5, Rachel and I did this together in about 6 hrs, the conditions were a lot better after a dry spell. Starting at 0630 in the dark was no issue when it's dry. I learn something new every time I do a long training day, on this day I kept on point with hydration, I drank 4litres of water!

    Kakepuku x4 was due to be completed last weekend but I haven't been 100% healthy so needed to pull back on the training.

    So Kakepuku x4 is still waiting for me...

    Thanks again for the support ⛰️

    Regards Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Training update week 3

      8 July 2023
    Main image

    Hello again, thank you to those who have recently donated and will be receiving these updates via email for the first time. I promise not to spam you too much with emails! We are nearly at $3000!

    Since the last update I have been following the training schedule that Ian has designed for this challenge. Generally, I am not a 'runner' I wouldn't run regularly but I would always say I was 5km fit through my general fitness from CrossFit. When I go back to the UK to see my family, Alice my sister who is 'a runner' will get me 10km fit by the end of the trip, but its not my first choice of exercise.

    Ian has programmed in a couple of 5-6km runs per week at the moment which is manageable, he is trying to increase my splits per km which for that distance I am able to do.

    Last weekend Rachel and I headed up Wharauoa starting on Oshea road in Pirongia, it took 1hr 4 mins to the top (a bit quicker than our first attempt), it was really wet over the farmland and in the bush, we came back down to the car and then walked back up to the bush line, just beating the rain! Both Rachel and I found it a tough climb in the wet, but we kept going! That day I felt I fueled well throughout and recovered well.

    This week has been the school holidays so we were lucky to go to Whitianga for a few days where I did a 6km run with Padden pacing me on his scooter, 3km run with some speed work and x2 CrossFit sessions. Tomorrow is Kakepuka x3!

    Have a great weekend, Please keep sharing this page:)

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment

  • Week 1 and 2 of training

      28 June 2023
    Main image

    Thank you everyone who has donated so far! The money raised truly motivates this training journey.

    I thought I would try and update this page with some insights as some people may not be following the @kakepuku10challenge on Instagram.

    So far I have been training myself since about March 2023, walking kakepuku, running a little and crossfit training. A few weeks ago when I was trying to make a training plan of how I was going to start building up the climbs and working out my training volume during the week I realised I needed some extra support. I had been recommended Ian as a coach from few people so I got in touch to see if he would be keen to coach/train me for Climbing Kakepuku ten times.

    He was not phased by this challenge, but then he is super fit!! Ian has written me a training program that includes some crossfit, more running during the week, air bike sessions and some speed work. Sundays are the bigger training days, and last week a few people met me for a climb. Rachel, who has kept me company on Sunday mornings did 2.5 reps of the mountain with me, our next climb will be 3 reps.

    So far I feel good in training, and I am enjoying the process of learning how to try and fuel and help my body recover.

    The best bit so far are the people who have got in contact about HD that did not know where the support for them was here in the Waikato , raising the awareness and some funds is what this is all about. Thank you and keep sharing! Have a great week ⛰ Ruth

      0 comments  |  Login to leave a comment