Peaks for PKD Blog
December 08, 2025

Training Update: A Small Setback, a Fresh Start, and Big Plans for the New Year | Peaks for PKD

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As we head into the festive season, I wanted to share a quick update on how training is going for the National Three Peaks Challenge. Like anyone preparing for a long-term goal, I’ve learned that progress isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes life steps in and reminds you that flexibility is part of the journey.

Over the past couple of weeks, my partner has had some health issues, and it became clear that my planned training hike in the Lake District would need to be pushed back. The trip was supposed to happen last weekend, and I had been looking forward to it for months. But some things matter more than sticking to the calendar. Being present at home was the right decision, and the mountains will still be there when the time is right.

That said, I haven’t stopped moving. Far from it. I’ve shifted into a “maintaining mode,” keeping my baseline fitness strong while things settle. That has meant plenty of squash, regular runs, and leg-strengthening exercises at home - nothing glamorous, just steady work. The kind of work that keeps the engine running.

The good news is that the Lake District trip is already rescheduled for early January. I’m really looking forward to it. It will be my first major hiking trip of the new year, and the first real test of where my endurance is after the winter slowdown. I’m expecting long days, tired legs, and beautiful scenery - exactly what I need to kick-start the next phase of training.

And of course, the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge is still lined up for May. That one has been circled on my calendar since I started planning for the National Three Peaks. It will be the perfect dress rehearsal - three summits, one big day, and the kind of effort that forces you to find your rhythm and hold onto it. I know it’s going to be tough, but I also know it’s going to be essential preparation for June.

Above is a recent photo of me training, and there will be plenty more coming after the Lake District trip in January. It’s important to me to show the real parts of the process - the windy trail selfies, the muddy boots, the red cheeks after a long climb. Training for something like this is messy and honest, and I want to share that side of it too.

For now, I’m taking things one step at a time, staying fit where I can, supporting my partner, and looking ahead to a strong start in the new year.

Thanks for following along, and wishing everyone a warm, restful holiday season.

Eric Hampel, December 2025

 

Support Eric's 3 Peaks Challenge!

 

PKD patient Eric Hampel is taking on the U.K. National Three Peaks Challenge this June, climbing the highest mountains in Scotland, England, and Wales within 24 hours to raise funds and awareness for polycystic kidney disease (PKD). Inspired by his family’s experience with PKD and his own diagnosis, Eric is using his training and the challenge itself to support PKD research and patient programs in Canada and the U.K. Through regular training updates, he’s sharing the reality of preparing for a demanding endurance challenge while fundraising toward a future without PKD. This is Eric’s second climbing challenge to benefit people affected by PKD; in October 2024 he successfully summited Mt. Kilimanjaro.

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