In sport, some of the most powerful stories come from the most unexpected places. At Mountain Adventure, we have the privilege of teaming up with incredible people who share a love for physical challenges, often putting in just as much mental work as physical effort.
One of our newest brand ambassadors is Kimberley Gibbons-Hurinui. We initially met her as 'the girl who loves to run and lift weights’. But when asked about her background, she shared an impressive story that served as a powerful reminder that mental strength is what truly defines physical greatness. Teenage parenthood, self-doubt, addiction, and a prison sentence could have broken her. Instead, they became the crucible in which her determination was forged.
Today, Kimberley is a force in endurance running and strength training, proving that the human spirit can rise from the darkest places. Her story is raw, real, and deeply inspiring. It is a testament to the power of movement, the resilience of the mind, and the strength that grows when supported by a loving whānau.
You grew up surrounded by nature and sport. What did those early years look like, and how did life unfold from there?
I grew up in the Coromandel, in a little place called Te Rerenga, where I spent a lot of time outdoors. My sisters and I did competitive swimming from the age of 8 through our teenage years. I was always a pretty good swimmer, and I also played netball from a young age. We had a very active family, and I suppose you could say I was a really sporty kid.
At 17, I had my now 23-year-old son. At 19, his dad and I broke up, and I moved to another town. This was the beginning of a downward spiral for me. I struggled with my mental health and battled feelings of not being good enough. I started partying a lot and dabbling in party drugs, and over the next few years that eventually led to an addiction to methamphetamine.
This was a tumultuous time in my life where I pushed my family away as much as I could. I tried isolating myself from them and my friends, as I knew they would try and stop me living the life that I was living. A month before my 31st birthday, I was arrested for drug-related charges and sent to prison. This was the biggest blessing in disguise for me and was the beginning of my recovery journey.
At what point did exercise become part of your recovery?
I ended up getting electronically monitored bail to my Mum at our family home in Te Rerenga. After a few months or so, I decided I wanted to start working out and living a healthier life. I found some workouts on YouTube and started doing these every day.
It was nice to be moving my body with intention again, and it helped me get through some of the hardest days, where I faced the biggest mental battles.
Your first half marathon marked more than just a race. What did that moment represent for you?
In 2019, I had a few months left on home detention and I decided that once I got my ankle bracelet off, I wanted to do a half marathon to celebrate. I told my whānau and we organised a weekend in Mount Maunganui. One of my sisters ran the half with me, and my brother and another sister ran the 10km, with everyone else there supporting.
It was such a fun experience and a great way to celebrate my newfound freedom and the beginning of a healthier lifestyle for me.
How did running and strength training evolve from that point?
After that, I didn’t run again until January 2022, when I attended one of The Speed Freaks community sessions. I was drawn in, not to the running initially, but to the Speed Freaks whānau.
But being someone who likes to have a goal to work towards, I decided to enter my first trail running event, the Mount Oxford 15km. That’s what got me hooked, and from there, a passion for trail running grew.
At the beginning of 2023, I injured my Achilles and wasn’t able to run for six months. After two weeks of not being able to run, and with my mental health taking a big hit, I decided to join the gym and start weight training. This was a love at first lift for me!
As I said, being someone who likes to have a goal, I asked my PT friend if she could coach me to my first bodybuilding competition. I competed in the Fitness category at the ICN Hawkes Bay Champs, after a year of preparation.
You’ve pushed yourself in some serious endurance challenges. Has there been a moment where you truly surprised yourself?
I’m very shy and hate being the centre of attention and up on stage in front of lots of people. So, my bodybuilding comp is what I’m most proud of. Being up on stage in front of all of those people had me shaking in my heels, literally, but I got up there and posed my little heart out. I had trained specifically for over a year and dieted for 20 weeks for that 15 minutes on stage, and I was not going to let a little stage fright take that away from me.
When it comes to endurance, I entered the Front Yard Ultra last year, which is similar to a backyard ultra but organised just for women, with 6km loops instead of 6.7km. I wrote myself a training plan with the help of Google and set a goal of 10 loops.
I ended up doing 14 loops and 84km and came out of it quite unscathed, apart from a couple of huge blisters on the bottom of my feet. Before this, my longest distance run was a half marathon.
Next time I do it, my goal is to go until I can’t go any longer. But I’ll need to get over my fear of the dark first. Yes, I’m terrified of the dark. Not fun for me, but definitely entertaining for others, haha!
When things get hard in training or competition, what do you tell yourself?
I tell myself: “you have been through worse.” I think back to times in my using days or early recovery days where everything was all a bit too much and remember that this is nothing compared to that.
How do you handle setbacks?
Life has taught me that there are always going to be challenges and setbacks, it’s how we manage them that matters. I will always let myself feel the feels, usually frustration, and then I go about finding a solution, whether that be starting again, pushing through, resting, physio, rehab… I will do anything I can to overcome it.
What keeps you showing up on days you don’t feel like training?
I think knowing that I’m going to feel awesome afterwards. It doesn’t matter how I feel before training, you can guarantee I’ll feel like a million bucks when it’s done.
I like to train in the morning, which I know sets me up for a great day. Also telling myself that no one else can do it for me. If I want to get stronger and fitter, I need to put in the work.
You train across multiple disciplines. How do you structure it all without burning out?
It is quite tough and takes a while for your body to get used to. I’m not a coach or PT, but from my personal experience, it’s all about having training blocks that focus on either strength or cardiovascular fitness separately.
For example: 4 weeks where the main focus is strength training, with running/endurance at maintenance, and then 4 weeks where running/endurance is the main focus, with strength training at maintenance.
Balance is always a hard one! I find things are often out of balance when you need to focus specifically for something. Your training for that event usually takes priority. Also, make sure you’re eating and hydrating well, getting at least 7.5 hours sleep per night, and doing mobility work to support your recovery. We don’t get gains unless we’re recovering properly!
What does nutrition look like for you day to day?
I’m lucky enough to have learnt a lot about nutrition through bodybuilding, learning what I need to perform well, grow muscle, support recovery etc. It’s probably quite boring for most people, but I eat pretty much the same thing every day.
I meal prep all breakfasts and lunches on Sundays, have readily available snacks, fruit, nuts, Greek yoghurt, rice cakes, chocolate, and for dinners, I’m a meat, carb, and salad or vege gal. Throw in a coffee and slice and a meal out every now and then and we have a nice balance. This approach to nutrition is what has me feeling my best both physically and mentally.
Hydration is as important as nutrition when trying to perform to a certain level. The fact that I can get my electrolytes in while also having those carbs for energy and the amino acids to support brain function and muscle building and recovery is a game changer.
I use FIXX Nutrition when I have heavy or double sessions scheduled. I’m usually at the gym for 1.5 hours minimum, and I don’t fancy having a snack between sets, so having some Fuel X Pro mixed up in my shaker for these sessions is elite.
Who has been your greatest inspiration?
In life, my biggest inspiration has always been my Mum. Life has been far from easy, but she has never let that dim her love for life or her nearest and dearest. She is someone who will always stand up for what she believes in and is not afraid to speak her mind. If she thinks something is unjust, she will pursue it relentlessly until it is resolved.
She has six children and 13 grandchildren so far, and she showers love on all of us. She is the best Mum and Grandma, and the most inspirational woman you could ever meet.
What does movement give you today?
Going through addiction and coming into recovery with exercise being one of my main coping mechanisms made me realise how essential movement is for my mental health.
The way I approach it now is by telling myself it doesn’t always have to be about being bigger, stronger, faster. It’s about keeping my mind, body, and soul happy and healthy to live a happy and peaceful life.
Looking back, what has sport taught you about life?
I like to think that it has taught me that there are no fast tracks to greatness. It’s all about putting in the mahi each day and seeing those small improvements. Instant gratification doesn’t last, but looking back over a year’s progress and knowing that YOU DID THAT is so satisfying.
If you could give one piece of advice to someone trying to figure out life, what would it be?
Don’t focus too much on trying to figure out life, you might spend so much time trying to figure it out, that you forget to actually live.
And what do you hope people take from your story?
I hope to show others that no matter how many times you fall down, you can always get back up and start again. So get out there, set big scary goals, try new things, explore all the wonders of nature, and go on lots of adventures.
An exciting new chapter
Shortly after this interview, Kimberley shared another beautiful piece of news. She is expecting a baby.
For now, her use of FIXX Nutrition products is on pause, and her focus has shifted to staying as active and healthy as possible throughout her pregnancy. That means smart training, plenty of rest when needed, and continuing to move in ways that support both her and her growing baby.
We cannot wait to follow this next chapter. Expect plenty of honest, outdoorsy, running and gym pregnancy content as Kimberley navigates this very special season with the same passion, creativity and heart she brings to everything she does.
Follow Kimberley on Instagram: @the_running_bodybuilder