She’s used to wiping noses and rushing to school drop-offs, but Mangatawhiri mother Hania Aitken has left all that in the capable hands of her husband Kyle as she takes on a new set of challenges.
The mum-of-four, who’s used to pushing her body to the limits as a marathon runner and a community fitness trainer, is competing on the world’s toughest team-based obstacle course on Australian Spartan – and she says the Aussies had better watch out for this speedy Kiwi!
“I applied for the show because I want to inspire other mothers,” explains Hania, 38.
“I loved being pregnant, but I put on a lot of weight. I’m talking almost 30kg with my last two. I love my body and will wear a bikini no matter my size, but energy and strength-wise, I couldn’t keep up.”
Hania before, after and now.
The self-proclaimed “normal, everyday mum” hit the pavements for power walks, pushed the pram up hilly treks and created a home obstacle course to ditch her post-baby kilos. Now she wants to prove how powerful women can be. “You put a lot of yourself on hold when you choose to have a family. After four kids, I thought I’d lost who I was, but I’m back!”
Hania and her teammates James Geddes and Tanya Ward have their eyes on the $160,000 prize on the TVNZ 2 show, but win or lose, Hania will be proud.
She tells, “Not only do I get to compete alongside my friends, but I can be an example to my kids.”
