Fit & Fab: Katie Hogue

Watching her mother suffer from rheumatoid arthritis taught Katie Hogue two vital lessons: the value of her health, and the power of perseverance.

Which is why it's no surprise that the dynamic 32-year-old represents Hong Kong in women's cricket, in between leading an Asia-Pacific team for outsourcing company Alexander Mann Solutions.

She also runs her own sun cover-wear business, Suncreme. True to her New Zealand roots, Hogue hikes, plays netball and practises yoga.

She shrugs off the pain she experienced while completing the Barclays MoonTrekker 40-kilometre race last year with a broken toe. Only three weeks later, she hiked the 100-kilometre Oxfam Trailwalker.

"I feel when you're able-bodied, you've almost got an obligation to enjoy it," she says matter-of-factly. "Mum had a lifetime of not being able to do the things she used to love, like netball and athletics. I never saw Mum complain, even though I know the disease is debilitating. The human spirit is enduring."

Hogue admits that her passion for fitness took a backseat when she relocated to Hong Kong seven years ago. But after 2½ years of feeling that she resembled "a barbecued pork bun", she decided it was time for change.