When I was in my teens I was trim and fit. I also thought that I would complete a marathon by the time I was 30.

However, sometime between my teens and late twenties I discovered a love of good red wine and socialising and exercise was put on the back-burner.

When I was 29, I took the plunge. I joined a gym and

re-discovered running. Now I’m 30 and have run three (official) half marathons and a few more as training runs.

I spent most of 2009 training for the Auckland Marathon. Five weeks out however, I developed a stress fracture in my pelvis which meant I didn’t get to complete it.

It has been a while, but I’ve decided to start back on the road to getting fit, losing some weight and once again, having a focus.

This is the story of my training highs and lows. The runner’s diary.