Adam Swaffield wasn't aware he was the first person to enter this month's Solid Energy Huntly Half Marathon.

The 47-year-old National Bank manager from Auckland has never participated in an event like this and entered as part of an effort to become healthier. "It started because a mate of mine got me into doing more exercise. He did the Huntly Half last year and is involved competitively. He's been the person behind me in all of this."

Swaffield says he registered for the Huntly Half Marathon as a motivational tool to increase his exercise. "I've always enjoyed sport and walking but my fitness hasn't been good. Training for the Huntly Half has allowed me to increase my distances. I used to walk 5km and now I can walk 10km–15km."

Netball and boot camp have also been added to his exercise regime and Swaffield has reaped the rewards of the hard work. "I've dropped 11kg and that has been motivation for me as well. Exercising and losing weight have been drivers to reinvent myself."

Swaffield also hopes to take part in the Kerikeri Half Marathon with his wife, and recently competed in the Orewa Beach Half Marathon's 10.5km walk, winning the men's division in 1hr 31min.

He says although he's walking the Huntly Half Marathon course, he's not taking the event lightly. "My overall goal for the event is to complete it. I haven't walked that far before and it's not going to be a race, but I'll be walking as hard as I can."

He says others have noticed a positive change in his health and fitness and says eating healthy is also part of the package. "It's a lifestyle change. You just need to exercise properly and look after yourself. You've got to change everything."

The 2011 Solid Energy Huntly Half Marathon and 2XU 10km run takes place on Sunday May 22. The annual event, which starts and finishes at the Huntly Park Domain, has $15,000 worth of merit and spot prizes on offer, including $1000 each for the first female runner and first male runner home.