The NZSki sales co-ordinator reckoned she'd had "a couple of bad years".
"I just totally let myself go ... and then I woke up one day and thought, `This isn't what I'm supposed to look like'.
"I didn't feel that good - I wasn't really overweight, but I just didn't feel comfortable, my clothes didn't fit properly."
Now 28, Ms Wright has completed the individual half ironman triathlon at Wanaka Challenge, the Motatapu Marathon and will soon be lining up for the Lake Hayes Triathlon at Easter before competing in the Routeburn Classic on April 24 with the Ultimate Hikes team, raising money for Search and Rescue.
Her new-found fitness and lease on life was credited to the 2009 Lindauer Ladies Fitness and Fashion Challenge, in which she was chosen to participate.
"I just wanted to have a body I was comfortable with and feel proud of myself. I wanted to get it back and then keep it . . . you realise how hard it is to start again.
"It really was a change for life."
After being accepted into the 12-week fitness programme, Ms Wright gave it everything she had for three months.
"It gives you the motivation ... you're accountable for everything you do, everything you eat.
"I was just totally ready to jump on board.
"It was more about the exercise [for me] than dieting.
"It was about getting fit and being healthy."
Ms Wright said in the entire 12-week programme she had just three complete rest days and by the end of the challenge she'd lost 8kg, but gained back all her fitness and then some, which she harnessed and used as a base to build on before Challenge Wanaka.
"I loved it.
"It was absolutely amazing - I was out there for 6hrs and 21mins and I loved almost every minute of it.
"[A year ago] I was just plodding on as I was. I probably couldn't have run 5km."
Far from resting on her laurels, Ms Wright has another goal to focus on after the Routeburn Classic - maintaining her fitness and her new figure for her wedding in September, before contesting the 2011 Challenge Wanaka.
To other women thinking of applying for this year's event, Ms Wright had three words to say: "Just do it".
"You don't have to be one of those people that needs to lose 10kg. You might not want to lose any weight at all. You might just want to get fit.
"No reason is too small or insignificant."
Entries for the 2010 American Express Queenstown Winter Festival Lindauer Fitness and Fashion Challenge close at noon on Thursday.
Any woman wanting to apply should state in about 100 words why they should be chosen to participate.
Applications can be emailed to info@winterfestival.co.nz; posted to the American Express Queenstown Winter Festival, PO Box 1875, Queenstown; or delivered to the festival offices, level 1, Chester Suites, corner Camp and Shotover Sts.
The event will cost $575 for Alpine Health & Fitness members or $750 for non-members.
