But being apart from his partner and three children for long stretches of time, coupled with the constant excess that went with the lifestyle were taking their toll on him.

By the age of 38 he was fat, depressed and suffering from anxiety. He was also racked with guilt over the legacy he was leaving for his children.

Hameister was having a midlife crisis, even if he didn’t recognise it at the time.

“I was working my butt off. I had really long hours, I was travelling a lot and there’s a bit of a party lifestyle that comes with that, too … drugs and alcohol and stuff … and that becomes your release, but it did nothing for my health,” Hameister says.

“For 15 years I was working so much and then I hit the goal of getting my dream job but I realised the dream wasn’t everything I thought it’d be either.

“But I didn’t have anywhere else to go, so I felt quite lost in that sense.”

His midlife quest for identity didn’t involve the usual cliches of buying a sports car or having an affair. Instead, he gave up the booze and drugs and set his sights on running the New York City Marathon.

“Just over two years ago I was basically so unfit I couldn’t even run 500m without dry heaving.”

After shedding more than 20kg Hameister is a changed man. He competes regularly and supports other dads to transform their lives through his Facebook page Run, Dad, Run.

“Suddenly I was not only challenging myself physically, but mentally as well. I found when I was out running, it kind of gave me a good head space and time to think about things … I was often reflecting on life,” he says.

Hameister is part of a growing trend of people who are reaching middle age and turning to exercise.

A recent study found more people experiencing a midlife crisis were taking up exercise to turn back the clock.

Researchers with Bupa Health Clinics in the UK found nearly half of those surveyed were looking to make a positive lifestyle change, such as signing up for a marathon or joining a gym as they approach 40 or 50 in order to feel young again.

More than 30 per cent of men surveyed said they were signing up for a competitive event at midlife, while 48 per cent of women said joining a gym had become a priority.

Social researcher Mark McCrindle says the trend was partly due to the “more conservative times” in which we live.

“Buying the sports car or the Harley or moving on relationally from family, has became such a cliche that men don’t want to be part of,” the Sydney demographer says.

“We are in more conservative times when society strongly promotes to men a commitment to their families.

“(This) holds men to their responsibility but it closes off certain options.

“Going to the pub or pursuing one’s own interests are not highly regarded, so we’re seeing men choose healthier options.”

McCrindle says the message that physical health is strongly linked to mental health was “finally getting through”.

“Men who have been sedentary in their 30s or 40s are getting back into exercise.

“Just look at the market forces — the number of gyms, cycle stores, running and riding apps.”

Black Dog Institute psychiatrist and University of NSW associate professor Samuel Harvey acknowledges the phenomenon of a midlife crisis.

“From my perspective, if you look at men in midlife, it’s more about what’s happening with them psychologically.

“It’s a time when they might be developing health problems for the first time or perhaps their career trajectory has stalled; they may be losing their hair or finding it hard to maintain a healthy weight.

“The link between physical activity and mental health seem to be pretty consistent and by the stage people reach their 40s and 50s they may have been quite inactive for some time.”

He says society’s glorification of youth over lived experience is a factor in triggering a midlife meltdown.

“I see men in my clinics who have problems with their mood or with increasing anxiety and part of the reason for that is the stage of life they’re in.

“We’re in a society that is very focused on the benefits of youth and that can be difficult if you’re moving out of that phase.”

While the term “midlife crisis” is broadly associated with men, Harvey says women are also susceptible and addressing physical health is a key to reversing those negative feelings.

Vix Erber, founder of Bondi Vixen personal training for women, agrees. Her fitness training is designed for women in their 30s, 40s and 50s who want to transform their lifestyles and stabilise their moods.

“When women come to me they’re usually frazzled, overwhelmed, completely out of shape and intimidated,” she says.

“I find they haven’t done regular exercise since they were young or since they had kids. It’s interesting to see how many fall off the bandwagon once they have children.”

Erber says when a woman’s children become teenagers, she often looks for help to overhaul her life.

“For women in their 40s, it’s an investment not an expense. When you’re a woman moving into your 40s and 50s it’s something that’s needed and necessary, it’s not really an option if you want to live a long, healthy active life.”

In its study of 3000 people, Bupa found people who hit a new age decade are driven to make a healthy change.

“Entering a new decade is a trigger that can prompt us to think about our health,” Bupa Health Clinics’ lifestyle health adviser Jake Williams says.

“In our clinics customers come in for a general health check shortly before or after turning an age ending with a zero,” he says.

“While taking stock of our health is something to be embraced and encouraged, it’s important we don’t ignore our health for the other nine years.”

The study found that only 5 per cent maintained the changes for eight years, while 25 per cent relapsed within 12 months.

Hameister says his story is a perfect example of how turning to physical exercise had cured his midlife mental malaise.

“I had underlying issues with depression and anxiety.

“But for 15 years I didn’t do anything for my own health and I was spiralling down and getting fatter and lazier,” he says.

“I started to find that when I’m having a moment where I’m feeling anxious about something, or a bit depressed, the thing for me is really to just go, ‘I’m putting on my shoes, I’m going out the door.’

“(When I am running) I can think clearly and absorb the world around me.

“I get really reflective about my life when I’m out there.”