My name is Tara, I am based in Milton Keynes. I am very passionate about my running, exercise and fitness. I have been running for around 16 years now on and off! I started running when I was in my early 20's. I joined with a gym when I was in my early 20's and my journey started when I used to use the treadmill at the gym. I didn't really enjoy running on the treadmill, I found it boring and I used to get a stitch and I could only run for around 10 minutes and the rest of the time I was walking on the treadmill!

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When I became more confident with my running I tried to do some running outside, I then heard about a race called Race For Life which was advertised on the radio and I persuaded myself to sign up! I really enjoyed the race and I enjoyed it that much that I signed up to it the following year! A few of my friends said to me why don't you try and go a bit further and increase the distance. I said oh I don't think I can do that! When I went out for a run one day I was only doing 5k but on a run I increased my distance from 5k to 10k! I wanted to see if I could do it but I didn't think I could! The next time my legs were really aching and I said to myself I should have trained up to 10k rather than doing it in one go! I said to myself never again!

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I was searching for 10k events and I managed to find one that was local to me. It was a 10k event that takes place in November in Milton Keynes. It is called movember. It sounded like a good race to do. I did train for this race but I did find 10k a struggle at the time!

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When I had completed a few 10k races I persuaded myself to go a bit further! I was then looking at half marathons. I found a half marathon that takes place in Milton Keynes and it usually takes place on the May bank holiday. I wasn't too sure about it at the time, I had met a runner and told him that I was thinking of doing a half marathon but I said I didn't have the courage and was worried I wouldn't be able to run 13.1 miles! He told me to go for it and said I will be fine!

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I didn't look back and I completed quite a few half marathons since then! I have also completed 13 marathons! I didn't used to enjoy running, I thought I wasn't very good at it but it goes to show that things do change and you can improve over time! After completing my first half marathon I managed to find a running club in Milton Keynes, they are called Redway Runners, you might have heard of them? They are the biggest running club in Milton Keynes! I felt joining a running club was the best thing I did, it has certainly made me a better runner and I haven't looked back.

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