Tara Palm

BIOGRAPHY

Tara Palm’s athletics career has been in two parts, her earlier cross country and track career and now as a road athlete. In her 20s she represented Australia at two World Cross Country Championships and primarily ran 1500m to 10,000m events on the track. Then in her ‘30s she moved her focus to distances from 10,000m and above on the track and road – particularly the half and full marathon. She would run her first marathon in 2021 aged 36.

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Tara started athletics at age 13. “I had just started high school and did well at our sports day.” She was encouraged by teachers to start competing regularly and commence training with a school squad. She finished 3rd at her first Schools State Cross Country and qualified for the Australian championships.

By her 20s Tara was one of Australia’s leading distance runners and in 2008 finished on the podium in the Australian 5000m and 10,000m and was selected in the Australian team for the World Cross Country Championships in 2009 (in Jordan) and 2013 (in Poland).

Just prior to COVID she had started to really impress on the roads, running times of 32:14 (10k) and 71:27 (half) and winning the City to Surf. She was selected for the World Road Running Championships in 2020 (Poland), but it was cancelled due to COVID. In 2021 she made her marathon debut with 2:51. In the third marathon of her career, in 2023, she made a breakthrough running 2:33.19 in Berlin. She also competed at the World Road Running Championships in Latvia.

In 2024 Tara twice lowered her marathon PB, to 2:32.25 in Osaka (Feb) and 2:32.22 in Berlin (Sept).

This year (2025) Tara has run another solid marathon 2:34.15 (Osaka), a month after a brilliant half marathon time of 70:55, also in Osaka.

Memorable sporting achievement: I am most proud of the longevity of my running career. There have been a lot of moments that have felt like stand outs but the whole has been greater than the individual results. Making my first World Cross Country Championship and winning the 2019 Sydney City to Surf were big moments…Hero: I take the most inspiration from people who I spend the most time with and know closely. I have great admiration for what my sister, who I coach, has achieved in running while managing health difficulties…Most influential person in career: My early coach Toby Schreier. He was passionate about running and self belief like none other…Sporting ambition: My life sporting ambitions have changed year to year as I have grown. The consistent factor in my goal setting has been a high level of challenge and being true and honest to myself in pursuit of them…Advice to your young self: Pace yourself, it’s a long journey and celebrate the successes…Hobbies:  Jack Russell enthusiast…Occupation: Secondary School Teacher (Science and Biology)…Education: Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics, Flinders University 2008 and Masters of Teaching (Secondary), Flinders University 2011…Biggest challenge faced: Achilles tendinosis and partial rupture! I have had three ankle surgeries. Grateful for my body’s ability to heal and comeback stronger with time and perseverance. There has always been something to learn and grow from out of the setbacks. I really value balance, perspective and perseverance.

@ 10 Sept 2025 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au