With the season of indulgence behind us and a frosty new year on our doorsteps many people are assessing their goals and ambitions for the next 12 months.

Whether it is losing a few pounds, trying to stop smoking, spending more time outdoors, or raising money for charity, one interest ticks all the boxes - running.

The 27th Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon will be held on Sunday February 28 and will see more than 2,500 participants take on a 13.1 mile scenic loop around Bidborough, Penshurst, Fordcombe and Langton Green.

Among those will be four first-time half marathon runners who face the excitement and nerves of the build up to one of the most popular races in the country.

We will follow William Bullen, Nathan King, Ruth Atkin and Adrian Connolly as they train over the next few weeks, as well as seeing how they do on the big day.

They each have their own story and reasons for taking part, and many of them have found the idea of running for the first time a very daunting experience.

This feature will appear in the Courier over the weeks leading up to the big race day and you will be able to follow their progress online by visiting www.thisiskent.co.uk/halfmarathon

I will also train for the event and hope to finish it in under two hours, something I am yet to achieve after completing two half marathons.

Speedy is not the right word to describe my running, but I definitely enjoy it and would recommend it to anybody looking for a new challenge.

I will join our beginner runners on the start line to see if they can beat my time, a task that should not prove too difficult!

If you are taking part and want to tell me about your progress or any training tips, email me at jessica.thompson@courier.co.uk