One morning when Kara hopped off her treadmill, Ruland followed her out the door.
"I struck up a conversation and from that moment on she has been my running partner and a really good friend."
It turns out Ruland and Kara had more in common than just running.
Kara was also a mother (of four children) and a teacher. The pair then joined the Lake City Running Club with plans to run a marathon.
"Our goal was to finish," remembered Ruland. "We've entered events together ever since."
This year the running mates have a new goal of completing 10 half marathons in a year. The Tauhara Half Marathon will be number five.
Last year they did six and it gave them a goal to continue training and to keep focused.
"Mel runs with me when I am training for my triathlons, she helps keep me going. This year we decided we needed a goal for both of us so it started off as eight half marathons.
"But then I said to Mel, 'We may as well round in off to a nice number like 10,' so we did."
They run together three times a week, every week. If one is injured then they get on their bike and ride while the other is running or they go to the pools and aqua jog.
"We motivate each other to keep going all of the time. Some runs start at 5.15am. I get up and get there because I know that she is waiting for me and vice versa."
Ruland says she and Kara are "definitely not competitive".
"We run to keep our minds and our bodies healthy. We enjoy our daily natters and the company and most of all it is fun."
The Bay of Plenty women have drafted up the Mount Joggers, Kawerau, Tauhara, Taupo, Kinloch, Hamilton, Rotorua and Te Awamutu as their hit-list of events this year.
"We have looked around for courses that are in close proximity and that stay in our budget. Doing this challenge has been very costly, especially in entry fees."
They are looking forward to the challenge of the Taupo 63.3 Series.
"They are three very different courses with beautiful, stunning views. There is Tauhara with its challenging hills, Taupo which is a nice flat course to run and then there is Kinloch, which is a mixture of both.
"They are all fun events and the prizegivings - especially in Taupo - are very entertaining."
Ruland said they would not be able to do any of this without the love and support of their partners, children and friends from Tau te Mauri.
"We get so much enjoyment out of running in new places and pushing ourselves."
And to think this amazing journey and friendship only came about because Ruland decided she would stalk the girl from up the road at the gym.
