I will say taking THF as your first job to 18 is not for the easily discouraged. I got very good at running from Quadav, though.
Playing a Tarutaru melee can be interesting, but keep in mind that people will be wary particularly if you try to play a defensive role (e.g. WAR tank in the dunes) because of your naturally low HP. Still, I tanked for a couple dunes parties as WAR/THF before I had extra jobs unlocked (was specifically avoiding MNK, went WAR/RNG after unlocking RNG, it's an interesting combo especially in a party open to SCs, you can get a good SC going with almost anyone on WAR/RNG with GAxe, Axe, and Marksmanship skilled up).
THF in particular is not a bad role for Tarutaru, you are lacking in native STR but you have the second-best DEX and AGI after Mithra, both stats that can directly affect your burst damage for SA/SATA.
In general, STR/Attack is where you'll need to focus on shoring up weaknesses, though HP and VIT/Defense will be important if you decide to pursue blood-tanking on WAR. You won't need as much focus on DEX/Accuracy as some races do, though if you do go with THF, piling on the DEX will give pretty good SA returns.
Keep in mind the returns of improving STR and DEX vary depending on whether you're using 1H/H2H (MNK, THF, Axe WAR) or 2H (GAxe WAR). In the former case, +2 STR = +1 Attack and +2 DEX = +1 Accuracy; in the latter, +4 STR = +3 Attack and +4 DEX = +3 Accuracy. This is one of a number of reasons people prefer WAR to use GAxe for many of their levels. While you will need to use an Axe for the first few levels of WAR (well, or Sword, or Rusty Greatsword, or some other unconventional choice, none of which I'd recommend), once you hit level 5 you can get a Butterfly Axe, and from that point on you should stick with GAxe until at least level 50, though taking time to at least keep Axe skilled up, and having one available in case it's needed for an SC, is still a good idea.
Also, keep in mind that the job you choose at character selection only affects what you start with a little, so you may not want to choose the job you actually intend to level first, depending.
To the best of my recollection, the job selection bonuses:
Warrior: Onion Sword
Monk: White Belt
Thief: Onion Knife
White Mage: Onion Rod, Scroll of Cure (Ex)
Black Mage: Onion Staff, Scroll of Stone (Ex)
Red Mage: Onion Dagger, Scroll of Dia (Ex)
Out of those equipments, the only one you wouldn't want to replace with something else ASAP is White Belt; OTOH, getting a piece of Onion equipment gets you a head start on the Donate to Recycling quest in Selbina, which gets you a nice piece of Ex Lightning furniture (Wastebasket).
Kumei, pickpocket of Midgardsormr (Bastok Rank 8)
THF75, DRK60, NIN40, WAR37, WHM37, RNG35, DNC35, BLM20, RDM14, DRG12, BST9, BRD8, COR8, PUP6, SCH4, SAM1
Alchemy 70, Smithing 50, Goldsmithing 38, Leathercraft 23, Fishing 16
Koren, San d'Orian Adv. (Rank 6)
WHM52, SMN31, SCH29, BLM26, NIN23, PLD6, BRD6, RDM5, RNG1
Woodworking 29, Cooking 11
All celestials (Trial-Size)
Myrna, Windurstian Merchant
BLM20, WHM10
Clothcraft 24
Nyamohrreh, Windurstian Adv. (Rank 2)
WAR28, MNK18, WHM15, BLM3
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