Running the Race of a Lifetime in France

Growing up, Melissa Goble, WHNP, was an athlete who played basketball and volleyball in high school, but she didn’t identify as a runner. That would change in college when she asked if she could join the cross-country team for practices only.  There, she fell in love with the rhythmic pounding of her feet hitting the ground, invigorating her and giving her a chance to clear her mind.

“I continued running and decided that after having each of my children, I have three, I would run a marathon. It is my mental sanity. I like to challenge myself, which is where I just kept upping it,” said Melissa.

She ran three Grandma’s Marathons in Duluth during the years 2008, 2010, and 2012. In her final race, she qualified for the Boston Marathon.

“I ran Boston in 2013, the year of the bombing. I was just two blocks away when the bombs went off, my husband was very close to where it happened.”

While she wanted to return to Boston in 2014, she missed the qualifying time by one minute! A few years passed, and Melissa knew it was time for a new challenge. In 2021, she ran the Bryce Canyon 50K held in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Six hours and 20 minutes later, she completed the race. In 2022, she did the A to A (Athens to Atlanta) race and spent 6 hours and 18 minutes rollerblading 89 miles.

Her biggest accomplishment occurred on September 22 of this year as she completed one of the most challenging races, the IronMan World Championship in Nice, France. In 2023, she did IronMan Maryland and qualified for the world championship after finishing first in her age group. The world championship, comprised of a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile run totaling 140.6-miles would take her a grueling 11 hours and 48 minutes to complete.

“It is one of the hardest races! Swimming in the Mediterranean was beautiful, but that day was not calm. You couldn’t see that well because of the waves, and I just followed the path of people.  Going through the mountains, we had a 9,000-foot elevation gain for biking. It is one of the most technical courses, with the uphill climbs, but you also have the downhill descents, and you don’t want to miss any of the switchbacks,” explained Melissa.

Last year marked a historic change for the Ironman World Championships, with the men’s and women’s races held separately for the first time. Traditionally,  a two day event in Kona, Hawaii, but with the change last year men raced in Nice, France, for the first time and women raced in Kona. This year was the first women’s race held in Nice, France, while the men returned to Kona. 

Out of nearly 1,500 racers who qualified for the event in Nice, Melissa delivered an impressive performance. She placed 34th in her age group, was the 6th American in her age group to cross the finish line and 230th overall.

“I think it would be fun to try and qualify for the opportunity to go to Kona. I would need to qualify again in 2026 to do that,” said Melissa.

For anyone looking to kickstart their 2025 health journey, Melissa says it’s best to start small. “Realize that you’re going to have good days and bad days, but those bad days will make you stronger as a person. They will make you realize that not everything is always easy, but pushing through it will impact your training, racing ability, and overall fitness. It won’t be a cakewalk every day.”

When it comes to inspiration to pass the time, she admits she doesn’t listen to much music while swimming or biking. “On occasion, while running, I’ll listen to some music. Typically, it’s country or something with a cadence faster than 180, like ‘Can’t Stop the Feeling’ by Justin Timberlake.”

Melissa starts her day at 4:30 a.m. working out and is incredibly structured. “If you’re going to train for an IronMan or really anything, you can’t do it without the support of your friends and family. I couldn’t have done it without my husband and kids, my faith, and friends being there for me. God gave me the ability to move my body, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity I was given.”

Learn more about CRMC’s  comprehensive weight loss program and how it could help you reach your goals.