From Marathon to Deadlifts: Melissa Raven’s Inspiring Fitness Journey
Welcome to the next chapter of our Women Who Inspire series at Innovative Fitness, where Melissa Raven takes centre stage. Melissa’s dedication to fitness goes beyond personal goals, intertwining marathon achievements with deadlift aspirations. Join us as we explore her empowering journey, filled with strength, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to inspire others.
Meet Melissa Raven
Melissa is a dedicated runner. She is currently wrapping up her 8th marathon build in preparation for the Los Angeles Marathon on March 17th, with the goal of breaking 3 hours again! Then her next big goal will be the Berlin Marathon at the end of September. Between those two races, Melissa looks forward to getting in some shorter distance races and lifting heavier in the gym – she would love to improve her 3-rep max deadlift to over 225lbs.
Outside of running, Melissa takes time to volunteer at her kids’ school, helping out in the classroom and on field trips, as well as helping lead their Sun Run practices – inspiring the next generation of runners!
When and why did you start at IF?
I joined Innovative Fitness TELUS Garden in late 2019 after attending a race launch party hosted at the gym. It was the first time I had been in the gym and everyone that I met was so friendly – it really motivated me to sign up for personal training sessions. As a competitive runner in my forties, I knew that a consistent strength routine would be beneficial to my marathon training, and it was something that I had been lacking up to that point.
How has it impacted your life?
I’ve seen huge improvements in my strength, running performance and overall health. Prior to joining IF, I had never done a deadlift! After four years of consistent strength training, my marathon time has improved from 3:24 to 2:58 – breaking 3 hours in the marathon at 46 years old has been my biggest performance accomplishment to date. Moreso, I love doing deadlifts and the strength I’ve built from doing them consistently!
Tell us about a woman who inspires you the most.
I’ve been fortunate to have many women in my life that continue to inspire me – how do I choose just one? My running coach, my training partners and my personal trainer are all strong women that inspire me to work hard towards achieving my performance goals and enable me to enjoy the process in doing so.
I would be remiss if I did not mention my mom because her kindness and acts of service are what inspire me to give back through volunteerism. My mom was the team manager of my hockey team for many years, and she has played an integral role in developing my love for sport and fitness – it’s something I cherish, and the reason I’m inspired to do the same with my own children.
Melissa Raven’s dedication to her fitness journey at Innovative Fitness Telus Garden is nothing short of inspiring. From setting and achieving marathon goals to embracing the challenge of deadlifts, Melissa’s story is a testament to the transformative power of consistent strength training. We wish her all the best with her training towards the Los Angeles and Berlin Marathon this year and thank you for sharing your journey at Innovative Fitness!
