“The one I’m trying to surpass is myself!” — Performance, according to Chloé

Chloé Merlet isn’t a professional athlete, but that hasn’t stopped her from developing a true passion for sport. Her vision of performance? Progressing and breaking free from limits — especially those imposed on her as a woman over forty. Portrait of an unstoppable runner.

Chasing Limits to Keep Moving Forward

Sport has always had a place in Chloé Merlet’s life. As a child, she swam and danced. She also ran from time to time, and her performances were already promising. “Having at least one time slot each week for physical activity was just part of normal life,” she recalls.

Sport has always had a place in Chloé Merlet’s life. As a child, she swam and danced. She also ran from time to time, and her performances were already promising. “Having at least one time slot each week for physical activity was just part of normal life,” she recalls.

“I told myself I had to get back into sport. With work and a young child, joining a club and training at fixed times just wasn’t possible. Running was the simplest option.”

Simple? Not exactly. “Running is really tough!” she admits with a laugh. “You have to go at it gently so you don’t get discouraged every time you struggle to catch your breath.”

And you need goals. “I signed up for a small race. My only goal was to finish it without feeling like I was about to die. That gave me a reason to get out the door. I completed the 8 kilometers, and it went well. So I thought, maybe I should try a half marathon.”

Chloé was off. From then on, her relationship with performance followed the same pattern: set a goal, prepare for it, achieve it — then start again, with something even more ambitious.

She explains: “21 kilometers is a distance you hardly ever cover in daily life. But I took on the challenge, and once again, I felt great. So I thought, why not a marathon? For the longest time, I didn’t understand the point of pushing yourself through 42 kilometers. But I did it too — and I loved it.”

Looking back, she reflects on what sport means to her: “Progress is like looking through a window that keeps moving forward as your performance improves.” But how far can it go? “That, I don’t know. What I do know is that I don’t want to push myself into the red. As long as I feel good, it means I haven’t crossed my limits yet. And that means I can keep pushing them further.”

That’s how she now finds herself running increasingly technical races, while preparing for another marathon and the SaintéLyon — 80 km at night, with around 2,000 meters of elevation gain.

“I hadn’t trained well, and I was tired. I had focused my preparation on the marathon. During the race, I developed IT band syndrome.” This painful knee tendinitis could have shaken Chloé’s determination. But her relationship with sport has helped her cultivate resilience. “It was horrible. I couldn’t go downhill or bend my leg. At kilometer 25, I decided to quit. We still had 8 kilometers to get to the next shuttle, and that ended up being the most enjoyable part of the race. As soon as I accepted that I couldn’t continue — and that it wasn’t a big deal — I felt completely at peace.”

Running like a Women 

Constantly pushing her limits eventually led Chloé Merlet to question what performance really means. “I followed a training plan to run a half marathon in under two hours. On race day, I was with a friend who offered to pace me.” A new turning point for Chloé.

“I wanted to start slowly to warm up. But he advised me to begin right at the pace I had trained for. I had never run that fast for so long. So I followed him, telling myself that if it got too hard, I could always slow down. As long as it lasted, it was a win.” And it did last, sparking a revelation for Chloé: she could keep improving. So she joined a triathlon club.

“There’s nothing more motivating than progress. You see your times dropping again and again. That really fires me up.”

But there were limits she didn’t expect to face: those of her age and her gender. And not because of her physical condition — at forty, Chloé has never felt fitter. “I’m aware that practicing sport at my age, after having a child, is different. My body isn’t the same as when I was 20. But that’s not a problem at all, because I adapt my approach. What I refuse is being told that being an older woman should hold me back.”

Chloé has collected her share of stories tinged with sexism and ageism. “Recently, at a race, I made it onto the podium. Someone I didn’t know asked me which podium exactly. I told him I came in third. ‘Yes, but in which category?’ he asked. He was surprised when I said I had finished third overall, all categories combined. I knew he was expecting me to say I was third among the ‘old ladies.’”

Although she manages to laugh about it, such situations fuel her anger. “Even buying shoes, we’re treated differently from men. A teammate from my club went to the same store, and the salesperson gave him detailed technical advice about carbon plates, asking him all kinds of questions about his running. When I went, he didn’t ask me anything — and mostly tried to discourage me.”

Running Against the Mental Load

Running, improving speed, and fine-tuning technique all require time — and organization. Chloé Merlet is well aware that her job as an English teacher gives her certain advantages. “I can arrange part of my schedule the way I want. My work doesn’t put too much pressure on my body. From that point of view, I’m privileged.”

Training also demands a lot of mental availability — something Chloé experiences regularly. “You don’t train the same way if you’re exhausted from work or if you know you have to rush home to take care of the kids or the house. But at the same time, I can see that exercising actually makes me less tired. It’s a virtuous circle you have to manage to step into.”

Her secret to making it work? “I do it for myself. I set my goals, and I decide when and how I organize myself. I can train early in the morning or late at night if I need to. I’ve developed a kind of self-discipline I’m proud of. I have a competitive spirit, but I’m not trying to run faster than others. The only person I’m trying to surpass is myself.”

Like many athletes, however, Chloé struggles with recovery. “You also need to know when to stop, to avoid overtraining. I don’t want to get injured. I don’t have sponsors to satisfy. It’s just me behind my performance. If I need more time, or if I feel like I could hurt myself, I listen to my body and slow down.” For a long time, recovery wasn’t something she thought much about. But competition — and the accumulation of minor injuries that come with more intense training — have forced her to be more strategic. She refuses to let a preventable injury stop her progress. That’s why Chloé surrounds herself with advice: “I listen to my physio. Right now, I have a weakened ankle. She told me to take a proper break of at least 10 days before easing back into training in the weeks to come.”

Today, Chloé knows many women are looking for role models they can relate to and identify with. That’s why she documents her journey on Instagram. Follow her at @courscommeunefille.