From baby blues to the finish line
It started with a letter
Melanie Putria was born in Jakarta in 1982 and was never a sporty kid. She grew up singing, competed in Asia Bagus in 2000, studied mass communications at LSPR Jakarta, and was crowned Puteri Indonesia 2002. During her reign the foundation sent her a warning letter: improve your diet and exercise. Mel started going to the gym, but the results only came once she changed the way she ate.
The real turning point came in 2011. After giving birth, Mel went through the baby blues. The gym felt intimidating, so she joined a running community, and on her first try ran 8 km without stopping. Months later she finished the Singapore Marathon. Running helped her let go of the negativity, and in her view running is 80 percent mental. Since then she has collected all seven World Marathon Majors stars (the seventh in Sydney in 2026, after a two-year break) and become NASM certified as a personal trainer (CPT) and nutrition coach (CNC).
Proof she kept going
Puteri Indonesia, then a warning letter
Crowned Puteri Indonesia 2002. Then a warning letter from the foundation asked her to improve her diet and exercise, and Mel tried the gym for the first time.
Baby blues, then 8 km
After giving birth, Mel went through the baby blues. The gym felt intimidating, so she joined a running community, and on her first try ran 8 km without stopping.
First marathon in Singapore
Singapore Marathon 2011, finished in 5:07 after two months of running twice a week.
Personal best of 3:49
Tokyo Marathon 2016 in 3:49, through a sport science programme.
Fit with MeL on YouTube
Followers asked for longer versions of her Instagram training tips. In July 2019 her YouTube channel Fit with MeL launched.
Six World Marathon Majors
Boston 2022 completes the six World Marathon Majors: Tokyo, Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.
The seventh star in Sydney
After a two-year marathon break, Mel finished the Sydney Marathon 2026 in 4:39:20. Her seventh star.
Fit With Mel
Her approach in an app: workouts your camera counts, food logging from a photo, and an AI buddy in Mel's style in your WhatsApp.
Now she coaches you
Today Mel builds Fit With Mel. Guided workouts at home where your camera counts the reps, food logging from a photo of your plate, and an AI buddy in her style in your WhatsApp when it goes quiet. Her point has not changed in years: consistency beats intensity. Progress is how often you show up.