Megan Eckert

About

Megan Eckert is an American ultrarunner from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and one of the most dominant endurance athletes in the world at multi-day and fixed-time formats. She came to running late and reluctantly — growing up in Houston, Texas, she played basketball and volleyball and signed up for a 5K with a friend in 2008 but never made it to the start line. Years later, her husband Cary registered her for a trail marathon in her sleep, and she won the women's category in May 2017. She quickly found that ultra distances were her calling. In 2024, she ran more than 2,100 miles in a single year, setting a new women's backyard ultra world record at Big Dog's Backyard Ultra with 87 laps (362 miles), and winning the Snowdrop Ultra 55 Hour, the Saguaro Showdown Backyard Ultra, and Six Days in the Dome outright. Her most extraordinary achievement came at the Six Days of France in May 2025, where she became the first woman in history to surpass 600 miles in a six-day race, covering 603.155 miles (970.685 km) — more than 40 miles further than the previous record. She was ranked 4th UltraRunner of the Year in 2024 and 3rd in 2025. A middle school special education teacher and high school track and cross country coach, Eckert is a compelling example of an elite athlete thriving outside the traditional professional running model.

Notable Wins

• — Big Dog's Backyard Ultra 2024 (women's world record
• — 87 laps / 362 miles)
• — Six Days of France 2025 (women's six-day world record
• — 603.155 miles — first woman over 600 miles in 6 days)
• — Snowdrop Ultra 55 Hour
• — Saguaro Showdown Backyard Ultra
• — Six Days in the Dome (outright wins)
• — 4th UltraRunner of the Year 2024
• — 3rd UltraRunner of the Year 2025

Upcoming Races

Race History