Megan Eckert (born August 11, 1986) is an American ultramarathon runner and teacher. She is most known for her wins and records in backyard ultra and 6 day race events.
Running
Running career After training for her first 5K in 2008 and deciding not to race, Megan returned to running in 2016 when her then-boyfriend, now husband, Joe convinced her to run a half marathon with him. She states that at the end of that half marathon, the thought that "it would be fun to keep going" spurred her to try increasingly long races and events.
Megan ran her first 100 mile race, the Habanero Hundred, in 2018 and finished first overall. Her first backyard ultra was the Saguaro Showdown in 2024, again finishing first overall. Megan's first 6 day race took place later the same year at Six Days in the Dome, once more taking first overall having run just over 526 miles. She has gone on to podium, win outright, and set course and world records at a number of races across the 100 mile, backyard ultra, and 6 day formats.
Wins and records
6 day races In May 2025, Megan set a new 6 day women's world record running 603.155 miles at the GOMU 6-Day World Championship in Vallon-Pont-d’Arc, France. During this race she also set the women's 500 mile world record and became the first woman to surpass 600 miles in 6 days.
In September 2026, Megan broke her own 6 day women's record by completing 636.482 miles at the GOMU World Championship 6-Day in Balatonfüred, Hungary. During this race, she also surpassed the overall American 6 day record of 606.243 miles set by Joe Fejes in 2015, broke her own record to set a new women's 500 mile world record, and became the first woman to reach 1000 km in a 6 day race.
Backyard ultras At the 2024 Big's Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, Megan broke the women's backyard ultra record completing 87 loops for a total distance of 362.5 miles. This record stood until the 2025 Big's Backyard Ultra, when Megan beat her own record distance by completing 383.3 miles, but came in second behind Sarah Perry, who completed 395.83 miles to set a new women's backyard ultra record.
Selected race results +YearCompetitionVenuePositionDistanceResultNotes2026GOMU World Championship 6 dayBalatonfüred, Hungary1st636.482 miWomen's 6 day world record, overall American 6 day record [pending ratification], first woman to reach 1000 km in a 6 day race, women's 500 mile world record, 1st overallVermont 100 Endurance RaceWest Windsor, VT, USA1st100 mi17:19:56Cocodona 250Black Canyon City, AZ, USA3rd250 mi63:09:07Northburn 100Cromwell, New Zealand1st100 mi24:43:182nd overall2025Across The Years - 12 hourPeoria, AZ, USA1st81.201 mi1st overallBig's Backyard UltraBell Buckle, TN, USA2nd383.33 miHabanero HundredCat Spring, TX, USA1st100 km9:43:261st overallBadwater 135Death Valley, CA, USA2nd135 mi26:24:17GOMU World Championship 6 dayVallon-Pont-d’Arc, France1st603.155 miFormer women's 6 day world record, former women's 500 mile world record, 2nd overall Antelope Island Buffalo RunSyracuse, UT, USA2nd100 mi17:35:563rd overall2024Big's Backyard UltraBell Buckle, TN, USA1st362.5 miFormer women's backyard ultra world record, 2nd overallAngeles Crest Altadena, CA, USA1st100 mi22:02:52Six Days in the DomeMilwaukee, WI, USA1st523.301 mi1st overall
Personal life Megan is married to Joe and lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where she works as a middle school math teacher.
References