Episode 688: Megan Eckert on Cocodona 250, Running 603 Miles in Six Days, and Chasing Big Dreams

This episode is supported by Kava Haven, Goodr, and Batch. Today on the podcast, I’m excited to welcome Megan Eckert. Meg recently finished third overall among women at the 2025 Cocodona 250, running one of the fastest times in race history. She’s an ultrarunner, coach, teacher, and one of the most accomplished endurance athletes in the sport. In 2025, she ran 603 miles, surpassing 600 miles in six days and setting a world record pending ratification. She also finished second at Badwater 135 and continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in ultrarunning. One of the most fascinating parts of Meg’s story is that she didn’t discover running until she was 29 years old. What started with a goal of breaking two hours in her first half marathon quickly grew into a passion for ultras, trail running, and eventually some of the longest races in the world. In this conversation, Meg shares how she approaches races as long as Cocodona, why she focuses on competing against herself rather than other runners, how she balances teaching sixth-grade math with elite ultrarunning, and what she’s learned from spending days at a time moving through mountains, deserts, and remote wilderness. We also talk about sleep strategy, hallucinations, training for six-day races, the value of recovery, and why she continues to pursue goals that have a real chance of failure. Thank you to Mount to Coast for supporting this episode. Their new C1 Super Trainer is designed for long miles, everyday training, and durability that goes the distance. Learn more at mounttocoast.com. If you enjoy this conversation, please share it with a friend and leave a rating and review. It’s one of the best ways to help new listeners discover the show. Topics Discussed Finishing third at the 2025 Cocodona 250 Running 603 miles at the Six Day World Championship Discovering running at age 29 and quickly falling in love with ultras Balancing teaching, coaching, and elite ultrarunning Training philosophy, double-run days, and self-coaching Sleep strategy and hallucinations in multi-day races The growth of 200+ mile ultramarathons Recovery, longevity, and avoiding injury Pursuing difficult goals and embracing uncertainty Adventure, backpacking, and trying new experiences every year Media mentioned: Books: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Brands Mentioned: Mount to Coast Sponsors: BatchBatch is a Wisconsin-based wellness brand creating small-batch, science-backed CBD and THC products designed to help with stress, sleep, and overall balance. Their formulas are developed in-house using high-quality hemp and third-party testing for consistency and transparency. Go to hellobatch.com/another and use code “Another” for 30% off your order! Kava HavenKava Haven offers a kava-infused, non-alcoholic spirit designed to give you a relaxed, social “buzz” without