What if you didn’t start running until later in life — and still became one of the best ultrarunners in the world?

In this episode of the Everyday Ultra Podcast, I sit down with Megan Eckert, one of the most consistent and resilient athletes in ultrarunning today.

Megan was voted 3rd overall in the 2025 World Ultrarunner of the Year rankings, became the first woman in history to run over 600 miles in a six-day race, finished 2nd at Badwater 135, and went 383+ miles at Big’s Backyard Ultra — all after starting running at age 29.

We talk about what it actually takes to endure at the highest level — mentally, emotionally, and physically — and why fun, focus, and simplicity might matter more than most training plans.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How Megan went from fearing her first race to thriving in multi-day ultras
• Why focus — not motivation — is the real mental toughness skill
• How to approach massive races like Cocodona 250 without overcomplicating training
• What backyard ultras and fixed-time events teach you about yourself
• Why making training fun is a performance enhancer (not a distraction)
• The mindset shift that helps athletes push through pain without breaking
• How she recovers between massive races — including an underrated recovery tool
• Why finding your people in the sport can change everything

Whether you’re training for your first ultra or chasing your biggest endurance goal yet, this conversation is packed with perspective, wisdom, and reminders of why we run in the first place.

🎧 Listen now and learn how to endure better — every single day.

SHOW LINKS:

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Megans IG: @_megeckert (DM Megan if you'd like to work with her as your coach)

Megan's Favorite Products for Training and Racing: rendezvu.co/megan-eckert