Running News Daily

American ultrarunner Meg Eckert has just rewritten the record books. Covering a jaw-dropping 603.156 miles (970.685 kilometers) over six days, Eckert shattered the women’s six-day world record at the 24H World Challenge in Policoro, Italy, making headlines in the ultrarunning world.

The previous record of 576.6 miles (928.1 km) was held by Australia’s Dipali Cunningham, set in 2001. Eckert not only surpassed that mark—she obliterated it with consistent pacing, minimal rest, and an iron will that held up through blistering heat, exhaustion, and the mental toll of running for nearly a full week.

The six-day race is one of the ultimate endurance tests in ultrarunning, requiring not just physical toughness but strategic discipline. Athletes eat, rest, and sleep in short bursts, logging as many miles as possible around a looped course. Eckert averaged over 100 miles per day, an incredible feat.  Many runners only average this in an entire month.  

Eckert, 42, from the United States, has long been respected in the ultra community, but this performance launches her into an elite tier of historical significance. Her run wasn’t just about physical achievement—it was a showcase of mental strength and deep experience with multi-day racing.

“It was about being in the moment, one lap at a time,” Eckert said afterward. “I knew what I was capable of, but to actually do it… that took everything.”

As more runners continue to push the boundaries of what the human body and mind can handle, performances like Eckert’s redefine the limits of endurance running. Her new world record is expected to stand as a monumental benchmark for years to come.