Megan Corey set out for Dundas, Minnesota, with one goal: break the Guinness World Record for the fastest half-marathon run by a woman carrying a 40-pound backpack. She did that, finishing in two hours and three minutes. She also ran faster than the existing 20-pound-pack record time, though she hadn't predeclared an attempt in that category.
Corey, who lives in St. Louis Park, had predeclared her attempt at the 40-pound-pack record, according to CBS News. The previous Guinness mark in that category stood at two hours and 20 minutes, meaning Corey beat it by 17 minutes. During the same Dundas race, she also ran faster than the existing 20-pound-pack half-marathon record time, though she hadn't formally declared an attempt in that category.
That wasn't the first time Corey had quietly rewritten the record books. She told CBS News she hadn't even realized she'd broken the women's 20-pound-pack record a year earlier, at a half-marathon in Tennessee, until after the fact. The previous mark in that category had stood at two hours and 34 minutes.
A Record That Has to Be Declared in Advance
Guinness rules complicate matters for anyone hoping to claim a title after the fact. Corey said the 20-pound-pack record must be predeclared before an attempt, per CBS News — a detail that explains why her accidental record-breaking performance in Tennessee carried different weight than her planned effort in Dundas.
The Dundas attempt came with more scaffolding than a casual rucking outing. According to the Star Tribune, the race needed certification from the U.S.A. Track & Field Association to satisfy Guinness protocol, and the race director had to personally witness Corey weigh her ruck before and after the race, and watch her start and finish. To claim the 40-pound record, the paper reported, she needed to finish in under two hours and 15 minutes — a bar she cleared with room to spare.
Corey's rucking résumé already included a standout performance before Dundas. The Star Tribune's report noted she won the 26.2-mile Tough Ruck in April 2025 while carrying a 15-pound pack, finishing in four hours, nine minutes and 11 seconds — becoming the first woman to win that event, per the same account.
Rucking's Rising Profile
Corey's record attempts land amid a broader surge in the sport of rucking. KLFD Radio described her as a Minnesota endurance athlete taking on a grueling challenge in what it called an increasingly popular pursuit, as detailed on KLFD Radio. The Star Tribune's reporting backs that up with numbers: GORUCK now counts more than 650 clubs nationally, while RuckAuthority.com lists eight clubs in Minnesota alone. The sport's competitive scene is also expanding — the Ruck Race League has its in-person finals scheduled for October 17 in New Jersey.
How Corey's Times Stack Up Globally
Corey's numbers were faster than the existing female 20-pound-pack record time. The previous mark in that category was held by Pooja Tikmani of India, with a time of two hours, 34 minutes and 32 seconds set in Ahmedabad on January 12, 2025.
Corey's planned 40-pound attempt involved predeclaration, race certification, and pre- and post-race weigh-ins — steps in turning a hard training run into an effort that counts on paper.
