How Tara Dower Shattered The Appalachian Trail Record (2,197 Miles In 40 Days)

This past Saturday night at 11:53 PM, Tara Dower set the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail in 40 days 18 hours 5 minutes, besting Karel Sabbe's 2018 mark by 13 hours and 32 minutes.

Starting August 12th at 5:47 AM, Dower averaged 54+ miles per day over 2,197.4 miles of rugged and relentless terrain from Maine to Georgia to set the mark.

In masterfully riding a fine line of passion, grit, faith, and resourcefulness, Tara and her crew have set a new standard on this trail.

I (Finn Melanson) said this on a Singletrack Podcast Instagram post shortly after the news broke, but I'll say it here as well - it's easy to get caught up in the moment, especially in a year that has seen the likes of the first female Barkley finisher, a UTMB course record, and a Hardrock course record - but is this the female performance of the year? Or better yet, is this the overall performance of the year regardless of gender? This is an amazing time to be in the sport.

With all that said, we were fortunate to have Tara on the podcast shortly after her feat. In this conversation, we cover topics all about the Appalachian Trail record around her background, preparation, strategy, execution, mindset, and processing of this monumental achievement.

If you want more long-distance hiking trail or Appalachian Trail trail-specific content, be sure to check out our interviews with Will Peterson, Warren Doyle, and Jennifer Pharr Davis from the past year. Hope you enjoy this one!

Timestamps:

00:00 - How Tara Is Feeling Post-Appalachian Trail FKT, Expressions of Gratitude
05:06 - Worry About Falling Too Far Behind Karel Sabbe's Mark Early On
14:00 - Tara's Thru-Hiking And Ultrarunning Background
21:21 - Preparation For The Appalachian Trail Record
33:00 - Appalachian Trail FKT Strategy
45:23 - Daily Schedule
57:59 - Highlights From Various Sections Of The Appalachian Trail
01:08:15 - Making A Statement For Female Athletes, Mindset, Launching Points

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