Tara Dower completed the Appalachian Trail in record time (Credit: Tara Dower/ Facebook/ CC-BY-SA-2.0)

On September 21, 2024, Tara Dower set a new speed record on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in the Eastern United States. The 31-year-old American ultrarunner completed the 2,189-mile (3,522 km) trail, which runs from Georgia to Maine, in an incredible 40 days, 18 hours, and 5 minutes. Before Dower’s trek, the record was held by Karel Sabbe. It took the Belgian runner 41 days, 7 hours, and 38 minutes, or about 13 hours more, to finish the trail in 2018.

To achieve this milestone, Dower ran and hiked an average of 54 miles (86 km) each day. She would set off in the dark around 3:30 am and end around 8:30 to 9:30 pm. She stopped only to eat or take 90-second naps. To save time, Dower took just three showers over the entire trek, relying instead on baby wipes and fresh clothes. In her final 129 hours, with the record within reach, Dower did not sleep at all.

The Appalachian Trail stretches across 14 states (Credit: Zeete/ CC-BY-SA-4.0/ Wikimedia Commons)

The ultrarunner credits her success to a crew of enthusiastic supporters. For 80 percent of the hike, she was accompanied by an experienced runner, or "pacer." In addition to keeping her company, the pacer ensured she remained on track to beat the previous assisted fastest known time (FKT) record. Meanwhile, the rest of her crew, led by her mother, worked tirelessly to supply the food and resources needed to sustain her strenuous journey. This was no easy task, given that Dower consumed around 300 calories an hour.

"I viewed myself as the race car, and the crew was the pit crew," she said. "So, they're maintaining me, fueling me, doing whatever is needed to keep me going."

Dower used her AT record attempt to raise over $55,000 for Girls on the Run. The nonprofit is dedicated to empowering young girls through running and education. Dower hopes her achievement will "inspire women and girls to go for that tough goal, whether in running or in life."

Dower has set five FKT records since 2020 (Credit: Tara Dower/ Facebook/ CC-BY-SA-2.0)

While endurance athletes like Dower and Sabbe make it look effortless, the AT, which spans 14 US states, is far from easy. The trail's rocky terrain and high elevation pose significant physical and mental challenges. Approximately 75 percent of people who attempt the trail fail to complete it. For those who do, the journey typically takes 5 to 7 months.

The AT record is the latest in a series of impressive ultra-distance achievements by Dower. Since taking up the sport in 2020, she has set five FKT records. They include the 1,175-mile (1,890km) Mountains-to-Sea Trail, the 289-mile (465 km) Benton MacKaye Trail, and the 486-mile (782 km) Colorado Trail.

Resources: runnersworld.com, theguardian.com, nypost.com