Woman shatters Appalachian Trail speed record

Tara Dower, 31, made history with the fastest known time (FKT) to complete the Appalachian Trail - beating records for both men and women by finishing the 2,200-mile trail in just under 41 days.

[@appalachiantrailthru-hike2234]

I actually passed you on the trail in Virginia. I was amazed that you were running up boulders. You were beautiful and inspired me. You're an awesome young woman. Well done, you! Nonnie

[@kennethschaidle5995]

WOW! Saw you at trails days. I admit I was skeptical that anyone could succeed at such an incredible task. You did it congratulations!

[@christyjohnson4563]

She is absolutely amazing!! Her KZbin channel is very inspirational.

[@日本語learner]

Crazy how far the human body can go. Wow!

[@maubeecat2910]

Tara, you are a continuing inspiration! Great work to you and team!

[@geddy1159]

As a guy who hikes the white mountains of New Hampshire, I can say that Her accomplishment is incredible

[@Nuttyirishman85]

Want to do Huntington trail, before it gets too cold?

[@sarahhagen2051]

Congratulations Tara and Team! 🎉

[@Kelly_Ben]

Congrats to her! What an insane accomplishment.

[@JenniferRogoza-d6b]

Holy crap over 50 miles per day she is great

[@Tuftsedge1]

What a massive accomplishment .A real natural woman conquered a beast.👍🏼🇺🇸

[@jmason61]

Just being able to run/walk over 50 miles a day for 2,200 miles in a stretch is incredibly hard

[@architennis]

Yes. And on rocks and roots, up and down mountains. Wow!

[@jmason61]

Yep you finished my sentence! Absolutely amazing what some people are capable of

[@davidmaughan4472]

Her youtube channel is called Tara Treks!!!

[@frankie9652]

Thank you for letting us know this :)

[@SeanMacadelic]

So many comments are dogging on her for “having a full support team” SHE RAN 2200 MILES IN 40 DAYS 🤯 I ran 26.2 miles one time and wanted to gnaw my foot off.

[@DarkkestNite]

Also, her main support were her mom and her friend following in a van. The pacer hikers joined for different sections each and then left. Not like she had all 40 the entire time, that sounds counterproductive lmao

[@rossmoniz5032]

Finally a feel good story

[@markviers998]

Way to go Tara!!!

[@Chiefonenut]

Wow!!! I'll bet she slept for days after that. Well done

[@christopherorman5769]

This is only part of it. She ran Hardrock 100 this year before this FKT attempt. She will be doing Javelina in October too, another 100 mile race.

[@trainwellracewell]

Huge congrats! I agree that women seem to have this amazing and deep endurance reservoir

[@jaapongeveer6203]

Fastest known time female or male!

[@wesleytwiggs7687]

Yeah that’s the insane part. Super impressive.

[@monsterhog1118]

With a full support team 😂

[@jimlahey3919]

Some guy will beat it next month just to prove they are faster and stronger

[@wesleytwiggs7687]

@@jimlahey3919 you’re clearly new to the ultra scene lol. The Appalachian trail takes longer than a month to do so that makes zero sense.

[@JTD472]

@@wesleytwiggs7687I’m guessing he gives 0 fucks about the “ultra scene” and was just making a joke

[@davidpyles8270]

With the bridge gone in Erwin this record may stand for years

[@jamesturnage2405]

Lol

[@Hiddendivergance]

They should have clarified that there are separate records for supported and unsupported hikes. Still very impressive though.

[@patriciabarnhart1886]

I followed her mama for a while, and Tara at another point. An amazing story for the benefit of so many young women, especially.

[@alwaysbanned4812]

Women can't hike a trail without a news story of a record?...why?

[@Eidemillerplumbing]

Absolutely incredible achievement!! Well done!!!

[@ianhurley9567]

Way to go, Tara!

[@CopperCityPatriot]

Is there a speed record for hiking the App Trail, with a broken foot and two ribs? Thankfully, NY still had snow so the cold creeks were a medicinal delight.

[@Panzer_the_Merganser]

40 days? Holy crap, congratulations!

[@sunburnsam]

amazing what the human body can do,.....what an amazing accomplishment. The ladies (eg: Tara | Courtney) are setting the records on trail running ablaze !

[@NewDayNewAdventure77]

Incredible accomplishment!

[@garylefevers]

This young lady it a wonderful role model for girls and young woman like my granddaughters. I really appreciate that. Rock on ladies. Teri Woolum LeFevers.

[@davegaultier5283]

@@garylefevers I’m a 65 yo guy and she’s a role model for me, if only I could be that tough & determined on my hikes & trail runs

[@garylefevers]

davegaultier5283, you can do it. 🏃

[@arnoldvezbon6131]

Really? Not good mothers and good wife but some silly body destroying activity is the inspiration?

[@lisaweppler1669]

congrats candy mama!!!!!

[@max-zl1vm]

Good for her. 53 miles is insane.

[@anneliesevoelker2502]

Somebody in Kansas, sun flowers bike and camp store claims she did it in 64 days.

[@DanaScott-yz7xj]

Congratulations 🤘🏻🇨🇦

[@SpaceLife80]

Congrats!!!

[@mikeb5664]

I'll never understand the point of ruining a great walk, by running thru it. But to each their own. Congrats on your accomplishment.

[@shleegar]

She hiked the entire trail in 2019 over 5 months. She took her time the first time she completed it 😊

[@douggaines731]

I'll never understand why a fella like you would be motivated to put a negative spin on it, if in fact you really believe "to each their own."

[@jafquist27]

So... you're not going to tell us the old record in comparison? It's the reason I clicked. Bummer.

[@davidpyles8270]

I think she cut around 12 hours off

[@maxwellerickson7066]

She beat the old woman's record by four days or so. She beat the overall record, held by Karel Sabbe, by twelve hours.

[@jafquist27]

@@maxwellerickson7066 Thank you.

[@jafquist27]

@@davidpyles8270 Thank you.

[@michymoo839]

Amazing accomplishment for an ultra runner!

[@davidmccartney7577]

Awesome accomplishment by anyone, Congrats 🇺🇸

[@crazypope]

Cannonball run of the Appalachian Trail.

[@Michael-zc8nt]

Congratulations

[@shiny888]

Go Tara!

[@kenharris1261]

Add this to accomplishments set by Caitland Clarke , go Tara , !!😊😊

[@Carriergirl0902]

Awesome 👏

[@Pharmaspy]

Is that hiking? Or is that ultrarunning?

[@jimbailey9915]

Ultrarunning 🤔

[@monsterhog1118]

Running with a full support team

[@maxwellerickson7066]

Kind of both! You're still hiking most of the uphills. Incredible!

[@frankie9652]

She’s definitely an ultra-athlete. To me, i’s more impressive to run it than hike it! (I’m a hiker, so I mean it as a compliment.)

[@Sean-st5ud]

ultra running for sure but doesn't take away the accomplishment

[@chrisulmer694]

*HOLY COW!!!!!* Now that is an impossible athletic feat and I wouldn’t believe it if it weren’t true. She is every much of an athlete as Mike Tyson, Lawrence Taylor, Michael Phelps, etc ever were in their prime.

[@arnoldvezbon6131]

Buahahahaah. How was this feat verified?

[@chrisulmer694]

@ *So it’s a conspiracy according to you then, huh? A conspiracy to make you feel that you are being stripped of your manhood. There’s something else that’s about to happen that will also cause you to feel stripped of your manhood and most likely to send you into a realm of conspiracy delusions. That is that Donald Trump will lose the 2024 election.*

[@mattdelany6799]

A man beat her by 5 hours and 54 minutes.

[@esthercarnahan5972]

Congratulations!!!

[@william2036]

amazing what great efford and feat team working

[@alkinceratfafterthefly6284]

Way to go!!!

[@gingrai00]

Wow! Tough!!!

[@GeckoHiker]

Easier to do when your backpack and supplies are catered. It's more of a stunt than an achievement. I backpacked the Appalachian Trail and formed friendships, enjoyed the community, and took in the beautiful sights of nature along the way. Hike your own hike.

[@natesears6037]

She did a conventional thru hike in 2019. This was an intentional " supported fastest known time" attempt. There are also unsupported/self-supported FKT records like you're referring to. Both are impressive in their own right.

[@GeckoHiker]

@natesears6037 I have hiked the entire AT and Florida Trail in the same year and understand the challenge. I acknowledge that she made very good time. I met a man doing the fast track hike on the AT. He traveled with a minimal set of gear and ate from other hikers at the shelters. He slept on the ground, anywhere, no gear. I was impressed with his ability to ignore the mosquitoes and ticks. Moving fast helps. I charged his phone with my solar powered backpack, gave him a pouch of peanut butter, and filtered some water for his camelbak. I call that a supported run.

[@jamesturnage2405]

Good word there “stunt“

[@douggaines731]

So, basically, hike your own hike, but my hike's much better than your hike to the extent that I'm compelled to publicly look down upon your hike. Right bud?

[@GeckoHiker]

@@douggaines731 So, it was a group hike but just not together? If it was an achievement all the hikers that made it happen ought to have received the credit. You know, the Sherpas.

[@John-th8td]

Sure

[@StinaPsych]

Amazing!

[@Tcrim354]

Great accomplishment. Now turn around and take your time and enjoy the true adventure.

[@John-th8td]

No one really believes you naturally did this in 41 days. There are many parts of this trail it takes hours to cover a few miles. This trail is 2200 miles.

[@davegaultier5283]

@@John-th8td it’s pretty easy to tell with gps tracking when someone is cheating even a little bit. Just read about a record being overturned because the guy cut out a switchback to avoid slow hikers. You probably already know all this though and are just being a jackhole

[@arnoldvezbon6131]

@@davegaultier5283 Do you have access to her GPS?

[@lorrainegardner7624]

Why do we do this to ourselves? There is something that drives some humans to exceed all barriers for the sake of self examination. It is a deeply personal quest fee can or will understand or share. I have never hiked the Appalachian Trail except very small portions but have other things that push me to do or be more. To complete that certain unlovable thing because I have to. Ao, I follow the atft attempts and applaud all who even try. To complete, that is cheered on by those who love us but even they can never fully understand the drive despite their willingness to support the endeavor, so kudos needs to go out to the team of supporters too.

[@RamonMarais-k2k]

Did you see anything of the trail?

[@douggaines731]

You seem kind and understanding.

[@arnoldvezbon6131]

@@douggaines731 Get lost with the tone policing crap.

[@douggaines731]

@@arnoldvezbon6131 Would you prefer that I encourage senseless, unnecessary negativity? Or ignore it? Just curious.

[@arnoldvezbon6131]

@@douggaines731 You are not the judge of what is necessary or unnecessary you arrogant t_w_a_t.

[@Adam-nr4qq]

🎉hi my name is Adam and I am an alcoholic

[@viaxxl]

Humans are incredible!! Good job!! (👽)

[@countryroadsoutdoors7854]

Ok so obviously people are taking this as a great accomplishment. Running that far in that amount of time is great, awesome, good for you. However, the App. trail is not a quest for record breaking. It is a place where u take your time, go slow, and enjoy the sights around you and take everything in. Not run past it as fast as possible, you have ruined the entire experience. Hopefully she goes back and walks it she will get way more out of it.

[@darrylg4889]

Incredible accomplishment but she didn't "shatter" the record. No need to over sensationalize it.

[@christopherorman5769]

Actually, 12 hours is shattering in the ultra and fkt worlds.

[@YourMomsFavoriteHiker]

If you consider this a HIKING record, then you know less than zero about hiking

[@angelusway]

No pack with a support team? Don’t think you should compare yourself to a thru hiker who carries a full pack but congrats!!

[@jennacarolle5153]

She wasn't comparing herself to them. She already did it as a thru hiker. This was a FKT hike. Completely different.

[@rungavagairun]

That's what a supported FKT is. I don't recall any point in the video where Tara compared herself to thru hikers, but even if she did, she propelled her body through the entire AT using her legs. What do you think it means to thru hike the AT?

[@johnlyons2562]

That's 50 miles a day.....😂

[@ethelip5239]

I’m sorry she made it so much about inspiring girls & women.. Don’t we know women are strong & nice?

[@ethelip5239]

Amazing feat. I’m sorry she feels so concerned about women & girls not believing in themselves. I know women & girls are strong & smart & amazing & hott!

[@kushagramittal4275]

Great job!! I don’t know why it has to be made all about women though? She is the fastest person to hike the trail not the fastest woman to hike the trail. You never hear when a man sets a record about men can do this and men can get empowered. Just cut the feminist crap and enjoy a major victory. You will not just inspire women, you are inspiring everyone on how important persistence and team work is.

[@jamesturnage2405]

A lot of people make their thing about love, peace, and world understanding. I’m just like if you want to do it do it Don’t give us this crap about how important it is to the world. You can even sense it and some people do this because they realize what they’re doing is kind of useless so they make it reason for why it’s good for everybody.

[@your_mom_is_my_dad]

It's her victory, let her decide what she does with it. It's not harming anyone so it's completely fine by me if she spreads the message she wants. She ain't putting anyone down like some other influencers do

[@sheilastevens7956]

Clap clap clap!!

[@buzz5969]

Shattered, sha sha dooby, sha sha shattered….

[@keto6789]

What's the point? ....

[@fredgarvin5381]

I’m with you. Kind of defeats the purpose.

[@natejewkes]

@@fredgarvin5381 She took her time and did the whole hike in 5 months in 2019. This time it was about speed.

[@tashirodc2]

this is a fake, look at all the real data "I set out on my own, 5x in the video" camera and people here and there.

[@arnoldvezbon6131]

@@Sugoi163 Gee I don't know maybe biology, physics, chemistry....

[@dougkoontz1752]

At this speed she missed most of what people hike the AT for in the first place.

[@kennethschaidle5995]

Don't forget that she had already done a conventional thru hike.

[@kristinap6300]

I’ve hiked the AT and I know everyone should hike their own hike, but I just don’t get it, I can’t believe that hiking over so much rugged terrain in a short time is good for your body or would bring any long term benefit to someone, of course if there are sponsors or a monetary motivation I kinda get it but- I just don’t see the point

[@fluffbigrollingmarshmallow]

Apparently you have no concept of testing your limits, pushing yourself as far as you can possibly go - the challenge of that is rewarding in and of itself. The reward for pushing past your limits, to continue even when you don't think you have it in you, to push past that limit - the sense of accomplishment in defying all your doubt, limits, past the point of exhaustion - it's something most of us will never feel. I can't even begin to imagine how wonderful it must feel. It has to be absolutely amazing!

[@waynecastleman1363]

Congratulations WOW 🙏🇺🇸

[@Svetpuh]

Да не реви ты ,Господи,дам я тебе покушать 😂

[@anderssongibbs9013]

She totally missed the point of the trail..

[@natejewkes]

She took her time and did the whole hike in 5 months in 2019. This time it was about speed.

[@jamesturnage2405]

Yeah, I hate the stuff, but acknowledge that she had hiked it before I agree. It’s not the point of the trail. That’s why I will bury my comment down here so not to make too big a deal.

[@CassandraHernandez-m8b]

Congratulations! Glory Be To God! In Jesus's Great Beautiful Powerful Amazing Joyful Loving Pure honest Truthful Splendid Might Loving Strong Name Amen!

[@arnoldvezbon6131]

Jesus wants her to make babies with her husband not run endurance hikes...

[@nedmacallen]

Took an entire crew and a pacer!? That’s wild a man would do it himself haha lol jk I’m just jealous

[@richardmestas7690]

Sign up for special forces. U have what it takes.

[@arnoldvezbon6131]

Delusional.

[@thomasmclennon4746]

Now let's see her do it solo.

[@pioneerprepper2048]

That's not a thing

[@jimlahey3919]

Some macho man will see this video and go break the record next week. Just because they know they can

[@maxwellerickson7066]

This is one of the most competitive FKTs in the ultrarunning scene. If someone could legitimately break it, best to them!

[@christopherorman5769]

Men have tried and she beat Jurek and Meltzer. Good look to others. Gender doesn't matter on something like this.

[@alisondickinson]

There is a reason why the Appalachian Trail Conservancy does not acknowledge FKTs. While fast hiking can result in impressive athletic feats, it is not a competitive trail. Props to her feeling of accomplishment.

[@runnernh]

Yeah I have a friend who did something like this pre-Internet and the ATC wouldn't acknowledge it, for the reason you suggested. Nevertheless, he's deserves kudos..

[@OnMeds1]

I hiked the trail in 5 months lol Congrats to her I'll tell you this she will need knee replacements in the future if She puts them under that kind of abusive much more

[@battshytkrazy156]

FREAK!!!

[@billm.3449]

Yeah, that looks like fun…..not

[@bigdaddyrcp]

Her legs do not reflect her accomplishment...... 50 miles a day?

[@vintagejunktofunk4616]

Yeah but you do it for the beautiful views and other stuff and not just rush yourself. Kinda pointless imo

[@YouTubeAccount-hq6oz]

Wow...made it on national TV and still no one knows who you are, what you did nor give 2 shits about any of it. What a waste of energy for a lot of nothing.

[@jeremygriffith7496]

Someone needs to take a hike😊

[@fluffbigrollingmarshmallow]

Everyone in the thru-hiking community has know who she is for several years. She goes a great deal for the AT thru-hiking community, is always very supportive of other hikers, and a wonderful ambassador for thru-hiking. I just wonder since you obviously know nothing of the thru-hiking community, why you even watched this video since you obviously have zero knowledge about it, nor interest in it.

[@Off-The-X]

Whats with the hurry. its not a contest! Losing respect for you people!

[@natejewkes]

She took her time and did the whole hike in 5 months in 2019. This time it was about speed.

[@kathleenmansure7416]

LOL imagine saying that about any other sport. Why did Usain Bolt try to go so fast in the 100m and 200m? I personally love just walking those distances and all other people should as well

[@olddad67]

Wow !!!