Fastest Known Time

40 Days on the Appalachian Trail

By: Tara Dower

In her deeply inspiring memoir, the ultrarunner who covered more than fifty miles a day on the Appalachian Trail for forty straight days tells the story of her gutsy, transcendent, and record-shattering odyssey.

Tara Dower shocked the endurance running community when she set what’s referred to as the Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail. It was 2024, when she was a little-known athlete who still worked at her local REI. Everyone wanted to know: how did this young woman just redefine what was considered possible for one of world’s hardest and most respected physical challenges, beating everyone who'd tried it, men included?

Fastest Known Time is Dower’s day-by-day account of her incredible feat. It includes the highs of living on her favorite trail, experiencing stunning sunsets and breathtaking views with friends by her side. It is raw and honest about the lows, including blisters so bad they should go by a different name and hallucination-inducing fatigue. But at its heart, it’s an emotional journey.

Shortly before leaving for the trail, Dower's marriage began to disintegrate. She didn’t let that stop her. With her crew of trusted friends and family, she set out from Maine and put one foot in front of the other. By the time she reached Georgia she had not only proven her grit and determination, she’d shown the world that with the right people supporting us, we all have the capacity to overcome doubt, push through discomfort, and achieve our dreams.