# Tara Dower

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**Tara Dower** (born 1993) is an American [ultramarathoner](/source/Ultramarathoner). In 2024, she set the overall fastest known time (FKT) on the [Appalachian Trail](/source/Appalachian_Trail), heading southbound.[1] She has also set speed records on the [Mountains-to-Sea Trail](/source/Mountains-to-Sea_Trail), [Colorado Trail](/source/Colorado_Trail) and the [Benton MacKaye Trail](/source/Benton_MacKaye_Trail).[2] She won the Umstead 100 overall in 2024.[3]

## Early life and education

Tara Dower grew up in [North Carolina](/source/North_Carolina), where she played soccer and participated in track and cross-country during school.[4] In college, she played rugby.[1] She attended [East Carolina University](/source/East_Carolina_University) and graduated in 2016.[5]

## Career

In 2017, Dower attempted a [thru-hike](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/thru-hike) of the Appalachian Trail but had to end the attempt early following a panic attack.[6] She completed the thru-hike in 2019 alongside her husband, Jonathan.[4]

In 2020, Dower set her first speed record, completing the 1,175 mile (1,891 kilometer) Mountains-to-Sea Trail in North Carolina.[7] She did so before competing in any organized ultramarathon race.

Dower began competing regularly in ultramarathon [trail racing](/source/Trail_running) in 2021. Over the next few years she ran multiple 100-mile races such as Uwharrie, Cruel Jewel, and Hellbender. She completed the [Hardrock Hundred](/source/Hardrock_Hundred_Mile_Endurance_Run) in Colorado in July 2024.[3]

Dower's speed record on the Appalachian Trail was supported by her crew chief, Megan Wilmarth.[6] Dower used her speed record on the Appalachian Trail to fundraise for the nonprofit [Girls on the Run](/source/Girls_on_the_Run) and has spoken about how she hopes her effort inspires other women's athletic accomplishments.[1] She is the first woman since 2015 to hold the overall speed record on the Appalachian Trail (the previous woman to hold this record was [Jennifer Pharr Davis](/source/Jennifer_Pharr_Davis)).[5] Often putting in 17-hour days, Dower completed the Appalachian Trail about 13 hours ahead of [Karel Sabbe](/source/Karel_Sabbe)'s 2018 record (of 41 days, 7 hours, 39 minutes).[5][8][9]

In 2025, Dower broke [Camille Herron](/source/Camille_Herron)'s course record for [Javelina Jundred](/source/Javelina_Jundred) 100 miler by more than 30 minutes with a time of 13 hours, 31 minutes, and 47 seconds.[10]

## Records/wins

- [Long Trail](/source/Long_Trail) fastest known time (2025) — 3d, 18h, 29m.
- [Appalachian Trail](/source/Appalachian_Trail) fastest known time (2024) – 40d, 18h, 6m.
- [Umstead 100](/source/Umstead_100) Ultramarathon (2024) – 14h, 58m, 21s. Overall 1st place
- [Colorado Trail](/source/Colorado_Trail) fastest known time (2023) – 8d 21h 59m.
- Devil Dog 100 Ultramarathon (2022) – 20h, 08m, 31s. Overall 1st place.
- [Benton MacKaye Trail](/source/Benton_MacKaye_Trail) fastest known time (2022) – 4d 21h 25m 0s.
- [Mountains-to-Sea Trail](/source/Mountains-to-Sea_Trail) fastest known time (2020) – 29d, 8h, 48m.
- [Javelina Jundred](/source/Javelina_Jundred) 100 mile (2025) — 13:31:47.

## References

1. Dutch, Taylor (2024-09-24). ["2,189 Miles, 40 Days, and 3 Showers: How Tara Dower Destroyed the Appalachian Trail Speed Record"](https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a62330229/tara-dower-appalachian-trail-record/). *Runner's World*. Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. ["Tara Dower | Fastest Known Time"](https://fastestknowntime.com/athlete/tara-dower). *fastestknowntime.com*. 2024-09-21. Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. ["Tara Dower's Results"](https://ultrasignup.com/results_participant.aspx?fname=Tara&lname=Dower). *ultrasignup.com*. Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. Palmer, Joseph (2024-11-13). ["How Tara Dower finished the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail in a record 41 days"](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/13/appalachian-trail-record-time-tara-dower). *The Guardian*. [ISSN 0261-3077](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0261-3077). Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. Currin, Grayson Haver (2024-09-22). ["There’s a New Queen of the Appalachian Trail’s Speed Record"](https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/tara-dower-appalachian-trail/). *Outside Online*. Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. Hicks, Meghan (2024-10-01). ["Crewing Tara Dower on the Appalachian Trail: An Interview With Rascal"](https://www.irunfar.com/tara-dower-appalachian-trail-fkt-2024-rascal-crew-interview). *iRunFar*. Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. Collins, Adam (2021-05-12). ["MST Completer Spotlight | Tara Dower"](https://mountainstoseatrail.org/2021/05/mst-completer-spotlight-tara-dower/). *Mountains-to-Sea Trail*. Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. ["Appalachian Trail (AT) | Fastest Known Time"](https://fastestknowntime.com/route/appalachian-trail). *fastestknowntime.com*. 2018-08-28. Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. Chase, Zander (2024-10-30). ["Fast, Faster, Fastest: Decoding the Data Behind Appalachian Trail FKTs"](https://www.irunfar.com/fast-faster-fastest-decoding-the-data-behind-appalachian-trail-fkts). *iRunFar*. Retrieved 2025-01-20.

1. ["Tara Dower and Will Murray Smash Course Records at the Javelina Jundred 100-Miler"](https://www.runnersworld.com/news/a69157379/2025-javelina-jundred-results/). *Runner's World*. 2025-10-26. Retrieved 2025-10-28.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tara Dower](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Dower) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tara_Dower?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.