Published August 19, 2025 04:24PM
Tara Dower Just Smashed the Long Trail FKT
The ultrarunner completed the 272-mile trail in 3 days, 18 hours, and 29 minutes, breaking the overall supported FKT by more than 2 and a half hours.
(Photo: Christian Ouellet/Getty Images)
In the dark morning hours of August 19, Tara “Candy Mama” Dower set an overall supported Fastest Known Time on Vermont’s Long Trail. Dower completed the 272-mile route in 3 days, 18 hours, and 29 minutes, according to a video on Dower’s Facebook page.
Established in 1910 and built over the subsequent two decades, the Long Trail is the oldest long-distance trail in the United States. As part of her record attempt, Dower raised funds for the Green Mountain Club, which stewards and maintains the footpath. As of Tuesday afternoon, she’d raised over $13,000 for the organization.
In September of 2024, Will Peterson set a supported FKT on the Long Trail with a time of 3 days, 21 hours, and 9 minutes, according to iRunFar. Dower beat Peterson’s time by more than two and a half hours.
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Dower has earned recognition as a powerhouse in the world of ultrarunning. Last fall, she set an overall supported record on the Appalachian Trail, traveling southbound in a blazing 40 days, 18 hours, and 6 minutes. She also holds records on iconic hiking routes like the Mountains-to-Sea Trail and the Benton MacKaye Trail.
