Tara Dower | Appalachian Trail FKT Holder

The Freetrail Podcast with Dylan Bowman

Tara Dower is a trail runner and thru-hiker from Virginia. Last week, Tara Dower managed to lower the overall Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail (AT), previously held by the legend Karel Sabbe, by 13hrs. This is her first appearance on the podcast.

Topics discussed:

- Tara’s background

- Her failed attempt to thru hike the AT in 2017 and her struggles with anxiety

- Her relationships with former record holders like Karl Meltzer & Jenn Pharr-Davis

- Her decision to go southbound instead of northbound

- Doing Hardrock only three weeks before the attempt

- Her slow start and need to make up a lot of time

- We talk about her crew known as chump change and her crew chief Rascal

- The saying that “the trail provides” and what that means practically

- Compare and contrast her strategy with Karrel Sabbe’s

- The character of the trail itself, what makes the AT different

- We talk about the practical tactics of sleep and self care

- A lot more!

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Sponsors:

• Use code freetrail10 for 10% off Speedland Footwear
• Grab a trail running pack from Osprey
• Use code FT15 for 15% off Gnarly Nutrition
• Go to ketone.com/freetrail30 for 30% off a subscription of Ketone IQ

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