Tara Dower sets record with 41-day Appalachian Trail speed hike

In September, Tara Dower completed her thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in just under 41 days, surpassing the previous record by 13 hours. Dower's journey was marked by her earlier struggles with the trail; in 2017, she could not complete her planned hike and faced panic attacks. After some exploration of the trail, she attempted another thru-hike in 2019 but experienced physical challenges that initially hindered her performance. Despite her past, Dower's determination led her to focus on competitive cycling again, particularly valuing the role of her support team. Her record on the Appalachian Trail is significant, as few have come close to achieving it, and she encourages women to attempt to break this record.