Tara Dower, Holder of the FKT on the AT

FKT ON THE AT? OH, THAT’S OUR GIRL, TARA DOWER!

The Altra team is swelling with pride. On September 21, 2024, in the dead of night, our amazing athlete Tara Dower completed her trek of the relentless and strenuous 2,197.4-mile Appalachian Trail. Her determination, grit, positive attitude (and attentive crew) got her to the southern end of the trail in just 40 days, 18 hours, and 5 minutes.  

This incredible completion time not only awards her the Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the AT, but also smashes the overall record for the trail. Averaging about 54 miles per day, our “Candy Mama” beat the trail record made by Karel Sabbe in 2018 by more than 13 hours.   

But Tara wasn’t just out there to prove she could win the title. She set out on this arduous journey to raise money for Girls on the Run, a non-profit program that inspires girls from all backgrounds through running. Tara raised $21,076 for Girls on the Run, surpassing her $20,000 goal. She just likes to exceed expectations, doesn’t she?  

Tara is a generous inspiration who is redefining what’s possible. She’s a motivational role model for girls and women who are staring down big dreams. We couldn’t be prouder to call her a teammate!