Tara Dower on Her Appalachian Trail FKT, Falling 200+ Times, and Her Crew

Explicit content warning

11/04/24 • 130 min

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In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we're joined by Tara Dower, the new holder of overall Fastest Known Time on the Appalachian Trail. Tara gives us the low down on every aspect of her recent record-breaking trek, including how she fell wildly behind pace after the first two states, her nutrition, her sleep habits (or lack thereof), how vital her crew was in her success, the criticism she's faced for "hiking too fast", running a 100-mile race just a few weeks prior to the attempt, and much more. Tara also goes into more depth on her backpacking and FKT background and we subject her to a pair of brutally awkward fornicate, marry, kill questions. Fun times all around. We wrap the show with our triple crown of guilty pleasure songs, a stupid thing of the week (Zach hurts himself again), and the most unrealistic thing we thought we could be when we were kids.

Raise $10,000 and the Real Hiking Viking Will Do the Unthinkable...

Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” at topoathletic.com.

Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.

LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.

[divider]

Interview with Tara “Candy Mama” Dower

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:55 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content, join us in Denver on December 7th and apply to be a 2025 blogger!

00:07:55 - Introducing Tara

00:09:29 - Are you still recovering?

00:10:45 - What mantras did you have?

00:13:00 - What was your origin story in the outdoors?

00:17:12 - When did you decide to pursue the Mountains to Sea Trail FKT?

00:19:00 - Did you impress yourself at that moment?

00:21:30 - Tell us about getting off the AT because of anxiety

00:23:05 - How do you manage anxiety during an FKT attempt?

00:24:25 - Were you tough growing up?

00:26:45 - What inspired you to want to continue pursuing FKTs?

00:29:55 - Tell us about the John Muir Trail

00:31:20 - What part of running do you dislike the most?

00:32:30 - Tell us about the Benton MacKaye Trail FKT

00:34:40 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail FKT

00:36:20 - Discussion about support classifications

00:40:25 - How do you deal with critics?

00:44:30 - How did the Colorado Trail change your outlook on future FKTs?

00:46:00 - When did you decide to go after the AT FKT?

00:48:38 - Did you initially plan to beat the overall record?

00:50:08 - Were you intimidated by others who tried and failed to beat the record?

00:51:30 - Did you notice a transition in social media as you were running?

00:55:18 - Why did your anxiety influence which direction you went?

00:57:20 - How long before you started was the Hard Rock?

01:00:00 - What was it like going through Mahoosuc Notch at FKT pace?

01:01:44 - Tell us about being behind pace at first

01:05:27 - How did your crew chief motivate you?

01:07:03 - Did you ever disagree about decisions?

01:08:00 - How much of a trail was solo or with a pacer?

01:09:50 - What was your adjustment like after the FKT?

01:12:45 - How has your nutrition changed over the years?

01:18:55 - Did you have any near injuries?

01:19:40 - Can you pinpoint a low moment?

01:23:30 - Did you hallucinate?

01:26:45 - Tell us about your average mileage and sleep during the FKT

01:30:40 - Is Rascal’s position a paid position?

01:31:34 - Did you have any paid sponsorship during this run?

01:32:26 - When did you know you had it?

01:35:02 - Did you conceptualize how big of a deal it was going to be?

01:36:35 - Tell us about raising money for Girls on the Run

01:38:20 - Fuck Marry Kill: thru-hiking, FKTs, ultraracing

01:39:31 - Fuck Marry Kill: Outside Magazine, Washington Post, The Trek

01:40:34 - Kumo Question: What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t had the courage to do yet?

Segments

Trek Propaganda:

Raise $10,000 and the Real Hiking Viking Will Do the Unthinkable...

Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” at topoathletic.com.

Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.

LMNT: Get a free sample pack with any order at drinklmnt.com/trek.

[divider]

Interview with Tara “Candy Mama” Dower

Time stamps & Questions

00:05:55 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content, join us in Denver on December 7th and apply to be a 2025 blogger!

00:07:55 - Introducing Tara

00:09:29 - Are you still recovering?

00:10:45 - What mantras did you have?

00:13:00 - What was your origin story in the outdoors?

00:17:12 - When did you decide to pursue the Mountains to Sea Trail FKT?

00:19:00 - Did you impress yourself at that moment?

00:21:30 - Tell us about getting off the AT because of anxiety

00:23:05 - How do you manage anxiety during an FKT attempt?

00:24:25 - Were you tough growing up?

00:26:45 - What inspired you to want to continue pursuing FKTs?

00:29:55 - Tell us about the John Muir Trail

00:31:20 - What part of running do you dislike the most?

00:32:30 - Tell us about the Benton MacKaye Trail FKT

00:34:40 - Tell us about the Colorado Trail FKT

00:36:20 - Discussion about support classifications

00:40:25 - How do you deal with critics?

00:44:30 - How did the Colorado Trail change your outlook on future FKTs?

00:46:00 - When did you decide to go after the AT FKT?

00:48:38 - Did you initially plan to beat the overall record?

00:50:08 - Were you intimidated by others who tried and failed to beat the record?

00:51:30 - Did you notice a transition in social media as you were running?

00:55:18 - Why did your anxiety influence which direction you went?

00:57:20 - How long before you started was the Hard Rock?

01:00:00 - What was it like going through Mahoosuc Notch at FKT pace?

01:01:44 - Tell us about being behind pace at first

01:05:27 - How did your crew chief motivate you?

01:07:03 - Did you ever disagree about decisions?

01:08:00 - How much of a trail was solo or with a pacer?

01:09:50 - What was your adjustment like after the FKT?

01:12:45 - How has your nutrition changed over the years?

01:18:55 - Did you have any near injuries?

01:19:40 - Can you pinpoint a low moment?

01:23:30 - Did you hallucinate?

01:26:45 - Tell us about your average mileage and sleep during the FKT

01:30:40 - Is Rascal’s position a paid position?

01:31:34 - Did you have any paid sponsorship during this run?

01:32:26 - When did you know you had it?

01:35:02 - Did you conceptualize how big of a deal it was going to be?

01:36:35 - Tell us about raising money for Girls on the Run

01:38:20 - Fuck Marry Kill: thru-hiking, FKTs, ultraracing

01:39:31 - Fuck Marry Kill: Outside Magazine, Washington Post, The Trek

01:40:34 - Kumo Question: What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t had the courage to do yet?

Segments

Trek Propaganda:

Previous Episode

The Real Hiking Viking & Lt. Cookoo Bird on Bikepacking Across Iceland, Patagonia, and the Ragbrai

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Jabba and Lt Cookoo for another BPR classic. This one, in expected fashion, is all over the map. We start by getting a brief update of what Cookoo has been up to since his last appearance on the show followed by a more detailed update from Jabba, primarily about a once-in-a-lifetime bikepacking trip through Iceland, a trip that nearly robbed his soul in the best and worst way possible. We then dive into a QA format, including the top advice they'd give to themselves before their first backpacking trip, their favorite treks that take one month or less, the best stories from the trails they've hiked together, the inevitable point at which they butt heads and much more.

The boys stick around for segments, which is also predictably weird. We provide our wiping techniques in alarming detail, the triple crown of things a dentist can say but not a gynecologist, and Viking gives Chaunce wedding advice.

Topo Athletic: Use code “THETREK15” at topoathletic.com.

Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.

Duer: Get 20% off your first purchase at shopduer.com/backpacker.

[divider]

Interview with Jabba & Lt. Cookoo Bird

Time stamps & Questions

00:04:45 - Reminders: Support us on Patreon for exclusive bonus content, join us in Denver on December 7th and apply to be a 2025 blogger!

00:07:47 - Introducing Jabba & Lt. Cookoo Bird

00:09:30 - Is Jabba still sober?

00:11:35 - Zach & Jabba’s fantasy football punishments

00:14:50 - What adventures has Cookoo done in 2024?

00:18:50 - Cookoo’s self-arresting technique

00:20:15 - Cuckoo on the Teton Crest Trail

00:21:54 - Cookoo’s mountaineering

00:23:19 - What adventures has Jabba done in 2024?

00:28:20 - Why don’t comfier bike seats exist?

00:33:30 - Jabba hiking the other half of the CDT

00:39:01 - Jabba’s Ragbrai trip

00:47:20 - Jabba’s Iceland trip introduction

00:50:30 - Iceland route description

00:52:54 - Jabba’s (lack of) trip preparation

00:59:00 - How did you get your bike to Iceland?

01:00:00 - Iceland’s singletrack trail difficulty

01:04:00 - Jabba’s mindset while biking

01:06:15 - End of Day 1

01:08:55 - Day 2

01:12:38 - How much were you walking your bike versus riding your bike?

01:16:07 - Is it Type 2 fun?

01:19:45 - End of Day 2

01:24:20 - Discussion about hiking in sand

01:31:05 - Going back to get the AirPods

01:34:35 - Day 3

01:42:49 - What would you do differently if you did this trip again?

01:45:00 - Getting to the end location of Day 3

01:49:35 - Day 5

01:58:24 - End of Day 5

02:02:50 - Have you been in contact with Chris since the trip?

02:04:30 - What’s the best one month or shorter hike you’ve ever done?

02:13:31 - If you could go back in time to your first thru-hike, what would you do differently?

02:16:46 - How do you figure out footwear faster?

02:22:16 - What is your best story about the other story?

Segments

Trek Propaganda: “I Just Had To Skip So Many Miles”: How 2024 PCT Thru-Hikers Are Adapting to Fires and Trail Closures by James Townsend

QOTD: Does your butt stay on the toilet seat when you wipe?

Triple Crown of things a dentist can say, but not a gynecologist

Mail Bag

5 Star Review

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Next Episode

Poop in the Backcountry: Wag Bags, Cat Holes, and Statistics with Shari Edelson

In today's episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Shari Edelson. Shari is a PhD student researching human impacts in wilderness areas, specifically the impacts of human dookie in the backcountry. We chat about in which circumstances wagbags are warranted, the challenges with compliance when they are, when it's perfectly okay to bury your shit, and how future conservation efforts should be allocated to making this easier to understand for hikers. We also chat about Shari's thru-hike of the TA and are blessed with some plant fun facts, stemming from their background as a horticulturist.

We wrap the show with how to score the most competitive long trail permits in 2025, if farts are pushing out poop or if poop is pushing out farts, and the triple crown of things that happen all the time but no one sees.

Gossamer Gear: Use code “SNUGGLEBUG” for 20% off shelters at gossamergear.com.

Duer: Get 20% off your first purchase at shopduer.com/backpacker.

[divider]

Interview with Shari Edelson