Appalachian Trail speed record
Completed the supported northbound route in 46 days, 8 hours, and 7 minutes, an overall record at the time.
Athlete profile · Sources reviewed Oct 20, 2026
Scott Jurek
Seven-time Western States champion and former Appalachian Trail record holder
Scott Jurek won Western States seven consecutive times, earned three Spartathlon titles, and set a former Appalachian Trail speed record.
United StatesM50–54
The record so far
Scott Jurek is an American ultrarunner whose career joined championship trail racing, long road ultras, and a multi-week trail project. He won Western States seven consecutive times from 1999 through 2005, setting a then-course record of 15:36:27 in 2004.
Jurek also won Spartathlon three consecutive times from 2006 to 2008, Hardrock in 2007, and Badwater in 2005 and 2006. At the 2010 IAU 24-Hour World Championships, he covered 266.677 km for second place and a U.S. record at the time.
In 2015, Jurek completed the supported northbound Appalachian Trail in 46 days, 8 hours, and 7 minutes. The performance was an overall speed record at the time. Karel Sabbe lowered the northbound supported mark to 41 days, 7 hours, and 39 minutes in 2018, and Tara Dower’s 2024 southbound run of 40 days, 18 hours, and 6 minutes is now the fastest supported time overall.
Defining performances
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U.S. 24-hour record
Covered 266.677 km at the IAU World Championships in Brive and finished second overall.
Three consecutive Spartathlon wins
Won the 245.3 km race in each of his three starts across the period.
Seven consecutive Western States wins
Won on debut in 1999 and remained unbeaten at the race through 2005.
Performance history
Selected results, not a complete race history. Rankings and record descriptions reflect the cited sources at their review dates. Distances may use different rounding conventions.
| Date | Event | Performance | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appalachian TrailSupported northbound route | 46d 08:07:00 | Overall speed record at the time | View ↗ | |
| Leadville Trail 100100-mile trail | 19:21:54 | 8th overall | View ↗ | |
| IAU 24-Hour World Championships24-hour road | 266.677 km | 2nd man · 2nd overall · U.S. record at the time | View ↗ | |
| Spartathlon245.3 km road | 22:20:01 | 1st overall · Third consecutive win | View ↗ | |
| Spartathlon245.3 km road | 23:12:14 | 1st overall | View ↗ | |
| Hardrock 100100-mile mountain trail | 26:08:34 | 1st overall | View ↗ | |
| Spartathlon245.3 km road | 22:52:18 | 1st overall | View ↗ | |
| Badwater 135135-mile road | 24:36:08 | 1st overall · Course record at the time | View ↗ | |
| Western States 100100-mile trail | 15:36:27 | 1st overall · Course record at the time | View ↗ | |
| Western States 100100-mile trail | 17:34:22 | 1st overall · First of seven consecutive wins | View ↗ |
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