Fastest Known Human: This Woman Just Beat the Men’s Speed Record on the Florida Trail

Twenty-six-year-old Forida native Deanna Doane rewrote the record books on the 1,100-mile Florida Trail this week, setting a new overall supported record (19d 12h 13m) that not only tops previous benchmarks but also shatters the supported men’s record (Hunter Leininger, 21d 11h 8m).

In doing so, Doane becomes at least the second woman in the past year to outperform the men’s record on a major trail, following Tara Dower’s record-breaking completion of the Appalachian Trail in 2024. (And that’s not even counting Heather Anderson’s decisive unsupported record on the Arizona Trail from last May.)

Fastest Known Time has not yet officially verified Doane’s record.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Run Bum Races (@runbumraces)

Stretching through Florida’s humid subtropical forests, swamplands, and rugged backcountry trails, the Florida Trail is no easy feat. Yet, Doane’s meticulously planned run, bolstered by a dedicated support crew, tackled these formidable challenges on her historic journey. Her performance highlights a growing trend in trail running, where strategic support and innovative training methods are redefining what athletes can achieve.

Doane boasts an impressive ultrarunning track record. She also holds the fastest known time on the Grafton Notch Loop in Maine and the 62.5-mile Lake 2 Ocean Trail in Florida. For trail enthusiasts and record-setters alike, Deanna Doane’s accomplishment is more than just a personal triumph: it’s a bold statement about the future of ultrarunning, inspiring runners and hikers everywhere to redefine what’s possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Deanna Doane (@wandering.sunflower)

In Doane’s words, “This trail is life changing. My cup is so so full. I am beyond moved. My heart was all in on this but really I’m blown away at all of the support from friends and people coming out just to help me. ‘Crazy’ is the only word I can think of right now.”

Featured image: Deanna Doane