Cody Taylor Sets Unsupported Long Trail FKT
Canadian ultrarunner Cody Taylor completed a 550-mile unsupported out-and-back on Vermont's Long Trail in 17 days, 8 hours, and 42 minutes, setting a new fastest known time.
Ontario's Cody Taylor finished a 550-mile unsupported run on Vermont's Long Trail in 17 days, eight hours and 42 minutes. This effort establishes a new fastest known time (FKT) for an unsupported out-and-back, or yo-yo, of the entire route.
Taylor started at the trail's northern terminus in Canada on August 4 and ran its full length to Massachusetts before turning around to run back, finishing on August 21. The journey involved approximately 41,148 metres of climbing. As an unsupported attempt, Taylor carried all his food and gear from the start with no resupply or crew support, sleeping in a tent and filtering water along the way.
A Heavy Load
The pack weighed 23 kilograms at the outset. In his FKT report, Taylor noted it lost about 0.86 kilograms per day as he consumed his supplies. He told Canadian Running it was heavy, with no other way to put it. Taylor admitted he did not train with a heavy backpack this year, relying on his body's ability to adapt during the effort itself.
The technical, wet terrain of the Long Trail made managing the heavy load difficult from the start. Taylor said the first four days were the hardest, with the pack at its maximum weight and his body adjusting to constant motion. He explained the trail was so technical that it slowed him down a ton with the weight, and he fell so much because it is so wet in Vermont.
Enduring the Elements
Persistent rain defined much of the 17-day journey. Taylor dealt with perpetually wet clothing and shoes, slippery rocks, blisters, cuts, back chafing, and a shin splint. His hips throbbed at night, affecting his sleep. Taylor said the rain was probably the biggest thing, with everything wet and constant falls due to slippery rocks. Despite the hardships, he said he never seriously doubted he would finish the attempt.
This Long Trail FKT is part of Taylor's third year focused on multi-week unsupported projects. His recent endurance feats include:
| Route | Distance | Time | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont Long Trail (out-and-back) | ~885 km (550 mi) | 17 days, 8 hours, 42 minutes | 2024 |
| Ontario's Bruce Trail | 900 km | 14 days, 30 minutes | 2024 |
| New York's Bob Marshall Traverse (with Matthew Shepard) | 109 km | 40 hours, 52 minutes, 56 seconds | July 2024 |
Taylor said the 40-hour Bob Marshall effort in July actually helped his preparation for the Long Trail. He noted the Bob Marshall was a huge effort and gave him a lot of confidence going into the Long Trail, and that his fitness was certainly peaking when he finished the Bob Marshall.
Simple Priorities
For over 17 days, Taylor's world narrowed to a short list of essential tasks. He explained that you carry everything you need on your back, and every decision becomes pretty simple: keep moving, take care of yourself, eat, drink and get to the next place. He reflected that the solitude underscored how little one truly needs to survive and that the experience taught him a great deal about himself.
Taylor's FKT report hints at an even longer project in the works. While he did not specify a location, he wrote that he and his coach, Ray Zahab, are planning an effort that could last nearly a month.
