Most backpackers who set out on the 1,100-mile Florida National Scenic Trail typically spend two months thru-hiking the trail, from Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida to Gulf Islands National Seashore in the Panhandle. Florida native Deanna Doane completed the same distance in less than 20 days.
Averaging 57 miles per day, 27-year-old Doane achieved the record for the fastest known time (FKT) on the Florida Trail when she finished power walking and running the footpath on Feb. 27. She was mentally and physically exhausted but full of spirit when she arrived at the trail’s northern terminus just 19 days, 12 hours and 13 minutes after she started.
“My goal was always to break the record. I had the idea of going 20 days or less, which was my big goal. I felt like that kind of made a statement,” she said. “I went into the Florida Trail with the mindset that, ‘Yes, this is 1,100 miles long but I’m looking at this as a stage race. I’m doing 55-plus miles a day. I’m sleeping every night. We just have to have a really good routine and good nutrition and I need to take care of myself.'”
Her attempt was supported by Scott Abshire, a good friend Doane knows through their work staffing trail running events from Run Bum Races. Each day, he helped to cook meals and shuttle the runner to and from campsites, in addition to working out other logistics.
In training for this epic endeavor, Doane said she began obsessing about the trail nearly a year before she began her speedy trek. She walked 20-25 miles per day using a treadmill underneath a standing desk, made a habit of daily runs, went on 50-mile trail runs on the weekends and scouted out hundreds of miles of trail.
“About a year before I did it, I thought, ‘Let me just put this out there to the world and hold myself accountable.’ I really love the trail and wanted to experience all of it in one go to see what I’m capable of doing,” Doane said. “About six months before doing the trail, I really started upping my volume. December was my biggest training month. I’m pretty sure I did 400-500 miles that month.”
Each day on the trail began with a 3 a.m. alarm, putting Doane back on the path by 3:30-3:45 a.m. to begin what would typically be a 14-16 hour day. Her attempt was fueled by 8,000 calories a day on a vegan diet.
“We were really adamant about taking essential amino acids and protein shakes and making sure that her muscles were staying strong. The training she put in really helped out,” Abshire said. “When I paced her, I was struggling to keep up with her walking pace with my 6-foot-5 stride. It was super fast and consistent to the point where I could predict her pace.”
Doane’s record for the Florida Trail clocked in at two days faster than the previous one set by Hunter Leininger during the 2024 hiking season. Wet weather conditions last year left some of the trail underwater, leading to an 80-90-mile reroute using roads that ended up counting for the new record. This caused a stir within the hiking and ultra running community, leading some to question the legitimacy of Leininger’s FKT.
“I followed the whole trail. I have a huge love and passion for the Florida Trail. I care so much about ...
