Ben Dullum Shattered Oregon PCT Running Record

The physical therapist completed the 460-mile trail section in just over six days to set a new record.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Running

Expressive painting of an endurance runner in motion on a dusty mountain trail, capturing a sense of high speed.
Physical therapist Ben Dullum set a new fastest known time for the 460-mile Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail, completing the trek in just over six days. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In 2026, Ben Dullum successfully set a new fastest known time for the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail. He completed the 460-mile trek in 6 days, 1 hour, and 40 minutes.

Why it matters

Dullum performed the run to attempt to break the existing fastest known time record held since 2015. His successful effort significantly lowered the benchmark for endurance athletes tackling this rugged mountain route.

Dullum finished the 460-mile course with over 65,000 feet of total elevation change in 140 total hours of activity. He averaged 73 miles per day while consuming between 6,000 and 10,000 calories daily throughout the effort.

The players

Ben Dullum

He is a physical therapist who successfully set a new record for the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail.

The details

Supported by a seven-person crew, Dullum utilized four pairs of running shoes and limited his total sleep to 10 hours during the six-day journey. He prepared for the extreme demand by training through aggressive, back-to-back long-distance runs to test his recovery capacity.

Timeline

  1. 2015: Previous record for the Oregon PCT section was established.

  2. Early 2026: Ben Dullum began his training regimen for the PCT run.

  3. 2026: Ben Dullum completed the record-breaking run.

Season Trajectory

This performance resets the competitive ceiling for ultrarunners aiming for long-distance trail records in the Pacific Northwest. It forces future athletes to rethink recovery and support logistics to match the new speed standard set for the Pacific Crest Trail.

Dullum shaved 59 hours off the previous 8.5-day record, demonstrating a massive leap in efficiency for long-distance trail traversal. The feat highlights the extreme nutritional requirements for such efforts, as the runner maintained a daily intake of up to 10,000 calories.

The takeaway

Achieving such an intense physical feat requires not just peak fitness, but careful planning regarding caloric intake and sleep management. Aspiring long-distance runners can implement back-to-back training days to better gauge their own recovery needs during multi-day endurance events.

Further reading

Learn more about endurance challenges in Oregon Running.

Source note: This article includes information reported by The Source - Bend, Oregon.

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