On July 23, 2026, Aurélien Sanchez set a new men’s supported fastest known time on the Pacific Crest Trail, crossing the northern terminus in 45 days, 20 hours and 15 minutes. The French ultra-runner took 16 hours and 35 minutes off Karel Sabbe’s 2023 record, covering roughly 2,650 miles from Mexico to Canada.
Three days to Canada
Sanchez entered the final three days trailing Sabbe’s pace. He then put together a huge push of 52 hours on the move, closing the gap. At dusk he reached the northern terminus, dust on his shins, and collapsed beside the marker where his girlfriend waited.
He reached the halfway point on July 2 and matched Sabbe’s splits into Oregon and Washington. A foot infection forced a brief hospital visit, yet he returned and kept his average close to 56 miles a day. The trail packed over 400,000 feet of climbing, equal to climbing Everest 14 times.
A gamble in the desert
Sanchez’s original plan was to build a one‑day lead through California’s desert by sleeping less. It failed. By day four, high winds and fatigue had reduced his advantage to single digits.
Later, he got a break: Sabbe’s 2023 route had a long wildfire detour, but Sanchez stayed on the official trail. Seasonal reroutes count, so shifting conditions are part of the test.
“It’s a new Fastest Known Time in 45 days, 20 hours and 10 minutes, but what matters most to me isn’t the numbers,” he said afterwards. “It’s the people, the memories, the emotions, the laughter, the tears, the struggles.”
The Barkley Marathons finisher has now left his mark on North America’s longest trail. On a clear July evening, he simply walked to the monument and wept.
