Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Earlier today, Aaron Messer won the 253-mile 2025 Ozark Odyssey, the shortest course in the Arkansas High Country Race, toppling last year’s fastest time by over three hours. Learn more about Aaron’s rough start, gear choices, and what’s next as eyes turn to the longer ARHC courses…
Words and photos by Aaron Arnzen
Back for its second iteration at the ARHC, the Ozark Odyssey is a 253-mile route that boasts over 23,000 feet of elevation gain. This mixed terrain route lies just North of this year’s host city Russellville and links up a variety of classic Ozark gravel goodness with a sizable amount of technical forest road connectors, and the necessary but notable quiet paved stretches in between.
Now living in the Bentonville, Arkansas area, the Osk Kosh, Wisconsin, native Aaron Messer clocked an official time of 24 hours 14 minutes, dropping Thomas Miller’s finish time from last year by over three hours.
Some of Aaron’s biggest challenges came before his race really even started. Just minutes before the Grand Depart, he discovered some exposed rim strip on his rear wheel, and headed to Jackelope Cycling to get it fully retaped and sealed. After first rolling through the start line just seven minutes after the group, Aaron turned around for a second time after learning the wheel was still low on pressure. He was able to fully seat the tire, and restarted his computer as he set off from the Depot, only to get stopped by a passing train just a tenth of a mile away.
It took just three hours to catch up to everyone in the race before settling into his groove which he maintained all the way back to the finish. Aaron was extremely happy about his choice to ride his Santa Cruz Blur mountain bike, and was less happy with his road shoes for the mandatory hike-a-bike sections of the course. Surrounded by some of the local community on a beautiful October morning, Aaron enjoyed a fresh plate of waffles as he shared tales from the trail on a ride that he is nothing but proud of.
We expect to see the first female Odyssey finisher soon, as eyes start to shift toward the longer Central and Full ARHC races that are unfolding in the Ozark and Ouachita mountains.
Check out the 2025 Arkansas High Country Race Tracker page for updates, where you can follow along on the live tracking map and stay tuned in for more event coverage. Find it here.Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.
