Arkansaw High Country Race | Record Attempt

Arkansaw High Country Race | Record Attempt

Over the 4th of July week Ultra Endurance athlete Jay Petervary came to Fayetteville, Arkansas to attempt a new course record Fastest Known Time (FKT) while Individually Time Trialing (ITT) on the Arkansaw High Country Race route. We invite you to follow along this 1028 mile photo journey.

Grand depart from the Graduate Hotel in downtown Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Chasing the course record for a 1000+ mile ultra endurance cycling route has its rewards. Sunrises like these will do. Looking across Lake Fayetteville, pedaling north out of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

He followed the 40-mile NWA Razorback Greenway north through Northwest Arkansas.

There is no shortage of southern hospitality all along the race route. With Fayetteville 300 miles behind him, he continues to roll through one supportive community after another across the Arkansas Ozarks. We’d say Jay picked the perfect way to spend this Independence Day. [Photo: Searcy County Chamber]

Making his way through Witts Spring still heading east to Mountain View.

While not quite halfway, he navigated through the Arkansas State Capitol and across the Clinton Presidential Park Bridge – making a key westward turn on the racecourse. [Photo: Scotti Lechuga]

About 3 days in he passed the 600 mile mark and is holding a record setting pace – all while managing Arkansas humidity. [Photos: Kai Caddy]

At 100 hours in, he pedaled his way out of the Ouachita Mountains for his ascent on Mount Magazine – which rises 2,753 feet from the Arkansas River Valley and is the highest point in Arkansas.

After a successful ascent up Mt. Magazine and with only 200 miles to go, Jay planned to push through to the finish line back in Fayetteville without sleeping again. [Photo: Michael Roys Photography]

After rolling through the Arkansas River Valley and climbing back into the Ozark Mountains, he is just hours from Fayetteville and the finish line – with a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the Arkansaw High Country Race route in his sights. Here Jay crosses the Arkansas River Valley a second time rolling through Dardanelle and past Nuclear One and the state’s only nuclear power facility on Sunday evening. [Photo: Michael Roys Photography]

Just sixty miles from Fayetteville and the finish line, he has began one of his last large climbs… up and over White Rock. [Photo: Ozark Gravel Cyclists]

Closing in, he’s ticking away at the final miles.

1028 miles. 5 days, 12 hours, 6 minutes. Fayetteville to Fayetteville. Congratulations Jay Petervary – new owner of the Fastest Known Time (FKT) of the Arkansaw High Country Race route. Thank you to all that followed, photographed, and cheered along Jay in his record setting solo effort. He finished strong, rolling into Fayetteville on the NWA Razorback Greenway with the same smile he left with. [Photos: Experience Fayetteville]