Beast of Burden
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Beast of Burden
Organized by the Ozark Off-Road Cyclists and the Ozark Trail Runners, Beast of Burden is a multi-discipline 24 hour event plus one extra hour due to daylight savings held at Mt. Kessler in Fayetteville, Arkansas on October 31 to November 1, 2026. Profits support preservation and trail development on Mt. Kessler.
The event runs continuously for 24 hours (plus the extra hour) with solo and team options across three discipline formats: trail running only, mountain biking only, and combined run and ride. Team sizes vary by category: Ultra teams consist of two to four participants, Endurance teams consist of five to seven participants, and dual sport teams may include up to eight participants. Solo entries are also offered. Each team has a team captain as primary contact.
Timing is tracked with chips. Teams receive one timing chip that may be exchanged only in the Campout Zone. Run and ride teams receive two chips, one for running and one for riding, so a team may have one runner and one rider on course at the same time but only one participant per discipline counts.
The course uses two separate loops with runners and riders rotating loops every six hours to reduce congestion. Each loop is roughly 4 to 6 miles; one loop is described as easier and the other is more demanding. Event amenities include dinner and breakfast, overnight coffee, music, a team spirit competition, fire pits, on-site physical therapy and bike support, and beverages from Fossil Cove. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
