Aug. 26, 2026

It's been nearly a month since we gathered together on the Missouri River for the 21st Annual Missouri River 340. 

On behalf of the team at Missouri River Relief, I am so grateful to all of you for your participation in this world-class event on my favorite river. It's a difficult endeavor for everyone involved. I know that you all experienced pushing the limits of what you can accomplish. Some were not able to finish, but most of you overcome everything that the river and your bodies could throw your way. 

I'm so proud of all of you for even starting this adventure. For those that finished, you have something to ALWAYS be proud of. For those that triumphed...we are so impressed. We've heard hundreds of triumphant stories from this week on the river. 

We'd love to learn more about your experience...about what went well and what could be improved during the race to make your experience even better. 

Please take a few minutes to fill out our Racer Experience Survey. It will help make next year's MR340 even better. 

2026 Tandems & Teams Race Start. Photo by Harry Katz. Check out more of Harry's photos on Flickr. 

Some Gratitudes....

There's a lot of people to be thankful for that make this experience such a community effort. Here's a few - 

• A massive thank you to all the volunteers that give a few hours or several days....just to help others. It's a huge push, from Race Check-In, to Race Start parking, to endless nights helping out on dark boat ramps in the middle of nowhere, to helping answer questions through the RaceOwl system, to receiving our racers at the Finish Line to honor what is always a massive accomplishment. Over 200 volunteers make it happen and we are deeply grateful. 
  
• Our Safety Boat crews who give a week of their vacation time to be there for you in all kinds of weather and exhaustion. Truly admirable and giving people. 
  
• The Ground Crews that give their all to support their friends and loved ones paddling each stroke across the state of Missouri. 
  
• The Lewis & Clark Boat House for hosting our Finish Line for a week and helping us solve problems as they arrive. 
  
• The amazing folks at River City Outdoors and Big Muddy Adventures who showed up in force to help at Race Start to help make the most efficient Race Start in recent memory. AND for arranging for the stage and wonderful music at the Finish Line Party on Friday evening. AND for offering rentals to a bunch of 340 racers. 
  
• Missouri American Water - since 2011 they've been major sponsors of this race. That effort includes building clearing and building the finish line beach, assisting with a skilled safety boat crew and supplying water to the race start and finish line. 
  
• Jon Marble - the brains and brawn behind RaceOwl. This year he completely revamped the RaceOwl system, and it shows. It was even easier to use this years. Thank you Jon!!!!
  
• Our huge MR340 Race Community - thanks to all of you who share your tips and knowledge with everyone. That's the special sauce that makes this race so epic. 
  
• All of our Race Sponsors that make this possible with their financial support, donations of gear, hosting special events and dedication to this community. We are so proud to be supported by such a great community of businesses. 
  
• The cities along the race course that do so much to make the race run smoothly. There is some incredible hospitality in these small and large Missouri towns.  
  
• All the amazing folks that donated to support their racer friends, family and Missouri River Relief! Thank you so much. You make the magic happen. 
  
• Special shoutout to our top Five Fundraisers - Mark Fingerhut, Andy Besselman, Carrie Elliott, Jose Aguilar and Dorothy Tackett. Y'all are amazing!!! Thank you! Those five folks raised $8,750 to support Missouri River Relief's efforts to cleanup the Missouri River and educate our citizens on this crucial natural resource. 

Race Results and Links Archive

We've posted a page with links to race results on RaceOwl as well as so many photos, articles, videos and race recaps. Awesome memories! near the top of the boat ramp, but spread throughout the park. 

Purchase photos of your team! 

Official Race Photographer Chris Hammond of RainbowMarks Photography chased you all downriver and staked out the Finish Line to capture epic photos of your journey. They are tagged by boat number so it's really easy to find YOUR photos (I promise...you look much better than you felt). 

You can purchase a package of your photos, individual photos and some really great Race Start photos. Support a local hard-working photographer and take home a keepsake to remember your epic accomplishment. 

MR340 Merchandise! 

We've got a ton of great merch at the online store...hats, shirts, mugs, stickers...all the good stuff. 

Take a visit and stock up! 

MR340 Bourbon from StilL630

There's still a bunch of special MR340 Bourbon from StilL630, an artisan distillery located in downtown St. Louis. A perfect gift for your dedicated Ground Crew or Race Veteran friends.

This is a special blend created by Stillmaster David Weglarz, a MR340 Veteran. 

$69 a bottle (plus shipping). Shipping ONLY AVAILABLE IN MISSOURI. A donation for each bottle sold is made to Missouri River Relief. 

Register for the Race to the Dome! 

Missouri River Relief is hosting the 17th Annual Race to the Dome on Saturday, October 3. 

There are two race courses you can choose from, both ending at Noren Access/Wilson Serenity Point at North Jefferson City, MO -

• 15.8 miles from Hartsburg Access
• 27.6 miles from Providence Access on Perche Creek. 

It's an absolute blast with a great community of people. $65 per paddler. 

More Races in the Region

We keep up a Regional Race Calender. Check it out! 

Here's a few upcoming races - 

• THIS Saturday, Aug. 29 - Race for the Rivers - hosted by Greenway Network. (Registration has closed but walk-ins accepted). 30 or 20 mile courses ending at St. Charles, MO. 
  
• Sept. 5 - Grand River Dam Paddle - Lake of the Cherokees, OK.

• Sept. 12 - Kayak the Cuivre - Old Monroe, MO
  
• Sept. 26 - Gritty Growler - Gasconade to New Haven on the Missouri River - hosted by Midwest Paddle Racing

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Be a part of the Big Muddy Clean Sweep! 

A 200-mile, 50-day cleanup of the Missouri River from Kansas City to Columbia

Your support of Missouri River Relief is making a truly unique river cleanup effort possible, the Big Muddy Clean Sweep. 

We currently have crews camping and cleaning up along the Missouri River - they are in the Waverly area right now! 

You can track their progress, check out photos and sign up to help at the Big Muddy Clean Sweep Homepage - riverrelief.org/events/big-muddy-clean-sweep-2026/

We can't wait to see you on the river again. 

Thank you to all of you for being part of the most amazing race in the country. YOU make it happen. 

See you on the river, 

Steve Schnarr
Race Director
Missouri River Relief

July 26, 2026

Hello Racers!

Just one day left until we meet at Kaw Point for mandatory Race Check-in. Two days until you start your epic adventure on the Missouri River. 

You are about to spend several life-transforming days on the Missouri River with a huge crowd of really wonderful people. You got this. 

I know this Dispatch is late in coming. Most of this information has been shared before, but as you are doing your final preps, I wanted to get this update in your inbox. 

This year’s race is July 28-31, 2026, with the mandatory Race Check-In on Monday, July 27 at Kaw Point Park in Kansas City, KS, from noon – 8 p.m.

Share this Dispatch with your Ground Crew. All of the 2026 Dispatches are posted here. 

In this Dispatch -

Here's what we cover in this Dispatch:

• Official Race Photography by RainbowMarks Photography
• Mandatory Race Check-In - Tomorrow, Mon. July 27 (noon-8pm)
• Mandatory Safety Video
• Race Start Parking IMPORTANT
• Evolving Weather and River Forecast
• Race Start
• Put-In Options
• Port KC Watch Party

Race Check-In - Monday, July 27 - noon-8pm - Kaw Point Park

We've already talked a lot about this, but here's a few reminders and little new stuff. 

You’ll need to run through all the stations in our Check-In process. It takes a little time! You can help speed up the process by:

• Completing your Online Waiver!
• Downloading the RaceOwl Racer App and registering! On iOS. On Android. Make sure it's the updated version. When in doubt, delete and reinstall. 

Everyone leaves their boats at the park. We will have an off-duty deputy onsite all night long and volunteer security. The gates are locked at night and open again at 4 a.m. People generally leave their boats on the terrace near the top of the boat ramp, but spread throughout the park. 

Location - Kaw Point Park

Here's a Google Pin for the Park. 

There's no actual address, but closest address is 1403 Fairfax Trafficway, Kansas City, KS 66115. That's the huge building by Fairfax. You will turn at the light there, then immediately right and look for the gap in the Floodwall. 

Food at Race Check-In Monday

Taco-ish - a local KCK food truck, will be there starting at 11:00 a.m. Make it part of your food plan for the day. 

Vendors & Nonprofits

Several sponsors and partner nonprofits will have booths at Race Check-In. Can be a great way to pick up those last minute paddling items, check in with your favorite nonprofit, find out what's going on the paddling community and more. Here's who will be there - 

• Missouri River Relief and MR340 Merch! 
• Some Beach Outfitters
• Llama Racks
• Great Blue Heron Outfitters
• River City Outdoors
• Big Muddy Adventures
• Alpine Shop
• Swade Cannabis
• Missouri Paddling Coalition
• Paddle KC
• Friends of Kaw Point Park
• Beyond the Teams
• Don's Custom Metal Art

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Race Day Parking!!!! THIS IS IMPORTANT

Race Day Parking is a mess. There’s not nearly enough parking at Kaw Point Park for everyone. When the parking lot fills at Kaw Point Park (often by 5:30), volunteers and sheriffs will shut off vehicle access to the park and turn you back around onto Fairfax Trafficway.

Check out our parking map with several nearby options.. You’ll already be dropping off your boat at the Park on Monday. Many people find that the easiest thing Tuesday morning to do is to skip the frustrating attempt at parking at Kaw Point and just park at one of these outer lots

(Lot 4 has the most room....here's a direct link to a Google Pin for that lot). Then you walk Riverfront Heritage Trail to the Park. Put your Ground Crew’s resupply wagon to its first task.

Discuss your plan with your Ground Crew. 

Click map below to see full size version with details and QR Code for Lot 4. 

Race Start
Getting on the River Early!

Last Dispatch we discussed how important getting on the river early is. Once the three-lane line at the boat ramp develops, it moves at its own pace! Big Muddy Adventures will be helping get your boat on the water as quick as possible, but you need to be ready to go. 

The Kansas River is experiencing a slight rise, so there may be more flow and debris than what you are used to. But the conditions of banks other than the ramp are in pretty good shape for alternate launch sites. 

Our friends at Big Muddy Adventures will be building one or two additional accesses with pallets to alleviate the pressure on the main boat ramp. One of these will be at the Confluence Point and there may be another. These folks excel at providing access to difficult big rivers! KCK Parks did more brush clearing along the bank than normal, so there will be plenty of options. 

Please be ready to go but also patient. It will happen! 

This image shows the normal Race Start from the ramp, and another good launch option at Confluence Point. People with tough boats often launch from the side of the ramp as well. 

As you approach the Confluence, spread out...leave room between you and other racers. When you hit the current of the Missouri River, it often turns everyone to the right. Avoid collisions by maintaining space around you. 

If you do happen to spill at the confluence, KCK Swift Water Rescue will be onsite to get you going again. Hold on to your boat and make sure you don't get pushed into the barges on the right side at the KC Port. 

Race Start Watch Party hosted by Port KC

If you have friends or family (or even Ground Crew) that don't want to mess with the chaos at Kaw Point Park, Port KC is hosting a watch party at Berkeley Riverfront Park (near Two Birds One Stone) for everyone!

Bring a chair. Free parking in the KC Current Red Lot. Free beverages and donuts while they last.

It's 2 miles downstream of Race Start, so a great view of both race starts as they come paddling through downtown KC. Thanks for making it happen Port KC!

Here's the Event Page with details

Evolving Weather and River Forecast

Rains on Friday have boosted the Kansas River a little bit...so there may be more flow and debris than normal at Race Start, but you may not even notice. The Missouri River is rising slightly throughout the week, which means less mud - generally good news.

The river is generally pretty average to low for this time of year. There will be some good sandbars and banks to stop at. Less so the closer to St. Charles you get. We will let you know 

Heat is the main weather story this week

Monday, Race Check-in will be VERY HOT - meaning 100+ degrees. 

Things are expected to cool down a bit Tuesday and throughout the week. Across the state, Tuesday's forecast is high in the low 90's, with daily highs in the high to mid 80's as the week proceeds. This is about as good as you could hope for for Missouri in July. 

But you will need to be proactive with keeping your fluids up, cooling down (in the river if needed) and electrolytes balanced. Make sure to eat and drink even if you don't feel like it. Especially if you don't feel like it. Check in on your fellow paddlers' condition. 

Showers or storms are not expected until Thursday or Friday, but with the cooldown we could see a few surprises. Pay attention! 

Friday is the best chances of showers on the east side of the state. We'll share information as the forecast develops. 

2026 MR340 Links & Updates

We've posted a page with a collection of important links for easy access for you and your Ground Crew. Some great quick links to race course info and more. Including the updated list of Food at Ramps! 

As updates happen during the race, we'll be posting them here. Good link for Racers and Ground Crews to Bookmark! 

There is a button on the homepage of mr340.org that will take you there.

Here's the direct link - 2026 MR340 Links & Updates

Offical Race Photography by RainbowMarks Photography

At Race Start, throughout the race course and at the Finish Line, you'll see hardworking and talented photographer Chris Hammond capturing amazing shots of you and your teams at your best and worst. You can pre-purchase a package of photos before the race to make sure Chris is looking out for you.

Find out more, and browse his website to see photos from past races.

He'll have a table set up at Race Check-In at Kaw Point and he'll be at the finish. He's got an amazing website where you can purchase photos from the race afterwards as well.  

Finish Line Party at Lewis & Clark Boathouse! 

LOCATION - Lewis & Clark Boathouse & Museum - 1050 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO 63301

Please join us for a celebration of your accomplishments, a chance to swap river tales with your fellow racers and toast your Ground Crew and friends. 

Check this link for all the details.  

Here's what's happening - 

• 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tacos, Snacks & Drinks for purchase from Lewis & Clark Boat House
• 9 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. MR340 Merch Tent
• All Day - RainbowMarks Photography - Official Race Photographer. He'll have photos and photo packages for purchase.
• 5 p.m. - StilL 630 MR340 bourbon blend sales - Limited Edition! They go fast!
• 5:30 p.m. - Music by the Pernikoff Brothers
• 7:00 p.m. - Special Finish Line Ceremony

after the ceremony, the band will kick up the jams again.

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Can’t wait to meet all of you!

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr
Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org
573-289-2077

MR340.org
2026 Dispatches
MR340 Updates and Links - best page to bookmark

July 14, 2026

Hello Racers!

Dispatch #4...and just two weeks until the race! 

We are so excited about seeing you all at Race Check-In on Monday, July 27. And then on the river all week! 

Get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Here we go! 

Please make sure you've read all the 2026 Dispatches - and clicked the important links for all the info. I love all the action on the Facebook group and the subreddit. Thanks to all of you veterans for sharing your knowledge...you are the best y'all. 

Also, please share this with your Ground Crew. There's some stuff in here that will be really helpful to them. 

In this Dispatch -

Here's what we cover in this Dispatch:

• Your MR340 To Do List
• Sign your Online Waiver
• Check your Info
• 2026 MR340 Updates and Links
• MR340 Safety Video - Required!
• Mandatory Race Check-In and Boat Drop-off
• Race Day Parking!!!!
• The Race Start
• Watching the River Levels & Weather
• Official Race Photography by RainbowMarks Photography
• TRAINS!
• FINISH LINE PARTY - FRIDAY JULY 31
• Pre-Race Merch - Online Store Closes Midnight July 19

Your MR340 To Do List

An incomplete list of stuff to get done these last two weeks. 

• Watch the Safety Video - On your waiver you check that you have/will watch the Safety Video. It's a little long - about 39 minutes…but is dense with the info you NEED to know.
  
• Sign your waiver. It's on SmartWaiver and it's super easy to do online. It will help make your process on Monday Race Check-In Day smoother.
  
• Heat Acclimation and Hydration! Spend as much time out of AC as you can. Your body will thank you for it during the race. And consciously hydrate every day from now until the race. Those of you that work outdoors have a distinct advantage here!
  
• Download the RaceOwlRacer App (purple icon).
  • If you have a satellite tracker, get that set up in RaceOwl. Instructions here for Garmin InReach and here for SPOT Tracker.
  • Here's where you enter your tracking info into RaceOwl.
  • Register in the app before the race! We'll be so impressed at Race Check-in. 
  • Add the Navigation Add-on for $1.99. Look for "Add-ons" in the main menu. This gives you access to the powerful navigation map that will guide you across the state. Plus it supports our volunteer RaceOwl developer! 
  • Here's the webinar about how to use RaceOwlRacer. Good stuff!
    
• Talk to your Ground Crew. Several Times! Let them ask their questions and help them find the answers.
  • Talk through your race plan.
  • Get them to download or update the RaceOwl App. And watch the RaceOwl webinar designed for Ground Crews!
    
• Read the previous Dispatches again, and click on some links you didn't last time! Review the Race Course information!
  
• Re-read the Race Rules! 
  
• Check out this "What to Expect" section of the Race Course Resource page. It's a good primer to get your mind ready for the reality on the river. 
  
• Get all your resupplies packed up and labeled for each ramp. Double check all your gear! Best Practice is for your Ground Crew to pack the vehicle. They have to find all this stuff! 

All racers are responsible for reading each dispatch and sharing the info with your Ground Crew. You can find all Dispatches as they post HERE. Read the previous ones again! 

Sign your Online Waiver

When you registered for the race, you signed several online waivers. What follows is the general Risk Release Waiver. Please electronically sign this...it will only take a few minutes. If you have not signed by Race Check-In, you will need to do it there. Save backing up the line and do it now! 

Here's the link - waiver.smartwaiver.com/v/2026mr340

Check your Racer Info

In the Email Dispatch we sent you (from "Missouri River Relief" - steve@riverrelief.org on July 14, 2026) was a rundown of your racer info. Find that email and double-check your data!

Please review and email racing@riverrelief.org with any updates. Have you changed your boat or ground crew since you registered? Let us know the updates.

Have your Plans Changed?

Please let us know if you are no longer able to participate or if you have decided to switch divisions. 

ALSO – please check the Race Roster to make sure the info we have posted there is correct. Jump to your division and search for your name.

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2026 MR340 Updates and Links

We've posted a page with a collection of important links for easy access for you and your Ground Crew. Some great quick links to race course info and more. Including the updated list of Food at Ramps! 

As updates happen during the race, we'll be posting them here.

There will be a button on the homepage of mr340.org that will take you there.

Here's the direct link:

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MR340 Safety Video - Required!

Here's the link to the 2026 MR340 Safety Video. You are required to watch this video before the race...and you will want to anyway! Crucial information. 

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Mandatory Race Check-In and Boat Drop-off

Mandatory Race Check-in is Monday, July 27 at Kaw Point Park, Kansas City, KS from noon – 8  p.m.

Google Pin for Kaw Point Park  •  Nearest Address - 1403 Fairfax Trafficway, Kansas City, KS 66115

You’ll need to run through all the stations in our Check-In process. It takes a little time! You can help speed up the process by:

• Completing your Online Waiver!
• Downloading the RaceOwl Racer App and registering your boat! On iOS. On Android.

It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you drop your boat off on Monday at Kaw Point Park. You’ll see a bunch of boats there already in the park closer to the boat ramp. It will be very difficult or even impossible to get your boat to the launch if you try to bring it the morning of the Race Start. We recommend that you NOT leave electronics or other very pricey items with your boat, but we do have volunteers and hired security all night Monday night and have never had issues.

There will be a taco truck at Race Start! It's "Taco-ish" and they'll have tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos and desserts. They'll be serving from 11:00 a.m. They may be shutting down around 5:30 or 6.

Some of our race sponsors and a couple of nonprofit partners will also have booths at Race Check-in. These are businesses that love this race as much as you do! Check ‘em out and meet these fine folks: 

• Some Beach Outfitters and Llama Racks. 
• Great Blue Heron Outdoors
• Big Muddy Adventures and River City Outdoors. 
• Swade Cannabis
• The Nature Conservancy of Missouri 
• Beyond the Teams
• Missouri Paddling Coalition
• Paddle KC
• Friends of Kaw Point Park

Race Day Parking!!!!

…Is a mess. There’s not nearly enough parking at Kaw Point Park for everyone. When the parking lot fills at Kaw Point Park (often by 5:30), volunteers and sheriffs will shut off vehicle access to the park and turn you back around onto Fairfax Trafficway.

Check out our parking map with several nearby options. You’ll already be dropping off your boat at the Park on Monday. Many people find that the easiest thing Tuesday morning to do is to skip the frustrating attempt at parking at Kaw Point and just park at one of these outer lots (Lot 4 has the most room). Then you walk Riverfront Heritage Trail to the Park. Put your Ground Crew’s resupply wagon to its first task.

Discuss your plan with your Ground Crew. 

Click this map or here to view a full size version with descriptions - 

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The Race Start

The MR340 Race Start will be one of your race highlights - starting your adventure with hundreds of brave souls together paddling through downtown Kansas City will never be forgotten.

But getting to that point is a bit of a scramble! Get there as early as possible and get on the water as soon as you can. There will be a long frustrating line getting into the water. Look for alternate launching points. The Confluence Point is a good alternative. The amazing staff of Big Muddy Adventures will be setting up a couple of launch options for you. 

If lightning is present in the area, we will postpone the race start in increments and will announce that over the PA system. 

Race Start is on the Kaw River, just upstream of its Confluence with the Missouri. The Kaw is also known as the Kansas River (it's official name that nobody uses).

The Kaw River is generally very slow moving, backed up from the swifter flow on the Missouri. If there's been a bunch of rain upstream it can be moving a bit faster. As Race Start time approaches, paddle upstream on the Kaw. The Starting Point is an imaginary line perpendicular to the ramp. The start will be announced by our veteran DJ.

7:00 is for solos. 8:00 is for everyone else. 

As you approach the Confluence of the Kaw and Missouri, leave room around you. Utilize the whole width of the mouth of the Kaw. As you hit the current of the Missouri, it will shift your boat to the right, so protecting that space around you will make the transition easier. Look out for your fellow paddlers. If you are not a competitive racer, let the faster boats take the lead. You'll settle into your pace once you get a few miles downstream. 

KCMO and KCK Fire Dept. Swift Water Rescue Crews will be on hand to assist if you do get into trouble. If you tip over, keep your calm as you hold onto your boat and paddle. Keep yourself moving to the center of the river to give them a chance to assist you. 

Just downstream of the Confluence on your right is a new dock built by Port KC. There will likely be barges tied up at or near the dock. Give them plenty of space. The current will generally be pushing you to the right so it takes intention. After you pass that port, you'll want to generally stick to the right as the river bends to the left. You'll want to pass through the first series of bridges on the right side of the river. Give the bridge piers LOTS of space! They often have driftwood piled up in front, creating turbulent water you want to avoid. 

The first several dozen miles of the race will have several dredges and barges tied up waiting for the race to pass before they start working for the day. These companies have been amazing partners of this race and they want you to be safe!

They also want you to give PLENTY of space around their tied up barges. 

Don't give them a heart attack...paddle wide around tied up equipment. Further downstream you will encounter more barges that are working so pay attention. We'll release a Barge Report next week that will give more details on what to expect. 

Watching the River Levels & Weather

The Missouri River along the MR340 race course is settling down after some substantial spring/early summer rains. You've probably seen news about the catastrophic flooding in southeast Missouri. Most of that runoff is headed to the Mississippi River. Some of that rain boosted the Missouri River below the Gasconade River but things will be settling out over the next week. 

In the first half of the race course, wing dikes are starting to emerge and sandbars are popping out. In the downstream half of the race course, things are generally a little higher, but also trending down. 

This link shows you the river gages along the MR340 Race Course. The blue line is the observed river level, or stage. The purple line is the forecast river level based on 24 hours of predicted precipitation. If you click any individual gage, a new page will open in a different format with an interactive graph for that gage and more information. That second page is best viewed in landscape mode on your phone. 

For more detailed river forecasting information, see the Missouri River Relief Missouri River Level and Conditions Resource. 

There is very little rain forecast over the next week in the Missouri River basin. We'll send out an outlook update next week. If any locations along the race course enter "Minor Flood Stage", we will be looking at postponing the race one or two days, or to the Secondary Race Date (August 5 – August 8). We see no reason to think that will happen, just reminding everyone of our backup plan. 

Throughout the race, we'll be updated racers, ground crews and volunteers through our Broadcast Text messages on evolving weather conditions. It's important that our Ground Crew phone numbers are up-to-date for this purpose! 

Official Race Photography by RainbowMarks Photography

At Race Start, throughout the race course and at the Finish Line, you'll see hardworking and talented photographer Chris Hammond capturing amazing shots of you and your teams at your best and worst. You can pre-purchase a package of photos before the race to make sure Chris is looking out for you.

Find out more, and browse his website to see photos from past races.  

He'll have a table set up at Race Check-In at Kaw Point and he'll be at the finish. He's got an amazing website where you can purchase photos from the race afterwards as well. 

TRAINS!

This is especially important for Ground Crews! But everyone needs to pay attention. 

There are several river accesses where ground crews will cross railroad tracks to get to the river. And several of those have no railroad crossing gates.

Waverly is a major one of these unprotected crossings. There are two ramps at Waverly, one upstream of the bridge and the other downstream. Railroad tracks run right by both ramps and they are at the bottom of a steep hill.

Ground crews and racers on foot need to take extra care crossing these tracks. Trains may not slow down passing in these small towns. Watch your children closely and stay off the tracks. Don't park next to the tracks! 

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FINISH LINE PARTY - FRIDAY JULY 31

LOCATION - Lewis & Clark Boathouse & Museum - 1050 S Riverside Dr, St Charles, MO 63301

Please join us for a celebration of your accomplishments, a chance to swap river tales with your fellow racers and toast your Ground Crew and friends. 

Check this link for all the details.  

Here's what's happening - 

• 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tacos, Snacks & Drinks for purchase from Lewis & Clark Boat House
• 9 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. MR340 Merch Tent
• All Day - RainbowMarks Photography - Official Race Photographer. He'll have photos and photo packages for purchase.
• 5 p.m. - StilL 630 MR340 bourbon blend sales - Limited Edition! They go fast!
• 5:30 p.m. - Music by the Pernikoff Brothers
• 7:00 p.m. - Special Finish Line Ceremony
• after the ceremony, the band will kick up the jams again.

Photo by Bob Foster, Lewis & Clark Boathouse & Museum

This is the scene before it really gets cooking. There will be WAY more people than this! 

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Pre-Race Merch - Online Store Closes midnight July 19

 We just got a shipment of new merch for the race! There's only a few days until we shut down the online store before the race. 

We're closing up shop at midnight, July 19. You'll still be able to get the good stuff at Race Check-In and the Finish Line. We'll reopen the online store around August 10 with whatever is left. 

Here's a snapshot of what we've got. Plus there's more! 

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Alright! That's enough for now! 

I can’t wait to meet all of you.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr
Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org
MR340.org
2026 Dispatches

Special thank you to Missouri American Water, our longtime sponsor and partner. These are the folks that transform Missouri River water into drinking water for St. Louis & St. Charles County and Jefferson City. In addition to their cash support, they are huge on-the-ground partners of the race, helping prepare the Finish Line for you!

They make the magic happen at the Finish Line! 

Please check out our full list of amazing Race Sponsors. 

June 11, 2026

Hello Racers!

This is the third Dispatch for the race, and there will be several more coming as we burn through the last several weeks before the race!. All racers are responsible for reading each dispatch and sharing the info with your Ground Crew.

You can find all Dispatches as they post HERE. Read the previous ones again! Here's a link to this Dispatch on our website. 

We love the buzz on the Facebook group. Keep those great questions coming! And remember....check the "files" tab and use that search bar. Chances are your question has been asked before.

Thank you to all you veterans who so generously share your knowledge and tips. By the way, we just changed the name of the Facebook group to "MR340 Community"...so keep your eyes open for that. 

We've also got a growing subreddit community here. 

Keep that training up everyone! For those near the Missouri River, it's a bit of a challenge with the high water we've been experiencing, but there's still time left. 

In this Dispatch - 

Here's what we cover in this Dispatch (it's a lot):

• Your Race Host - Missouri River Relief
• Check your Racer Info
• Read Past Dispatches
• Get in on the MR340 Raffle - there's a Stellar S16 folks!!!!
• RaceOwl Webinars coming up! 
• Upcoming Training Opportunities
• River Race Rundown....tons of important info. Spend your free hours researching and training. 
• Fundraising Perks - Support Missouri River Relief and get cool stuff! 

Your Race Host - Missouri River Relief

The MR340 is hosted by Missouri River Relief, a nonprofit based in Columbia, MO, that is dedicated to connecting people to the Missouri River through stewardship, education and recreation. Since 2001, MRR volunteers have removed over 2 million pounds of junk from the banks and floodplains of the Missouri River from St. Louis to Omaha, NE. Our education programs have reached more than 40,000 teachers and students – most of those at or on this river we love.

In 2026, we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary of action on the Missouri River. 

Find us on Facebook and Instagram, explore our YouTube Channel and wander through our website to more about how you can get involved or learn more about the Missouri River.

My name is Steve Schnarr, and I’m your Race Director. I’ve been involved in the race since 2008 and I LOVE this community. Reach out to me and our team atracing@riverrelief.org with your questions and concerns.

Check out our Team Page to see some of the other amazing folks that work behind the scenes to make this race an excellent experience for you. 

Check Your Racer Info

You should have received an email version of this Dispatch, which will show the latest info we have for you. Please review that email and email racing@riverrelief.org with any updates. Have you changed your boat or ground crew since you registered? Let us know the updates.

Have your Plans Changed?

Please let us know if you are no longer able to participate or if you have decided to switch divisions. 

ALSO – please check the Race Roster to make sure the info we have posted there is correct. You can use CTRL-F to search for your name. Make sure you are posted in the correct division. 

Mandatory Waiver

You signed a series of waivers when you registered to ensure you understand some basics about how this race works. You will also be signing an online Risk Release Waiver in the weeks approaching the race. I'll be sending you a link to that waiver in a future dispatch. 

Read Past Dispatches! 

Dispatch #1 contains a wealth of resources for understanding this race. Re-read it! 

All Dispatches are posted here, in the News & Dispatches feed on the race website. 

Get in on the MR340 Raffle! 

We've got some outrageous raffle prizes, and we'll be announcing the winners on June 27th. 

Here's the link to purchase tickets, with details on the prizes. 

Huge thanks to all our raffle prize donors, but especially Some Beach Outfitters and Llama Racks. 

Here's what we've got - 

• Stellar S16 G2 - value $4,140 - Tickets $50 apiece. 
• Llama Rack - value $440 - Tickets $10 apiece. 
• ZRE or Bending Branches Paddle - Tickets $10 apiece. 
• Choice of Mustang Survival PFD - Tickets $10 apiece. 

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RaceOwl Tutorial Webinars

RaceOwl is the system we use for tracking in this race. It includes a website and two apps: RaceOwlRacer and RaceOwl.

RaceOwl Developer Jon Marble is hosting two training sessions on how to use the RaceOwl Apps and website to auto-track yourself in the race, check-in and check-out of Checkpoints, track the racer you are following, utilize navigation maps and more.

There are a lot of updates and upgrades in 2026, so even if you have experience with the app this will be very helpful.

• Session #1 - Monday, June 29 - "RaceOwl App Training Session & Q&A - For Racers" This webinar is focused on the racer perspective, walking you through using the RaceOwlRacer app to auto-track, check-in and out, use the navigation feature and connect your personal spot-tracking device. 
  
  
• Session #2 - Monday, July 6 - "RaceOwl for Ground Crews" This webinar is focused on the Ground Crew perspective, using the RaceOwl App and website to track your paddlers. 

RaceOwl Basics

Everything you need to know about RaceOwl is on our website here. But here’ s the basics –

RaceOwl Race Tracking System includes two apps and a website. The RaceOwl Racer app is what racers need to use to track your progress in the race, auto-check-in and out of checkpoints and manually check-in if needed. It includes an optional Navigation add-on which is REALLY helpful, especially at night.

The RaceOwl app is useful for Ground Crews and spectators to track racers, access the tracking map and to check racers in or out if needed.

The website has the tracking map as well as more detailed racer data.

Your RaceOwl To-Do List

• Download the RaceOwl Racer App! On iOS. On Android. If you already have it, make sure to update it. Try it out!
• In addition to watching those webinars, read our RaceOwl Tracking Resource page. There’s a bunch of links on that page for more details but this really walks you through how the system works.
• Make sure your Ground Crew also reads up on how to use RaceOwl…and let them know about the Ground Crew webinar!
• If you are planning on tracking using a Satellite Device (either Garmin InReach or SPOT Tracker), make sure to set this up with RaceOwl.
• Instructions for setting up Garmin InReach can be found on the RaceOwl site here. 
• Instructions for setting up Spot can be found on the RaceOwl site here.
• Everyone is required to attend the Race Check-In on Monday, July 27. It really helps if you’ve already downloaded the RaceOwl Racer App. You will do your first check-in there to make sure you understand how it works!

Upcoming Training Opportunities

5K Paddling Groups in Missouri

There are several informal groups that meet up every week for 5K races, community and knowledge sharing. Many MR340 newbies have found these to be a great way to build skill and learn from other experts. These are all based around Facebook groups. Here are the ones I'm aware of - 

• Shawnee Mission Lake Hump Day 5K - 6 pm every Wednesday March thru October
• Mid Mo Paddle Collective - 5:30 pm every Wednesday March thru October. Usually at Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area. Super informal. 
• Creve Coeur Lake Show Me Oars Day 5K -  Creve Coeur Lake south boat ramp by the flag pole at 6:30p on Tuesdays during warm weather months (Apr - Oct)
• 5K Fitness Paddle (Lake Jacomo) - Hosted by Paddle KC. 6:30 every Tuesday. 

Regional Race Calendar

We post a calendar of upcoming regional paddling races that are helpful for meeting the community and training. Check it out. 

An upcoming race that is really helpful for MR340 training the Freedom Race (June 27, from Lamine River to Jeff City) hosted by Midwest Paddle Racing.

"Women & the MR340 Race" Clinic - Sat. June 27, 2026

St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club is hosting a special clinic designed for women who have registered for the MR340 in 2026 and have not finished the race before. This is a really special opportunity limited to 16 participants. The clinic is led by a staff of 8 MR340 women veterans who have a depth of race experience and knowledge.

6 slots remain and they are opening it up to everyone! 

• Date & Time: Saturday, June 27 from 1:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
• Location: Weldon Spring Conservation Area to Blanchette Landing, St. Charles, MO
• Cost: $25
• Purpose: Building a community of female racers with emphasis on fun, confidence, skills, and river knowledge 
• Supported by a grant from River City Outdoors.
• Mixed Tandems are welcome!

It will include -

• On-the-water exit and re-entry experience with experts on hand.
• On-the-ground clinic with story sharing, skill and knowledge sharing and race tips.
• Night-time paddling experience as a group from Weldon Spring Conservation Area Access to Blanchette Landing in St. Charles, covering the final 20 miles of the MR340 race course. 

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River Race Rundown.... 

Some stuff you need to be thinking about. 

Gotta Get the Gear....

We've got a list of Required and Recommended Gear for you. Read that whole list. Gonna run through a few very important items here. 

Race Rules

Take the time to read the Race Rules again. Seriously! Not only will you answer some of those nagging questions you have, but there are some good tips in there. 

Nighttime Navigation Lights

Knock this off your To-do List. There are many options. One of the simplest that many people like are the E-Guardian mini lights. They are $15 apiece and you need three of them...Red, Green and White. These things last 100 hours, so you can turn them on night 1 and leave them on. More information on the Gear Resource page. You need to mount them, and there are several YouTube videos about this. Many people use velcro, but make sure you use the heavy-duty stuff. 

More and more, we are seeing paddlers with insufficient lighting. There are a bunch of cheaper options out there that are NOT bright enough and don't last the whole race. Available from Race Sponsors Some Beach Outfitters and Midwest Paddle Adventures. 

Boat Numbers

Your assigned boat number should be affixed to both sides of your bow above the water line. Numbers should be at least 3 inches tall, a color that is high contrast against the background and reflective at night. These help us see and identify you, especially at night. Race numbers are to be affixed by the racers themselves, prior to the start of the race. Numbers should be a color that is high contrast against the background and reflective. Mailbox numbers from the hardware store work great. Please purchase and apply these before arriving at Race Check-In to drop off your boat. We will have a limited supply on hand for those that forget but not enough for everyone.

Testing and Training

You still have a month (and one full moon) left to train. Every bit of work you do now will improve your race experience. This race will test you and your gear to the limits. You have over a month left to test out all your systems and keep up your training to be ready for the big day. Take advantage of the longer evenings and breaks in the weather to get some miles in. 

Night training is very helpful, but should never be done alone. Find a partner to do some spend some time night training – on the Missouri River if possible! It will really give you more confidence going into the race. Monday, June 29 is our last real full moon before the race, but several days before and after that will work great. The week before the full moon will have the moon in the sky at sunset.

Heat Acclimation

Spend as much time outdoors as makes sense for you. Get your body used to the heat. Turn off your AC in your vehicle. Eat dinner outside. Exercise on and off the river. 

Read up on the Race Course

Here’s a direct link to our full “Race Course” Resource page.  It includes a ton of great information about where you'll be spending your race week. 

A really helpful read is the “What to Expect” section towards the end. It walks you through that first day of the race, some of what you’ll be facing and some of the decisions you’ll have to make.

Make sure you print out our simplified Race Course Map  – a two-pager showing checkpoints, paddle stops and some open/close times. A lot of people laminate a copy of this for reference during the race.

When planning, check out our Google Map of ramps along the river to decide where you may want to stop to meet your ground crew, get food from race vendors (a bunch of local nonprofits and small businesses that support the race), take a nap, hit a porta potty or resupply on water. There is also a list of ramps with their amenities (or lack thereof) that will continue to be updated as the race approaches -  

Another helpful series of maps for planning and for Ground Crews is the Lewis & Clark Recreational maps by the Corps of Engineers. The map is a little out of date, but this version includes just the race course with checkpoints and additional ramps added. 

Video Resources

There’s a ton of stuff on YouTube to checkout! Here’s a few –

“Navigating on the Missouri River” – knowing where the channel is – it’s crucial! This little video gives some good overview tips on reading and understanding the Missouri River – plus tips on river hazards you will encounter like buoys, barges and bears. Well, no one’s seen a bear yet. 

“Ramp to Ramp” – this is from 2023…a little out of date but mostly relevant. Goes through nine of the ramps from the Google Earth perspective. A great exercise to add to watching this video is to look at each ramp via Google Maps Satellite View. Look at the ramp approach, which side of the river its on, look for hazards (some, like wing dikes, may be underwater in the aerial photo but not the day of the race). 

MR340 Live Recorded Webinars - these were recorded in 2021 but are REALLY great resources for a bunch of important topics. Hosted by Chris Luedke. 

340 Paddler – These batches of MR340 helper videos cover a TON of important topics! All created by MR340 veteran Chris Luedke. 

We’ll be posting our 2026 Safety Video in a couple of weeks. But you can check out last year’s video here. 

River Conditions

If you've been paying attention, you may have noticed that the river has been doing its spring routine of minor flooding. This is pretty normal. But the amount of water being released by the dams further upstream on the Missouri River is less than normal because of a long-term drought.

Even though we've had a LOT of rain in Missouri and Kansas, and soils are saturated, the river has been dropping pretty quickly after storms move through and tributaries get a chance to clear all that water.

But with this recent rain, the Kansas reservoirs have a lot of extra water to move through, so the baseline will be slightly elevated over the next several weeks. 

The rains in Northern Missouri Wednesday night and statewide Thursday night have caused a rise to move down the Missouri and Grand Rivers. This is extending the current high water across the state. There's plenty of time for things to settle before the race. 

You may have also noticed how intense the driftwood on the river can be as the river is rising and through its crest. After the crest passes, things tend to settle out. Pay attention to river levels if you are planning on a training session. Sometimes it's rain upstream that makes the difference. 

One more thing to understand...when the river rises, then drops...it always leaves mud behind. Some is firm and sandy. Some is like pudding that wants to suck you in. Some looks like the first, but is hiding the second. It's why the Missouri River has been called the Big Muddy in many languages for thousands of years. 

Here's a link to bookmark that shows all the river gages on the Race Course. www.weather.gov/mbrfc/MR340support

Here's a Resource page on the Missouri River Relief website with some more river and weather monitoring resources. 

Keep Fundraising to get cool Perks!

Each of you received a link to a Fundraising page that you can use to raise money for Missouri River Relief, build energy about the race and earn some great Perks. 

You can find your Fundraiser page to share in the last several emails you've received from us.

Share with your friends, family and your social network! 

Shout out to our top fundraisers!

1. Andy Besselman raised $875 so far
2. James Drinkard raised $635 so far
3. Brandon Roe raised $630 so far
4. Austin Hoover raised $600 so far
5. Mary Stewart raised $540 so far

You have plenty of time to catch up! 

Check out the great perks and see the Fundraising Leaderboard here. Top Fundraiser gets a Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED Sapphire Watch (Value $1,100) PLUS a Llama Racks Gift Card.

Other stuff includes a Garmin InReach, an ETREX, a cool "Big River Energy" hat, stickers and MORE. 

And More!!!

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Alright! That's enough for now! 

I can’t wait to meet all of you.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr
Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org
MR340.org
2026 Dispatches

Special thank you to River Captain Sponsor Missouri American Water. These are the folks that transform Missouri River water into drinking water for St. Louis & St. Charles County and Jefferson City. In addition to their cash support, they are huge on-the-ground partners of the race, helping prepare the Finish Line for you! 

Please check out our full list of amazing Race Sponsors. These are some good people. 

February 25, 2026

Hello Racers!

This is your first Dispatch for the 2026 Missouri American Water MR340. We have just a few months left for you to study up, develop your plan, gather your supplies, line out your Ground Crew, and most of all…TRAIN.

You are already part of an elite group by finishing your first psychological hurdle – you’ve registered for the race! This is the world’s longest nonstop paddling race and you are doing it!

2026 is the 21st Annual MR340. 

This year’s race is July 28-31, 2026, with the mandatory Race Check-In on Monday, July 27 at Kaw Point Park in Kansas City, KS, from noon – 8 p.m.

All 2026 Dispatches will be posted at this link: mr340.org/tag/2026-dispatches/

In this Dispatch - 

Here's what we cover in this Dispatch:

• About your race host, Missouri River Relief. 
• About this Race
• Check your Info
• Fundraising Deadline & Perks
• Special MR340 Meet Ups, Clinics and 5K groups
• Tons of Resources. Dig in! 

Your Race Host - Missouri River Relief

The MR340 is hosted by Missouri River Relief, a nonprofit based in Columbia, MO, that is dedicated to connecting people to the Missouri River through stewardship, education and recreation. Since 2001, MRR volunteers have removed over 2 million pounds of junk from the banks and floodplains of the Missouri River from St. Louis to Omaha, NE. Our education programs have reached more than 40,000 teachers and students – most of those at or on this river we love.

In 2026, we are celebrating our 25th Anniversary of action on the Missouri River. 

Find us on Facebook and Instagram, explore our YouTube Channel and wander through our website to more about how you can get involved or learn more about the Missouri River.

My name is Steve Schnarr, and I’m your Race Director. I’ve been involved in the race since 2008 and I LOVE this community. Reach out to me and our team at racing@riverrelief.org with your questions and concerns.

Check out our Team Page to see some of the other amazing folks that work behind the scenes to make this race an excellent experience for you. 

This Amazing Race

Participating in the Missouri American Water MR340 is a life-changing personal challenge. It’s a multi-day adventure race on the continent’s longest river. It’s gritty, soggy, relentless, beautiful and risky. It has not been plotted out for you. This race requires training, the right equipment, an indomitable spirit, uncommon self-initiative and honestly a ton of research.

Knowledge is power. In this race, knowledge translates into time, safety, strategic advantage, less suffering and even survival. You can’t just show up the day of the race and expect to get all the info you need to finish…much less succeed. This race is a stage for you to accomplish the impossible. But YOU have to bring it.

I’ll be sending you a series of Dispatches (they'll be posting here) between now and the race, highlighting what you and your Ground Crew need to know to prepare for and succeed in this race. I’ll be directing you to resources on the MR340 website to explore and learn more. You can also review last year's Dispatches from 2025 here.

Now is the time to start researching and preparing. Preparation is its own journey!

Each racer and ground crew must read all the dispatches, visit the links provided, and explore our website. You are responsible for knowing the information provided in dispatches, emails, and on the website as well as ensuring your ground crew does as well. 

This dispatch covers updating your info, fundraising reminders, some upcoming learning opportunities and an overview of the information found on the website.

Check Your Racer Info

In the email dispatch, we would share some of your data to make sure it is correct. Be sure to check that email to confirm your info. If you have issues, contact us at racing@riverrelief.org

ALSO – please check theRace Roster to make sure the info we have posted there is correct. Jump to your division and search for your name.

Mandatory Waiver

You signed a series of waivers when you registered to ensure you understand some basics about how this race works. You will also be signing an online Risk Release Waiver in the weeks approaching the race. I'll be sending you a link to that waiver in a future dispatch. 

Fundraising Perks & Deadline – April 1, 2026

When you registered for the race, you paid a $75 registration fee and agreed to raise the remaining $200 needed for the race by April 1, 2026. Your confirmation email included a link to your personal Fundraising Page (see our email to you for that link, or you can search for it here) which you can use to raise donations for Missouri River Relief that count towards your $275 total.

After April 1, any account under the $200 Fundraising Goal will be charged the remaining balance plus a late fee of $1.25 (plus standard credit/debit card processing fees). This will be charged to the card on file that paid for your registration. 

You can also keep raising funds to be in the running for some fun and useful Perks! All funds raised go to support MRR’s deep menu of amazing river programs.

You will pick up your Fundraising Perks at Race Check-In at Kaw Point. 

Check out the Fundraising Leaderboard here! 

Here's a rundown of what we've got. If you raise the amount below or higher, you'll get....

• $340 more than your $75 Registration Fee - a couple custom stickers! These will not be available for purchase at the race. 

• $500 or more - a "Big River Energy" performance hat. It's an REI "On the Trail" cap. These will not be available for purchase at the race. 

• $1,500 or more - An NRS Pilot Knife with case. 

• #3 Highest Fundraiser - Garmin Etrex (model details coming soon)

• #2 Highest Fundraiser - Garmin InReach Mini 3

• #1 Highest Fundraiser - Garmin Fenix 8 Watch & a Gift Card for a Llama Rack!

• PLUS!!!! The Person who has the most number of donations will also win a Gift Card for a Llama Rack!

Registration Cost Increase - April 1 and June 1

Just a heads up. After April 1, the option of fundraising for part of your Registration fee disappears and the baseline cost for registration increases to $300. On June 1, that baseline registration cost increases to $340 per entry. 

So, if you have others on your team that have not registered, you might encourage them to do that before the April 1 deadline to avoid the $25 increase. 

Upcoming MR340 Clinics and Meet Ups!

There are several learning opportunities coming up. Get these on your calendars! 

THE FIRST ONE IS THIS SUNDAY MARCH 1!

As new events get scheduled, we'll be posting them (and updates) on our News & Dispatches feed on the mr340.org website at this link. 

MR340 Meet Ups at Rho Engine Room in Columbia, MO

Rho Engine Room is hosting a series of "MR340 Meet Ups" at their Columbia, MO gym. Here's the latest schedule. All are FREE and EVERYONE is welcome! They are designed for informal conversations on a variety of topics related to the MR340. Whether you are a new or returning racer, these are helpful gatherings. It's always nice to have experienced paddlers in the crowd.

These Meet Ups are designed to foster open conversation, and for that reason these are not recorded or streamed. Our gratitude to MR340 veteran Colie Payne for organizing these. 

Location - Rho Engine Room - 10 W Nifong Blvd Suite 115, Columbia, MO 65203

• THIS SUNDAY!!!!! "Recovery & Training After Injury" - Sunday, March 1 at 5:15 p.m.
  • led by Levi Riddle, MR340 Veteran
    
• "Navigating the River & Night Paddling" - Sunday, April 5 at 5:15 p.m.
  • led by Carrie Elliott, U.S.G.S. Missouri River Geologist and MR340 Veteran
    
• "Ground Crew: Paddler First Aid" - Sunday, May 3 at 5:15 p.m.
  • led by Beth Burkhart, Critical Care Flight Paramedic, EMS Instructor and MR340 Veteran

"Women & the MR340 Race" Clinic - Sat. June 27, 2026

St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club is hosting a special clinic designed for women who have registered for the MR340 in 2026 and have not finished the race before. This is a really special opportunity limited to 16 participants. The clinic is led by a staff of 8 MR340 women veterans who have a depth of race experience and knowledge.

• Date & Time: Saturday, June 27 from 1:30 pm to 10:30 pm.
• Location: Weldon Spring Conservation Area to Blanchette Landing, St. Charles, MO
• Cost: $25
• Purpose: Building a community of female racers with emphasis on fun, confidence, skills, and river knowledge 
• Supported by a grant from River City Outdoors.

It will include -

• On-the-water exit and re-entry experience with experts on hand.
• On-the-ground clinic with story sharing, skill and knowledge sharing and race tips.
• Night-time paddling experience as a group from Weldon Spring Conservation Area Access to Blanchette Landing in St. Charles, covering the final 20 miles of the MR340 race course. 

5K Paddling Groups in Missouri

There are several informal groups that meet up every week for 5K races, community and knowledge sharing. Many MR340 newbies have found these to be a great way to build skill and learn from other experts. These are all based around Facebook groups. Here are the ones I'm aware of - 

• Shawnee Mission Lake Hump Day 5K - 6 pm every Wednesday March thru October
• Mid Mo Paddle Collective - 5:30 pm every Wednesday March thru October. Usually at Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area. Super informal. 
• Creve Coeur Lake Show Me Oars Day 5K -  Creve Coeur Lake south boat ramp by the flag pole at 6:30p on Tuesdays during warm weather months (Apr - Oct)

Dig into Race Resources! 

There's a ton of stuff on the mr340.org website and all over online to learn more about preparing for the race. And we're adding more stuff all the time. 

Here's some basic places to check out to understand this race. 

Rules

Be sure to read through the rules. You are responsible for knowing this information and sharing it with your ground crew. Every racer is required to have an in-person or virtual ground crew, meeting specific stipulations. Your boat is required to have your boat number in 3-inch stickers affixed to both sides of the bow above the waterline. Be sure to read through these rules along with the others to ensure you/your team, your boat, your gear, and your ground crew are in compliance.

The Resources Page has...a lot

The Resources page on our website has eight categories to explore. This is a goldmine of important info including required gear, safety precautions, race tracking, race map, ideas on prepping, and ground crew information. Each of these areas contain vital information. Check it all out! 

Also check out our the Missouri American Water MR340 Facebook Group. We are blessed with a wonderful community of racers that generously share great info on this race. Ask a question and you’ll get a variety of advice fast. There is also a search option, allowing you to see if a question has been asked before and what the responses were. It’s also where some of our sponsors can share info on sales and promotions. This group is chatting about MR340-related topics year-round, so jump in any time!

AND, for those that don't use Facebook - check out our growing community on the MR340 subreddit - reddit.com/r/MR340

Here's a rundown of our Resource pages -

Race Course  - A ton of info about what you’ll experience while on the river. Here’s where you can find info on the mandatory Pre-Race Check-In, the Race Start, a Race Map (plus a Google Map with tons of great info), info on our required Checkpoints and other access ramps, the Finish Line, plus what food and amenities to expect along the way. There’s also great info on the river itself – what safety hazards to prepare for and how to monitor river levels. 

Plan and Prep - links to assist you in these months leading up to the race. Info about waivers, required gear and more. Our race calendar provides info on races happening on the Missouri River and other rivers around that allow you to get out now to test yourself, your boat, and gear.

Ground Crews- covers what is required of a ground crew with great tips.

Safety  - Covers a variety of topics from our safety boats and dispatch to 'The Reaper' (you need to beat the Reaper to checkpoints, go to the page to find out the details). We discuss weather related precautions and safety issues you’ll encounter on the race. This is where we’ll be posting the required Safety Video.

Race Tracking covers the RaceOwl tracking system used to automatically check in/out of checkpoints. Future dispatches will cover this in greater depth. This system improves every year, and we'll keep updating this info to keep you up to date. 

Gear  - We run through the required gear and recommended gear. As you prepare, a great way to show gratitude to our race sponsors is by purchasing through them when able. Check out our sponsors page to see the list of 2026 sponsors.

Gear Resources

The MR340 is blessed by sponsors that are a fantastic resource for gear retail and rentals as well as an unmatched depth of knowledge. Here's a few folks you should check out: 

• Some Beach Outfitters - Boats, paddles, PFDs, gear and navigation lights. These folks know the race in and out and can get you set up for success. Epic, Stellar, Wilderness Systems, Perception, Bending Branches and more. Knob Knoster, MO. 
  
• Llama Racks - The same folks that run Some Beach, they are the regional source for vehicle and garage racks and more. Liberty, MO. 
  
• Midwest Paddle Adventures - A full line of boats, paddles and all the gear you need. Nelo, P&H, Think, Vaikobi, Quickblade and more. Check out their MR340 Gearlab Greenland paddle. 
  
• Great Blue Heron Outdoors - a wonderful neighborhood shop in Lawrence, KS. Specializing in canoes. Redfeather, Wenonah, Northstar, Esquif & more. 
  
• Big Muddy Adventures - MR340 rentals - check out their deals. Plus the most experienced big river guides around. 
  
• Alpine Shop - in Kirkwood and Columbia. Top notch outdoor gear from this 50 year + local institution. 
  
  
• Garmin - the key to race tracking, communication and navigation tech. 

Regional Race Calendar

We post a calendar of upcoming regional paddling races that are helpful for meeting the community and training. Check it out. 

A couple races that are really helpful for MR340 training are the Shootout (on May 16, the first 50 miles of the MR340) and the Freedom Race (June 27, from Lamine River to Jeff City) hosted by Midwest Paddle Racing.

An Amazing Book About Planning for the Race

Stephen and Linda Jackson wrote a fantastic manual to planning for the MR340. It's called "MR340 First Time Finisher" and is available as paperback or Kindle. This book is now a teenager, so there's some details and technology references which are out of date. But the heart of it is gold and people still find it incredibly useful for preparing for the race. 

340 Paddler Channel - A Goldmine of Tips

MR340 Veteran Chris Luedke has created a weath of videos to help understand this race. Dig into this channel here. 

In addition, he hosted a series of webinars back in 2021 with some top notch paddlers and ground crews that remain a great resource. We've got the links archived here. 

The Race Shop

Check out all the great MR340 gear in our online shop! 100% of the proceeds benefit our nonprofit organization, Missouri River Relief. 

Where to Stay?

Looking for a place to stay in Kansas City, KS or St Charles, MO? We have hotel block information here. We will have more options added soon. 

Sponsor the MR340

The MR340 is the biggest fundraiser for Missouri River Relief. Sponsors help make it happen! If you or your employer are interested in being a race sponsor, check out our MR340 Sponsorship Brochure. You can reach out to our Development Director, Petie Holder for more information.

Training, Training, Training

We can’t stress enough the importance of training! Get on the water, test your gear, your setup, your boat, and teamwork. See what’s it like to be in the river at night with a full moon illuminating the way. You’ll be hearing of opportunities to meet up and paddle with others, take that opportunity when you can! There will be racers in the community sharing tips and tricks that worked for them, these are wonderful places to get ideas.

That said, keep an eye on water temperatures. Things on the Missouri River are still very cold – 43 degrees F water temperature on Monday. If you are not properly prepared, that can get deadly very fast if you end up in the river. Please take a moment to read this post from a couple of years ago from a paddler that had hypothermic experience on the river in March that they didn’t expect. This post also has tons of links for good info on cold-water paddling. The take-home – if you don’t have a drysuit, wait to paddle until the river warms up. And always go with a partner.

---

Alright! That's enough for now! 

I can’t wait to meet all of you.

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr
Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org

MR340.org
2026 Dispatches

Special thank you to Missouri American Water, our title sponsor. These are the folks that transform Missouri River water into drinking water for St. Louis & St. Charles County and Jefferson City. In addition to their cash support, they are huge on-the-ground partners of the race, helping prepare the Finish Line for you! 

And a huge shout out to our "River Captain" Sponsor Rocca AudioVisual. They have a deep connection to the Missouri River and to this race. We are so grateful for their support. 

Please check out our full list of amazing Race Sponsors. 

July 4, 2025

Hello Racers!

It's the final stretch before the big day! 

We are just loving the building energy and can't wait to see you all on Monday at Race Check-In at Kaw Point! 

And you know....I just love all your boat names. There's some really great ones! This community is a lot of fun, full of interesting characters and is still totally serious when it comes down to getting it done. Can't wait to spend a week with all of you! 

Take a peek back at the previous Dispatches. There's a lot in that last Dispatch about these next few days that I don't need to repeat here. 

Here's a few things I'm going to touch on in this email - 

• Mandatory Safety Video
• Boat Numbers
• Evolving Weather Forecast
• A couple RaceOwl Things
• Race Check-In 
• Race Start
  • Put-in Options 
  • KC Current MR340 Watch Party
• Official Race Photography by RainbowMarks Photography

MR340 Safety Video

Here's the link to the 2025 MR340 Safety Video. YOU MUST WATCH THIS before the race! 

Boat Numbers

Everyone's favorite subject! As you know, we have assigned race numbers this year, and they are assigned based on what division you are in.

Check the Roster (or this Dispatch email) for your boat number.

Please purchase your race numbers if you have not already!

We will have a few extra number stickers at Race Check-In, but not many.

What we require:

• At least 3 inches tall
• Reflective
• High Contrast between number and background. 
• Mailbox numbers you can find at any hardware store are great. 

For those that already have numbers installed on your boat...some folks are covering their old numbers wtih duct-tape, then intalling new numbers over the tape. 

The Weather in Missouri....

The forecast for the week is beginning to crystalize, but the specifics are still pretty fuzzy. It's possible there could be some surprises developing as we get closer. Here's what we are seeing - 

• In general, high temps in the mid to upper 80's. 90 for Race Check-In on Monday. 
• Lows in the high 60's, but it often feels cooler on the river. 
• Fog looks likely, with dewpoints and temps pretty close in the early mornings.
• Monday (so far) is looking pretty dry. There is a chance of a storm Tuesday morning for Race Start. We'll be keeping an eye on that of course. 
• For the remainder of the week, there are chances of showers or thunderstorms pretty much everyday. Currently those chances range from 20% to 40%. So it is likely these will be scattered, not everywhere but potentially still very powerful. 
• After making it through one or two storms without issue, it's easy to get complacent. Don't do that! It really sucks to be out in the middle of the river when a crazy wind from a big approaching storm suddenly kicks up and you are in a washing machine. Communicate to each other about the weather forecast. Keep an eye behind you as things develop and get to a safer location before the storm hits. 
• There will be a lot of sun, but also a lot of clouds, which will be a real relief during the day and a pain at night! 
• Wind looks relatively mild throughout the week at this point...6-8 mph most days. Obviously that will change when storms appear! 

River Levels

The river is dropping steadily throughout the race course. Here's the link to checkout the gages. 

Sandbars in some locations are beginning to emerge. In many locations, wing dikes are getting into that sketchy zone where they are just under the surface but may not yet be poking out. 

This is when you really need to pay attention to riffles and tell-tale signs on the river surface. Pay attention to channel day markers to make sure you are in the channel, or utilize a navigation device like RaceOwlRacer. 

A couple things about RaceOwl

I've got a few updates about RaceOwl. 

1. Reminder - There are two apps!
   1. RaceOwlRacer (the purple icon) is for racers to fun in their boat to auto track, auto check-in and out and use the navigation feature. 
   2. RaceOwl (blue icon) is for Ground Crews, Spectators and Volunteers to easily check in/out racers, track and search for racer data and on the map. 
      
2. Racers! As soon as you can, please check your tracking status in RaceOwlRacer. Here's how: Open the app. Verify your registration info in the app if not already done. Click "Tracking Status" in the menu. Click the "Ping Location" bottom button. (This is also how you can check if you are tracking throughout the race!)
   
3. There have been some recent updates to the apps. Search for the app in your Google Play or Apple Store and find the update button to get the latest version. 
   
4. Navigation Feature!!! Veteran MR340 Racers may have used the MR340 ProPaddler App for navigation. This is no longer supported and doesn't work well. RaceOwlRacer now has this functionality. However, you do need to pay $1.99 to activate it.
   
   Here's how: Open RaceOwlRacer. Click menu icon on top left. Click "Add-Ons". Select the Premium selection. It will charge $1.99 to your App Store Account. THEN, you will want to close the app and reopen it. Now in the menu, there should be a "Navigation" option. That's it! You can customize a bunch of settings in there, including what data it shows default on the map screen. 
   
5. Revisit our RaceOwl Resource page. We now have links on that page to two Q&A sessions walking through both apps and the RaceOwl website. Make sure your Ground Crew knows about these! 

Here's what RaceOwlRacer Navigation feature looks like when you are on the river. Red line is the navigation channel line (the two green lines are the general channel). Wing dikes, the banks and shallow water show up as blue. 

Mandatory Race Check-In and Boat Drop Off

Mandatory Race Check-in is Monday, July 7 at Kaw Point Park, Kansas City, KS from noon – 8  p.m.

We've already talked a lot about this, but here's a few reminders and new stuff. 

You’ll need to run through all the stations in our Check-In process. It takes a little time! You can help speed up the process by:

• Completing your Online Waiver!
• Downloading the RaceOwl Racer App! On iOS. On Android.

Food at Race Check-In Monday

• Twisted Taters Food Truck will be on hand from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. "KC's Original Loaded Fry Truck"...perfect for carb loading! 
• Blue Bunny Ice Cream Van
• Great Blue Heron Outdoors booth will have some cold brew coffee on hand! 

Race Day Parking!!!!

…Is a mess. There’s not nearly enough parking at Kaw Point Park for everyone. When the parking lot fills at Kaw Point Park (often by 5:30), volunteers and sheriffs will shut off vehicle access to the park and turn you back around onto Fairfax Trafficway.

Check out our parking map with several nearby options. You’ll already be dropping off your boat at the Park on Monday. Many people find that the easiest thing Tuesday morning to do is to skip the frustrating attempt at parking at Kaw Point and just park at one of these outer lots (Lot 4 has the most room). Then you walk Riverfront Heritage Trail to the Park. Put your Ground Crew’s resupply wagon to its first task.

Discuss your plan with your Ground Crew. 

Getting on the River Early! 

Last Dispatch we discussed how important getting on the river early is. Once the two-lane line a the boat ramp develops, it moves at its own pace! 

With the river dropping, there will be a lot of muddy banks, which makes access from locations other than the ramp even more difficult. 

Thankfully, our friends at Big Muddy Adventures will be building one or two additional accesses with pallets to alleviate the pressure on the main boat ramp. LIkely one of these will be at the Confluence Point and there may be another. We'll spread the word. These folks excel at providing access to difficult big rivers! 

KC Current Watch Party! Tues. Morning 6:30-9am

Our friends at KC Current are hosting an MR340 Watch Party on the riverbank in "front" of their stadium. FREE Parking in the Red Lot. They will also be selling coffee out of the back of their stadium. 

If your friends or Ground Crew wants to drop you off, this is a good place to watch all of you paddle by. Or if you have KC friends that don't want to mess with Kaw Point Park. 

Bring your own chairs! Here's a Facebook Event. 

Official Race Photography by RainbowMarks Photography

At Race Start, throughout the race course and at the Finish Line, you'll see hardworking and talented photographer Chris Hammond capturing amazing shots of you and your teams at your best and worst. You can pre-purchase a package of photos before the race to make sure Chris is looking out for you.

Find out more, and browse his website to see photos from past races.  

He'll have a table set up at Race Check-In at Kaw Point and he'll be at the finish. He's got an amazing website where you can purchase photos from the race afterwards as well.  

Can’t wait to meet all of you!

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr

Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org
573-289-2077

MR340.org

2025 Dispatches

Special thank you to Missouri American Water, our title sponsor. These are the folks that transform Missouri River water into drinking water for St. Louis & St. Charles County and Jefferson City. They have already been hard at work getting the finish line ready for all of you. 

And a huge shout out to our "River Captain" Sponsor Rocca AudioVisual. They have a deep connection to the Missouri River and to this race. We are so grateful for their support. 

Please check out our full list of amazing Race Sponsors. 

July 1, 2025

Hello Racers!

We are one week from the big day! One week from the day we step into this adventure together and slide onto the river. Thank you to all of you posting your questions on the Facebook group, and to all of you commenting and sharing your experiences so everyone can learn. Thanks to everyone who helped shuttle for someone's training experience, has given river access advice or lent a rudder repair kit. Thanks to everyone reaching out to me with your updated race info - your new divisions, change in boat color or new Ground Crew phone number. 

Share this Dispatch with your Ground Crew. 

In this Dispatch - 

Here's what we cover in this Dispatch:

• Your To Do List
• Check your Info
• Updates & Links Page
• RaceOwl and Training for Ground Crews
• Mandatory Safety Video
• Race Check-In 
• River Levels and Weather
• Race Start
• Purchase Photo Package from RainbowMarks Photography
• TRAINS! 

We have a few things we need you to do this last week, and I have some more details to go over with all of you. 

Your MR340 To Do List - 

• Watch the Safety Video - On your waiver you check that you have/will watch the Safety Video. It's the shortest in several years...just under 1/2 hour...but is dense with the info you NEED to know. 
  
• Sign your waiver. It's on SmartWaiver and it's super easy to do online. It will help make your process on Monday Race Check-In Day smoother. 
  
• Heat Training! Spend as much time out of AC as you can. Your body will thank you for it during the race. And consciously hydrate every day from now until the race. 
  
• Download the RaceOwl Racer App (purple icon). If you have a satellite tracker, get that set up in RaceOwl. Instructions here for InReach and here for SPOT. Here's where you enter your tracking info into RaceOwl. 
  
• Talk to your Ground Crew. Several Times! Let them ask their questions and help them find the answers.
  • Talk through your race plan. 
  • Get them to download or update the RaceOwl App. And watch tonight's webinar designed for Ground Crews! 
    
• Read the previous Dispatches again, and click on some links you didn't last time! Review the Race Course information! 
  
• Get all your resupplies packed up and labeled for each ramp. 
  
• Double check all your gear! 

All racers are responsible for reading each dispatch and sharing the info with your Ground Crew. You can find all Dispatches as they post HERE. Read the previous ones again! 

Check Your Racer Info

In the Email Dispatch we sent you (from "Missouri River Relief" - steve@riverrelief.org on July 1, 2025) was a rundown of your racer info. Find that email and double-check your data!

Please review and email racing@riverrelief.org with any updates. Have you changed your boat or ground crew since you registered? Let us know the updates.

Have your Plans Changed?

Please let us know if you are no longer able to participate or if you have decided to switch divisions. 

ALSO – please check the Race Roster to make sure the info we have posted there is correct. Jump to your division and search for your name.

Mandatory Waiver

Waivers this year are being handled online via Smartwaiver.com. Here’s the link - https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/v/2025mr340. There is no need to print and bring these waivers this year. At Race Check-In, Monday, July 7, we’ll be making sure your waiver is on file…If not you’ll be signing one there. It is a huge time savings if you can just do this simple online waiver.

2025 MR340 Updates & Links

We've posted a page with a collection of important links for easy access for you and your Ground Crew. Some great quick links to race course info and more. Including the updated list of Food at Ramps! 

There's a button on the homepage of mr340.org that will take you there. Here's the direct link.

As updates happen during the race, we'll be posting them here.

RaceOwl Race Tracking

In the last Dispatch, we got deep into RaceOwl. Revisit that post! 

But here's a few quick items and quick links - 

1. Today, Tuesday, July 1, is a RaceOwl for Ground Crews training session hosted by Jon Marble at 7 p.m. Central. Click here to register on Zoom and for the details.  After the webinar, it will post to the Missouri River Relief YouTube channel. 
   
2. RACERS - A couple of weeks ago, Jon hosted a training session about RaceOwl Racer. If you have any questions about how to use RaceOwl Racer, take the time to watch this video. 
   
3. Are you using a Garmin InReach or SPOT satellite tracker? Please add it to the RaceOwl database for auto-check-in and tracking.
   1. Here's the directions for Garmin InReach. 
   2. Here's the directions for SPOT. 
   3. And here's the direct link for entering in your data. 
      
4. Revisit our RaceOwl Resource page. 

MR340 Safety Video

Here's the link to the 2025 MR340 Safety Video. You are required to watch this video before the race...and you will want to anyway! Crucial information. 

Mandatory Race Check-In and Boat Drop Off

Mandatory Race Check-in is Monday, July 7 at Kaw Point Park, Kansas City, KS from noon – 8  p.m.

You’ll need to run through all the stations in our Check-In process. It takes a little time! You can help speed up the process by:

• Completing your Online Waiver!
• Downloading the RaceOwl Racer App! On iOS. On Android.

It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you drop your boat off on Monday at Kaw Point Park. You’ll see a bunch of boats there already in the park closer to the boat ramp. It will be very difficult or even impossible to get your boat to the launch if you try to bring it the morning of the Race Start. We recommend that you NOT leave electronics or other very pricey items with your boat, but we do have volunteers and hired security all night Monday night and have never had issues.

Some of our race sponsors and a couple of nonprofit partners will also have booths at Race Check-in. These are businesses that love this race as much as you do! Check ‘em out and meet these fine folks.

Race Day Parking!!!!

…Is a mess. There’s not nearly enough parking at Kaw Point Park for everyone. When the parking lot fills at Kaw Point Park (often by 5:30), volunteers and sheriffs will shut off vehicle access to the park and turn you back around onto Fairfax Trafficway.

Check out our parking map with several nearby options. You’ll already be dropping off your boat at the Park on Monday. Many people find that the easiest thing Tuesday morning to do is to skip the frustrating attempt at parking at Kaw Point and just park at one of these outer lots (Lot 4 has the most room). Then you walk Riverfront Heritage Trail to the Park. Put your Ground Crew’s resupply wagon to its first task.

Discuss your plan with your Ground Crew. 

Watching the River Levels & Weather

Recent rains upstream and along the race course have boosted the Missouri River significantly. We've gotten used to lower river levels, with plenty of sandbars and exposed wing dikes. That has changed and the past few days have seen a higher river with substantial debris. The river has crested at most locations along the river or will crest soon. After the river crests, the debris settles out. What you see on the river this week is not what we'll see next week. 

This link shows you the river gages along the MR340 Race Course. The blue line is the observed river level, or stage. The purple line is the forecast river level based on 24 hours of predicted precipitation. If you click any individual gage, a new page will open in a different format with an interactive graph for that gage and more information. That second page is best viewed in landscape mode on your phone. 

For more detailed river forecasting information, see the Missouri River Relief Missouri River Level and Conditions Resource. 

Things are looking good for the remainder of the week, with lots of time for the river to settle down. Rain chances increase over the weekend so we'll be keeping a close eye on developing weather and how it impacts the river. If any locations along the race course enter "Minor Flood Stage", we will be looking at postponing the race one or two days, or to the Secondary Race Date (August 5 – August 8). We see no reason to think that will happen, just reminding everyone of our backup plan. 

Race week has multiple chances for storms, including Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll be keeping everyone updated on the situation through our Broadcast Text messages during the race. 

The Race Start

The MR340 Race Start will be one of your race highlights - starting your adventure with hundreds of brave souls together paddling through downtown Kansas City will never be forgotten.

But getting to that point is a bit of a scramble! Get there as early as possible and get on the water as soon as you can. There will be a long frustrating line getting into the water. Look for alternate launching points. The Confluence Point is a good alternative. 

If lightning is present in the area, we will postpone the race start in increments and will announce that over the PA system. 

As Race Start approaches, paddle upstream on the Kaw. The Starting Point is an imaginary line perpendicular to the ramp. The start will be announced by our veteran DJ. 7:00 is for solos. 8:00 is for everyone else. 

As you approach the Confluence of the Kaw and Missouri, leave room around you. Utilize the whole width of the mouth of the Kaw. As you hit the current of the Missouri, it will shift your boat to the right, so protecting that space around you will make the transition easier. Look out for your fellow paddlers. If you are not a competitive racer, let the faster boats take the lead. You'll settle into your pace once you get a few miles downstream. 

KCMO and KCK Fire Dept. Swift Water Rescue Crews will be on hand to assist if you do get into trouble. If you tip over, keep your calm as you hold onto your boat and paddle. Keep yourself moving to the center of the river to give them a chance to assist you. 

Just downstream of the Confluence on your right is a new dock built by Port KC. There will likely be barges tied up at or near the dock. Give them plenty of space. The current will generally be pushing you to the right so it takes intention. After you pass that port, you'll want to generally stick to the right as the river bends to the left. Avoid the barges moored in the middle of the river on your left. You'll want to pass through the first series of bridges on the right side of the river. Give the bridge piers LOTS of space! They often have driftwood piled up in front, creating turbulent water you want to avoid. 

The first several dozen miles of the race will have several dredges and barges tied up waiting for the race to pass before they start working for the day. These companies have been amazing partners of this race and they want you to be safe! They also want you to give PLENTY of space around their tied up barges.

Don't give them a heart attack...paddle wide around tied up equipment. Further downstream you will encounter more barges that are working so pay attention. We'll release a Barge Report in a few days that will give more details on what to expect. 

Official Race Photography by RainbowMarks Photography

At Race Start, throughout the race course and at the Finish Line, you'll see hardworking and talented photographer Chris Hammond capturing amazing shots of you and your teams at your best and worst. You can pre-purchase a package of photos before the race to make sure Chris is looking out for you.

Find out more, and browse his website to see photos from past races.  

He'll have a table set up at Race Check-In at Kaw Point and he'll be at the finish. He's got an amazing website where you can purchase photos from the race afterwards as well. 

TRAINS! 

This is especially important for Ground Crews! But everyone needs to pay attention. 

There are several river accesses where ground crews will cross railroad tracks to get to the river. And several of those have no railroad crossing gates.

Waverly is a major one of these unprotected crossings. There are two ramps at Waverly, one upstream of the bridge and the other downstream. Railroad tracks run right by both ramps and they are at the bottom of a steep hill. Ground crews and racers on foot need to take extra care crossing these tracks. Trains may not slow down passing in these small towns. Watch your children closely and stay off the tracks. Don't park next to the tracks! 

Can’t wait to meet all of you!

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr

Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org
573-289-2077

MR340.org

2025 Dispatches

Special thank you to Missouri American Water, our title sponsor. These are the folks that transform Missouri River water into drinking water for St. Louis & St. Charles County and Jefferson City. They have already been hard at work getting the finish line ready for all of you. 

And a huge shout out to our "River Captain" Sponsor Rocca AudioVisual. They have a deep connection to the Missouri River and to this race. We are so grateful for their support. 

Please check out our full list of amazing Race Sponsors. 

June 17, 2025

Hello Racers!

This is the third Dispatch for the race, and there will be several more coming as we burn through the last few weeks before the race!. All racers are responsible for reading each dispatch and sharing the info with your Ground Crew. You can find all Dispatches as they post HERE. Read the previous ones again! 

We love the buzz on the Facebook group. Keep those great questions coming! Thank you to all you veterans who so generously share your knowledge and tips. 

Keep that training up, but prepare for that final taper the week before the race. More on that in the next Dispatch. 

Here's what we are covering in this Dispatch - 

• RaceOwl Online Training this Thursday! And more RaceOwl Resources. 
• Race Check-In 
• Race Start and Race Parking
• Review the Race Course Resources...get your mind right! 
• New Merch for a few more Days! 

Check Your Racer Info

In the Email Dispatch we sent you (from "Missouri River Relief" - steve@riverrelief.org on June 17, 2025) was a rundown of your racer info. Find that email and double-check your data!

Please review and email racing@riverrelief.org with any updates. Have you changed your boat or ground crew since you registered? Let us know the updates.

Have your Plans Changed?

Please let us know if you are no longer able to participate or if you have decided to switch divisions. 

ALSO – please check the Race Roster to make sure the info we have posted there is correct. Jump to your division and search for your name.

Mandatory Waiver

Waivers this year are being handled online via Smartwaiver.com. Here’s the link - https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/v/2025mr340. There is no need to print and bring these waivers this year. At Race Check-In, Monday, July 7, we’ll be making sure your waiver is on file…If not you’ll be signing one there. It is a huge time savings if you can just do this simple online waiver.

RaceOwl Race Tracking

One of the keys to our safety plan is Race Tracking, and the RaceOwl App is the key. RaceOwl also has some awesome tools for Ground Crews and Spectators to follow along. 

RaceOwl Tutorials - Starting Thursday! 

RaceOwl developer Jon Marble has scheduled two webinars to walk through the system and make sure you are ready to go for the race. Click the link to Register on Zoom. The webinars will also be streaming live on Missouri River Relief’s YouTube Channel and the recordings will be posted there after the webinar.

• Session #1 - Thursday, June 19, 7pm - "RaceOwl App Training Session & Q&A" - This webinar is focused on the racer perspective, walking you through using the RaceOwl Racer app to auto-track, check-in and out, use the navigation feature and connect your personal spot-tracking device.
  Register on Zoom.
  
• Session #2 - Tuesday, July 1, 7pm - "RaceOwl for Ground Crews" - This webinar is focused on the Ground Crew perspective, using the RaceOwl App and website to track your paddlers. Register on Zoom.

RaceOwl Basics

Everything you need to know about RaceOwl is on our website here. But here’ s the basics –

• RaceOwl Race Tracking System includes two apps and a website. The RaceOwl Racer app is what racers need to use to track your progress in the race, auto-check-in and out of checkpoints and manually check-in if needed. It includes an optional Navigation add-on which is REALLY helpful, especially at night.
• The RaceOwl app is useful for Ground Crews and spectators to track racers, access the tracking map and to check racers in or out if needed.
• The website has the tracking map as well as more detailed racer data.

Your RaceOwl To-Do List

1. Download the RaceOwl Racer App! On iOS. On Android. Try it out!
2. In addition to watching those webinars, read our RaceOwl Tracking Resource page. There’s a bunch of links on that page for more details but this really walks you through how the system works.
3. Make sure your Ground Crew also reads up on how to use RaceOwl…and let them know about the Ground Crew webinar!
4. If you are planning on tracking using a Satellite Device (either Garmin InReach or SPOT Tracker), make sure to set this up with RaceOwl.
   • Instructions for setting up Garmin InReach can be found on the RaceOwl site here.
   • Instructions for setting up Spot can be found on the RaceOwl site here.

Everyone is required to attend the Race Check-In on Monday, July 7. It really helps if you’ve already downloaded the RaceOwl Racer App. You will do your first check-in there to make sure you understand how it works!

Mandatory Race Check-In and Boat Drop Off

Mandatory Race Check-in is at Kaw Point Park, Kansas City, KS Monday, July 7 from noon – 8  p.m.

You’ll need to run through all the stations in our Check-In process. It takes a little time! You can help speed up the process by:

• Completing your Online Waiver!
• Downloading the RaceOwl Racer App! On iOS. On Android.

Here's the stations during Race Check-In...you have to do all of them. 

1. Waiver Check and Check-In - this is a two-step process...a little different than before. We'll be checking for your online waiver, you'll have to sign it if you haven't. Then we're we check you into our online database. 
2. Racer Info Check - you'll do a final review of your data to make sure our Safety Team has the latest and most correct info. 
3. RaceOwl - You'll do your first check-in in RaceOwl to make sure you've got it down. You will already have tried this out, so come with your questions. 
4. T-Shirt & Safety Card Pickup - Last step is to get your Tshirt and Safety Card! 

It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you drop your boat off on Monday at Kaw Point Park. You’ll see a bunch of boats there already in the park closer to the boat ramp. It will be very difficult or even impossible to get your boat to the launch if you try to bring it the morning of the Race Start. We recommend that you NOT leave electronics or other very pricey items with your boat, but we do have volunteers and hired security all night Monday night and have never had issues.

Some of our race sponsors and a couple of nonprofit partners will also have booths at Race Check-in. These are businesses that love this race as much as you do! Check ‘em out and meet these fine folks.

Race Day Parking!!!!

…Is a mess. There’s not nearly enough parking at Kaw Point Park for everyone. When the parking lot fills at Kaw Point Park (often by 5:30), volunteers and sheriffs will shut off vehicle access to the park and turn you back around onto Fairfax Trafficway.

Check out our parking map with several nearby options. You’ll already be dropping off your boat at the Park on Monday. Many people find that the easiest thing Tuesday morning to do is to skip the frustrating attempt at parking at Kaw Point and just park at one of these outer lots (Lot 4 has the most room). Then you walk Riverfront Heritage Trail to the Park. Put your Ground Crew’s resupply wagon to its first task.

Review the Race Course –

It’s really helpful to review all of our website Resources. They are all important and helpful. But really helpful is to re-read the “Race Course” Resource (and make sure your Ground Crew reads it too!). Tons of important information and it helps you to get your mind set on the task ahead.

A really helpful read is the “What to Expect” section towards the end. It walks you through that first day of the race, some of what you’ll be facing and some of the decisions you’ll have to make.

One crucial decision….don’t sleep at Waverly!!!! If you beat the Reaper to Waverly, there’s a temptation to catch a few Zzzz’s before heading downstream. Resist that temptation and push on at least until Hill’s Island about 12 miles down from Waverly at mile 281. Our safety boat crew will be stationed there with a fire near a good spot to land. Pull your boat out of the water, collapse on the sand and you’ll be ready to go in a few hours when you wake up. No one that sleeps at Waverly makes the Glasgow checkpoint.

Also on the Race Course Resource is the list of food options at ramps (this is evolving as the race approaches), hazards and features to be aware of along the river and more information about available checkpoints, paddle stops and ramps.

Video Resources

There’s a ton of stuff on YouTube to checkout! Here’s a few –

“Navigating on the Missouri River” – knowing where the channel is – it’s crucial! This little video gives some good overview tips on reading and understanding the Missouri River – plus tips on river hazards you will encounter like buoys, barges and bears. Well, no one’s seen a bear yet. 

“Ramp to Ramp” – this is from 2023…a little out of date but mostly relevant. Goes through nine of the ramps from the Google Earth perspective. A great exercise to add to watching this video is to look at each ramp via Google Maps Satellite View. Look at the ramp approach, which side of the river its on, look for hazards (some, like wing dikes, may be underwater in the aerial photo but not the day of the race). 

MR340 Live Recorded Webinars - these were recorded in 2021 but are REALLY great resources for a bunch of important topics. Hosted by Chris Luedke. 

340 Paddler – These batches of MR340 helper videos cover a TON of important topics! All created by MR340 veteran Chris Luedke. 

We’ll be posting our 2025 Safety Video next week. But you can check out last year’s video here. 

Last Few Days for the Race Shop -

Check out the new Merch!

We've got some great new designs in the our online shop! 100% of the proceeds benefit our nonprofit organization, Missouri River Relief. Shipping is $2.50 for light bundles and $5 per order for everything else. 

We'll be shutting down the Online Shop one week before the race. Then you'll just have to wait until we see you at Race Check-In! 

Can’t wait to meet all of you!

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr

Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org
573-289-2077

MR340.org

2025 Dispatches

Special thank you to Missouri American Water, our title sponsor. These are the folks that transform Missouri River water into drinking water for St. Louis & St. Charles County and Jefferson City. They are also crucial partners at the Finish Line, creating a safe place for you to land and for all of us to celebrate your accomplishment.

And a huge shout out to our "River Captain" Sponsor Rocca AudioVisual. They have a deep connection to the Missouri River and to this race. We are so grateful for their support. 

May 27, 2025

Hello MR340 Racers!

I hope you’ve been able to dig into the resources about the race, get out on the water with your boat to train and figure out your plan with your Ground Crew! This race is a LOT and your preparation is what will make it all possible.

This is the second Dispatch for the race, and there will be several more coming in the next few weeks on a variety of topics. All racers are responsible for reading each dispatch and sharing the info with your Ground Crew. You can find Dispatch #1 (and all dispatches as they post) HERE. Read that first one again and click through to all the Resources. 

We are so excited…it’s the 20th Annual Missouri American Water MR340! We love hearing from all of you how your training is going. This will be an epic year and we can't wait to spend the week on the river with all of you!

About your host – Missouri River Relief

The MR340 is hosted by Missouri River Relief, a nonprofit based in Columbia, MO, that is dedicated to connecting people to the Missouri River through stewardship, education and recreation. Since 2001, MRR volunteers have removed over 1 million pounds of junk from the banks and floodplains of the Missouri River from St. Louis to Omaha, NE. Our education programs have reached more than 40,000 teachers and students – most of those at or on this river we love.

Find us on Facebook and Instagram, explore our YouTube Channel and wander through our website to more about how you can get involved or learn more about the Missouri River.

My name is Steve Schnarr, and I’m your Race Director. I’ve been involved in the race since 2008, but this is my first year as Race Director. If you raced last year, you would have met the amazing Taby Lane, who left me with a ton of great resources to help you have the best race ever. I’m here for you. Reach out to me and our team at racing@riverrelief.org with your questions and concerns.

Many of you will also be communicating with our Operations Director Kevin Tosie. As you will see, he is an amazing human. 

Check Your Racer Info

Find this Dispatch in your inbox and doublecheck the racer info there.

Please email racing@riverrelief.org with any updates. Have you changed your boat or ground crew since you registered? Let us know the updates.

Have your Plans Changed?

Please let us know if you are no longer able to participate or if you have decided to switch divisions. Registration is open until June 16. Changes to registration (boat color, teammate, division, etc) can be made until June 23, 2025.

ALSO – please check the Race Roster to make sure the info we have posted there is correct. Jump to your division and search for your name.

Mandatory Waiver

Waivers this year are being handled online via Smartwaiver.com. Here’s the link - https://waiver.smartwaiver.com/v/2025mr340. There is no need to print and bring these waivers this year. At Race Check-In, Monday, July 7, we’ll be making sure your waiver is on file…If not you’ll be signing one there. It is a huge time savings if you can just do this simple online waiver.

Planning Your Race –

Testing and Training

This race will test you and your gear to the limits. You have over a month left to test out all your systems and keep up your training to be ready for the big day. Take advantage of the longer evenings and breaks in the weather to get some miles in. Search the Facebook group "Missouri American Water MR340" with your questions and if you don’t find the answer you need, just ask! Ask if there are others in your area that you can partner with. There are some very generous and friendly folks in the community.

Night training is very helpful, but should never be done alone. Find a partner to do some spend some time night training – on the Missouri River if possible! It will really give you more confidence going into the race. Wed. June 11 is our last real full moon before the race.

Upcoming Races & Training Opportunities

Local 5K paddling groups

There are weekly gatherings in the Greater KC, Columbia and St. Louis Regions where paddlers do 5K races, share info and test out their gear. They are an amazing expression of our unique paddling community. They are all organized by Facebook Groups, but you don’t need to belong to Facebook to participate

• KC, Kansas - Shawnee Mission Lake Hump Day 5K (Wednesdays at 6 p.m.) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/206396159530324
• Millersburg (near Columbia) – Mid-MO Paddle Collective – (Wednesdays at 5:30) https://www.facebook.com/groups/4029291170682539
• Creve Coeur Lake Show Me Oars Day 5K - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2042252749128078 - 6:30 pm on Tuesdays.

Upcoming Races & Training Opportunities

• June 1 – “GROUND CREW-SOLO-MULTI-SELF SUPPORT” - 5:30 at Rho Engine Room in Columbia, MO – Great conversation for racers and ground crews alike with tips and Q&A. This will not be recorded or live-streamed. Details on this post. "
• Check out our Regional Race Calendar. 
• June 7 - Freedom Race – DeBourgemont on Lamine River to Noren Access at Jefferson City on the Missouri River. An incredible training run hosted by Midwest Paddle Racing. 
• June 13-15 - Minnesota Paddling Opener – a menu of race lengths on the Mississippi River upstream of Minneapolis. 
•  June 21 - St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club Annual Skills Clinic - taught by MR340 multi year veterans Joan Twillman and Carol Heddinghaus. Located at Council Bluffs Lake near Potosi, MO. In order to sign up for this, you must first join the St. Louis Canoe & Kayak Club, then register at this site (there's all the info you need on there). This is a really special opportunity. It's $11.50 for non-members of ACA but otherwise free after joining the club because all the instructors are volunteers! 

Planning

You must check out the MR340 Resources tab https://mr340.org/resources/ , where there are links to many resources to assist your planning and preparation. Some of these related to race specific locations will continue to be updated as the race approaches. But most is evergreen. Refer back to Dispatch #1  that covers each section of the resources page and explore everything there. Multiple times!!!

Much of this is also essential for your ground crew.

Topics on the Resources page include: Gear, Race Tracking, Safety, Ground Crews, Plan & Prep, Race Course and Rules.

Gear

Please take a moment to read the "Gear" Resources page. Figure out your solution for Nighttime Navigation Lights NOW. There are tips. 

Race Course

Here’s a direct link to our full “Race Course” Resource page.  

Make sure you print out our simplified Race Course Map  – a two-pager showing checkpoints, paddle stops and some open/close times. A lot of people laminate a copy of this for reference during the race.

When planning, check out our Google Map of ramps along the river to decide where you may want to stop to meet your ground crew, get food from race vendors (a bunch of local nonprofits and small businesses that support the race), take a nap, hit a porta potty or resupply on water. There is also a list of ramps with their amenities (or lack thereof) that will continue to be updated as the race approaches -  

Another helpful series of maps for planning and for Ground Crews is the Lewis & Clark Recreational maps by the Corps of Engineers. It’s a bit out of date (doesn’t include the new Taylor’s Landing, Huntsdale or Klondike), but still super helpful.

Video Resources

There’s a ton of stuff on YouTube to checkout! Here’s a few –

• “Navigating on the Missouri River” – knowing where the channel is – it’s crucial! This little video gives some good overview tips on reading and understanding the Missouri River – plus tips on river hazards you will encounter like buoys, barges and bears. Well, no one’s seen a bear yet. 
  
• “Ramp to Ramp” – this is from 2023…a little out of date but mostly relevant. Goes through nine of the ramps from the Google Earth perspective. A great exercise to add to watching this video is to look at each ramp via Google Maps Satellite View. Look at the ramp approach, which side of the river its on, look for hazards (some, like wing dikes, may be underwater in the aerial photo but not the day of the race). 
  
• MR340 Live Recorded Webinars - these were recorded in 2021 but are REALLY great resources for a bunch of important topics. Hosted by Chris Luedke. 
  
• 340 Paddler – These batches of MR340 helper videos cover a TON of important topics! All created by MR340 veteran Chris Luedke. 

We’ll be posting our 2025 Safety Video in a couple of weeks. But you can check out last year’s video here. 

Fundraising!

Just want to give a shoutout to our top fundraisers! The top three fundraisers will get a Llama Racks Gift Card for $330. All of the funds all of you have raised go to support our work at Missouri River Relief. Thank you so much!

Andy Besselman - $2,525

Ryan Todd - $1,225

Steven Droste - $1,158

Bernie Arnold  - $1,090

What does Missouri River Relief with your hard-earned fundraised dollars? We are dedicated to connecting people to the Missouri River through stewardship, education and recreation. This spring we’ve been hard at work! We introduced 850 students to the river through our Missouri River Days   program, including our first batch of Jefferson City students from Thorpe Gordon STEM Academy!

370 volunteers removed 7 tons of trash from the Missouri River in Sugar Creek and Omaha/Council Bluffs. 

And so much more! Be sure to like our pages on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what YOU make possible!

HOTELS

If you haven’t gotten your hotel room for the start and finish…what are you waiting for? We’ve got specially-priced blocks at both ends of the race, and most of those close on June 6. Here’s the link. 

We’ll have more info coming up soon. Keep your eyes peeled. All the dispatches will be posted here. 

The Race Shop

Check out all the great MR340 gear in our online shop! 100% of the proceeds benefit our nonprofit organization, Missouri River Relief. Shipping is $2.50 for light bundles and $5 per order for everything else. 

Training, Training, Training

We can’t stress enough the importance of training! Get on the water, test your gear, your setup, your boat, and teamwork. See what’s it like to be in the river at night with a full moon illuminating the way. You’ll be hearing of opportunities to meet up and paddle with others, take that opportunity when you can! There will be racers in the community sharing tips and tricks that worked for them, these are wonderful places to get ideas.

Can’t wait to meet all of you!

Please don't hesitate to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr

Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org
573-289-2077

MR340.org

2025 Dispatches

Special thank you to Missouri American Water, our title sponsor. These are the folks that transform Missouri River water into drinking water for St. Louis & St. Charles County and Jefferson City. They are also crucial partners at the Finish Line, creating a safe place for you to land and for all of us to celebrate your accomplishment.

And a huge shout out to our "River Captain" Sponsor Rocca AudioVisual. They have a deep connection to the Missouri River and to this race. We are so grateful for their support. 

Hello MR340 Racers!

This is your first Dispatch for the 2025 Missouri American Water MR340. We have just a few months left for you to study up, develop your plan, gather your supplies, line out your Ground Crew, and most of all…TRAIN.

You have already finished your first psychological hurdle – you’ve registered for the race! This is the world’s longest nonstop paddling race and you are doing it!

That alone is really epic. But this year? It’s the 20^th Annual MR340. 20 YEARS!!!! You are the latest and greatest of a proud and historic pack of paddlers taking on 340 miles of the continent’s longest river.

This year’s race is July 8-11, 2025, with the mandatory Race Check-In on Monday, July 7 at Kaw Point Park in Kansas City, KS, from noon – 8 p.m.

Photo from the first MR340 in 2006. This isn’t everyone that was in that race. There were 20 paddlers in 15 boats that started that year. Courtesy of Marek Uliaz.

About your host – Missouri River Relief

The MR340 is hosted by Missouri River Relief, a nonprofit based in Columbia, MO, that is dedicated to connecting people to the Missouri River through stewardship, education and recreation. Since 2001, MRR volunteers have removed over 1 million pounds of junk from the banks and floodplains of the Missouri River from St. Louis to Omaha, NE. Our education programs have reached more than 40,000 teachers and students – most of those at or on this river we love.

Find us on Facebook and Instagram, explore our YouTube Channel and wander through our website to more about how you can get involved or learn more about the Missouri River.

My name is Steve Schnarr, and I’m your Race Director. I’ve been involved in the race since 2008, but this is my first year as Race Director. If you raced last year, you would have met the amazing Taby Lane, who left me with a ton of great resources to help you have the best race ever. I’m here for you. Reach out to me and our team at racing@riverrelief.org with your questions and concerns.

This Amazing Race

Participating in the Missouri American Water MR340 is a life-changing personal challenge. It’s a multi-day adventure race on the continent’s longest river. It’s gritty, soggy, relentless, beautiful and risky. It has not been plotted out for you. This race requires training, the right equipment, an indomitable spirit, uncommon self-initiative and honestly a ton of research.

Knowledge is power. In this race, knowledge translates into time, safety, strategic advantage, less suffering and even survival. You can’t just show up the day of the race and expect to get all the info you need to finish…much less succeed. This race is a stage for you to accomplish the impossible. But YOU have to bring it.

I’ll be sending you a series of Dispatches between now and the race, highlighting what you and your Ground Crew need to know to prepare for and succeed in this race. I’ll be directing you to resources on the MR340 website to explore and learn more. You can also review Dispatches from 2024 here.

Now is the time to start researching and preparing. Preparation is its own journey!

Each racer and ground crew must read all the dispatches, visit the links provided, and explore our website. You are responsible for knowing the information provided in dispatches, emails, and on the website as well as ensuring your ground crew does as well. 

This dispatch covers updating your info, fundraising reminders, and an overview of the information found on the website.

Fundraising Deadline – April 1, 2025

When you registered for the race, you paid a $75 registration fee and agreed to raise the remaining $200 needed for the race by April 1, 2025. Your confirmation email included a link to your personal Fundraising Page (also linked in the Dispatch email you received) which you can use to raise donations for Missouri River Relief that count towards your $275 total.

After April 1, any account under the $200 Fundraising Goal will be charged the remaining balance plus a late fee of $1.25 (plus standard credit/debit card processing fees). You can also keep raising funds to be in the running for a free Llama Rack (value $400) – our locally grown, uber-engineered boat racks designed by MR340 veteran Ryan Milby and his team. The top three fundraisers above $2,000 will receive a Llama Rack. Fundraising shuts down at 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 10 and we’ll announce the winners at the Finish Line Party.

All funds raised go to support MRR’s deep menu of amazing river programs.

Double Check Your Info

Correct registration information is important for our safety dispatch, safety boats, and personnel. What we have on file for you is reproduced in the email dispatch we sent you. Please be sure your information is complete and up to date. Send any updates or changes to: racing@riverrelief.org .

This year we have implemented a new rule – we are assigning you your boat number. This number is based on what division you are in. If you change divisions, your number may change and we will let you know by email of your new number.

Also double check the roster page. Make sure the info we have listed for you is correct. If you see a “TBD” listed in your boat on the roster, it means you have a partner or team member who hasn’t registered. Send them to the registration page and have them include the same  team name so we can match them up with you. If you have any changes to boats, ground crew, addresses, emails, or phone numbers; be sure to email racing@riverrelief.org and let us know so we can update the information.

The roster page also shows you who else is registered in your division- check out your competition!

Rules

Be sure to read through the rules. You are responsible for knowing this information and sharing it with your ground crew. Every racer is required to have an in-person or virtual ground crew, meeting specific stipulations. Your boat is required to have your boat number in 3-inch stickers affixed to both sides of the bow above the waterline. Be sure to read through these rules along with the others to ensure you/your team, your boat, your gear, and your ground crew are in compliance.

Resources

The Resources page on our website has eight categories to explore. There’s tons of important information on required gear, safety precautions, race tracking, race map, ideas on prepping, and ground crew information. Each of these areas contain vital information. Check them out. You can also review at last year’s dispatches here.

Also check out our the Missouri American Water MR340 Facebook Group. We are blessed with a wonderful community of racers that generously share great info on this race. Ask a question and you’ll get a variety of advice fast. There is also a search option, allowing you to see if a question has been asked before and what the responses were. It’s also where some of our sponsors can share info on sales and promotions. This group is chatting about MR340-related topics year-round, so jump in any time!Here's a rundown of our Resource pages -

Race Course  - A ton of info about what you’ll experience while on the river. Here’s where you can find info on the mandatory Pre-Race Check-In, the Race Start, a Race Map (plus a Google Map with tons of great info), info on our required Checkpoints and other access ramps, the Finish Line, plus what food and amenities to expect along the way. There’s also great info on the river itself – what safety hazards to prepare for and how to monitor river levels .

Plan and Prep - links to assist you in these months leading up to the race. Info about waivers, required gear and more. Our race calendar provides info on races happening on the Missouri River and other rivers around that allow you to get out now to test yourself, your boat, and gear.

Ground Crews- covers what is required of a ground crew with great tips.

Safety  - Covers a variety of topics from our safety boats and dispatch to 'The Reaper' (you need to beat the Reaper to checkpoints, go to the page to find out the details). We discuss weather related precautions and safety issues you’ll encounter on the race. This is where we’ll be posting the required Safety Video.

Race Tracking covers the RaceOwl tracking system used to automatically check in/out of checkpoints. Future dispatches will cover this in greater depth.

Gear  - We run through the required gear and recommended gear. As you prepare, a great way to show gratitude to our race sponsors is by purchasing through them when able. Check out our sponsors page to see the list of 2025 sponsors.

The Race Shop

Check out all the great MR340 gear in our online shop! 100% of the proceeds benefit our nonprofit organization, Missouri River Relief. Shipping is free.

Where to Stay?

Looking for a place to stay in Kansas City, KS or St Charles, MO? We have hotel block information here. We will have more options added soon. If you would, let us know where you stayed last year and/or plan to stay this year in the Kansas City area. This information will allow us to offer more hotel options in the future. Use this form.

Sponsor the MR340

The MR340 is the biggest fundraiser for Missouri River Relief. Sponsors help make it happen! If you or your employer are interested in being a race sponsor, check out our MR340 Sponsorship Brochure. You can reach out to our Development Director, Petie Holder for more information.

Training, Training, Training

We can’t stress enough the importance of training! Get on the water, test your gear, your setup, your boat, and teamwork. See what’s it like to be in the river at night with a full moon illuminating the way. You’ll be hearing of opportunities to meet up and paddle with others, take that opportunity when you can! There will be racers in the community sharing tips and tricks that worked for them, these are wonderful places to get ideas.

That said, keep an eye on water temperatures. Things on the Missouri River are still very cold – 43 degrees F water temperature on Thursday. If you are not properly prepared, that can get deadly very fast if you end up in the river. Please take a moment to read this post from a couple of years ago from a paddler that had hypothermic experience on the river in March that they didn’t expect. This post also has tons of links for good info on coldwater paddling. The take-home – if you don’t have a drysuit, wait to paddle until the river warms up. And always go with a partner.

Can’t wait to meet all of you!

Please feel free to reach out to our Race Staff with any of your questions!

Steve Schnarr
Race Director – Missouri River Relief
racing@riverrelief.org
573-289-2077

Special thank you to Missouri American Water, our title sponsor. These are the folks that transform Missouri River water into drinking water for St. Louis & St. Charles County and Jefferson City. They are also crucial partners at the Finish Line, creating a safe place for you to land and for all of us to celebrate your accomplishment.