Dispatch #1 [2025]
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 20th 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.