Missouri River 340 – Race Dynamics of a Recreational Racer

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In my early years of MR340 race I was spending a lot time analyzing my GPS tracks, comparing and experimenting with different boats. Later, I assumed more casual approach to the race with a goal to finish in a good shape and spirit. In my last race in 2018 I didn’t even setup up my alarm watch on the race morning. I slept longer, but managed to launch my paddleboard before the start. SUPs are easier to pack than kayaks and canoes. Well, I still needed to catch my Amtrak train on Friday morning to retrieve my car from Kansas City. So, ~60 hours as a finishing time was a good number.

I consider myself a recreational paddler or rather an expedition paddler. I am definitely not a trained athlete. I’ve been paddling for more than 50 years, but I started paddling races in 2002 with Texas Water Safari at age of 47. It’s never too late to start.

Below you can find GPS graphs, speed vs time, for three early MR340 races with almost the same finishing time. Three days of my race look quite different on the graphs, but there is a similar pattern:

  • Day 1. After the fast start and chasing the race tail for the first few hours my speed started to drop down until I decided to make a night stop.
  • Day 2. The second day is the toughest and slowest for me due to poor sleep, daytime heat, no cold water to drink. The old Boonville bridge is an important mental landmark – half way!
  • Day 3: The third day is usually faster. Better sleep. The river current seems to accelerate after taking the Osage River. I can smell the finish.

My paddling speed usually goes up after each longer rest or sleep (blank gaps in my graphs). It raises that unresolved question: How often and for how long to stop for a rest? It seems that long runs for 10-12 hours without stopping work the best for me.

2008 MR 340

Boat: Kruger Seawind expedition canoe. Finish time: 62:21 hours. Age: 53. Blog article: My 2008 Missouri River 340 Race reviewed from a GPS track.

My 2008 race speed as recorded by GPS (black line) and smoothed by running average (green line)

2009 MR 340

Boat: Surfrigger outrigger canoe (single blade paddle). Finish time 61:11 hours (50:13 of active paddling time). Age: 54. Blog article: Review of 2009 Missouri River 340 Race in Outrigger Canoe.

mr340-2009-gps
My 2009 race speed as recorded by GPS (black line) and smoothed by running average (red line)

2013 MR340

Boat: Kruger Seawind expedition canoe, self supported. Finish time: 62:21 hours (55:48 hours active paddling time). Age: 58. Blog article: My 2013 Missouri River MR340 race in numbers.

2013 MR340 speed
My 2013 race speed as recorded by GPS (black line) and smoothed by running average (green line)

Here is a summary of all my MR340 races including one unofficial run during flooding: My first 13 years with Missouri River 340 race in 0013 boat. My three fastest times:

  • 53:16 in 2015 in Seawind Canoe
  • 55:59 in 2010 in Seawind Canoe
  • 57:18 in 2018 on 14.6′ All Star Starboard SUP

If there is an interest I can try to find and plot GPS data from other MR340 years, especially, the two last runs on stand up paddleboards.

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