Self Shuttle by Amtrak during Missouri River 340 Race

3 Comments / gallery, MR340 / By Marek

I run the 2010 Missouri River Race fully self supported including a shuttle. I finished the race as planned below 60 hours and, following day, I took Amtrak (Missouri River Runner) from St Louis to Kansas City. I could still see some canoes paddling downstream of Hermann. The entire shuttle operation went pretty smoothly. Here is a time line of my race and shuttle.
Sunday, August 22, 23:00
Arriving to Hilton Garden Inn at Kansas City after 10+ hour drive from Fort Collins, Colorado. I am always trying different routes to Kansas City. This time I drove through Nebraska.

Monday, August 23, 16:00
Leaving my empty Sea Wind canoe at Kaw Point.

Tuesday, August 24, 6:00
Loading my boat at a very tip of the Kaw Point

Tuesday, August 24, 6:40
Driving back to the hotel, leaving my car in a parking lot in front of it, walking to the Kaw Point,

Tuesday, August 24, 7:30
Launching the boat, shooting the race start.
… paddling, paddling, paddling …

Wednesday, August 25, 03:33-05:10
Glasgow
… paddling, paddling, paddling …

Paddling and Hydrating in 2010 Missouri River 340 Race

2 Comments / gallery, MR340 / By Marek

This is one of 500+ pictures shot from the bow of my Sea Wind canoe during this year Missouri River 340 Race. It was early during the first day of the race with sky still cloudy.

I used a waterproof Pentax Optio W30 mounted with the Sticky Pod suction cup on a front deck. The camera was set to shoot in an interval (time lapse) mode – a medium quality picture every 4 minutes. I was hoping to cover the entire race, but the battery went dead after 36 hours since I forgot to turn a camera flash off. It wasn’t a fun to be blinded by a flash every 4 minutes during night time paddling.

I posted more about my photography during 2010 MR340 race in Paddling with a Camera blog. I am also adding some pictures to my stock photography website (available to order as prints or digital download).

Hydration

I was drinking mostly water with Camelbak electrolyte tablets + two Hammer Endurolytes capsules every hour or so. No typical energy or power drink except 3 bottles of Ensure Plus per day and some Starbucks DoubleShots for dessert. I had a lot of semi real food during this race. After all it was a paddling from one barbecue (aka checkpoint) to another. No stomach problems!

I was paddling self supported this year. I didn’t use any ice during the race. I was just buying a cold water at checkpoints. The cooler weather of late August was great.

My drinking during Texas Water Safari used to be quite different, more “race oriented”, and included some energy and recovery drinks, but always more diluted than recommended. And, I always had more or less serious stomach upsets.

What is your hydration experience from ultra marathon paddling races?

2010 Missouri River 340 Race Starts Tomorrow

4 Comments / gallery, MR340 / By Marek

The 5th Missouri River 340 Race from Kansas CIty to St Charles starts tomorrow. The race was postponed by month due to flooding on the Missouri River. The water level is still very high. Late August, shorter days, hopefully cooler than in July, but still full moon. It may be somewhat different than usual.

I am paddling Sea Wind canoe this year. It will be a fully self supported race for me including a shuttle. I will be testing a new option for a shuttle and I will have a chance to see the river three times from a different perspective. I will try to shoot some pictures at least at the start, but it’s quite hazy a day before the race.

I wonder how many paddlers will manage to attend the postponed race.

Related posts from Missouri River 340 Races

3 Years of the Missouri River 340 Race series:
Bryan Hopkins, West Hansen, Christina Glauner, Chuck and Di McHenry, Katie Pfefferkorn
My Experience in Three Famous Ultra Marathon Paddling Races
Which Boat to Paddle in 2010 MR340 Race?
My 2009 Missouri River Race as Recovered from a GPS Track
Speed: My 2008 Missouri River 340 Race as Recovered from a GPS Track
GPS/photo race log from Missouri River 340
How to Choose a Boat for an Ultra Marathon Race? The Case of Missouri River 340

24 Hour Paddling Guinness Record by Andy Corra on the Yukon River

5 Comments / gallery, racing / By Marek

A report and pictures by Jeremy Rodgers, Boulder, CO.

Only days after returning to Boulder from World Championships in Sort, Spain, I found myself sitting at Denver International airport yet again waiting for my flight to the Yukon Territory Canada busily checking flow gauges and gathering last minute information on the wilderness that waits.

Just when one thinks you have been dealt an average hand, all variables go in your favor and the impossible happens as the human spirit triumphs against all odds. Not 24 hours after I sent an email out to family and friends on my blog acknowledging the lack of adequate flows for a world record attempt on the 24 distance record, American wildwater paddler Andy Corra, from Durango, Colorado, overtook the current world record of 261 miles by paddling 273.5 miles (awaiting certification by Guinness World Records) in 24 hours.

The current official record is held by Aussie American adventure racing legend Ian Adamson. While flows were average at best compared to previous record attempts by others, Andy’s paddling and river reading skills, as well as tolerance of sitting in a kayak for 24 hours, were matched with eerily calm skies and the sheer hunger for what was one man’s first chance to attempt this life long goal.

Andy’s attempt was supported by myself in a second surf ski and 2 local guides in a flat skiff motor boat.

Texas Water Safari 2010 with a Camera instead of a Paddle

2 Comments / gallery, racing, Texas Water Safari / By Marek

Yucca flowers in front of my Fort Collins house remind me that it is time for Texas Water Safari. This 260 mile nonstop paddling race from San Marcos to Seadrift start every year on the second Saturday of June.

Texas Water Safari was my first racing experience and still remains the most important one. We went to Texas to observe the 2001 Safari, then I finished three races solo: 2002, 2003, and 2005. I couldn’t attend the race postponed due to flooding in 2004. Connie was my Team Captain. It appears that she really didn’t like that job after all (what a surprise …), but she wrote some good tips for team captains and support crew.

My TWS reports and pictures are still available at Mountain Wayfarer (some links may be broken). I gathered most of these pictures (165) into a slide show below. The far left button in a toolbar opens a gallery page with four picture albums.

This year I am returning back to Texas Water Safari, not in a boat, unfortunately. I am flying to Texas with my camera, so more pictures will be available soon.