The MR340 will bring together 652 paddlers in 465 boats next week for the race down the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Louis.
Founded in 2006, the racers attempt to paddle the length of the lower Missouri River in under 85 hours. Solo racers start at 7 a.m. Tuesday at Kaw Point near Kansas City with all other divisions pushing off at 8 a.m. All paddlers must make it to the final stop in St. Charles by 9 p.m. Friday to officially qualify as a finisher.
Racers compete in kayaks, canoes, pedalboats, paddleboards, rowboats and dragon boats. The MR340 runs around the clock, and five checkpoints along the route are mandatory stops, each with a cutoff time that must be hit to escape disqualification…