MR340
Volunteers help Brian Jones, front right, and Kristin Miller, back right, both from Texas, get their kayak “Going Concern” onto shore on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Port of Waverly in Waverly, Mo. Over 600 racers began the Missouri River 340 race at Kaw Point Park in Kansas City early Tuesday. The MR340 is the world’s longest non-stop river race. Racers are able to stop at various boat ramps along the route as needed, but must reach the checkpoints by specific cutoff times to avoid disqualification.
William Broadus, left, helps his wife Kristin Broadus, both from Slidell, Louisiana, launch her kayak, "Bayou Jeepsy,” back into the Missouri River on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at the Port of Waverly in Waverly Mo. All of Broadus’ previous attempts to win the MR340 Women’s Solo Paddle Division landed her in the top 10 finishers. Broadus officially withdrew from the race on Wednesday morning.
David Amelung, from Arnold, gets a quick massage from a member of his ground crew while stopping at the Port of Waverly on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in Waverly, Mo. “This is my fifth time racing in it, it is a life changing event, but this probably my last one,” Amelung said. “It is a sense of accomplishment; nobody climbs Mount Everest because it feels good. This is the Mount Everest of Missouri.”
Racers and ground crews gather at the boat ramp on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Cooper’s Landing in Columbia. The race will officially end on Friday, though many are expected to finish on Thursday.
Mark McGee watches racers in the MR340 from the bank of the Missouri River on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Cooper’s Landing in Columbia. “Being a water enthusiast, I love people enjoying the river,” McGee said. “It brings a lot of good people together and it is a good day to be out.”
Jay Link of St. Louis takes a drink after disembarking from his canoe during the MR340 on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Cooper’s Landing in Columbia. Last year when Link competed, his brother, Matt Link of Columbia, helped on ground crew. “It’s such a unique event, and all the people that I met along the way, all the volunteers, were just so incredible,” Matt Link said. “(It) made me want to make sure I supported it this year and went out there and did it myself.”
Trent Platz,left, from Kansas City, and Dustin Murphy, from Hartsburg, paddle their boat “Gadsdens Revenge” past Cooper’s Landing during the MR340 on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Columbia. Platz and Murphy are on pace to finish the race on Thursday evening.
Tom Ryan’s kayak “Papa Tom” displays the names of his ground crew and training support team on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Cooper’s Landing in Columbia. “There’s a saying, “do hard things,” so that’s what we are doing,” Ryan, who is from St. Louis, said.
Spectators mingle around the Cooper’s Landing general store during the MR340 race on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, in Columbia. “Ground Crews” of family or friends follow along the river to support and resupply racers when they stop at boat ramps to rest.
Jared Zillig, left, from Columbia, gets massaged by Morgan McNally, also of Columbia, to loosen up his shoulder muscles before returning to the river on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Cooper’s Landing in Columbia. McNally was there to support Zillig and his teammate William Leonard. “Both these guys are my best buddies,” McNally said. “They were looking for somebody who knows how it works on the river and they view me as dependable and reliable.”
William Leonard, left, and Jared Zillig, both of Columbia, head back onto the Missouri River after their stop on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, at Cooper’s Landing in Columbia. Both Leonard and Zillig are participating in their first MR340 race.