David's Kayak Races

Come Monday it’s that time of year again to sign up for the MR340.

Forgot to post, it was good to enjoy the weather and get some butt In the boat time even if it was only 6 miles.

Results are final in(ish) for the MR340. I was 113th overall and 29th in my division. It appears there were 261 in the Men’s Solo division of that it looks like 117 were still going when it was called. Overall there were 545 signed up for the race and 295 were still going.

MR340 2023. Had a great first start of the race for the river being slow I was only around 15min behind my guesstimation on time. Weather was very nice. Second half of the day around Napoleon, battled heavy winds and waves during. Helped someone that had been rolled out of her kayak to get to shore. With a barge coming upstream at us. With all of that I decided to stopped to eat and add a two hour rest at Miami. After waking up and look in the direction I was traveling towards Glasgow the sky was just lit with lightening. Pulled up radar and it was just yellow and red s**t storm. Decided to give it an hour. Did that with waking up every hour for 6 hours when most of us found a break and jumped on the river. Got 1/2 way to the Glasgow and had a storm build on us. The river was littered with people pulled over to let the storm pass, still had rain and waves but the lightning was gone. Everyone was checking on each other and making sure no one needed anything. After we were able to get back on the river again. Had a barge just before Glasgow and one on the way when I hit the ramp. I stopped for a quick 30-45 min lunch. Jumped on the river 1/3 to the next stop I hit where the Lamine River (the little one I go up and back on early in the year.) it smelled like pesticides, had dead fish floating and full size trees. Hit the 2/3 distance to Franklin when they called the race. There was one point where the bridge coming up in front of me had trees from pillar to pillar. Found out after I got off the river that over night the river had come up around 5 foot. With the storm the night prior, heavy winds, more storms to come, flash flooding, debris (full trees) and most of us would have been traveling at night that evening they made the tough but right decision to call the race for the first time in 18 years of this races history. I was thinking about not racing the MR340 next year and maybe looking into some of the other races. But I can’t go out like that!!
Thank you all for you love, support and prayers!! Also thank you Patricia Given for watching Chaos. And a huge thank you to Rob Frazier for being my ground crew, I know we joke about me making your 3 hour drive a 4 day drive but you put in a lot work behind the scenes.

Current weather along the river, the blue is the river. I was two stops before Jefferson City.

Update on my race I made it just last half way and they canceled the race. Had to sit out a bit storm last night in the Ambo. Delt with heavy winds all day yesterday and big wave. The river came up 5 feet over night. Had heavy rain today and wind. Supposed to storm and rain over 5 inches tonight. With flash flooding, storms, debris (full trees) lack on moon light for night paddling.

I'm starting my trip. Follow along at my MapShare site!

Garmin Explore™ Manage your Garmin Explore or inReach account. With Explore and inReach, you can communicate, map, track, and share your trek from anywhere on Earth.

Starting tomorrow at 7 am starts the MR340, anyone that would like to follow my progress can do so on RaceOwl.com. Click on the Missouri American Water MR340. I am boat #1031 this year again.

RaceOwl.com - Your home for race tracking!

Freedom race done 39th overall, 11th in my division. Time was 8:34:23

What it looks like when I am planning my river stops. Next weekend is the Freedom Race 63 miles.

Official results from yesterdays Shootout race. My time was 7:26:08. I was 39th boat to finish overall. Did a lot better then I thought I did. The heavy head wind sucked hard core!! Last year I my time was 7:02:35 and 31st boat. Looking at my MR340 results my time was 6:21:54. It’s crazy the difference in times!!

Tomorrow is my small long race for those of you that follow my kayaking. 51miles on the MO river. Starts at 9. I’ll post my link tomorrow for those that want to follow. Everything is loaded and ready to go.

Mississippi Speed Record just hit New Orleans!

During last night 5k race I beat my PR by 13 secs. For only being on the water 4x now I feel really good about that! I’m usually getting my top results around week 25 after 10-15x on the water!

After getting asked how my 5k race was the other day I realized I didn’t post my results. I’m racing my V7 which is my medium boat, also the one I did the MR340 race in and will be using the year as well. This last race was my 3rd best time my best time is only 24 sec faster. My time in week 9 with only being on the water 3x this year is where I usually and after around 25 weeks of racing.

Next week 5/17 will be the 300th race for the group overall, if you want to come out and watch in person we race at Shawnee Mission Park and start at 6pm.

Office race results for yesterdays race:
Time 2:31:25, 22nd overall and 5th in division. Compared to last year: 2:28:13, 16th overall and 5th in division.

Last year was nice and warm this year not so much!! 😂

Ambulance is all loaded up for tomorrow’s race. Might be a cold Mean Lamine race since they are calling for a freeze warning.

Kayak racing day!!

New kayak support vehicle.