What is the MR340?

The MR340 is the world's longest nonstop, non-motorized boat race, and 2026 marked its 21st anniversary.  Racers have just 85 hours in the middle of July to travel 340 miles down the Missouri River, from Kaw Point in Kansas City to Frontier Park in St. Charles.

And it's hard.

You paddle day and night to beat the Reaper — the pacer boat that will mercilessly cut you from the race if it beats you to any checkpoint. You'll be exhausted, very dirty, and have more than a few mosquito bites by the time you pull into the finish.

And only about two-thirds of racers make it there.

340 Miles Across Missouri

The race begins in Kansas City and travels through communities across the state, including:

Lexington • Waverly • Glasgow • Boonville • Rocheport • Jefferson City • Hermann • New Haven • Washington • Augusta • St. Charles

After 340 miles on the Missouri River, racers cross the finish line at Frontier Park in historic St. Charles.

Why on Earth Would We Want to Do This?

1. Because comfort zones kill growth.

We live in a world where both the blessing and the curse is that you can be as comfortable as you want to be. If we wanted to, we could live our entire lives without ever leaving our homes.

But comfort zones kill growth.

The MR340 is an incredibly unique challenge that you won't find anywhere else in the world.

2. Because our world is noisy.

The MR340 is the quietest quiet I've ever heard.

Four days on the river with no sounds other than the swish of your paddle, the occasional hissing peek-a-buoy, and the real voices of actual humans out there doing this journey with you is the most amazing nervous-system reset.

3. Because the MR340 community is the best.

From the amazing team that puts on this race every year, with support from Missouri River Relief and the U.S. Coast Guard, to the incredible ground crews and the fellowship of paddlers out there doing this beautiful thing together, I've never experienced a more positive, supportive community.

And Then Kaelen Asked to Do It With Me.

Kaelen fell in love with the MR340 through my stories, pictures and videos. She's always loved the water, being outdoors, and physical challenges — although this one is on another level.

This year, Kaelen, Soleil and I volunteered in the pouring rain at the finish line, catching boats and helping exhausted paddlers come ashore. Kaelen would have stayed there all day if I'd let her.

She's been begging me to race with her, and now she's old enough to compete in a tandem boat with me.

So we're doing it.

Kaelen and I will tackle all 340 miles from the water. Matt and Soleil will crew us from land. Because racers can't receive outside support on the water, they'll leapfrog us down the state, meeting us at checkpoints with food, water, equipment, encouragement and whatever else we discover we desperately need at 3:00 in the morning.

It will be hard for all four of us.

Matt and I successfully completed the MR340 together in 2021 (Matt as crew, me as a solo paddler), and we're beyond blessed that our girls now want to take on this massive adventure with us.

For our family, this is about more than finishing a race. It's a chance to grow closer, become part of an incredible community, and give our girls the opportunity to discover just how much they're capable of.

Why Do We Need Sponsors?

Because this race ain't cheap!

We need to purchase our major equipment now so Kaelen and I can start training and preparing together. The tandem boat alone will cost thousands of dollars — and at more than 20 feet long, it will need a trailer.

I'm small, and my daughter is even smaller, so we'll also need to modify the seating to allow us to paddle with proper form and reduce our risk of injury over 340 miles. We'd also like to configure Kaelen's seat so she can catch a little sleep along the way without falling out of the boat. That feels like solid parenting. 😆

And that's just the beginning.

We'll need paddles, life vests, hydration systems, lighting and safety equipment, food and nutrition, race supplies and other gear.

There are also registration costs and a required donation to Missouri River Relief, plus lodging before the race, fuel to cross the state, meals and other travel expenses.

We also plan to rent a small RV for our ground crew. The MR340 is grueling for the paddlers, but it's no picnic for the crew either. Matt and Soleil will need somewhere to grab a little sleep and a meal, store our food and supplies, and still stay mobile enough to meet us wherever we need them.

Things change quickly during 340 miles on the Missouri River.

How Can You Become a Sponsor?

We're looking for a few businesses and organizations that would like to help Team Saabye get to the starting line. In return, we'll give our sponsors visibility throughout our training and MR340 adventure.

Because sponsorship includes promotional benefits for your business, your sponsorship may qualify as a business advertising or marketing expense. Please check with your tax professional regarding your specific situation.

$500 — Crew Sponsor

Your business name or logo will be featured on our team shirts, and we'll recognize and tag your business in social media content as we train for and complete the MR340.

$1,000 — Boat Sponsor

Your business logo will be displayed on our race boat throughout training and during the MR340, in addition to the Crew Sponsor benefits.

During race week, we'll also make photos and short video clips from the adventure available for you to use on your own social media channels.

$2,000+ — Adventure Partner

For businesses interested in a larger partnership, we'll work together to create something that makes sense for your brand.

This could include prominent logo placement, custom photo or video content, advertising opportunities, appearances, or other creative ways to incorporate your business into our MR340 adventure.