They go by the name ‘Team Never Skip Leg Day’, and you certainly can’t skip a day at the gym if you’re going to compete in (and complete) the 20th Annual MR 340. What is that you ask? Well, as the title states, it is the worlds longest non-stop river race, stretching 340 miles down the Missouri River. Contestants must compete in boats with paddles and pedals while trying to correctly judge the proper mix of speed and endurance to make the grueling trip down the river. The race course is 340 miles of the Missouri River, nearly across the entire state of Missouri. On Day 2 of the race, the first racers hit the Finish Line while the tough tail of the race will be near Glasgow, approximately 195 miles upstream. Weather conditions will vary along the course. It is the racer’s responsibility to be aware of weather forecasts for their area. It is possible to have clear conditions in one area and severe storms in another. If severe weather including wind and lightning are present, racers shall make all attempts to maximize safety in the context of their location and circumstance.
When your team is named ‘Never Skip Leg Day’, expectations of a powerful performance are surely high. But Fort Pierre’s own Hayden Roggow and Tom McClelland certainly lived up to the hype as they took second place in their division, and finishing 12th overall out of over 350 boats. A very impressive accomplishment. And maybe even more mind-boggling, it took them 48 hours to complete the trek. Not only does this race take physical endurance, but it also requires a special mental stamina that not most have. But not even 340 miles of treacherous rowing could keep these two from smiling as they showed off their hardware after completing the race. If you would like to learn more about the race, click here
Pictures provided by Michael Roggow
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