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Jefferson City native enjoyed experience of Missouri 340
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By Kris Hilgedick
News Tribune
With the exception of one scary moment in the Lisbon bottoms when a violent eddy nearly tipped their canoe, Jeremy Winegar and his Kansas City teammate Justin Meyer paddled down 340 miles of the Missouri River without generating any “glorious war stories.”
Or so Winegar says. But he will admit to making memories for a lifetime.
Born and raised in Jefferson City, he's still amazed he and three friends finished the journey in mid-July. In two crafts, the four men competed in the Missouri 340, a grueling race that tests the resolve of even the most hardened athletes.
(Jefferson City residents Andy Neidert and brother Darryl Winegar comprised the second tandem team.)
The annual race launched in Kansas City and ended in St. Charles. In between were 64 hours and 19 minutes of pure fortitude for Winegar and Meyer.
“It began when Andy found out about the race and called my brother,” remembered Winegar. “He asked, ‘What do you think? Should we try it?'”
“I told him, ‘You're nuts!'” said Winegar. “Nobody stepped up.”
But eventually the tantalizing competition became an unspoken dare between the four young men. When the others caved, Neidert sent in the registrations before they could back out.
The team left Kansas City on July 15 and crossed the finish line shortly after midnight July 18.
Eventually, Winegar's tandem team came in 12th in the men's tandem division, with Neidert's team following in 13th place. (For comparison's sake, 46 teams entered the men's tandem division.)
Overall, out of 150 teams, the two teams came in 42nd and 44th.
For novices who had never attempted an endurance race before, it was a remarkable showing.
“It gives you a respect of the river, not a fear of the river,” explained Winegar.
Or so Winegar says. But he will admit to making memories for a lifetime.
Born and raised in Jefferson City, he's still amazed he and three friends finished the journey in mid-July. In two crafts, the four men competed in the Missouri 340, a grueling race that tests the resolve of even the most hardened athletes.
(Jefferson City residents Andy Neidert and brother Darryl Winegar comprised the second tandem team.)
The annual race launched in Kansas City and ended in St. Charles. In between were 64 hours and 19 minutes of pure fortitude for Winegar and Meyer.
“It began when Andy found out about the race and called my brother,” remembered Winegar. “He asked, ‘What do you think? Should we try it?'”
“I told him, ‘You're nuts!'” said Winegar. “Nobody stepped up.”
But eventually the tantalizing competition became an unspoken dare between the four young men. When the others caved, Neidert sent in the registrations before they could back out.
The team left Kansas City on July 15 and crossed the finish line shortly after midnight July 18.
Eventually, Winegar's tandem team came in 12th in the men's tandem division, with Neidert's team following in 13th place. (For comparison's sake, 46 teams entered the men's tandem division.)
Overall, out of 150 teams, the two teams came in 42nd and 44th.
For novices who had never attempted an endurance race before, it was a remarkable showing.
“It gives you a respect of the river, not a fear of the river,” explained Winegar.
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