Chris Church— Hello fans of the Missouri River Speed Record!  Thanks for your support and following along on this adventure.

I was raised in Bismarck, North Dakota and currently live in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  Despite growing up on the prairie, I have always loved being near water, whether rivers, lakes, or oceans (they have a similar sense of openness).  Growing up, I spent summers at our family cabin; and as an adult, made trips to the boundary waters, including a 10 day trip to the BWCA with a group of adolescents through a partnership between Hennepin County and Wilderness Inquiry.  I was amazed to see the transformation in the youth through that experience.

My spouse, Ryan Church, was part of the support crew for the Mississippi Speed Record in 2023.  I was still working at the time and was unable to join.  I retired from a career as a therapist/school psychologist in 2024, so when this opportunity came up we decided to join the team together, along with our dog Ria!  I’m looking forward to the adventure!