Roughly 30 years ago, Buda resident Veronica Sosa watched as her father pushed his body and soul to the limit in what she felt was a “crazy race.”

Her dad was one of a handful of people who competed in the Texas Water Safari canoe race. An event deemed as one of the world’s toughest boat competitions.

“I can remember being five or six years old and following my dad down the river because he was racing in this really crazy race that starts in San Marcos and ends in the Gulf...