The ‘World’s Toughest Canoe Race’ Starting at the Cuero Highway 236 bridge and ending at Victoria City Park, this great race is run over 39 miles of the fastest water on the Texas Water Safari course. Finishing positions in the Texas River Marathon, also fondly known as “The Prelim”, are used to determine starting positions in the Safari itself, (with one position on each row being set aside for out-of-state teams whose members cannot all make it to Texas in early May.) Elapsed times for this race at high water can be breathtakingly fast and it is a highly competitive race, while being fun for all concerned.