When European athletes were looking for new ways to challenge human endurance in the 1920s, they found inspiration in the rugged terrain of the French countryside, as well as the mighty Seine River. That is how the triathlon was born.

In more recent times, Kathy Rainey's imagination was also sparked by equally stirring terrain found in and around Canyon Lake, an oasis boasting 80 miles of shoreline nestled in the Texas Hill Country between Austin and San Antonio, just minutes from New Braunfels and Gruene.

Rainey, a triathlete, has teamed up with the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce to hold the first-ever Devil's Backbone TXTRI, named in honor of the spiny ridge of hills that snake through the area.

The event will be held Sunday, March 22. Athletes seeking to test their mettle via three distinctive disciplines — swimming, cycling and running — will gather at Canyon Park [off of FM 3424, near Parkview Road] at 7:45 a.m.

"Myself, as well as my friends in the triathlete community, have been cycling the Canyon Lake area for years," Rainey observed. "We all thought that Canyon Lake was simply the perfect venue for a triathlon."

Canyon Lake is beautiful, to be sure. Fed by the Guadalupe River, the lake offers astonishing views and great parks.

Rainey said the lake area once hosted a triathlon during the 1990s.

"It was on the opposite side of the lake from where we will hold this event," Rainey said. "It had been a big event where racers from around the country would come to prepare for other races. The neighborhood where the old triathlon was held became too residential to host an event."

Rainey said March is typically the kickoff of triathlon season.

"The event will start with a 1,000 meter swim in Canyon Lake," Rainey explained. "That will be followed by 26 mile bike ride and will wrap up with a 5.85 mile run."

While Rainey and her fellow athletes love the competition, she said her real motivation was to raise the profile of Canyon Lake, which she said is a true jewel of the Hill Country.

"This is a part of Texas that is just simply beautiful," Rainey said. "It has absolutely great cycling. One thing about that people complain about when triathlons are held in Austin is that the water is really nasty, but that is not the case at Canyon Lake. The water is really clear and wonderful. A lot of people from Austin and even San Antonio don't really know about Canyon Lake. So we really want to promote the lake. We want this to be a big wave that brings business to the area for that weekend."

That's just fine by Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Richard Ferrell, who noted there is a lot to love about the area.

"Canyon Lake is a unique community among rolling hills in the midst of lake and river waters," Ferrell observed. "Water activities are abundant. The cedar and oak woods are saturated with wildlife. Neighborhoods are shared with pet-like deer. It's calming and natural. Photographers will be exhilarated. Folks will enjoy local hangouts, concerts on the river and so much more."

Rainey said this inaugural race "may be small," but that "as fast as the word is getting out, I'm getting calls from folks in Houston who are training for the Iron Man competition there in May."

"People seem to be genuinely excited about this," she said, "so we will see what happens in a couple of years."

For years, Rainey was an avid cyclist, but then she discovered triathlons.

"About eight years ago, I moved to the Austin area and joined the Hill Country Triathlon Club and really enjoyed the sport. Eventually, I began directing races for the club, including the Hill Country Kids Family Tri in Kyle. That race became successful. That's how I became interested in directing an adult race and began taking a close look at the area."

Hence, the Devil's Backbone TXTRI was born.

"I love triathlons because it takes a lot of discipline," Rainey said. "You can't just be good at one sport, you have to be good at three. It is also truly a family-oriented sports community."

Rainey hopes triathletes and their families will arrive on Friday, enjoy a day of sight-seeing, as well as the myriad of great restaurants to be found at Canyon Lake.

"That is what I would like to see this event foster," Rainey said. "I hope that in time the community will get behind the event and will see it as a good thing for the community."

According to Ferrell Canyon Lake is known as the "Water Recreation Capital of Texas." "Canyon Lake has beautiful clear water, striped bass, camping and day parks, hiking trails, and lots of room for recreation," Ferrell said. "Twenty-three boat ramps provide easy access. Canyon Lake welcomes the Upper Guadalupe River from the west while the Canyon Lake Dam provides a controlled release of cool waters into the Lower Guadalupe River, temperate enough to sustain rainbow trout life throughout the summer. The most popular section of the Guadalupe River runs between Canyon Lake and New Braunfels, lined with outfitters and all types of lodging. This scenic stretch of the Guadalupe is accessible from River Road, which crosses the Guadalupe four times."

To find out more about the event, visit www.devilsbackbonetxtri.com. To register for the race, or to ask questions, email [email protected].

Learn more about the area by contacting visiting the Canyon Lake Chamber of Commerce website at www.canyonlakechamber.com, or call 800-528-2104.