Registration for the Spring Season is now open! Practices will start on January 28th, and we will be training for the final race in Too Cool's Spring Sprint Series at Inks Lake State Park on April 12th. When you register this month you will have the option to sign up for one season or the entire year of training (spring, summer and fall seasons included) at a discounted rate of $275.

To kick off the new year, we will be holding two informational events in January. Bring a friend along to meet the team and learn more about adventure racing.

Thursday, January 17th, 7pm at REI - Galleria (7538 Westheimer)
Wednesday, January 23rd, 7pm at REI - Willowbrook (17717 Tomball Parkway)

Don't forget about our referral program as you gear up for the Spring Season. This program, made possible by our sponsor Volant Solutions, rewards current members of Houston Fit AR for referring new members. With one referral you get $25 off your membership. With two, you get a free jersey. And with three or more, your spring season membership is free!

To help you spread the word about HFAR, download and print the flyer below and pass it on to anyone you know that might be interested.

Instant Nutrition Boosters
By Jennifer Femrite, RD.LD. Jennifer is available for online nutrition coaching through USA EAT FIT.

Are you ready to make a major difference in your diet? These 10 quick and easy adjustments will help slim you down and infuse your diet with more vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytonutrients.

By Lynn Bode, CFT. Lynn is a certified personal trainer specializing in Internet-based fitness programs.

With the temperatures plummeting this time of year, many of us tend to hibernate inside our homes. But, hibernating is for bears. As humans it's important to stay active through all four seasons. Yet, a poll of 5,000 people found that 30 percent get no exercise at all during the winter months.

By David L'Heureux, www.bicycling.com

The 2008 X-Alp Enduro mountain bike shoe from Pearl has evolved into a shoe you can ride all day, every day.

Last summer Houston Fit AR introduced the "Elite Membership Level" aimed at rewarding veteran members who have helped grow our team throughout the years. If you have been with HFAR for at least two full years (6 paid seasons if you first joined in 2006 or 5 paid seasons if you first joined in 2005) then you are eligible for this program.

The annual cost for an Elite Member is only $150 - nearly half of what a returning member pays for one full year! The benefits of membership remain the same, minus the t-shirt...which you probably have plenty of anyway. You'll get the same level of top-notch instruction from our coaches, three full seasons of practices and mock races, access to our year-long periodized training calendar, continual use of our online member forum and invitations to all social events. Plus, the opportunity to train and race with all your HFAR friends!

Some of you are eligible for Elite Membership status now, and many of you are only a few short seasons away from reaching this level. If you have any questions about your current membership status or the Elite Membership program, please email Megan at organizer@houstonfitar.com.

This spring we would like to roll out a "mentor program" of sorts to help engage our newest members as they are introduced to the world of AR. The general idea is to pair some of our brand new members with more veteran members ("mentors') who can take them under their wings and welcome them to the team. The ultimate goal would be to give vets an opportunity to share their knowledge of and enthusiasm for AR with newbies who are looking for a little extra guidance.

We are still fleshing out this idea, so if you have any comments or suggestions, we'd love to hear them. Minimum requirements to be a mentor would be at least two seasons of training with Houston Fit AR and completion of at least one adventure race. If you would be interested in participating in a program like this, please email Megan at organizer@houstonfitar.com.

Congratulations to all of our Fall Season teams that competed in the 2007 Texas Jailbreak AR! In total, 19 Houston Fit AR teams and three DFW Fit AR teams raced, and more than half of the top 10 overall spots went to HFAR teams. For many, this was their first race. Wow!!!

Texas Jailbreak AR (11/17/2007)
Oasis Racing HFAR/AAR - 1st Coed
Werewolves HFAR - 2nd Coed
The Willies HFAR - 3rd Coed
Gingerbread People HFAR - 4th Coed
BlewBye-U HFAR - 5th Coed
Screech HFAR - 6th Coed
Crash n Splash - 7th Coed
The Fluffy White Bunnies HFAR - 10th Coed
Yerdes-Dodson HFAR - 12th Coed
Who Ordered the Stout and Half Pint HFAR - 14th Coed
Clutch - 20th Coed
Bikestrong HFAR - 4th Male
B.A.M. HFAR - 6th Male
Carpet Cleaners HFAR - 7th Male
No Boundaries HFAR - 8th Male
Girl on Girl HFAR - 3rd Female
Adventure Race Challenged HFAR - 9th Female
Coed 4 Fun - 2nd Coed Masters

Texas Dare AR (12/8/2007)
Werewolves/HFAR (Coach Ashley, Gabe H., Adam M., Andrew P.) E.) - 7th Coed (12hr)
Frantic Chaos/HFAR (Neil D., Kristin) - 4th Coed (sprint)

(clockwise from top left): Houston Fit AR and DFW Fit AR teams at the Texas Jailbreak AR. | Team B.A.M. plotting their course at the Jailbreak. | Team Werewolves racing strong at the Jailbreak. | End of year social - Gingerbread Men at the Gingerman.

If you've got something to say, we want to hear it! Email Megan at organizer@ houstonfitar.com with your articles, photos, story ideas or suggestions, and we will try to include them in our next issue.