Happy New Year!

We look forward to seeing you at our monthly socials this year which will include the Kickoff Meeting on January 15 at Social Beer Garden HTX, the Race Directors Meeting in February, and Coach's Panel in March.  There are also plans to have team workouts, so keep your eye on our Facebook page and events schedule on the club website.

Not racing the Houston Full or Half on Sunday, come to the HTRC Hoopla Tent and cheer on the runners.  The HRTC tent will be set-up at 8:30a on Allen Parkway around Taft St just past mile 11/24 for the half/full on the course.

We would love to hear about what club activities and speakers you are interested in having this year.  In a few weeks we will be sending our a survey.  Please take the time to respond.

We want to thank exiting Board members, Greg Malmgren, Gina Sessums, Patricia Martin, Jeffery Short, and Grant Keener for their contributions to HRTC.  We welcome new board members, John Mayfield, Leo Tellez, Elizabeth Kenska, Dee Dee Lincoln, and Christina Powell.  Come out to the Kickoff Meeting and meet the board and find out about some of the plans this year.  There will also be plenty of stories from the marathon, half marathon, and 5K races.

New in 2023!

Grand Prize for Participation at the 2024 December Christmas Party will be a reimbursement for a 2025 race of your choice including travel expenses up to $700.  This race could be one that you have already register for or a race that you sign up for later in that year.  The race must be completed between January 1, 2025 and  December 31, 2025.  The raffles tickets for this prize can not be purchased only earned by participating throughout the year.

1 – Ticket for attending a club event (social, bike ride, etc.)

1 – Ticket for bringing a friend to a club event (only 1 ticket/year per friend even if you bring the same friend to every meeting)

1 – Ticket if the friend becomes a member

1 – Ticket for volunteering or racing either as a HRTC club member or wearing a visible HRTC item (must take photo at the race with HRTC item)

For example, you race the Houston 5K on Saturday wearing a HRTC visor.  You then sent us a picture or post the picture on the HRTC website.  On Sunday you come to the HRTC Hoopla Station and cheer on the runners.  On Monday, you bring your training partner to the HRTC social, and he joins the club.  You will earn 5 tickets for the Grand Participation Raffle.   Your training partner will also earn 1 raffle ticket.

Come to the kickoff meeting in January to learn more details about the Participation Prize and other planned activities for the year.

Racing, let us know.  Who’s racing next weekend in Houston?  We’ll look for you.  Racing out of town?  Someone else might be planning on racing the same event.   Racing an Ironman?  Let us know if you have HRTC as your club affiliation. Ironman will donate a free race to a club, if the club has 10 members racing an Ironman or 20 members racing a half.  If the club receives a free race, then all members who have raced an Ironman event as a HRTC club member in 2024 will be entered into the raffle to win.

Your 2024 President,

Heidi Riggs