This Saturday, Feb. 11, marks the 4th annual Sweet Barks event sponsored by Austin Pets Alive. The event will be held at from 12pm – 5pm at the SoCo Adoption Site (South Congress and Gibson) and will feature:

- Live music by Lisa Marshall and KP & The Boom Boom
- Puppy kissing booth
- Raffle with AMAZING prizes! (donors for the raffle are listed below)
- Photo booth
- Spinning prize wheel
- Artist Georg Williams selling cards and prints, with all proceeds going to APA!
- Wine toss
- Midtown Grooming giving your pup a well deserved pedicure
- Bags tournament
- Firecracker Dog with awesome interactive toys for your pooch
- Chips and queso from El Meson!
- Beer from Rahr & Sons!

Bring a leash and you’ll even receive a free raffle ticket and get a chance at some great prizes! So come on out on Saturday (along with your dog!) and help support Austin Pets Alive, who knows, you may even find next year’s Fittest Dog to take home? See ya there!

A gluten-free alternative to your traditional pasta salad with an exotic twist.

The deadline for submissions for AFM’s annual Swimsuit Contest is next Tuesday! Submissions after February 14 will not be considered, so put on your favorite swimwear, flex and take some photos to put on Austin Fit’s facebook page. AFM will choose the top 10 finalist to move on to the final round where readers can vote for their favorite; the winners will get to be in the May issue of the magazine! Good luck and keep the submissions coming!

By Paul Carrozza

Austin is the running mecca of the Southwest, if not the entire United States. Our local running culture touches all walks of life, from our children to our seniors. Many in our country, however, are battling a modern lifestyle of effortless transportation and air conditioning. Americans simply don’t spend enough time moving and sweating, leaving us with high stress, excess weight, too many easy calories, and a busy lifestyle that fosters the perception of no time to exercise. The secret to overcoming this and becoming an active, healthy America is for you and your family to become endurance athletes—to become runners.

Are you just dying to share the news of that new iPod running band your discovered? Or perhaps you want the world to know how delicious and nutritious the latest protein bar is? Maybe you just want to let everyone in on the secret to your fitness wardrobe – well here’s your chance! Fit Finds is  a new section of Austin Fit Magazine where you can find some of the latest and greatest gear, apparel, gadgets and goodies in the fitness industry, and we want to hear from YOU. We are always accepting submissions for Fit Finds, all you have to do is email the following information to fitfinds@austinfitmagazine.com:

Product name
Brand
Where you can buy it
Cost
Category (gear, apparel, gadgets or goodies)
Description
What makes it cool

In addition, please attach a high res (300 dpi) image. Thanks and we’re looking forward to checking out all of your Fit Finds!