Tri it on
You’ve signed up for coaching and started running, swimming and cycling in preparation for a triathlon this year. One other tool triathletes might find beneficial is a heart rate monitor. The Timex Ironman Road Trainer digital heart rate monitor series, $100, has lots of features. You can preset a desired heart rate exercise zone, and an alarm will notify you when you are not in the zone. The device calculates your average heart rate for your workout and each lap, the time spent in the zone, calories burned and will measure your heart rate after a timed recovery during or after your workout. Timex is offering 20 percent discounts on Ironman devices through the end of January. Details at
Child’s play
Theresa Byrne has been teaching Denver kids at her United Martial Arts Center for years, but she’s taking her training to a wider audience through a new DVD, Fitness Revolution for Kids. The high-energy workout, with Theresa leading a group of children, is 45 minutes long. Or users can select shorter segments. The workout is geared to kids ages 5 and up and includes meditation, stretching techniques, as well as martial-arts moves done to music. It’s $19.95 at
Mini massage
If you need a massage but can’t spare the time or money to get your muscles moved by a professional, check out Spa Sister Massage Tools, $5.50-$9.50. The wooden balls on the hand-held gadgets draw on Shiatsu techniques and can work deep into tissues to loosen tense muscles. The Body Roller, $7, looks like a rollng pin, while the Body Brush, $6.50, has tiny wooden nodules that can be used to soothe thighs, arms, shoulders or even the tummy. The tools are sold at department stores, beauty-supply retailers and Borders stores; more at
