Barb Renfro
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Heart Zones Cycling Blue Jersey Level I
Heart Zones Personal Training Blue Shirt Level I
Barb Renfro is a triathlete and teaches at the Wheaton Sports and Fitness Center, in Wheaton, Illinois. Barb came to the Heart Zones Conference in Naperville, Illinois in October 2004 and received her Blue Jersey certificate. Since then, she received several requests for Heart Zones basic training and decided to obtain her Blue Shirt Personal Training certificate, which she did through the Blue Shirt Home Study Program.
Barb is one of the only trainers at her club to incorporate heart rate training into her classes, thus giving her quite a market niche. She initially used her Heart Zones education to give sub maximum heart rate tests in her cycling classes. When the demand arose, Barb started a Performance Cycling Class specifically geared towards Heart Zones Cycling. Her participants were allowed to bring their trainers into the club on Sundays for anywhere from 30-90 minute cycling workouts. The session ran a full ten weeks from early January through the middle of March. Barb copied workouts from The Heart Rate Monitor Workbook and gave a copy to each participant at each class. She used periodization in selecting workouts, gradually moving from endurance to strength to speed workouts. She also provided a chart where participants logged their Heart Zones Training points. Additionally, Barb gave participants a weekly handout on other interesting topics such as technique or nutrition.
The club sold “punch cards” which could be used for anywhere from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. They also reported increased sales of heart rate monitors during that period.
Barb is looking forward to repeating the class again this year and
will incorporate more fitness testing into the workouts so participants
can gauge their increases in fitness levels.
In addition, Barb is considering adding special Heart Zones Personal
Training packages that would include submaximal testing, fitness testing,
workouts and goal setting. She has found out that participants want
to be led to the next step, not just dropped off after submaximal testing.