Fitness vacations are ideal for those seeking a trip combining travel with health. Put the Tucson, Ariz., TRI FEST 2008 on your list of fitness vacation options. TRI FEST 2008 includes a 10-day triathlon camp, Multisport Expo and triathlon conference featuring leading speakers such as Sally Edwards. Edwards's presentations, on Saturday, March 1 and Sunday, March 2 will respectively be entitled "Triathlons for Women - From First Timer To Racer" and "Training in the Zones - Using Heart Rate Monitors, Speed/Distance Monitors, Metabolic Meters & Power Meters." Edwards describes the power of using training tools for training and racing faster and going farther. For conference details, visit: www.trisports.com . Save 10 percent when you register by entering this coupon code at www.trisports.com : TFsave10

Tired of straining your eyes to look at your wrist top heart rate monitor? There's a new way to view live heart rate data - on the display of sunglasses while using peripheral vision. Called "smart sunglasses" and manufactured by Informance, the new technology projects the image on the one of the lenses of the sunglasses. And it adds only. 25 ounces of weight.

But here's the catch: Smart sunglasses won't be available for online purchase until 2009 - and then with a hefty price, $1,000-1,500 per pair. For details, visit: http://elianealhadeff.blogspot.com/

In the meantime, here's an alternative: Get a pair of Tifosis sunglasses with three interchangeable lenses for working out in sunny or inclement weather for only $39 (while supply lasts.) The offer is February's online Special of the Month. For details, visit: http://www.heartzones.com/store/

Overview: Threshold, whether AT, VT, or LT*, is the crossover point from aerobic to non-aerobic training intensity. Training below threshold heart rate number improves the ability to burn fat and complete the training or race. Train above the threshold to improve speed and tolerance to high-intensity training. Aerobic training and non-aerobic training have important roles in your training schedule. If you're fit, this is among many workouts that test threshold. The best way to measure threshold heart rate is to take a New Leaf VO2 metabolic assessment. (More on metabolic assessment in the next e-newsletter.)

This is an observation workout is designed for cycling but you can exchange the bike for a rower, an elliptical, a lateral movement machine like a Technogym Wave.

WORKOUT: This 60-minute workout begins with a gradual warm-up for approximately 5-15 minutes, and is followed by two 20-minute sessions of hard riding. The average heart rate (bpm) and power output (watts) for each session is averaged together. The result is power output at threshold and heart rate response at threshold.

PROTOCOL:

RESULTS: The average heart rate for the assessment example above is 135 bpm for the first 20-minute session and 145 bpm for the second 20-minute session. Average power output was ~110 watts for the first 20 minute-session and ~approximately 120 watts for the second 20-minute session. That means Threshold heart rate on the bike for this rider is 140 bpm and Threshold power is 115 watts.

Note: As fitness improves, threshold heart rate and threshold power improve. That's one of the goals of training - to increase these numbers, get stronger and fit.

By Kathy Kent, Heart Zones Master Trainer - Owner, Midwest Heart Cycling *VT= Ventilatory Threshold AT=Anaerobic Threshold LT=Lactate Threshold