Time to train! It’s been a long, sickly winter around Chicago this year. I’ve got an MS150 coming up (trying for the century option on the first day this year) and I’ve got a ton of training to do before I’m up to snuff. So, a training tool that keeps track of my heart rate, distance, speed and links to a training program (and tells me whether I’ve earned those brownies) is a real boon.

The Polar RS800G3 is all of that in a neat wireless package. Your route and distance are tracked with a GPS unit that fits on your arm or backpack and the details show up on a wrist unit. The heart rate monitor measures not just your heart rate, but the variability from beat to beat. For cycling, there’s an optional bike mount, so road cyclists will probably want to spring for it rather than take their hand off the bar to glance at the readout. There’s also an optional stride/cadence device that attaches to your shoe if you want to keep track of those details for running.

You can download your workout to polarpersonaltrainer.com via infrared and keep track of your progress. The trainer website is a really cool tool with articles, fitness tests, and guides. It helps you manage a holistic approach to your fitness, which is especially helpful if you are into multiple sports and routines. The RS800G3 also comes with Polar ProTrainer 5 software, which allows you to upload training programs to the wrist unit and download your sessions back to your computer. The RS800G3 is a really sophisticated tool for improving your performance — like a coach in a box. My only wish unfulfilled was some sort of mapping included with the GPS data - the unit only records your distance and speed.

You can use it for paddling, x-country skiing, in-line skating, practically any endurance sport, but the RS800G3 really shines for running and triathlon training. Don’t take it in the pool, though! It’s water resistant, not water proof!

Polar RS800G3, msrp $499.95, www.polarusa.com

When the Indo Board arrived at the office, the first thing that came to mind was “law suit”. Either myself or a co-worker was going to take a digger on this balance board and that would be the end. Corrynn went first and I didn’t mind that she was the guinea pig. The competition set in, because she was great right off the bat, so I had to go next. This toy is like a wide skateboard deck without wheels that you ride on top of a roller. It engages the core and quads all while helping you have better balance for any sport you may participate in.

Peeling myself away from my desk to “practice” is my new favorite distraction and it couldn’t have come at a better time, before my surf trip to Costa Rica. I have even had a dream that I was the Indo Board World Champion, but realized that I have to practice more to even come close! The come in varying designs and sizes depending on skill level. www.indoboard.com Msrp 99.95