Some Gift Ideas for Movers and Shakers

You get your choice of trainers. I've been alternating Rutten's conditioning sessions with interval runs set up by swimsuit model Jody Olson. (Fair warning: There is a Danny Bonaduce option, for those who dare associate with the rambunctious ex-child star of Partridge Family fame.) You can tailor the workouts to your fitness level, set them to match the equipment you have at home or at your gym, and tell the program whether the last round was too hard or too easy so it can adjust.

The service costs about $20 a month. A 60-day trial is included with the purchase of a Polar F11 heart rate monitor (roughly $150), and Polar has its own dedicated heart rate zone workouts on the site. One caveat from the Podfitness Web site: The program lets you use only imported music, not tracks purchased from the iPod or Zune music stories. And one from me: Although this has worked seamlessly with my iPod, it did not work with one of my other MP3 players, so buyer beware if you are not using the iPod or Zune.

ROLLERBLADE MARATHON CARBON SKATES: Yikes! Hundred-millimeter wheels are really big and really fast, at least for someone used to a more modest skate. Between that and the stiff, light carbon frame, these are not for the timid.

But for someone who wants a challenging aerobic workout and wants to cover more ground than on a jog through the neighborhood, this is a gift worth considering. The skates retail for about $300, and unless the recipient is already adept, I'd recommend investing in a lesson or two as well.

The in-line crowd likes to boast that the sport is easier on the knees than running, but blading does carry its own risks. So please include a helmet and wrist guards with the skates. The trails around here are too crowded to go unprotected.