Be Fit With Biray

It fascinates me when new technology changes the way we engage in physical activities. I still remember the moment in my professional career when I first discovered heart rate monitors. It changed my entire philosophy on cardiovascular training. Now I can’t imagine a workout without one.

It seems that GPS(Global Positioning System) has similarly changed the way people engage in outdoor adventures. We’ve all heard of GPS, particularly in how it’s guided us with street directions. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise to see GPS utilized in outdoor excursions, as well. Let’s just say, the compass has evolved!

I’ve had my share of outdoor hiking and biking excursions, but I had never given a second thought to venturing away from registered trails and marked campgrounds. (Also, that was back when I lived in LA. Although the Santa Ana Mountains were practically in my backyard, a trip off the beaten path would have led me to a red carpet trail of celebrities and over-priced Malibu homes.)

With GPS, now the whole world is your trail (well, the part to which the maps have been downloaded)! In my search to understanding these gadgets further, I went to the ultimate outdoor store (REI). A thorough lecture was given by an REI professional on the Fundamentals of GPS. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about the inner workings of satellite coordination, how locations are tracked and ‘waypoints’ inputted.

I realize GPS has been around (and available mainstream) for several years. And, no doubt, health and fitness professionals have been participating in outdoor activities for ages. But recently (and I’m a little late in the game here) the combination of this technology and adventure has spawned a new extreme sport called geocaching.

In essence, geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing) is a GPS-based treasure hunt anywhere across the world’s geography. One basically hides a cache at an undisclosed location, uploads cache coordinates to a website, and geocachers search for it, come back and post their experiences!! What’s in a cache, you ask (don’t worry, I asked that too)? It can be as simple as a logbook (to prove you were there), as extravagant as thousands of dollars, or as mysterious as coordinates to another secret cache! Geocaching can take place in natural or urban environments.

The guy at REI showed us several GPS products - from training (handheld) to travel (for the car) variations. Some of the high-end GPS devices come with built-in pedometers, accelerometers, barometers, altimeters, and even… (drum roll please) heart rate monitors!!!

I know what’s going on my wish list this year!