Triathlon season is around the corner, and I couldn't be more excited. Not only did I just have a fantastic swim (the first in a while), but I have the right gear, thanks to Danskin's new triathlon collection.

It makes sense that they'd launch a line of triathlon gear -- after all, the Danskin Women's Triathlon Series is the longest running women's triathlon series in the U.S., and they've now joined forces with the super popular SheROX Triathlon series. The Danskin SheROX Triathlon Series is taking place in cities all over the country (check out the website to find a location near you).

Anyway, Danskin's triathlon collection combines quality, style, and -- bum bum bum -- femininity. Because, I don't know about you, but although I like looking tough and athletic, I still like looking like a girl. Sue me, but it's the truth. I can kick butt just as well wearing a pink top with flowers on it as I can wearing all black.

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I know not everyone who's interested in fitness likes sports, but I'm willing to wager that, even if you don't follow basketball, you have an appreciation for what those guys do -- I mean, a professional basketball player's skills on the court are nothing short of amazing, if you ask me.

Well, this past weekend was the NBA All-Star game in Phoenix, and while the festivities were definitely fun to watch, I have to admit that I was also pretty interested in what the players were wearing -- they looked sharp! It was all courtesy of Adidas, and it's all available to you!

You might not be in need of baggy shorts and a jersey, but everyone loves track jackets (seriously -- I've never met a single person who didn't appreciate a good track jacket. Ever.). If you're a fan of the West, you'll find red and gold designs, or, if you cheered for the East, you'll have your choice of apparel in silver and blue.

I don't know what it's like where you live, but outside my window there's very little green to be seen. Everything is covered in a thick and frosty layer of white. But just because you don't see much green, doesn't mean you can't go green when it comes to winter sports. As an added perk ... you'll end up with more green in your wallet.

• Rent. If you hit the ski hill only once or twice a year, you really don't need to own your equipment.
  
• Buy used. Ebay, used sporting goods stores, and sites likes Craig's List and Freecycle are great places to search for sports equipment. Keep your eye out for skis, snowboards, skates, hockey gear, and other winter treasures.
• Equipment swap. Many ski clubs hold equipment swaps where you can bring in your unused gear and look for something new (to you, anyway). If you have a child on a hockey league or other winter sport, consider setting up an equipment swap with other parents.

If you've got old equipment that's really not fit for use anymore, try to find a new purpose for it and keep it out of a landfill. I unloaded a ridiculously old set of skis on Freecycle last fall; the person who picked them up is going to attach them to the bottom of a large crate so he can easily tow his gear across the ice on his way to his ice-fishing shanty. You just never know what use people can get out of old items.

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Safety helmets have become standard gear for biking. So much so that people don't think twice about putting them on. But many still go zooming down the side of a slippery mountain without the protection of a helmet. It's ridiculous if you think about it. Even more ridiculous when you consider that there were more than 26,000 head injuries from winter sports in 2007, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Keep safe while sporting in the snow by following these tips:

• Wear a helmet approved for your specific sport.
• Protect your eyes with goggles.
• Wear appropriate clothing.
• Use additional safety gear when it is available (e.g. hockey pads).
  
• Don't drink before skiing or snowboarding, and don't participate when you're not feeling well.
  
• Avoid hazardous conditions such as ice-coated sledding hills.
• Use approved areas for ice skating, skiing, snowmobiling and sledding.

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I once traveled a lot for work, and it isn't easy to stay fit while on the road. Some may think it's as simple as hitting the hotel's fitness center. But when you're traveling to small towns like I did (including one with a welcome sign that read: "Population: Just Plain Good Folks"), you're lucky to have a hotel equipped with an ice machine, much less a fitness center.

If you travel frequently, portable exercise gear can be a real fitness saver. Resistance bands work great and jump ropes are also handy (though the person in the room below yours might not agree). A more unique product you might want to try is the Valslide, compact slide boards designed by trainer Valerie Waters.

The boards slide easily on carpet and help you do moves like lunges, mountain climbers, and push-up flies. All of the movements utilize two or more muscle groups, so it's an efficient sculpting tool -- just ask these six celebrities.

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Have you ever watched those late-night infomercials touting the newest piece of exercise equipment? Personally, I'm not a big fan of home workout equipment. Most of them limit what they can do for your body and they just take up so much space! But sometimes you have to wonder ... is the latest, greatest machine really what you need to get a toned, firm body? Or is it just bound to become a dusty, expensive, clothing rack in your bedroom?

Some fitness experts rated six fitness fads to see if they're really as great as they say they are:

• Skorcher. This claims to be the world's best butt exercise, but it garnered mixed reviews from the experts. One said that all of the exercises the Skorcher offers can be done effectively without the machine. Another, however, thought it could really rev up your workout.
• Slanted Riser. These risers that angle your step aerobic bench got a decent review, because they add a new dimension to your step aerobic workout.
• The Brain Muscle Workout. This fitness DVD didn't strike the experts as anything new. But the mind/body connection the workout promotes is beneficial.
• Yoga fusion. Many DVDs and fitness classes have tried to add to the popularity of yoga. But one fitness expert doesn't like the trend. She feels that yoga is for meditation, and the new trend is trying to turn it into a weight loss or fitness activity.
• RealRyder. This indoor cycling bike that tilts and turns got rave reviews from one fitness expert, but another felt that the bike offered only slight advantages.
• Gravity. This machine is supposed to provide a full-body workout. One fitness expert says that the machine can provide what it claims, however, it's big and bulky (not to mention expensive) and adjusting the resistance is tricky.

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Recently, my son's two favorite activities have been going to the skate park and going to the BMX track. They're both favorite activities in my book as well. They're free, my son is being active and meeting friends, and I get time to walk around the parks or just relax and read a book.

I'm constantly surprised at how few children wear helmets or other safety gear. My son hates his wrist guards, but he doesn't complain otherwise. And, thankfully, none of the non-helmet wearing crowd has poked fun at my son. My son knows that he only has one choice in the matter -- wear the safety gear or don't skateboard/bike. It's just not a risk worth taking.

According to the CDC, about 300,000 sports-related concussions occur each year in the US. There are some basic pieces of safety gear kids should wear when playing sports.

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Fitness gear certainly has its place and its purpose. From exercise balls to hand weights to resistance bands to pretty much anything else you can imagine, the right gear can enhance and improve your workout. But sometimes pulling out all the equipment is more of a hindrance than a help.

When you're on the road or you just don't feel like pulling the exercise clutter back into your living room, try these no-equipment-required exercises from Women's Health.

I gave the workout a try and loved it. I felt a bit silly doing moves like the Rock 'n Roll and the Grand Plie Jump, but after taking a moment to appreciate the privacy of my living room, I knew the moves were well worth it. The Pushup Crawl is even harder than it looks ... I think I'm still feeling that one!

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Here are some "kick butt" tips for keeping fit, active and regret free on the Fourth of July from KickYourButtIntoGear.com. As KickYourButtIntoGear.com is owned and managed by a fellow expert in the field of fitness, Exercise Physiologist, Tracy Benham ... the tips are awesome advice for you and you family to adhere to!

• Sports and summertime go together. Plan an activity early in the day. Play baseball, touch football; go to the local pool or beach.
• Get outside early and see if you can think of and do more than four activities before four o'clock to celebrate the Fourth.
• Eat a bowl of fruit before you head for the barbecue goodies. Tons of fruits are in season. Make a Fourth of July fruit cocktail. Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries...
• Use a plate. You will be less tempted to mindlessly snack.
• Skip the cheese and the Mayo on your burger and load up on lettuce tomatoes, pickles, onions and relish.
• Alternate cocktails and other caloric beverages with a glass of water. Or ... just avoid the high calorie beverages all together!

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My favorite piece of cooking gear is my vegetable steamer. It can be used for more than just veggies -- like rice -- but I use is for one purpose only: Steaming the broccoli, peas, corn, and squash we rotate among our daily dinners. My steamer is easy to assemble, easy to use, and easy to clean. And it takes no longer than 10 minutes for our nutritious fare to cook. I also like my food processor -- it just doesn't get as much use -- and I really want a Crock Pot. I borrow my sister's when I need one, but I bet I'd be a bit more inventive with meals if I had one stuffed in a cabinet nearby.

Women's Health magazine recommends a few got-to-have kitchen gadgets. The food processor and steamer make the cut -- although the WH editors recommend not my stand alone steamer but a flexible silicone steamer that sits on top of a pan of boiling water. They also recommend a colandar, casserole dishes, mixing bowls, baking sheets, pots and pans, a hand mixer, a meat thermometer, an oil sprayer, nylon/rubber tools, wooden goods, a vegetable peeler, a shredder, kitchen shears, cutting boards, and knives.

A pretty good medley of stuff, huh? Click here and check out each item. Pictures, descriptions, and suggested brands are included.

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There's a prize every day in May at this Women's Health magazine online stop. Today's giveaway is a Forerunner 405 watch from Garmin International. Tomorrow: A Cranium Wow board game from Hasbro. All you Boomers looking to boost that brain of yours -- this is your day!

Women's Health has the hottest fitness, weight-loss, beauty, and tech gear around. There's an E80 elliptical machine from SportsArt Fitness (May 12), a KB720 five-speed blender from Krups (May 23), a set of barbecue accessories from The Pampered Chef, (May 25), and an Endurance Skort from Moving Comfort (May 27). This month's calendar is stocked with goods. They can be yours by simply entering a drawing each day in May. But hurry. Each drawing lasts for only 24 hours.

Click here to get started.

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If you plan on getting vertical any time soon, you may want do a bit of online shopping before you go. Women's Health magazine compiled a list of must-haves to keep you comfy, protected, and looking sharp while you increase your elevation.

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Are you a runner? Are you out there, on the road, putting feet to pavement day after day? If so, there's a good chance that you're no stranger to a little knee pain every now and again.

To help prevent this very common issue runners face, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons offers the following suggestions on their website:

Stay in shape. Good general conditioning is important to controlling and preventing patellofemoral pain. If you're too heavy, you may need to lose weight to avoid over-stressing your knees.

Stretch. Before running or any other exercise, first do a 5-minute warm up, followed by stretching exercises. Stretching, particularly in the face down position (prone), will help keep the supporting structures around the front of the knee flexible and less likely to be irritated with exercise. For example, when lying prone, grab the ankle of the affected leg with one hand, and gently stretch the front of the knee. Stretch before and after exercise.

Increase training gradually. Avoid sudden changes in the intensity of exercise. Increase force or duration of activities gradually.

Use proper running gear. Use running shoes with good shock absorption and quality construction. Be sure that shoes fit properly and are in good condition. If you have flat feet, you may need shoe inserts.

Use proper running form. Lean forward and keep your knees bent. Also, try to run on a clear, smooth, resilient, even, and reasonably soft surface. Never run straight down a steep hill. Walk down it, or run in a zigzag pattern.

According to this article on Trendhunter 73% of women don't wear a sports bra when exercising -- is that right??? Ouch ladies! Maybe we'd all be a little more inclined to support ourselves adequately if we could find customized support tailored to our individual needs. Shockabsorber does just that, by having women take a quiz to narrow their activity level and cup size down to a specific recommendation of a sports bra with the right support and fit in all the right places. Sounds awesome, although I will say it looks like some of their styles are downright functional (read: ugly!) to look at.

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