Exercise equipment manufacturer LifeFitness is looking for "America's Best Calves." If you think yours are up to the challenge, e-mail a photo of them, along with your name, age and contact information to LifeFitness@jsha.com before Aug. 8.

If the folks at LifeFitness agree your legs are the shapeliest, you'll win a LifeFitness F3 foldable treadmill. You'll receive a LifeFitness workout towel just for entering. There is no fee.

LifeFitness is sponsoring the contest to encourage gym goers to pay more attention to their lower body when working out.

The calves are the key to great legs, says Kerri O'Brien, director of education for LifeFitness. Here are some tips from experts there about how to make you calves look and function better:

Calf raises. Stand on the balls of your feet by the edge of a step. Contract your calf muscles and rise up on your toes. Lower your heels to below the level of the step until you feel a slight stretch in the back of your calves. Do three sets of 15 repetitions each. Gradually increase the repetitions in each set over time.

You'll get better results, faster, if you use a machine, such as, say, the Life Fitness Signature Series Calf Extension, and gradually increase the resistance, the LifeFitness experts say.

Jumping rope is terrific exercise for the calves, they also say. "Start with five minutes of jumping, then try a few sets of jump squats -- not only will your calves feel it, but your heart will, too."

Dance fitness classes are a great way to shape and strengthen calves, Ms. O'Brien says. "A traditional yoga Downward Dog pose is an effective stretch that can help alleviate calf muscle tightness.

"The route to great calves needn't be a difficult one," she says. "You simply have to remember to integrate calf exercises into your routine."

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