(Some of you may have seen me post this photo on Facebook back a few weeks ago…hence, the origins of this post)
It’s been building up for a while now, and now it’s time. Perhaps, way overtime. Either way – it’s gonna happen tomorrow, starting at midnight eastern: The Giveaway Extravaganza.
(Sidebar 1: If I could make the extravaganza thing blink and be in lights like a Vegas sign, I would.)
Now, I probably could have just has accurately called it “I have too many boxes of stuff I need to get rid of extravaganza”, but that didn’t have the same ring to it. Obviously, if you saw my product review shelf back in January, you’d know there’s lots of cleansing opportunity. The kicker is – nothing from that shelf is going.
So what am I giving away? A premium blend of products that range from brand new and never used, to a few lightly used units. Some of the brand new items are things that folks gave me to review and just didn’t end up here, and some are extras that I bought and figured now’s a good time to have a giveaway.
(Sidebar 2: Oftentimes when a high demand product is first announced I’ll buy a few through different retail channels in case there are delays, and then just giveaway the extras.)
On the ‘pre-tested’ items, a few of them were units that were sent to me for product review that the company doesn’t want back. Some of them have simply been sitting around in this box for months waiting to go back.
(Sidebar 3: There are few things I loath doing more than shipping and receiving. More specifically, shipping. It’s such a pain in the butt. Vendor provided printable FedEx/UPS return labels are the love of my life from a product review standpoint. But because most times companies don’t care about the product being returned they don’t provide these (that’s the industry norm). Since my policy is I do return just about everything sports technology related – it sits there in a box after the review unused waiting for me to figure out who and how it gets shipped back. The kicker being in every case I’ve already re-bought another copy of the product for my personal collection. These are just…well…doing nothing. Time to go!)
At any rate – tomorrow, at midnight eastern, I’m kicking off an all-day giveaway circus – Woot-off style. Roughly every three hours a new giveaway product will appear on the site, and you can add your name to the hat for that product. It’ll only last there roughly three hours – then it closes, that’s it – like a fart in the wind! As always, nothing special from you other than leave a comment on the item you want. You can play once for each item. Simply say hello.
(Sidebar 4: I have no further sidebars.)
All in, the value of these products is roughly $2,000! All I’ll say is that true to my norms, there will be no half-eaten gel packets here, just totally awesome devices. One.after.another.
And because it’s 24 hours of extravaganza, no matter where in the world you’ll have your chance to join the fun (and, as always, I ship anywhere). See ya tomorrow!
Update 12:01AM Friday – To see the current/latest giveaway during the extravaganza, click here! And remember, enter on the specific product post, not here. Enjoy!
awesome
Nice! My Forerunner 305 is dying a slow-painful death, I could use a replacement.
A garmin 500 would be sweet…
I’ll take anything!
Shucks, I’ve been looking for a half eaten gel packet for months, got any soggy powerbars?
Hey there I love your in depth reviews and race reports! Way to go at Alcatraz
Send me a Garmin or a goodie for the cycle & I will send you fresh baked chocolate chip cookies! Every day! For a month!
Sarah
http://www.thinfluenced.com
Nice work Ray!
Great idea!
“Like a fart in the wind” – What have you been eating? A fart that lurks for three hours before dissipate? Nevertheless I will be in the draw – thanks Ray!
Awesome – count me in – I just purchased a Garmin 310xt after reading your review and REALLY appreciate the suggestion to turn OFF the auto lap button!
I’m already excited
And Ray, keep up the good work
Thanks Ray,
Thanks for your blog, for the time you spend sharing your experiences with us.
And thanks for your giveaways.
Just amazing
martinsanderhoff at yahoo.com
Woot, woot. Bring it on!
A dumptruck full of awesome
yeah Garmin 800!!
awesome, since coming across your site for an in depth review for the 910XT I haven’t been off of it. will be looking forward to this
wow dumptruck full of awesome
yea garmin 800 or anything to brighten my day!
it’s going to be a long day trying to stay awake to have a shot at winning a usefull item
“Like a fart in the wind”
I’ll be there!
Thanks Ray!
Marcello
Great! i follow U from Spain, and for U and my new friends this year i run my first Duatlón, and i finish (ok ok finish the last, but finish).
I have a philiptones bike XD.
I try to post for some item.
But thanks for ur post all are a inspiration, last yera for this days i can’t run 1 Km now i do my first Duatlon and training for my first triatlon, Thanks.
ggrrrreeeaaattttt
This is a great news for a sunny friday (as is expected to be here in north Italy…)
how cool is that!!!
Sweet! Hope there is a female watch between it for my wive
love it!
Fantastic!
amazing blog and reviews.. great stuff at Alcatraz
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I want one!!!
(Really, ALL!!!!!).
Thans Rain
Nice!!!
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Bad timing! Im heading off for 4 days of camping with our 1 & 3 year olds! Oh well!
wow. i might snuggle up with a pound of starbucks and hang out for 24 hours straight…
i wish.
so awesome. i really really need a waterproof something…anything…to swim with
Sounds great!
Awsome. Being a trinewbie, anything will be more than welcome…
Hi Ray,
awesome and cheers
3 years following from Oman(where it is?), never see such treatment for followers
That would be really nice:-)
Awesome!
awesome
doron from tel aviv
Just like during a Woot-Off.. spending time hitting F5 regularly to see what fun and interesting thing pops up next. Looking forward to it.
Hooray! Free toys!
OMG Extravaganza!!!!!
That’s the “pass it forward” spirit!
This is terrific…my Garmin 210 just crapped out after 1 use.
I won’t have internet access after tonight as i will be on my boat in lake erie….can this count as my entry for every contest opened??? pweeaaasseeeee lol
thanks!
Mama needs a new pair of shoes…
Doh! I am travelling from Philly to Paris tomorrow, but hopefully, I’ll be able to get online. Great idea!
Richard
Mirror mirror on the wall…will I win something at all?
Love your blog and would love to win!
I want, indeed, I need Mr. Shark!
Great blog! Hope I win something…anything..
Can I put my name down for the table and chair?
excellent
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Great, now I have to stay up until midnight and then get up again @ 3 AM to see what the product of the moment is………..
Good thing tomorrow is an off day from training!!
Awesome
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What a cool idea. It will be neat to see what comes up.
So, I have to get up by 3:00 a.m. to get a shot at the first item? -_- Make it a Garmin 310XT or Lemond Revolution since I already have those
The wife has taken control of my 305, I’m in for something new!
I’ll take everything for my runs / bike
this is great!
nice!
Just further proof (as if any was needed) that Ray is the best!
Super Awesome Happy Fun time!
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Yes!
That’s awesome!!
awesome
That’s pretty awesome Ray!!!
That’s pretty awesome Ray!
Can’t wait
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This is sooooo dope, going to be an all nighter for this guy
Cool!!
Sweet deal!
Hello! I hope I get picked!
Jason
kmjbreathe@gmail.com
I sure hope I get something good
You kick ass Ray.
-Mark in Dallas
Sounds cool
Hey Ray!
Long time listener, first time caller here…
Phenomenal stuff as always on your blog and I’m uber-excited about the giveaway.
The time I spend catching up on all of your adventures is my daily reward.
Thanks for continuing to give back to your peeps in so many ways!
Brilliant!
Keep up the great posts Ray.
Hello! Count me in!
Excellent!
Love the humor
Midnight Eastern, that’s… 0400Z, right ?
can’t wait to win some swag, the girl needs gps technology
Dang, I’m gonna be up late!
This is awesome !
cool!
A garmin 500 for my wife would be great.
Hey DC,
That`s a great idea.
I love to spend time on your homepage.
Greetings from Germany,
Predes
Sounds like fun
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“the girl” in my house, could use a proper device for her bike and running other than a stop watch and an iphone.
great 4min alcatraz video. fun stuff. you passed a lot of people.
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an new gps watch for fathers day would be nice
JOE GUISSARI thanks ray!
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whoohoo!!!!
this is great, next to all the stories, races and reviews, next to your discussionwith the industry to provide us with better features?
Ray, you simply are the best!
I will enter my name in the digital hat.
Greetings
Gerard from Holland
Wooooooowwww
Great Ray
Great reviews and give aways.
Fantastic, my 610 that I got in Iraq is in bad shape and is telling me I am running near Olympic miles on my last 8-miler.
Greatest Blog
Great !!
Thank-you Ray
Bravo Ray.
Grazie!
Another Perfect Day
Too kind!!
Looking forward to this.
This all sounds too good to be true.
Superawesome!
Awesome!
Testing my ability to comment.
This might just be more awesome than The Avengers movie!
I never win anything, I guess I’m due.
Yes please!
Based on your various pictures of the Eisenhower trail, I live around the corner (Cameron Station)! Love the blog! You can save on any postage!
Jason
I’m due to win!!!
Jan Kubes
Ray I must say that Your reviews are Amazing!!! Thanx from the Czech Republic!!!
Jan
I’m winnig this time
Nice project
Greeting from an avid skiier in the Netherlands!
mykkel90@hotmail.no
Cool!
Awesome!!! Thanx Ray!!!
Ot.k@seznam.cz
Otilie
Even more awesome than usual – way to go, Ray!
Hello, great that awesome. Need some toys!
Great!
Looking forward to it!
Looking forward to it!
Looking forward to the giveaway!
Can’t wait for the giveaway
I’m in.
i’m feeling lucky, i’ll take what you got..
Well, life is hard….
Matthias
I’m in!
Grzesiek
Hey did they come out with the watch that orders pizza yet? Oh that would be in 2015 I think you told me. So anyhow I’m up for anything you got!
Wow and Awesome! Hope I’m one of the lucky winners
I’m in
Love the site!!! Thanks for all the good info!
Looking forward to winning something… anything.. crumbs will do!
Looking forward to it! Thanks Ray!
C’mon..I haven’t won anything this year….I’ll take anything you got!
crossing my fingers…
I’m past due, come on old, sweat socks!
Yes please
Still rocking the Garmin FR60. Upgrade would be nice.
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Just found your site this week. Great blog. My new bike could use some bling. Please put me down for whatever you are giving away. Free stuff – it is like I am back in college!
I am good with anything, but please no slightly used tri-shorts. Anything for the wife to make her forget how much money I spent on my bike and race fees would be nice as well.
Nice. I’ll even be in DC mid August. Instead of shipping you could geocache a drop just like during the great …err…coldwar.
Very cool site Ray. Keep it up!
Thinking about getting a Garmin 910XT, but free stuf could change my mind!
Great idea!
Sounds great.
First I would like to thank you for all of the great advice and info you have put forth over the years. My wife and I recently started participating in Tris and have found you and Berties trials, triumphs, and tribulations very informative and helpful.
We have been waiting to see your comparison between the GoPro and the Contour HD. Our thought is to have a recording device to use while bike riding to and from work for protection in case someone drives crazy, but we have not been able to make a decision between the two. Last I remember there was a accident where the Contour fell off and I have not seen a return to the product comparison.( I may have missed it) So I am hoping that since you seem to prefer to use the GoPro that the Contour will be one of the items to be passed on. Either way again thank you from 2 fans.
Can’t wait!
Hook me up!
That would be awesome.
Is there a list of all the items up for grabs or do you plan to just publish them one (or a bunch) at a time every couple hours starting at 9pm PT?
I’m in if they are still available.
nice blog
this is awesome, i can’t hardly wait
Greetings from San Diego at 9:00 pm local time!
Is it too late to enter? If not, I’d like a GPS something or maybe one of your cool waterproof cameras. Not likely but hey it was worth a shot
I’ll participate from Sri Lanka, but you can send the stuff to Italy!
It’s always a pleasure to read you Ray!
Ale
Hi Garrett-
No list ahead of time.
Just every 3 hours on the dot, starting at midnight.
Hi Unknown-
RE: Contour/GoPro
I do want to dive into it a bit more, but at the moment I really prefer the GoPro system – just far more flexible and easier to use. I admit the Contour with integrated GPS is appealing, but I find it a pain in the butt from a mounting standpoint, and the interface isn’t super-clear. Additionally, the GPS is increda-slow.
Just my two cents…thanks for dropping by!
Anything Garmin would be rad!
Thanks Ray.
Since I don’t know what you have, I’ll just say what I’d like:
-Daily wear sports watch (like yours!)
-ANT+ compatible anything
-GoPro mount (just got the GoPro HD2 per your recommendation!)
THANKS,
-Garrett B.
Hi DC,
GARMIN GARMIN GARMIN!!!
Very generous, thanks
Ha, ha! I can’t believe I let the excitement prevent me from sleeping last night.
Why is the polar givaway locked at 10 comments?
Liking your work
Ooooooh. Thanks. Nice this “free market”
I like free stuff
Thank you on the reply to the GoPro and Contour, that is very helpful. We were some what getting caught up on the size differences in the two and the idea that the GoPro appeared to be a bit more awkward to have positioned on the bike or helmet. I have heard that the audio recording for the Contour was better but not sure. We have the Garmin 910 so the GPS aspect was not that much of an issue. Thanks again and maybe this time it will not show up as unknown.
I meant to say I wanted the 910XT please – Aldrich
Don’t know if my previous post went through. Please consider me for the 910. Thanks!
Balances the best running test page? I sign!!
great reviews, great info – thanks for putting your reviews out!