Heads up! There’s some pretty substantial sales that just started. For watches, the Garmin Epix is down to $499, and the Fenix 7 to $449, with the Pro editions also $200 off! Meanwhile the top-end Edge 1040 cycling GPS is down to $499, and both the Edge 540 & Edge 840 are also on sale. As is Varia radar for $149. Some incredible deals, and ll the deals are here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
Here’s how to save!
Wanna save some cash and support the site? These companies help support the site! With Backcountry.com or Competitive Cyclist with either the coupon code DCRAINMAKER for first time users saving 15% on applicable products.
You can also pick-up tons of gear at REI via these links, which is a long-time supporter as well:
With TPC (The Pro's Closet), you'll save $40 on purchases over $200 with coupon code DCRAIN40 for tech and non-tech purchases!
Alternatively, for everything else on the planet, simply buy your goods from Amazon via the link below and I get a tiny bit back as an Amazon Associate. No cost to you, easy as pie!
You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.
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Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
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5 Easy Steps To The Site
1
In Depth Product Reviews
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
2
Read My Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
3
Have some fun in the travel section.
I travel a fair bit, both for work and for fun. Here’s a bunch of random trip reports and daily trip-logs that I’ve put together and posted. I’ve sorted it all by world geography, in an attempt to make it easy to figure out where I’ve been.
4
My Photography Gear: The Cameras and Equipment I Use Daily
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds! It’s a nice break from the day to day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
5
The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! DC Rainmaker 2023 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? If that’s the case (but certainly not saying my choices aren’t good for women), and you just want to see a different gear junkies “picks”, check out The Girl’s Gear Guide too.
Hoping to do a 20min walk/run some day in the near future, as soon my ITB and my physiotherapist let me do it!
I’m running my first marathon tomorrow. I need a Garmin!
Swim 850 yards total. Main set: 4 x 100 yards race pace, RI = 15 seconds.
Run 4 miles moderate.
via. Matt Fitzgerald, ‘Free’ 16 week 70.3 Tri training, ~2 weeks in.
Bike 25 to 30 miles this weekend.
Couch to ten kilometer, Week 7 Day 1 Jog 2.5 miles or 25 mins.
3m warm up
60 sec steep uphill sprint x1
20 sec steep uphill sprint x 12
60 sec steep uphill sprint x 1
2m tempo
15 minute cool down with 6 strides
Now that the snowstorm cycle has apparently ended and the streets are reasonably clear, I am just looking forward to getting OUTSIDE this weekend for a nice long run. For me, this time of year, it will probably be an 8-10 mile outing through the slush and sand. YEAH!
I have an interval training coming up on Tuesday
1 mile warm-up
800m x 9:30
400m x easy
800m x 9:20
400m x easy
800m x 9:10
400m x easy
800m x 9:00
400m x easy
1600m x 9:30
800m cool down
10 miles E pace in the snow and cold midwest
Going to go for a easy bike ride with a few friends.
Whatever the swim team coach says to do this afternoon.
Probably 3500-4000 yards.
If I manage to make it out for my ten mile run on Saturday (training for the Pensacola half marathon in April), while it is 30 degrees and snowing in Memphis, then I will consider that a success!
A S-L-O-W “Galloway Method” run, about 6 miles, nursing a knee injury.
A S-L-O-W “Galloway Method” run, about 6 miles, nursing a knee injury. Then ice ice baby.
A SLOW “Galloway Method” run, about 6 miles, nursing a knee injury. Then ice ice baby.
A SLOW Galloway metod run, about 6 miles, nursing a knee injury. Then ice ice baby.
I actually will be running a marathon tomorrow! So, for the next seven days, I’ll be doing mostly recovery workouts. I do like to take a day off from running after my marathons and maybe do some light cycling or swimming. After a day or two, I’ll go for an easy run, say 20 minutes or so. After that, I’ll just ease back into things over the next couple of weeks as I start to get ready for my IMAZ training!
SLOW Galloway method run, nursing a knee injury. The it’s ice ice baby
Yasso 800s: 9 Miles easy run with 6x800m in the middle.
Then a relaxing ice bath!
20 Mile Ride
After 300 warm up, swim 8 x 50 on 20″ rest.
Main set is: 100/200/300/400/500/500 all with 10-20” rest.
Last 500 should be ~3-5” faster per 100, than goal IM Pace. For example, if the goal is 1:00 swim at IM – that would be 1:25/per 100/yd pace. So, the goal in the last 500 of this 2k set would be under 6:50 or 1:20-1:23 pace. Get a nice easy 300 cool down.
Hopefully I won’t drown.
3 hour ride with 1 hour tempo. Should be a beautiful Saturday!
A mile of swimming laps at the local Y (while appreciating that all of the kids are back in school and not in the pool).
Tomorrow (2/3) we will run 10 km in mountain. The first three will be on the road.
Eccentric calf muscle exercises and tons of foam rolling. Achilles tendinitis, be gone!
Saturday Morning: P90X Legs & Back (Light)
Saturday Afternoon: 2.5 hours biking on a Trainer (still cold here in New England!)
Sunday Morning: 2,500 meters swimming
Sunday Afternoon: 1 hour on a Treadmill (wishing for May weather…)
Bike 30min building intensity for 10m then push hard for 15 with 5m cool down. Great way to commute home on a friday night!
It’s cold here, so 2 hours on the trainer:
Warm Up – 30 minutes – (prime the sweat pump!)
Build from embarrassingly easy to Ironman pace every 5 minutes for 20-25 minutes.
Ride 5 minutes easy
Set #1 – 35 minutes
6 minutes Zone 2
2 minutes Zone 3
2 minutes Zone 4
*repeat the above continuously 3x*
5 minutes recovery – Zone 1
Set #2 – 35 minutes
5 minutes Zone 2
2 minutes Zone 3
3 minutes Zone 4
*repeat the above continuously 3x*
5 minutes recovery Zone 1
Set #3 – 35 minutes
4 minutes Zone 2
2 minutes Zone 3
4 minutes Zone 4
*repeats the above continuously 3x*
5 minutes recovery Zone 1
Go drink a smoothie!
1.5 hr Run w/ 15 minutes of hills @ tempo effort
Long run on Saturday at LR Pace with some tempo work at the end on some hills.
Nordic skiing – classic style
1km warmup
3km medium pace
1km easy pace
2km high pace
1km warmdown
hoping that the snow will hold
on sunday i’m gonna plan on running in the mountains until i can’t run any more
Finally download my wifes last 10k route into my 910XT and virtually race her (and hopefully beat her). Much harder to train together like we used to with 6 year old.
I plan to run this saturday for 1 hour follow by 2 hours bike! :)
I’m currently focusing on just increasing my training volume, so my most structured workout is a tempo run: 15 minute warmup, 20 minutes at tempo pace, and then a 15 minute cool down.
Running hill repeats at Z2 for 45 minutes on Saturday after 30 minute Z2 swim.
relaxing cross country skiing trip during the weekend – enjoying the beautiful sunny weather
10k tempo run in the summer rain :)
Duathlon (swim-run) race on Sunday, in sunny Rio de Janeiro (where I live). Goal: swim 1.5 km in 18-19 min, then run, well, beach run actually, 2.5 km in 11-12 min.
Long run with my father – around 8 km for us
Hi Ray!
Your reviews are awesome!
My workout for saturday morning is 4x Jaraguá Climb (5km – in São Paulo) in z5 and 100km in z2.
Thank you!
Slow 11km run with two 1km uphill fartlek.
training plan for today:
swim: 1200m freestyle-rest (6breaths)+ 3*100m (rest 4 breaths in between) + 3*50
run: 10k night run, steady in z2
The slavery of this Nikefuel I got from my husband! Plan is to walk / run for 15 km this sunday in order to make up for “lost” points this week.
20mins cp180 10x2mins cp12 2mins off 20mins cp180
parkrun Poole,
5K at even pace 5 minutes per K
600 mts warm down – coffee and cake
Sung as a tune: 100 miles! 100 miles! I’m riding my bicycle 100 miles!
2-mile warm-up, just 3 x 800 in about 3:20 each, with just 2-minute jog recoveries after the first two 800s and a 1-mile cool-down at the end.
Cross-country skiing in the Jura mountains, should be a little over 2hours at 140’bpm
Run 21,1 km on sunday morning at Fleurbaix near Lille, France. I hope to beat my record.
Bike 100kms for the first time in 2013 – and try to make my ass shut up! :-)
Long run of the week:
20 min warm up
7x
3 mins just slower than 5k pace
2 mins recovery
20 min cool down
I’m planning on running 13 miles on the Utah mountain trails this next week.
After ignoring my wonky left knee and right ankle for a number of years, I’ve decided to give my body some rest. So it will be only 30 minute elliptical workout and/or long walk for me for the next few weeks.
This will be my first year competing in Triathlon (signed up for 5 Sprints), but also training for 2 half marathons and the Chicago Marathon.
Here’s what my next week looks like:
March 2, 2013 Saturday Swim (club led workout) Run 35 min easy
March 3, 2013 Sunday Cycle 90 minutes after the run Run 20K easy
March 4, 2013 Monday Swim (club led workout)
March 5, 2013 Tuesday Off-season cycle spin-fit
March 6, 2013 Wednesday Swim 8 minutes drills, 15 minutes continuously, 4 minutes rest, 8 minutes drills Run 45 min easy
March 7, 2013 Thursday Cycle 45 min after run Run 45 min. with 4x400m hills
March 8, 2013 Friday Rest
I’ll be doing nine 200 yd intervals in the pool, mixing up my strokes. Last time I checked, a mile is actually 1,760 yards — not this 1,500 meter or 1,650 yard silliness….
A easy 8.5 miler around a lake.
Longest run in a few months, so its going to hurt…
It’s summer so, I’ll be riding on my local hill (360m altitude gain in 6km one side and 8km the other). Drop into the valley from home, warm up along the valley (1.5km), then punch it and hold on to the top, cruise down the other side turn and drill it back – going for a best time for the ride :-)
2 HR SUFFERFEST on the spinbike.
Really? AGAIN?
YES! REALLY!
SHUTUP Legs, Lungs, Arse…
2 hour trainer ride tomorrow. Looking forward to spring!
Time to get the commuting bike out of storage and prepped for the first rides of the season. Usually a couple shorter 10-15 mile rides on the (still partially snow covered) trails around town to clear the cobwebs…
It’s winter snow and minus degrees, On sunday 4 hours bike ride average pace outside, need to prepare for a training camp in canary islands.
4 miles tempo run on Sunday.
I’ll be running an easy 11 miles tomorrow AM with my teammate. It’s my longest run in a while so, it will hurt!
1 hour run
Tuesdays and Fridays running 6-10km and coming week winter vacation, so cross country skiing.
Tomorrow is 80 mile hilly ride around the Peak District with a couple of 20 minute steady state intervals thrown in.
I want to cycle regularly so this week I am going to ride 10 miles Monday and Wednesday morning and 15 miles Tuesday and Thursday morning. I am going to go for 18-20 miles on Friday!!!! WHAT WHAT?? I am still trying to not fall over so these distances are great goals for me!!!!!:D
Cadence strides run workout
15:00 warm-up
Repeat 5x
—-5:00 Keep cadence at 90 steps per min
—-1:00 Easy running (if needed)
Cool down
Swim 1600 meters do not drown ,.. Run like hell for 35 min and do not have a heart attack … not bad for a guy who smoked 2 packs a day.. on day 39 of no smokes..
Will do a 60 min turbo trainer session bricked with a 10 km run on Saturday.
Indoor Trainer Workout
Time: 1 hour
Focus: Cadence/Speed
10min warm up
2 X 5min as 1 leg sequence
4 X 5min as 1min FAST spin/ 1min Standing Big Gear/ 1min FAST spin/ 30 seconds standing sprint!/ 1:30 recovery
5min Steady Tempo @ 90rpm
5min easy
5min as 20 seconds fast spin/ 40 seconds easy
5min warm down
Tomorrow is mountain biking day so I’ll be heading to Walnut Creek to do a fast paced 10 mile ride.
Tonight, 25 minutes of continuous swimming: practice bilateral breathing (hopefully without sucking in half the pool) in the front crawl. This weekend, make up missed bike rides, ~1 hr 20 mins and, if time, get in another swim session. :)
I plan on doing a LSD (long slow distance) run on Sunday. I have not planned pace just someone that feels good. I may do a bit of bike riding this weekend as well because it is supposed to be relatively warm this weekend.
Thanks for your awesome blog,
Jeff
for 3/3/13
warm up- 400 free swim (75 moderate 25 hard X4), 400 pull, 400 kick w/ fins
Main Set-30X100 (6 sets of 5X100)
#1-4 Free swm 90% effort, #5 easy
#6-9 Pull 90% effort, #10 easy
#11-14 Free Swm 92% effort, #15 easy
#16-19 Kick w/ fins, #20 Easy
#21-24 Free Swim 94% Effort, #25 easy
#26-29 your choice 98% effort, #30 easy
=4200yds
I have a nice 3 hour ride scheduled for Saturday that should be nice and chilly, windy and painful. Two hours more of it on Sunday but it still beats the trainer!
One of my workouts next week will be in the gym. Strength training and core muscles: 10 min warm up, 55 min of leg/back/abs execises. The best way to get a good start into the season!
Today: Swim 2.6km
Tomorrow: Bike 2 hours (f…ing cold outside) and a 30 minute quick run
My personal road to Roth
Today: Swim 2.6km
Tomorrow: Bike 2 hours (cold outside, brrrrr) and a 30 minute quick run
My personal road to Roth
Today: 2.6km swim
My personal road to Roth
15 mile run. mostly marathon pace. 3 weeks out!
Pretty simple for the weekend – I need to do two rides for 90 minutes at “endurance” pace. Hopefully, at least one of them will take place outside!
Friday: 45min running at slow pace 6min00 to be fresh for sunday.
Sunday: Paris semi marathon, 21.1km, as fast as I can :P
Just dying to try my new pair of spikes.
So it’s a hard day at the track for me.
8x1000m with 2’30 minutes jogging in between!
1 hour at the gym.
10 mile run in the Cotswolds (UK), gentle pace, enjoying the fact that I’ve got a full free Sunday for once! Might take the dog with me, if he’s feeling up to it! (dog currently has a “niggle” on his left back paw, although it mysteriously vanishes when a squirrel or pheasant crosses his path!)
Sunday bike for 4 hours low heartrate endurance basis training…. Making THE fundament for 2013 raceseison :) ciao!
12x400m at 6:00 min pace with 2:00 RI
I plan to do an 80km cycle back from a national trust property in the UK to home. It doubles as a date with the Mrs and a training morning – keeps everyone happy!!!
Bike (29er) 4h (long/slow/distance), same on Sunday.
PPlanning an easy 150 minutes as I prepare for the marathon.
10 mile run on Saturday to prep for half on the 17th, then soccer game on Sunday.
60min bike Z3, + fartleck run
All about the base. Going to get on the road bike and go at 75% FTP for 3 to 4 hours and rack up some miles and some Vitamin D.
Next week? Ski! I hope to have at least one workout of ski-mountaineering with a minimum of 3000ft+; each day if I’m lucky enough w/ kids skiing lessons :)
Attempt to swim non-stop for over 45 minutes (a big deal) – as part of an indoor triathlon.
Planning to cross the doorstep. RPE 20. Will do more if I have energy left.
link to youtube.com
Short and sweet ride to finish a rough week.
MA: 10′
WU: 15′ easy ride
MS: 3x 10′ HR zone 3 medium pace (5′ rest)
CD: 15′ easy ride
Stretch: 10′
After a 90k crosscountry skiing race last monday, I’m doing an easy 6k recovery run tomorrow
Cheers
Lars
3 hr bike with 5x 30 min at 85% FTP