Heads up!!! Here’s your massive Cyber Monday sports tech deals list! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 for just $619, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list of 100+ deals here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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You can use the above link for any Amazon country and it (should) automatically redirect to your local Amazon site.Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? No problem, the product comparison data is constantly updated with new products and new features added to old products!
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Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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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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FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
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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.
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!
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.
My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams 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 (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
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.
Were you the one in the santa suit?
I’ll see you and raise you the Toronto Santa Speedo Run! :-)
What did you use to show the metrics? (GPS track, bpm, speed etc).
Nice dodge & weave around streetsigns at the start btw:)
It’s the VIRB Elite, using the internal data. The metrics appear a bit less stable in running than I’ve seen in other activities (cycling/skiing).
Are you holding the Virb cam in your hand? or do you have a mount for it ?
Handheld. I’ve tried the chest/shoulder harness and for running it kinda sucks (far too much bounce). Depending on how much I pay attention while recording, you see more or less bounce. For example, in most of the videos I countered my bounce a bit and so the video is smoother. But in the very last clip towards the finish line you see I neglected doing that and thus it’s more bouncy.
I’ve also had some experience with mounts for my hero 3 cam. If you want minimal bouncing while running it’s best to mount it to a stick and keep that in your hand. Of course with such a crowd running next to you I guess you could drop it more easily when mounted on a stick.
Actually… you did start one race before 10am… Paris Marathon :-) It starts usually at 8:45 am!
(but i agree that americans tend to start early… my Chicago marathon start was at 7:30 am!)
You think 7:30’s bad: Shiprock is a 7am start and the bus leaves the finish for the start at 5:50. And the nearest hotel is nearly an hour away. It’s still bloody hot even by 9am.
Nothing compared to Singapore’s starting time (5:00 for Marathon, 5:30 or 6:00 for half, 7:00 for 10k)
The Disney races all start at 5:30am!
The red trucks are from NORBERT DENTRESSANGLE a logistics company which is working all over Europe.
I think you can easily say there is a gazillion of the red trucks at least all over EU!
Ray, did you use every second or ‘smart’ data recording? Your GPS track and speed graph are much cleaner than I am used to getting.
1-second recording.
As I have discovered with my VIRB watching the resultant video can make you seasick with all the bouncing around from the bike. Even helmet mounted is similar.
I notice that many of your still photographs are also marked with the VIRB numbering system.
Did you, or have you, tried setting the VIRB to take still pictures every 30 seconds.? Perhaps a slide show is better than bouncy and jerky video.?
Dick
I haven’t had any issues outside running (with seasickness). I’ve got my review coming up tomorrow with tons of sample footage.
I’ve tried the interval option in the past with a GoPro while running and found the resultant was pretty much just as sucky.
Oops I missed out on the free wine, didn’t see the voucher. I did however sample the mulled wine and got the second last croissant!
Is this accurate?
Avg HR: 97 % of Max
Wow!
Hmm, it would probably depend a bit on what I’d consider my current HR Max. I’d say I hit it in that race towards the end. Typically I wouldn’t run a race that high (I was about 2-3bpm over race plan), but I suspect being a bit sick had something to do with it (not feeling so awesome today again).
I didn’t know you could have a bottle of wine!!!!
Nice report! I didn’t run on Sunday but was around for race 6, the “flat 6km” to support some friends. It was interesting to be around a race without the “tension” and I also got to see the guys running in sub-30, wow that’s something…
In case someone here was in race 6 here are my videos of the day : link to youtube.com
Maybe I’ll try running with my tiny “key holder” camera the next time just to remember the race a bit better, it’s all a bit “hazy” afterwards when you’re running a 10k at the max!
lol – “damn you santa” followed by “I beat you santa” – love it!
Great time Ray – thanks again for the write-up. Don’t know how you find the time. Can’t wait to meet you at some point. Ever planning to run Geneva? Or Lausanne?
Tell the Girl Happy B-day, nice race report. That’s pretty funny with the Bear, reminds me of when a Mime dressed as Freddy Kugger scared my daughter and her friends on the strip. Fastest she has ever run.
Hi Rey,
Sub 40 miunites for a 10Km is not too bad. You could get a 36 if you wasn’t too busy taking too many photos.
Your video, that is the Garmin Vibe again? Where was it mounted on you?
champ
Thanks Ray. Background music suggestion: “Here Comes Santa Claus”(:
The second bear picture is the funniest picture i have seen this week.
SO awesome! Wish we had something like this? Do you recall anything like this around the DC area Ray?
No, none that I was aware of. There was of course many turkey trots, but the closest would be the Jingle Bell 10K, where lots of folks dressed up (but not ‘sanctioned dress up’), like this. :(
Look like a funny race! Good job and you too Fabien Galvaire (aka Santa #10010)
By the way not sure your pace match with your finishing time in your post
3:46min/KM != 39:23 10k (would be 37:40)
I do this time with a slower pace :)
pretty sure the /km pace is 3:56. Assuming the /mile pace and the overall time are correct. Canadian Metric police to the rescue!