Heads up! The big Garmin annual spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8 (first sale to date!), $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965 at $499, the Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products including inReach Mini 2. Plus the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium is on sale, and some Suunto & Wahoo product deals too. Full list & thoughts here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
Here’s how to save!
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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!
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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 2024 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.
Coldest run was 12 degrees with neg wind chill. ..I didn’t last to long outside.
Living in Florida thankfully not too many cold days but it was below freezing for the turkey trot this year, so no choice but to get out and run.
In DC these days, anything over freezing seems warm on the bike.
I ran 26km in -28 c weather in December, my eyelashes were covered in icicles by the end
Couple of weeks ago in Illinois I ran through the snow and ice for 2 miles when it was -38F degrees with windchill! Would have gone farther but my feet froze (even with 2 pairs of socks).
I recently had the bright idea to run to the pool for masters swim practice and home again afterwards. It was 12 degrees Fahrenheit with 18mph winds for a -5 degree wind chill. This was complicated by the fact that the snow plows had just cleared several inches of snow from the roads and piled that snow on the sidewalks (of course). The cold made it challenging enough but the knee deep snow made for a whole new world of hurt. I ended up running much slower than expected and was late to swim practice. I stayed tough after practice and ran back home despite knowing what I was getting into:)
I went for a run in the forest preserve in January with my son who would run down deer paths looking for antlers. It was about 20 degrees with 6 inches of snow. We had great time. I ran with my gamin that i read about on dc rainmakers site that turned out to be a great investment
Well this morning’s ride started at 18C and ended in 24C. *gloat* Oh wait, you said cold ride. OK last winter I was out in -8C. That’s not too bad. It’s the -3C and foggy rides I hate as you get really iced up.
NYC has given us a fair share of cold runs lately. But the hardest, windiest, coldest run ever was a 10K race on November 24th in Bay Ridge, NY. 28F/30mphwinds…which felt like 12F. The race was on the shore, so as we ran, we were getting sprayed by the waves from the ocean. My 620 ended up being covered with salt by the end of the run.
Last Friday (January 24th). My phone said it was in the 20s, but my wife informed me after I got home it was only 10 or 11. 75 minutes in the cold and dark in New England. Great times.
Does the Hottest count? (Aussie,Aussie Aussie)
During the over 40C week in Melbourne this month I did a 50km loop the average temp for the ride was 46C (115F).
Wasn’t the smartest move, rode through alot of puddles of tar and more stones than normal being thrown at me by the cars
Just ran 12.5 in the storm that shut down ATL.
The ‘winter’ here in Singapore is interesting. Weather is sunny but gusty wind makes swimming much colder than expected. No wetsuit is needed, but the occasional shivers in the chilly water are unavoidable =)
Our club just put on a 16 mile race this Sunday and the wind chill was 10 below zero. We had over 500 finishers!!
Just ran 10k in the shivering (for India) 10 degree Celsius winter. Brrrrr. Can’t imagine 0 degree Fahrenheit
I’ve mostly been swimming because of a foot injury. A few days ago went out for a 7 mile run in 19 deg F and snowing. I justified it as not really running, but icing my foot. Loved every minute of it.
Polar vortex was in full swing, -40 deg. I ran from my car to the gym door. Seriously though I don’t workout outside in the winter.
Between the icy sidewalks and dangerous wind chills, much time has been spent on the treadmill. Coldest outside run this season has been about 25 deg. Looking forward to spring!!!
Philly Marathon 2012, beyond that nothing below 20oC ( I Live in Costa Rica, lovely tropical weather)
My coldest run was the Thanksgiving day Turkey Trot with an 18* starting temperature. It was on a bike path that wasn’t plowed. My wife and I both wore Yaktrax.
15 degrees, run with a strong wind.
I think I should win just for swiping through over 1,700 comments! Wow!
I live in Wisconsin but getting a gym membership along with a brutally cold and snowy winter, the discovery of watching Breaking Bad and walking Dead on my iPad while running on the treadmill AND the joy of being wire free with sport Bluetooth earbuds (it took a lot to get me on the dreadmill) has caused me to become quite a wimp. So, I am going to go back a couple of years when I would run in pretty much anything except several inches of snow. So my record cold temp was -17 (no wind). Really! -17. I even have a pic but I can’t paste it in the comment box!
Thanks for all your great reviews and blog! It is my favorite one and I check it every day!
20deg. im a wimp. That is why i need a new trainer for indoors
Thanks for having this giveaway Ray!
I live in Texas, so it usually isn’t too cold here. I would have to say my coldest run this year has been at NXN, Nike Cross Nationals. It was up in Portland Oregon, and they were having some very cold weather at the time. The course was full of snow, and the crew were using leaf blowers to clean off the course. During the race, some of the patches of ground were frozen, and my spikes wouldn’t go into the ground. It was definitely an incredible experience though. I couldn’t have wished for a better way to end my high school cross country career.
68 degrees. My treadmill.
Didn’t have any snow this winter in Ireland but plenty of rain. Coldest would have been my regular 20km commute in rain at just above freezing
2.5 hrs bike ride, 20 F
45′ run, 9 F
Ran in the sub-zero cold. It was cold enough that when I got home I had a pretty thick layer of ice on my goatee!
I ran in -30C a few weeks ago…great run, but my beard froze!
It didn’t happen. It was 18 degrees. In Florida. I can’t handle that. I slept in.
Here in Queensland a cold ride is anything under 20 C. But we just tough it out. :)
My standard Poodle Sam and I have had 3 morning runs this month of -20° F in Minnesota. He shows no signs of unhappiness at the temperature. He is so happy and positive when running, I cannot turn down going with him at any temperature.
Wasn’t as cold as it could have been, but the morning of the Saints vs Seahawks, I got my ten miles in at 5:30am. My headlight lit up every little drop of rain that went from drizzle to downpour at 35F. Wet and cold, yuk!
Another California — too cold to go out, so doing the Tour of Sufferlandia instead ;-)
Being in Malaysia, we have equatorial climate which is hot and humid throughout the year. The coldest I’ve been is climbing Mount Kinabalu (4095 metres above sea level) at 0C and 40km/h winds hitting my face.
My sister in law decided to start running, so i paced her to her first run (3 miles) in 20° weather, windchill of 5°, and it had just snowed a couple nights earlier.
I ran a marathon in 20 degree weather. It sucked!!
Here in Australia it is summer and we have been having heatwave conditions, 42C and above. Some mornings it has been pushing 30C pre dawn. Winter training sounds awesome at this point.
I completed an 8 mile run in -2 F temps. Any temp colder than that (and MN has been much colder than that this year) has been boycotted in favor of the treadmill.
Don’t hate me, but I think today was my coldest ride at around 50 deg F. but the wind was blowing at about 25 mph, so that makes up for the not very cold, right?
I ran a few times in 20 degrees Fahrenheit, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it’d be. The snow/ice coupled with inattentive drivers has prevented some additional runs.
-30 Celsius cross country ski. F’n cold. This winter if you don’t go out when it’s cold you don’t go out.
Here’s the lowdown on the coldest run I’ve had this winter 27° F with wind gust of about 23mph making it feel more like 3°F 3miles was all I could push through. :)
A 10k run, at about -2 °c, just a little windy, but very annoying, it was a long run for me.
We’ve had a colder than usual winter in Virginia, like everywhere else. For one run it was only down to 20 degrees but the wind was brutal, especially when it was in your face. I have long hair and usually wear it loose under a fleece hat. Late in my run, I heard this odd clacking noise but ignored it. At the end of my run, my husband looked at me and burst out laughing. I had huge clumps of ice in my hair!
I’m a cross country ski racer in Anchorage, Alaska. While the lower 48 has been experiencing our typical winter weather this year (adorably dubbed the “Polar Vortex”), we Alaskans have been suffering through abnormally high winter temps. This crazy warm and rainy weather has resulted in melted out and icy ski trails for much of the last month; however this toasty weather still didn’t save me from a cold related mishap during a recent multi-user race (fat tired bikers, skiers and runners) called the Frosty Bottom.
You see, for a long time I never owned a pair of winter wind briefs and as such, I ended up repeatedly frost nipping my junk over the years while nordic skiing. I’ve been rocking wind briefs regularly for the last few years, but the damage is done: my little guy is a wee bit sensitive to cold from past abuse. So much so that I have to stick a neck gaiter into my briefs as extra protection when I don the lycra suit for racing.
I was about 30 kilometers into the 36 kilometer race and in third place for the skiers when I saw Mr. Second Place in front of me. He had been ahead of me the entire race and I hadn’t seen him since the 10k mark. But suddenly, with the end near, I came around a corner, looked down a straightaway and spotted him less than a 100 yards ahead. I now found myself gaining on him without really trying to and I knew I could catch him, except….my junk had begun to freeze minutes earlier, even through my gaiter buffered wind briefs.
I didn’t know why my system was failing. It never had before and it wasn’t hardly even freezing. But by the time I spotted Mr. Second Place the pinpricks of cold had begun to increase their gauge into veritable horse-needles of stabbing pain. As I started to visually close the gap with him, the pain suddenly disappeared into a horrifyingly complete numbness. I began to ski poorly and less aggressively as my unconscious mind began battling with my ego over my fate. I complied with reality, pulled over and discovered that my neck gaiter had drifted south into taint-ville, leaving me totally unprotected! “Ah-ha!”, I thought. “So that’s why I’m standing here on the side of the trail aggressively rewarming my nether regions like a lycra-clad pervert!” Over the next five or so minutes I got passed by quite a few racers while I engaged in my little tug fest. I hope I brought a smile to their faces. And even though I never ended up catching up to Mr. Second Place, I still ended up re-passing the others before the finish. Also, I still have my manhood, which is nice.
25 mile bike ride in 38F and 15 mph winds. I couldn’t feel my fingers or toes after 5 miles into the ride.
A really cold ride here is ~4c and we had a few of those this winter. The coldest – a 3hr ride at 4c when it rained in the mountains. Miserable descent, numb all the way home..
I’ve wimped out on the coldest days here but I did one 4 mile run at -22F windchill. Not as bad as it sounds once you get going.
I sound like a pansy. But I’ve only run from my car into the local YMCA. Windchills been like -10 to -20 for like two weeks. It might have hit freezing today.
39 mile road ride @ 41 deg F. Only day worth getting of the trainer in months…
For a cycle – An early weekend ride (40 miler) in Rock Creek Park (DC) a couple of weeks ago: a properly ‘brisk’ ride starting in the 30s giving the perfect test ground for christmas gifts of new gloves and boot covers.
For a swim – A training swim in a lake in Datchet (just west of London) in advance of my first sprint triathlon a couple of years ago: a cold early March morning (7am) with steam rising off the lake and random plantlife brushing the legs while kicking…glamorous stuff!
For a run – any number of school cross country runs as a kid in Windsor Great Park: the teachers never let us off, whatever the weather…at least the cold provided an incentive to run quickly
-5 c on 10k run during vacation in Switzerland. Beautiful views of the Alps and Lake Geneva made up for the cold.
Living and training in Ottawa. The temperature tends to get really low in the winter. Had a nice 12k run in -27C temperatures with a windchill of approximately -38C.
I tend to use a 5-minute rule for my runs: dress light enough so that for the first 5 minutes you are freezing!! For this run, I regretted every minute of my 5-minute rule. However, once I got moving, except for the tips of my fingers, I was actually really comfortable. And the route along the canal was absolutely empty except for a couple of regulars. All in all, it was a great run and a nice reminder that “too cold” is a really just a state of mind.
A couple of runs outside in neg temps with wind chill, but my least favorite is turning on the fan in the basement when riding the trainer. Warm up quick but that first 30 sec or so is brutal. Same with jumping in the pool after coming in from outside.
I run at Riverbank State park which is on the Hudson River here in NYC (USA). I had to do my long run on the track as running on the greenway by the river would have been suicide. This was during the infamous POLAR VORTEX. This was the longest run and in brutal cold. I had to wear my winter coat and hat over my running clothes. The wind was blowing so hard but I had to laugh because it was a track so half of the run was a massive headwind and the other half was a huge tailwind. I can laugh about it now that my face has thawed out.
Run yesterday here in Raleigh. It was in the 20s which wasn’t so bad but they don’t shovel the sidewalks or running trails here in Raleigh. It doesn’t snow enough here to justify Yaktrax, although if I had a $400 credit…
So, in Australia we’re not so used to cold. Just outside of Sydney this winter (a good few months ago now ;) ) , I got up early for a Saturday run and found it was 2 degrees Celsius. Pretty nippy, especially in my running shorts. Including wind chill, it got to about -1 . but I was so intent on training I didn’t feel anything until I finished, and realised while untying my shoes that our front deck was covered in thick frost.
Took half an hour until I was warm enough to brave getting under the shower.
7 Mile run around the section in 12 deg. Most of my running has been inside, South Dakota has been brutally cold this year.
Go Hawks!
Although I come from a fairly cold climate, I have certain chosen the wimpy way this winter and completed my exercise indoors.
However, when the Seahawks win, I will be running, biking, swimming, jumping and every other activity in any weather out of pure joy and celebration.
15 below in “Southern” Ohio. Sorry, I bailed and found an indoor track instead. The sprint from the parking lot to the front door was brutal though!
Downhill skiing at the local hill just after Boxing Day. It was -27C without any windchill. I’m pretty sure the hill should not have been open that day….
link to connect.garmin.com
Was only five miles, true. but actual temp was -8 and -23 with windchill! my wife was upset with me
My coldest was in December in Nova Scotia a 26km(16mi) in -19c(-2f) with a -30c(-22f) windchill. The water in my camel pack froze pretty early in the run.
Only 5k but it was 12 F and the wind was blowing 32 miles/hour off Lake Erie which the run was directly next to. Fun run though, the Garage Sale Run. We got to pick a shirt from all the previous races they’ve done and a medal from past races too. All for only $12.
I live in Las Vegas, so cold is a relative thing. Not a lot of cold. The cold run I had to deal with was more a cold/rain race. I had a trail run that was supposed to be a nice 12k. Right before the race the temperatures dropped and the skies opened for 2 straight days. Suddenly it was low 40’s and wet. Not fun for Las Vegas. To make it more interesting, the turn sign blew away and the volunteer got lost. So the 12k turned into a 15 mile trek through mud, rain, and cold. Ultimately still a fun day, but not great weather wise.
To Enter: The lowdown on my coldest ride…I commute 15 miles one way to work. I live in the Crown City of Coronado CA. Probably the most beautiful place on earth. I’m in the United States Navy, so I commute from my house to Naval Base San Diego and back. My coldest ride was about 45 degrees, with a strong cross wind at 0430. I know it is not nearly as cold as many that have posted on here. At 0430 in the morning, riding in cold weather, dark even with my nifty Axiom Lazer head light on high, pushing along at 20-22 mph is a chilly experience. Add to the fact I have suicidal rabbits to contend with, I have quite the morning commute! I still wouldn’t trade it for the world!
Sadly I’ve been too lazy to get outside. Does riding my bike on the trainer with the window open count?
Run in this cold weather? Are you kidding? I’m hibernating.
Living in Northern California, we’ve experienced 79 degrees F this winter. Not exactly cold. Running around in shorts and a tanktop throughout winter has been awesome.
Turkey day 10k race … it was 22 F with a slight wind chill making it feel 14 F. The run wasn’t bad at all, but standing around for an hour afterward, that’s when I froze!!!
In Chicago for a conference. Wound up on the Lakefront Trail. I was underdressed, and it was crazy windy. But it was a great run, and a planned 6 mile run turned into 16 1/2.
5K at 0 F. Not sure what the wind chill was, but thank heaven for Brooks Wind Briefs. The rest of me is still thawing out.
Mid December 2013, went out for a late run. I hadn’t been out that day (working from home) and didn’t pay attention to the forecast. It ended up being significantly below 0C that night and I was severely underdressed. 7km later, I couldn’t feel my fingers anymore and it took several minutes under scalding hot water once I got home to get some feelings back in them.
Not the best memory, now I check the weather each time
Earlier this winter, I rode from Arlington/Alexandria to my job in Ashburn VA (33ish miles), Starting temps were about 26, finish temps were about 20, but the wind chill was way way way worse. Took 30 minutes for my left foot to thaw enough to be able to feel it again when I got there. Arkansas never got this cold! Brrrr… Hopefully Clever Training has winter cycling shoes in stock. I really need some.
-Guillermo
12 mile technical MTB ride on a solid sheet of ice mid December. I’m a 98% road rider and decided to try my new SS 29er on it with 3 of my MTB buddies. One of which is a pro. Good memories to say the least.
HA!
I’m running around in Montreal so cold runs are a staple and frankly, winter is probably my favourite time of year for running. The coldest run this year was -40 Celcius with the windchill. It was a short midweek run of 4 miles and I was loving every minute of it. :) My ass was getting cold toward the end though so you can bet it was a negative split run!
Last Tuesday morning a bike commute in Houston in 30F. Not exactly polar but cold for Houston standards..
I’m weak. Treadmill and trainer this winter, running only when warm enough. BUT…my last two swims were on days when the temperature was less than 10F. Wet head, big parking lot, 7F – I think my hair was beginning to freeze. I know that *I* was beginning to freeze…
My coldest started at 52 and dropped to 46. Does it count that I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts? gottaloveflorida
I live in Tucson so my coldest training is like everyone else’s summer training! But, I did visit DC and ran across the Woodrow Wilson bridge in 0F in early January! I don’t even own the right clothes for that and am still trying to warm up from it.
Got a 5k in not long after New Year… -5C plus wind, so felt like -10/-15C. With proper clothes, it wasn’t that bad though. I’m sure I could go much lower.
16 degrees fixed gear MTB ride here in DC just last week. Actually not bad. Got the layering just right, but it took me 30 minutes to just get dressed!
Ok, so last winter (about 6 months ago as I’m in the southern hemisphere) I did a morning ride and coming down Montecute Road it was about 3 degrees Celsius and damp. Froze my fingers, toes and forehead!
My morning runs are usually in the low twenties. Coldest run this year was single digits.
Not too cold, only running and riding in the basement until March!
Commuting home in the rain one night in December on my bike despite forgetting my rain gear. Not that cold – 40? – but miserable wet.
Not too cold, maybe 35F but wet in the PNW.
The warmest ride I’ve had in over a month was 28F. The coldest was around -10F. Life in Minnesota!
In mid december my long-run group managed to stick to our guns and brave the 35F temps for a trail run. We’re in California, so this was like acetic temps for us. So cold I had to wear a long sleeve shirt and my poor finger hurt. Gosh.
We finally got some snow over here in Norfolk so I got the chance to test my heart in 20 degree weather. Well it just so happen that my heart tested fine but my toes didn’t. I forgot my Altra running shoes had vents for air so halfway through my workout it felt like I was running on nubs.
A miserable early morning ride last week at 6am with 32F. I know it doesn’t sound that cold, but it was just awful. I promised myself not to ride anymore that early in the morning. I have zero cold tolerance!
I thought “the snow isn’t that deep, I can still ride…” and I was right, for a while. I managed to get an hour in frolicking about the neighborhood and raising eyebrows before a good old fashioned wipe-out. All this in New Jersey and the first of many snows in this crazy winter. Polar vortex = go to the gym.
My coldest this year was -14 deg C. Calgary, AB Canada.
Enjoyed a brisk morning run (@ 9 °F) here in the Chattanooga area on Wednesday the 29th. Absolutely exhilarating!
Cold december run or a wet/windy ride the next day. Not many cold days in Southern California as of late…
14 degree mile run on Christmas day in Pennsylvania…definitely my fastest mile time as I just wanted to get indoors and to the ham dinner awaiting! Now I’m being spoiled in SoCal.
Coldest outdoor runs and rides are usually 40F, but I did a tri with temps of 46F outside and the 400m swim with no wetsuit was COLD, especially that run to T1!
So here in Minnesota we typically have to refer to windchill. Coldest run this year was -23 windchill….frozen eyelashes.
First Saturday after New Year’s. I needed to start my new year’s resolution and start running again. 12*F. It wasn’t a “fun” beginning, but I did a couple miles before I felt like my lungs were frozen. I started looking at treadmills immediately online after getting home.
I’ve run when it’s like -40, but that was pretty much a straight dash into the house so not very long