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!
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:
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/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!
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 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.
1.5 hours on the roller both days. Afternoon ride or snowshoe on Saturday. Skiing at Jackson Hole on Sunday. It’s Wyoming!
NYC Half Marathon on Sunday
I plan on doing a long run with some 15min intervals at the beginning and end. I also plan on starting a Tai Chi program!
Currently training for a 10 mile race in April. Resting today after a fartlek, but looking forward to the 11 miler tomorrow on the trails!
Rest day on Saturday and the Sacramento’s Shamrock’n Half Marathon on Sunday.
Walking around IKEA Saturday morning with a 5 mile or so run in the evening. Weight lifting on Sunday.
Saturday:
1/2h YAYOG, 1h Zone2 run
Sunday
1/2h YAYOG, 1h Sufferfest, 1/2h run
Saturday I’ve a 3:15 Z2 bike on my first clip on aero bars. 15 min run off the bike.
Sunday is 2:15 Z2 run and 30 min 100+ rpm on the turbo.
I’m following Don Fink’s new 70.3 plan for my first HIM, Malaga Apr 27th.
Will get an extra session in Mon as its a bank holiday here in Ireland :D
I’ll be chasing my kids around, which is more than enough of a workout for anyone… Amazing work you do on this site, Ray!
Training for Paris Marathon in April. Easy run on Saturday. Lisbon half-marathon on Sunday (at marathon Pace).
a visit to the chiropractor… and a run on sunday, if i’m feeling up to it :/ obviously not at the peak of my game right now!
Saturday is a gentle 8K run and Sunday a 18K run with some fast intervals.
REST! IT Band (I think) is acting up, hoping that few days rest will do the trick!
Traveling to Va Beach for the Shamrock Running festival. And then running the Half marathin on Sunday.
10km run in training for the wolf run. Followed by 1hr strength training and then the hardest part, hovering the house
This sunday is the Lisbon Half Marathon, one of the most beatiful races in the world! Which by the way sold out again (40k people running on our golden bridge).
link to meiamaratonadelisboa.com
This will be my first half marathon; so, on saturday i have a series of sprints 10*100m together with a 3km chill out just to keep my legs awaken.
I have to do a 4 mile run and a 9 mile run between today and Sunday!
Saturday will include a 10-11 miler as my weekend long run. Sunday my recovery run with our dog will be 1-2 miles.
10 miler on the trails in preparation for the Crazy Desert Trail Race. Then REST Sunday.
saturday: recovery day :)
sunday: 20km run
Saturday: 05:00 Powerbreathe start of the day workout, 05:30 Long run, 21 km, with the dog
Sunday: 07:00 Morning swim workout, 12:00 Oviratlon obstacle challenge winter edition, 17:00 Cycling, 25 km, easy spin off.
Recovery week – shorter ride on Sat and run on Sunday + swim
1h run saturday and 2h on my tacx trainer sunday morning
Its almost mountain bike race season. Im hitting the trails and maybe putting some saddle time in on the road bike.
My plan is to BQ at the Shamrock Marathon in Va Beach!
Saturday 10 km Biathlon race
Sunday 12.5km pursuit race. If I did not qualify for the pursuit then double pole session.
With Tropical Cyclone Lusi bearing down it will be a brave weekend of riding! :)
Sat: Club Race – Race of 60km in the local hills with an hour before and after.
Sun: Charity MTB Race fundraising for Ruel Foundation Fiji providing surgery for kids with facial deformities.
Saturday: 70 K – BIKE
Sunday 12 – 15 K RUN
Saturday: 4h endurance ride and 1h swimming.
Sunday: 2h endurance run.
A couple of hours on the bike on Saturday. Hour run on Sunday.
Saturday 30+k and sunday rest or swimming, depending on how I feel.
I plan on taking a nice long swim and fit in a hike with the hubby and kiddos!
On Saturday 45min run, on Sunday 2:40h long run.
I was planning bike training on Saturday but weather is ugly :(
Long run in the sunshine. Just entered for Frankfurt marathon.
I woke up this morning to 38F — Spring is coming…. but to my dismay my long run tomorrow will be 16 miles @ 14F.
Hopefully I will also get a total of ~2:15 on the trainer as well, broken into an easy 45 and a moderate / tempo focused 90 minute ride.
I’ll be outside again eventually.
Popping up along the Rock n Roll Half route to cheer on friends and trail running in Rock Creek Park.
This weekend includes lots of eating and sleeping in small bursts with an unknown amount of riding and running mixed in thanks to our three week old son.
Saturday: no workout, because I’m racing the Rock and Roll half marathon in DC!
Sunday: 5-6 mile recovery run at an easy pace.
As this weekend is my daughters second birthday I’m scaling back my training a fair bit.
Sat:
10m wu
4×10 interval set at sprint pace with 1 min rest
10m cool down
Sun:
1 hour tempo ride with 30 min brick at sprint pace
19 miles in 2:07
Saturday: long slow run in preparation of my first real trail run ever next week; I’ll be running without any HRM or any other device, ‘naked’, ‘free’ or however you want to describe it ;-)
Sunday: bicycle training trip with the local team, 90ish km
Couple of bike rides to enjoy the sun!
Depends on how far I go today, but otherwise, probably a 25 mile bike ride on Saturday and a 4-6 miler on Sunday Morning. Next week will be Disney with a 6 and a 4 year old. That’s a fair amount of workout right there! Thanks for the blog. Really love it.
Weekend 17 km run walk run for vienna halfmarathon
I plan to a park run on sat for a bit of speed work followed by a 14 mile lsr in sunday. Ill also work in a bit od a strength work out and so yoga and stretching to keep me from getting tight
Saturday – 4 hour ride with one long climb
Sunday – 1:30 recovery ride
1:15 run with tempo efforts
Last long run b4 half marathon – 10 miles Saturday. Swim 1500 total Sunday.
Now spring has arrived in the UK – 13 miles in 4mm xero shoes along the canal & a 5 mile barefoot recovery run
Saturday: Bike 2 hrs (Z2-Z3), 4 mile run
Sunday: Bike 2.5 hrs, 3x 15:00 @threshold
Sat. = Brick Day, 1:30 bike ride the 30min marathon pace run
Sun. = :15min Tubing set followed by 50min run
Long bike on Saturday, long run on Sunday.
2:15 Bike z2 Saturday to Quick 15 min run.
1:00 Bike z1 to z2 100+ cadence and 1:15 z2 run Sunday
Cycle leading course tomorrow and then gentle run, swim and cycle on Sunday hopefully.
Long run on Saturday. Rest on Sunday.
Hi! I’m so happy with this giveaway. Finally i have the opportunity to have a watch. Woohoo!!
On Saturday I’m going to swim 3.000 mts easy. And on Sunday I have a 10k Race Runtouravianca
It’s supposed to be decent weather in Seattle this weekend, so I plan to go find a new trail I haven’t been on on Saturday!
50 mile bike tomorrow
9 mile run “half and half”
Bike tune-up in advance of a race next weekend, and 2 hour sufferfest all the while desperately hoping the winter will end.
Saturday and Sunday: Two very short run’s 4-5k as part of my foot recovery from plantar fasciitis. First time in Hoka One One – hope they will help me out and give my problematic foot some love.
45′ Fartlek
40 mile ride on Saturday
Run a 10K Sunday morning
It’s going to be sunny in Portland, so I have no plans other than to be outside on my bike as much as possible! I think it’s time to get off the trainer!
Swim with masters swim team Sat, for one hour. Sunday ride for 25-30 miles.
Tandem ride with my girlfriend if I am able to talk her into it.
Saturday : 5 km run.
Sunday : 9 km uphill Trek
indo row/strength class tonight, running the St. Malachi 5 miler in Cleveland tomorrow, 1 hour indo row plus 30 minutes yoga on sunday
40m run on Saturday and night of dancing at Transmission party in Slovakia ;-). Sunday is for sleeping.
Crossfit and probably a 3 mile run.
An easy 5 tomorrow. And 10 with a few race pace thrown in the middle for Sunday.
I’m running 7 miles easy today, 8 miles on Saturday, and 16 miles on Sunday, training for my fourth marathon with the Hansons Marathon Method!
The workout this weekend will be the DC Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon !!
Two five mile runs.
5 mile trail run followed by a weekend in Napa wine country!
10 mile trail/mountain run off the Newport Coast on Saturday, then I’ll be hurting Sunday!
Saturday – rest
Sunday – Wrightsville Beach Half Marathon!
Saturday: rest
Sunday:link to trail.rouffach-athletisme.org :)
Saturday morning bike ride!
Long rides with Trainerroad.com Saturday and Sunday and a short run on Sunday.
Gym and some endurance training with trainer.
Gait retraining, 2 min run, 1 min walk x6. Investment in the future I hope!
Saturday
1 hr swim
1.5 hr run
1.25 hr yoga
Sunday
1.5 hr bike
Will run Saturday for 5-6 miles then Sunday will be a long run of 15-16 miles on the Boston Marathon course in prep for next months race.
1st ride of the spring in Lancashire on Saturday followed by a slow run out on Sunday. Not ran for a long time to it will be slow!
Test riding the new build Saturday morning while the girlfriend gets in an 18mi training run for Boston in just 5 weeks. Might have to be in the office both days this weekend and will put in a little time on the treadmill if so, please the St Paddy’s Day 5k in South Boston on Sunday. I hate the cold and I’m glad it’s almost gone.
Since the weather still sucks I’m going to try and get in as many kettebell swings as possible this weekend :)
Rim 2 rim 2 rim training plan, week 1:
6 mile run saturday, 3 mile run Sunday.
Need to get back out there! Hopefully going to go for a short 3 mile run. Need to wake up these old bones!
Saturday : 1h biking + 30min runnning
Sunday: 4h biking
Saturday I’ll do a 10-mile long run as part of my half-marathon training. Hopefully the weather will be nice enough that I can do it on the trail instead of on the treadmill (like the last few weeks). Sunday I’ll probably do a short walk with my dog, just to work any stiffness out.
I’ve got a 5 hr ride followed by a 30 min run on Saturday, and a 2500m swim and 1hr 20 min run on Sunday. This is going to be fun!
Saturday: 2 Hr Trail Run w/ 2000′
Sunday: Yoga
Fingers crossed for the coveted Fenix 2 (my birthday is fast approaching! wink, wink; nudge, nudge)
Weekend workout plan involves running around the house chasing after my son at his bed time.
St. Patricks Day themed 5k on Saturday and weights on Sunday!
Saturday morning hills on the road bike, Sunday night full moon ride on the mtn. bike.
Saturday – Long run
Sunday – Rest
I’d been happy with a 10km run-around on Saturday afternoon and swimming on Monday morning
Running then house shopping, followed by a long ride on Sunday.
10mi trail run sat, then some speed work on sunday in prep for an upcoming 10k
Downhill Skiing and trying out more telemark skiing in Idaho.
Hopefully it will be dry enough for a 30-40 mile bike ride.