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.
Run in the 12in of fresh powder we have.
Trail running, hiking, and skiing in Colorado’s San Juans. Gotta love Spring!
hopefully a 10 mile run before it snows again
4-5 hr rides on Saturday and Sunday
Sat: Skill swim (60 min) – Long interval Bike (115 min)
Sun: Tempo Run (60 min) – Strength (30 min)
The snow here melted this week! I’m finally going to put in some time on my new road bike.
Saturday will be a rest day, and on sunday I will take this years first outdoor bike ride! Hopefully ca 30km, nice and easy. Unless it snows that is…
Saturday: morning: yoga for 45 minutes. 75kms cycling on the famous ECR East Coast road in Chennai followed by a 10k run in Besant Nagar.
Sunday: 100 km cycling to Mahabalipuram rock temples and back. If I have energy left, I do another 10k run.
I’ll be running a 10K race on Saturday and will try to get a long run in Sunday
32k long run for Alexander the Great Marathon
saturday – speed work, sunday – long run, monday – recovery
I’ll have a 35km longrun, the last 6 with higher pace. All this on the sunny Lake of Thun, Switzerland :)
Friday night trail run of 15-18 miles in Stoney Creek, PA!
Saturday: hometrainer during the storm i DK. Sunday: small 5 run with co-workers.
Saturday: 2 hour hike with the dog.
Sunday: 70-80 not-too-hilly miles on the bike.
I’m running the Rock and Roll half marathon this sat here on DC and on sunday a 3hour bike ride maybe on the trainer cause the weather and that.
Long ride Saturday followed by a long run on Sunday.
Sat: Going for a ~20 mile long run, the last 10 being with a group. Will finish my workout out downtown for a parade and beer!
Then Sunday will be recovery. Possibly recovery run or St. Patrick’s Day recovery.
Bike: We will be riding on “time” for the first stretch of training. 2 hours 30 minutes today followed by a quick t-run.
Run: Again, running on “time”. 20 minutes. Immediately following your ‘long’ ride for the week. Make a quick transition and get out on your run.
Saturday: 30 Km biking
Recovery, taking it easy this weekend.
20k long run Saturday and some laps in the swimming pool Sunday as recovery.
Cheers
Sat: 3, 20 min intervals in my third heart rate zone on the trainer (+warm up/cool down)
Sun: 1 hour recovery on rollers + Maintenance workout
This weekend I’m doing a barre class and going for an 8k hike. Looking forward to enjoying some spring sunshine.
Saturday: yoga for 45 minutes. 75kms cycling on the famous ECR East Coast road in Chennai followed by a 10k run.
Sunday: 100 km cycling to Mahabalipuram rock temples and back. If I have energy left, I do another 10k run.
Mountain bike. Still figuring out how to get aero bars on there.
“Weekend workout plans” ? I wished. Still waiting for an injury to heal. So, in stead of mountainbiking 8 hours this week-end (what would have been the plan) the workout will consist of some gardening, a light walk and maybe a short ride on the stationary bike.
Saturday 110km bike ride organized by a local club. More or less a form test for the first race in about 5 weeks. Sunday Running, but how long will depend on how the legs feel. Might just be a short run followed by lots of lazyness on the couch…
Fri: short run
Sat: 5k race; pacing my lady
Sun: Rest/Relax/Eat/Drink/BeMerry
Plan is a 80k ride with 15′ transition on saturday and a 10mile run on sunday.
Both at easy pace.
Trail work for TRT 100 Saturday then leading a trail run for 12 to 14 miles.
After one weeks vacation/skiing its time to start running again. Maybe 18km in almost-half-marathon pace on Sunday evening.
Although I’m feeling a little bit under the weather, I do have some training planned: swimming and running saturday, sunday a little bit of cycling.
13km on Saturday
27km long run on Sunday
Saturday: 4miles in the morning
Sunday: 7 miles with my run team
Upper body circuit: (45n60)x4
i) Push ups with both hands on a medicine ball (can be same or different sizes)
ii) Hammer curls
iii) Eccentric push ups,(can do from knees) start at top position and lower yourself for a count of ten, return to start position however you want, repeat
Lower body circuit: (45n60)x4
i) Alternate side step up and step down; up one side and down the other- repeat
ii) Jump Squats
iii) Wall ball squats on 1 leg with dumbbell or kettlebell in opposite hand. Go up and down keeping the shoulders level!
Core circuit: (60n90)x4
i) V-sit crunches aka Jack-knife sit ups
ii) Seated Russian twists with medicine ball on a bench or chair (can do this on a Swiss ball to increase difficulty)
iii) Swiss ball pull in; pull the ball in at an angle, alternating sides each rep
Fri: Rest
Sat: 20 mile ride
Sun: 3 mile run or, if snow, 1800m pool workout.
Fri: 10k run
Sat: Hour of power laps at Regent’s followed by watching Revolution at the Velodrome, one hour indoor pool laps
Sun: S-R-S brick, 30′-5k-30′
Cheers!
3h ride saturday & 1h easy run sunday
This weekend: BBQ and pizza!
Spent all week off my feet because of a bad cold that I blame on a 10mile run the weekend before wearing a cotton tshirt (crazy, I know). The clouds covered whatever sun there was and the wind picked up proper good so kind of expected this outcome towards the end of my run.
Probably doing 4 easy miles on the treadmill to start slowly.
I would love to get the neat new Suunto Ambit 2 R!!!!
Sat:
8:30 AM 70 mi Bike
3:00 PM 1h Swim
11:00 PM club dancing (b-day party)
Sun
8:30 AM 14mi Run follow by recover 1000 m swim
5 miles easy on Sat. Running Shamrock Half with wife on Sunday.
Sat: Fat bike groomed roads in the early AM (when they’re firm), AT skiing in the late AM, tele-ski the afternoon on-area.
Sun: repeat Sat plan
Sat: Long interval Bike (120 min)
Sun: Long Run (120 min)
Friday: 45 minute tempo run
Sat: Easy 4 mile trails
Sun: 12 miles with a gradual speed progression.
Brick on Sat.
Weights on Sun.
Sat: 1h gym + 10-15km running
Sun: Rest.
Saturday:
5 mile run
Attending 3-yr old nephew’s birthday party on Saturday morning
1.5 hr bike trainer session on TrainerRoad
If weather is nice then a walk somewhere
Sunday:
1.5 hr bike trainer session on TrainerRoad
7-8 mile run
Afternoon swim. Distance TBD
Cookies
1 hour easy run tomorrow, 3 hour longrun on Sundat including 1 hour marthonpace (4:00 min/km)
That’s going to sound a bit lazy, but the workout for Saturday is yoga (yes!) and on Sunday I plan either an easy run or 30 minutes on an elliptical (because weather forecast says it’s going to be terribly cold).
Cambridge 5K Craicfest (link to cambridge5k.com). The whole series is definitely among the best organized I’ve ever come across.
A pair of 6 mile runs, one at tempo pace and the other as recovery.
Sat – Sufferfest RubberGlove test
Sun – Snowboarding with my daughter
Saturday : 1 hour swim + 60km ride
Sunday : 80km ride + 10km run
Saturday: 9K run+ some core workout
Sunday: 45 min on bike trainer + cookies (yes, cookies are part of my weekend training)
Tabata Intervals Saturday (3 sets – 8 intervals of 20 second s@ 400w with 10 seconds rest and Alpe d’Huez Sunday on my Cycleops IC400 trainer in Canadian Winter weather (beware the Ides of March in Toronto)
Doing my regular 100km cycling this weekend.
Easy run Friday. 6 miles tempo Saturday. Hike with the kids Sunday.
Saturday: 2+ hour bike
Sunday: half marathon. Aiming for my first sub-2 hour.
sat: 31km at 4:50/km
sun: nothing :)
8.5 mile run Saturday morning. Lifting pints of ale Saturday afternoon watching the six nations. 25 mile cycle + 5 mile run Sunday.
I will be doing some weight training Saturday (Back and abs). Sunday I am signed up for the inaugural Fort Lauderdale Shamrock Run. It is a 4 mile up and back course along Fort Lauderdale’s famous Las Olas Blvd. Afterwards they will be serving green beer and green eggs and ham. Should be short quick and fun. I’m really looking forward to it.
On Saturday, 12k on the beach (looking forward to some sunny weather). On Sunday, I’m going to do a short run (25-35 minutes) followed by swimming some laps (at least 1000m) at the local YMCA.
Saturday – Bike to the gym and then take cycling class + couple laps in the pool
Sunday – 10k run and tennis
saturday morning gardening, afternoon gym
20min warm-up ride interval
3×30 squats
3×30 step-up
3×30 lunges
3×30 leg curl
3×30 leg extension
3×30 leg press
30 min cool down ride D1
Sunday 120km ride D1
Have a great one
Two hr ride on my bike is all I have planed work out wise this weekend.
Long run. Training for a half
parkrun Poole
Rugby
Long Run
Guinness
Sleep
I broke my ankle skiing mid-January and had my cast off 2 weeks ago. My workout plans for this weekend include stretching and strengthening the joint, and my main aim is to go for a walk, totally unaided, without crutches and a walking brace. Walking unaided for the first time in 2 months… wish me luck!!
crossfit + 3 hour ride saturday+beer on saturday
10 mile run + Bowling + beer + swim sunday
Bike race on Sunday & post race beer!
A run of about 5 kilometer in the parc.
Easy spin on the bike Saturday. 20-mile running race Sunday
Nothing tonight. Schwinn Airdyne or Concept 2 tomorrow, and a cross country ski on Sunday.
Snows melting quick, have to get it in before its all gone.
1h easy running on saturday, 3h mountain biking on sunday!
I ran 10 miles at lunch today and since it is a low week in Flying Pig Marathon training I will run the 13.1 miles of the Mini Heart Marathon on Sunday. Oh yeah and I should probably get in the pool and swim a few laps to prepare for that Muncie 70.3.
Saturday: 100k bike ride
Sunday: 150k bike ride
For saturday i’l go for +100km on bike and for sunday a 5k run.
Sufferfest as over here the haze has gotten to an unhealthy level and need to stay indoors.
Local orienteering race on Saturday.
hoping to get out in the morning to at least go for a walk. been dealing with a nagging injury for too long
Well I am still recovering from a deep bone bruise in my knee, so the weekend will probably be spent watching other people exercising.
A 40-50 mile bike ride on a sunny Saturday afternoon, while a rainy Sunday will force me onto my Wahoo Kickr or an hour or two.
Training shchedule for the weekend
Saturday: Bike = 65k, Swim = 1500m, Run = 12k
Sunday: OFF
I love your blog! I plan on finally getting my long run up to a respectable distance. First one of the new year! Thanks for your awesome giveaways!
One hour trainer Saturday
6 miler on Sunday
Ea
Hit the gym today
Bike 2 hours tomorrow
Run intervalls 10 x 200m with walk 200m
That should do it.
Long ride on Saturday…Easy on Sunday….
A 20mi mountain bike ride and a rest day
Sat. night trail run – 30 km/+1500 vm
Explore more of the forest trails near my home
Saturday just a little run with my dog and some crossrunning on Sunday morning this time without the dog – otherwise she gets faster fare too quick…
I hope I’ll get to do a loop around the waterfront, or maybe a run in the forest. I’ll have to ask my two sons (both under two). ☺
Saturday will probably be a 3-5mi run and then Sunday will be a 7-8mi run.
Racing a St Patricks day 4 miler, and a long run of 90+
Saturday 16 miles moderate 7:45 pace
Sunday 12 miles easy 8:30 pace
short run saturday with the dog, longer run sunday (dog tbd). Watching F1 in between.
Enjoy the spring sunshine on a ride in the Surrey hills uk
Miles and hours of saddle time probably involving multiple loops to get more distance in. My area isn’t that great for long distance so using GPS and online route finding are imperative.