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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
Friday night: scenic commute home via bike (only 16ish miles)
Saturday: Skiing
Saturday 5.7 mile run on the Sacramento River Trail with my running buddies.
Sunday is always my rest day. :)
Off day on Saturday since I am working a double shift, easy 4 miles on Sunday after my flight down to Florida.
120 min Z2 @90rpm ride on Saturday
120 min Z2 @90rpm (4x10min @80rpm Z3/Z4 w/10-15min Z2 recovery @90rpm) muscular endurance ride on Sunday
Light jog on saturday morning and some strenght cycles on sunday.
Nothing fancy :)
Recovery Weekend – Strength Train Upper Body on Saturday and Sunday is walk for 60 min and then off to Church to reset my soul.
First Tri of the season. The Parris Island triathlon in Beaufort, SC
4 hours of riding. 1 of which will be the dreaded… Hill Repeats!
Racing the Rocket Run 10 miler on Saturday!
Long ride on Saturday and long run on Sunday.
I’m doing my first Half Marathon at the Shamrock in Virginia Beach…
I NEED to win… this ole retired guy (you know… fixed income and all…) can’t afford to buy a decent Tri GPS watch but I sure need one!
Hour tt, 15 min run tt. Sunday 45 minute run
Saturday – 15k row on erg
Sunday – 7 miler thru the park
To Enter: Give me your weekend workout plans. Simple as that!
In addition, I will be hammering on the bike, running a ton of hills and water boarding myself in preparation for IMLP!
13 mile run on Saturday, swim workout on Sunday
I will be spending my weekend recovering from Wisdom Tooth extraction, possibly spending time Mediating on the matter and gulping liquids. OUCH!
13km this morning (Friday) circuit training class tomorrow morning and trail run Sunday morning.
3.14 mile run today, a few miles with the dog tomorrow, and 10-mile long run on Sunday. Have a great weekend!
I’m in a get-back-on-the-wagon training period. Slow going. Early morning session on the bike trainer Saturday, followed by a 5 mile dog walk. Sunday is “endurance day” with a repeat bike trainer session and another 30-45 minutes on the elliptical. Shorter dog walk with the cold weather coming back through. Dreaming about pancakes as the ideal recovery feast…
30 min run on Saturday and a 6-8 mile run on Sunday.
Well, um, actually a pretty nice little Saturday, we’re going to go to Home Depot. Yeah, buy some wallpaper, maybe get some flooring, stuff like that. Maybe Bed, Bath, & Beyond, I don’t know, I don’t know if we’ll have enough time.
Seriously, that’s what I’m doing (trying to sneak in a couple quick runs in the morning too)
65 mile club ride on Saturday and maintenance Sunday!
Friday 3x1mile interval training
Sat just some easy fitness
Sun 12 mile slow run
This weekend I’ll run once again, maybe 4-5 miles. I haven’t run since my disappointing LA Marathon performance on Sunday.
Sat: Open water morning swim , 80 min run @ marathon pace
Sunday: 4 hour ride
I’m doing a 30 minute run tonight, masters and weights tomorrow, and and indoor bike class on Sunday,
Race Saturday then Sunday taking my girlfriends young cousin out for a ride ( might drop him home after a few miles!)
Tri Training
Saturday- 1000m swim workout in the morning and a 6-7 mile run in the evening!
Sunday- 40 mile bike ride
Saturday: 10k run in Edinburgh followed by a visit to the physio for a leg massage (aka my new foam roller)
Sunday: 50-60 mile club ride heading north of Glasgow city centre to do some hill repeats, depending on which way the wind blows… here’s to breaking out the short sleeved jerseys for Spring!
Sat: Crossfit and 40′ swim. Possibly test out the TT bike with an easy hour.
Sun: Long swim workout and medium tempo run.
Wow, marvellous!
sat: easy 8km between my son’s polevault meeting and diner w/friends; sun: 17—23km of hilly trail in the forest before the polevault competition.
Happy St. Pat!
After having a Bod Pod test, V02max test, and talking to a doctor who is a cyclist all within the past three weeks I’ve learned that my running program for the last five or so years has been totally wrong. So, I’ll be on the treadmill monitoring my BPM’s in order to build the aerobic base I never had. At least running is fun again!
Saturday 65 mile bike ride
Sunday 10 mile run
TrainerRoad + KICKR because it is still too cold outside!
Saturday morning run of 10 km, and sunday another 10 km to complete my weekly goal. Thank you for this great post.
Saturday:
60 min hilly run with some uphill strides, 60 min swimming (100s at T-Pace)
Sunday:
Bike workout: 90 minutes trainer hills
50 km run in the trails! AFter that, just watching a sprint tri
I’ve started workout today with a 13kms road run for first try of my new Mizuno’s aero wave shoes!
On Saturday, I’ll be a great supporter of my son’s handball team for their match.
Then I’ll join my wife’s family for a cool week-end in The Vercors mountains.
And perhaps I’ll run there a small trail workout on Sunday.
Enjoy your weekend, all of you!
Thierry.
Saturday—heading to Folsom CA for a training “fun run” covering the first half (new) of the American River 50-Mile Endurance run
Sunday—10 miles to complete my 60-mile week and then a local Masters swim meet!
Run 10 miles Saturday and set up my Vivofits for the wife and son and myself. Go the the gym for strength training on Saturday and Sunday.
2x5K runs, 2xpostworkouts 20 min.
I will start with a saturday morning/ late friday bicycle tune up and a 1 – 2 hours ride, for sunday a 2 mile recovery run
2500 m swim on Saturday and 40 mile ride on Sunday
I am training for my first 1/2 marathon and am in the 6th week of a 12 week training plan. Saturday I am running 4 miles and Sunday 8 miles.
Shamrock 5k on Sat. then green beer until Tuesday!
Run on Sat; race volunteer on Sunday:)
40:00 run on Saturday
1:30:00 run + 30 on the bike on Sunday
*Running is not work; it is meditation*
A couple of easy trainer rides after a few months off for a knee injury.
6.5, 6.5, 5
Just starting to ramp up. Cumulative fatigue
30km Mountain Bike …. hell yeah…
Run Friday evening/ followed by excessive wine
Saturday Dim Sum in Chinatown, no exercise
Sunday Bike Ride — first with new wheels
Sat: 2000 mts swim
Sun: 12-14ks easy run
Saturday is a 10K easy run in the morning
Sunday might have to be a rest day depending on how Ireland get on in the 6 nations :)
Saturday brick and Sunday long run!
Light run on Saturday Morning, 90km Bike on Sunday.
Two 1.5-2 hour bike rides. One ride will be at a relaxed pace. The other will include some intervals.
Loooooooooooooooooooong. Out before the girls wake up and back just in time to join them for lunch.
10km Friday
7km Saturday
12km Sunday
I will be biking (outside if the New England weather happens as predicted) and then taking my son ice skating.
Today I did 20 minute warm up @5:20/km followed by some dynamic stretching and 3*800@3:20 per repeat(don’t laugh I forgot my Garmin @ Home ). Saturday it’s gonna be sort of a 12km trail run. Pace TBD . Sunday is either going to be cycling a 40k or rest depending on how Saturday night is going to be sexwise .
This weekends workout:
Friday:
Computrainer ride:
5min ez and calibrate.
10min of SLT x:30.
5min ez.
10min spin-ups x:30/:30 (:10 at 110rpms, :10 at 120, :10 at 130, :30 at 90rpms).
5min ez.
10min of SLT x :30.
5min of ez.
10min of spin-ups.
5min ez.
10min SLT.
10min spin-ups x:30.
5min ez.
Plan is not to go over 150watts on any of these. Gearing up for Saturday and Sunday training.
Swim:
3000 speed/strength swim.
w/up: 300ch w/up (switch it up), 6x 50dr/fr w/fins (sculling), 12x 100 (desc 1-3), 12x 50 (25fast/ 25ez), 100ez. 200 ez, 300fins. Work hard on every third 100 of the main set.
Saturday:
1hr 30min spin class or if time on CompuTrainer ride. 5min ez and calibrate, 14min spin ups x :30, 1min ez. MS: 20x (1min 165watts, 2min 135watts). 10min cool down. MS at 100rpms. stay seated the entire time. Then a Brick run: Easy run off the bike. Goal is to keep the cadence high, especially the first 5min.
Sunday:
2-3hr Long ride. Plan is to get with a group if possible. Focus on keeping my cadence high the entire ride.
Monday: St Pat day!!
going to the gym :) Have done enough cycling this week.
Following Training peaks virtual coach:
Saturday: Strength workout
Sunday: 4-5×20 seconds fast on soft, gentle downhill
Friday and Saturday: Try to finally get over that flu.
Sunday: ~12 km run in woods, enjoying that spring is finally here.
It’s a yoga and soccer weekend, I’ve been adding soccer to the training plan and it does great for my running pace. It’s a lot easier to motivate myself to do interval sprints when I’m trying to beat someone to the ball instead of just going around a track or trying to fartlek to the next intersection.
1100m swim + ~50 mile ride on Saturday
Half marathon race “Lucky 13.1” on Sunday
Last big weekend before Oceanside 70.3!
Most likely: runing for about an hour and short ride on indoor trainer. Terrible forecast here for the weekend. Otherwise would have ridden my bike for ~3 hours.
Mountain biking 20miles of singletrack then running 5 miles Sunday to mobilize lactic acid.
Saturday I plan on running eight miles in honor of Jamie Rowley (a single mother killed while running Wed 3/11/14 morning) #RunForJamie. This could have happened to any one of us….we all need to be careful and wear reflective gear while running the streets in the early morning. On Sunday I plan on running five miles…I’m challenging myself to run more miles this month (goal is 100 miles).
Saturday: long brick: 5hr bike ride +35 min transition run
Sunday: 90 min run(3×30 mins) in the AM. PM is 1 hr bike ride(trainer) easy in small chain ring
early am swim Saturday
80 min run pm Saturday
fly to Mallorca with cycle club Sunday (40 mile leg stretcher pm)
60 min indoor ride, 45 min swim
Sat
60 min indoor ride, out door run brick 30 min
Saturday my 6yo doughters birthday
Sunday 10 miles run to burn all the cake I will eat on saturday
30 min swim, 6 mile run Saturday and 10 mile run Sunday.
Saturday: 53 mile ride maintaining high cadence.
Sunday: 1.2mile OWS at race pace
Doing my first road race (ever) this weekend with my team!
3 hours steady saturday on the bike in the sun in northern france, followed by either another 3 hours steady on sunday or 2 hours intervals, depending on how late saturday night is…
20 mile road run on Saturday, and then an easy run on the beach on Sunday
Rock and Roll 1.2 Marathon – DC!
new band workout — 5 sets or 6 exercises 30 seconds on 30 seconds rest
6 miler tomorrow before the 22 miler on Sunday in prep for the Paris Marathon.
I’m still getting back into the swing of things, but tomorrow will be a short 3-3.5 mile easy run (still on the treadmill here in Minnesota), and Sunday will be a 6 mile long run (trying to gear up for a half marathon training program starting in June).
3 mi at race pace Saturday; 8 mi one minute slower than race pace. All on vacation in FL.
Run and bike on Saturday, swim and bike on Sunday. Of course, hangovers could get in the way…
i would love to say ime out mtb all wkend but ive just had my scaphoid removed and bones fused, so my activity all wkend is recovery.
Good luck everyone
I have a 5-6 mile hike tomorrow as part of training for a backpacking trip to Philmont in June.
Missing NYC Half due to stress fracture. Lots of crying and any some quality time with the elliptical . Maybe some swimming.
Bachelor party saturday night and racing superseal tri sunday morning… should be interesting.
Well, the best weather this weekend looks like its going to be 8-11pm on Saturday night. So since there is a full moon this weekend, I might just have to take the Cyclocross bike over to the Alligator Wildlife Refuge and do a moonlight ride. Intervals will be riding away from bears.
Hour swim tonight followed by a rest day tomorrow and 18K run Sunday to make room for lots of Guinness monday !
Stair repeats at Mount (more like a hill…) Bonnell on Saturday. 50 mile “dam loop” on the bike on Sunday, followed by an obscene amount of breakfast tacos
13 mile easy run Sat. morning. Probably some core + general strength on Sunday.
I will go for a slow “run” on sunday because I was lazy over the last cold weeks :/
Saturday : interval : 20x1min.
Sunday: 30km bike or a short run.
2.5 mile run on Sat
One of the Sufferfests videos, in TrainerRoad!
Because the weather is so crappy I plan on riding the trainer,LeMond spinner bike,I’m going to ride my age in minutes (76).
I have a 15K run scheduled for Saturday morning and a 100K ride on Sunday morning in hot and muggy climes of Mumbai.
I have a 36 minutes run (4×9 minutes), then a 80 km bike ride, 4x20km, then a 25 min walk on saturday….
Sunday will be a 2.000m swim …
Monday will be a rest day :-)… But no beer for me :-(…
12 mi. run Sunday. One week until Publix Georgia Marathon on March 23.