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.
Planning to do the Buckeye Challenge in Aug in Sprinfield OH
Columbia Triathlon!!! Woo hoo!! Now that we know it’s really happening, finally, at last…And, my goal is to do significantly better than last year, not just a pr, but a PR.
My next race is the Chicago Marathon – Sub 4:00.
Next race is Wounded Veteran 10K in Folsom, CA on Memorial Day. Hope to finish in under an hour.
Wineglass marathon in October, looking for sub 3:20. Craving some fast downhill sections after dealing with the endless uphill climbs at the Gettysburg marathon a couple of weeks ago.
Local spring tri in Lake in the Hills – to finish
Ironman Mont Tremblant 70.3, June 22nd, sub 5:30.
Macon GA 70.3, hot, hilly and Windy, hope for sub 5
My next race will be a half in trails tomorrow! Lets hop for 2:30 hours!
Working on the Du season have about 10 sprints culminating with half iron Du, the Miami Man, in November. Would like to have a great run as I have hit the wall around mile 10 on the run.
Steelhead 70.3 in August – 5:30 – assuming the swim won’t be cancelled.
Returning to the marathon distance with NYC in the fall. Goal is to finish without injury.
Wimpole 10k in 9 days time. Mainly offroad and a bit up and down, so not PB material.
Race is tomorrow and is a 10K. Goal is simple, run and finish as fast as I can. First race since being injured so my pace isn’t what it was. At least it’s only 10 minutes away.
Grizzly Triathlon 2013. Fun little race in Missoula, MT. Missed my goal time but the bike leg was windy and the run kicked my rear… Still really enjoyed the race ☺
My next race is the Peachtree Road Race. My goal is to finish it without any pain, after getting injured recently.
Next race is a Dances w/ Dirt Trail Race in Indiana tomorrow. Not sure on the distance since I was signed up for the 50k but have been sick all week so will probably switch to a shorter distance.
I have quicksilver 100k race planned for this weekend.
My next race will be my very first marathon! Ill be running the Vermont City Marathon, Im shooting for 4:30.
14th June, 20h Radmarathon Fell riding solo … goal is to have no breaks for resting, ride more kms than last year and otherwise have a good time
There is a small probability that I might do a licensed road bike race this month, the goal would then be to survive as long as possible.
A simple 5k tomorrow (May 10th) hosted by my school in the Chicagoland area. I signed up for it because it’s on my birthday =D. I have a goal time of 19:30.
Green Bay half in 9 days. Looking to run under 1:40. Training has been hit or miss this spring.
My next Race is Ironman 70.3 Raleigh on June 1st. It’s my first 70.3. So I’m just hoping to finish in under 6 hours.
Richmond, IN, Toughman 70.3, May 31. My goal is to finish under 6hrs.
I’ll be racing my new Kestrel Talon – birthday present from my wife on 5/24/14 in Saddle River Bike Path
Apple Duathlon, May 24th. Hoping to show a significant improvement on the bike portion from last year which was my first race ever on the bike.
May 17th will be Crit #2 for me. The goal of the race for me is simple, stay upright and don’t get lapped!!
Blaenafon tri (near Cardiff,Wales)
Target is to better last year’s time!
Tri Shark sprint triathlon. No time goal since I’ve never done a sprint distance Tri (3 Olys & 2 HIMs). Hope to kill it and place in my Age Group…!!! And… WIN HERE!!! :-)
Next goal race is the Chicago Marathon in October. My goal is to finally BQ (3:05). Still filling in my schedule for the summer and I will likely add some smaller races to.
Next race is 5150 Subic Bay Philippines 29 June. Goal is to suffer on the bike, and suffer as I never suffered before on the run.
21k in guatemala ends of august 2:10 max
Completed the Epic Enduro last month. Really Epic but fantastic, and still wondering which race will be next goal. Registered to the Grand Raid though.
May: 4 State Appalachian trail run. Not a race, but an adventure. Goal simply 45ish miles of craziness :)
July: something a bit different for me (roads). Heading to CNY to run the Boilermaker with a childhood friend.
August: Labor Pains 12 hour endurance run. Goal: as many miles as my legs will take me!
September: tentatively planning to head to NY for the Virgil Crest Ultra. Still deciding on distance since it’s a few weeks out from Mega.
October: Megatransect. Goal: dominating a boulder field :).
I had planned on June being a calmer month, but I must admit the OSS/CIA night 50 miler is tempting :).
Current target race is the Peachtree Road Race 10K on 4 July with a sub-45min goal. Probably will do a couple tune-up 5K or 10K’s between now and then but haven’t picked which ones.
Last race was the bike portion of FIRMman half ironman as part of a team. It went great and I was very glad I didn’t have to run 13mi after ;)
Brooklyn Half Marathon – hope to break 1:32
Run for Water Half Marathon in Abbotsford BC with a goal of 1:35
KDF Half Marathon on April 19. I set a PR, 1:36:38!!
Next weekend I’ll be doing my first ever Golden Triangle, Banff – Radium – Golden – Banff. 109km each day over three days through the Canadian Rockies. Though they *say* it’s not a race…
Columbia tri, May 18, training race.
Eagleman 70.3, June 8, A race for first part of season.
Hello Ray,
15K in St-Hyacinthe Qc this week-end. Hoping for 70 minutes. Thanks for everything and keep on the good work!
Next race is a sprint tri (Tri 4 Fun) where my goal is to not get injured! It’s the first race in my build to Vineman 70.3 in July.
Next race is CapTex Tri in Austin Texas on Memorial Day. Currently my goal is to run the 10k in about 50 minutes.
Trail des Hautes Falaises, 5th of October near Fécamp in Normandy. 3h30 for my first 35km attempt.
Targeting a 50 mile ultra at the end of this month up in ME…
Sunday May 11
Jay Benson Triathlon, Abq, NM. Simple reverse sprint tri, Shooting for sub 1:15 after being violently ill for my last 2 races I just really want to wake up healthy and give it a good go.
Next race will be Rocky Mountain Region Sprint Championships in August.
Vineman 70.3. This will be my second 70.3. For my first, I had a goal of 5 hours that I horribly missed when I started cramping on the run. So my goal for Vineman is to stick to my pacing/nutrition schedule and trust the training. And ya – if I run sub-5 that would be great too.
Of course, I also have post-run wine goals.
I’m looking for my first 10k race this summer in LA. I’very been training since last September! I’m 46 now and dropped 8lbs. body fat down to 13%. Best condition ever.
Hoping to take part in a cork BHAA 4 mile race this summer. Adapting to KSO vibrams so if I can roughly match the 34 minutes I did last one in I’ll be very happy with that -for now.
21km at end of month. Night run “marathonia”.
The Green Bay Sprint Tri. My goal is sub 1:10.
Last race I did…was only the best/toughest multi-day MTB stage race in the world – THE CAPE EPIC!!! 729km with 14,850m of vertical ascent over 8 days through some of the most beautiful routes that the Western Cape (South Africa) has to offer!!!
My next race is the Chicago Spring half on 5/18. Training for Grandma’s in Duluth this June, so the only real goal is to run a strong race.
7/20 NJ State Tri. Would like to see gains in swim and bike.
Harrisburg Half Marathon in September. Under 1:40 would be lovely.
My next race is the Pleasant Prairie Triathlon on June 22. My goal is just to brush off the cobwebs from a long offseason.
Marine Corp Marathon in DC is the big one this year. It will be my first full, so goal 1 is finish! Goal 2 is under 4 hours.
Memorial Day 5k in Memphis TN. Planning to get under 24 mins.
Next race is the Ore Crusher – an ~42km XC mtb race on 10th May. Goal is sub 3:05.
Steamworks 1/2 Marathon Durango, CO June. Survive at 7,000 feet.
Last race was a stormy OKC Marathon last month. Knee and headphones gave out at 13 or so. Ruined my shoes (and maybe my knee?) dragging myself to the finish line.
Next Race; Galveston Texas Half Ironman. Goal: To beat my PR at Austin Texas Half Ironman.
My next race is UltraMan Canada the first weekend in Aug. my goal is to 1- finish, 2- enjoy time with my dad and son (they are crewing for me), and 3- run a sub 10 hour double marathon on day 3.
I am doing the Long island Tri. June 15th (father’s Day)
It is a sprint but the first one of the year.
I want to enjoy and finish
Next race: http://www.inlandempirecentury.org in Tri-Cities, WA.
I’m doing the 25mile bike race – it’s my second race ever. I previously road in the Couer d’ Fondo in Couer d’Alene, ID.
Mountains to Beach Marathon in just a few weeks and hoping to PR!
Next race, Stowe middle distance, aiming to build up for The Vitruvian in September. One or two TT’s on the way!!
Montgat sprint Triathlon, June 29th in Montgat, the beautiful coast of Barcelona! my first tri !
Next race is my first 100 miler. Two weeks to go. Barely nervous at all…
There is a few. 5K cross and plan to go below 19′. Than 10K in June to finally cut 40′ and as ice on the cake Ultra “Chudy Wawrzyniec” on 9th of Aug on Polish/Slovakian border. The gol is simply to complete healthly.
My next race is a sprint triathlon at East Coast Park in Singapore. My goal is not to wilt on the run in the expected hot weather!!
Black Bear half IM on June 1 – my first half!
Looking at high probability of 5:45 (hilly bike leg)
Would be delighted with 5:30, which is my stretch goal!
Next race is the Long Beach Half Marathon in October. Hoping to get under 2:00
Next race is my first semi marathon, on may 14 in Bucharest. Goal is to finish :)
I am running in the Vermont City Marathon in Burlington, Vermont on May 25. I am hoping for a BQ (sub 3:05), and potentially sub 3 hours.
Nothing this year yet. Last Fall Milwaukee marathon. An ugly 3:45.
3 Little Pigs Sprint Tri, 1 hour goal.
Ive got a mountain half marathon next weekend here in North Georgia.
Green Bay Half Marathon. I just want to finish – my first half ;)
220kms and 2500 meters of categorised climbs this sunday in Vejle, Denmark. The weather forecast says plenty of rain and 12 degree C, should be good for a solid set of flemish tanlines…
My next race is my 1st 1/2 iron distance; the Laurel Lake 70.3 (link to laurellaketri.com) in Kentucky. I’m super excited about it.
Next race is tomorrow, gotta beat those folks on the group ride!
Hey, at the end of July im racing the Chiemgauer 100. A 100km race around the German Chiemgauer alps. My goal this year is to finish. Last year only made 80km.
My next race will be 10k at the Maratona Internacional de Porto Alegre on May 18th. There isn’t really a finishing time I’m aiming at, I was in fisiotherapy for most of April, so I just want to be a able to finish the race without any weird aches or pains
I currently do not have anything on the books until a half marathon in December, so I’m floundering around, and most of my runs have been terrible lately. I’m thinking about making up a race to train for, I’m apparently way too structured to not have a plan to adhere to.
Next planned race is tomorrow. A criterium bike race – goal is top 5.
My next race is a sprint triathlon on June 7th. My goal…simply to finish!
I have a 5k tomorrow (5/10)… haven’t broken 21m 5k yet, so I’m wanting to run a 20:55.
WizzAir Half-Marathon in Budapest
Sept 14
Running the Alexandria Half Marathon in two weeks. My goal is to go sub 1:45.
My next event is the Thunder Rock 100 mile race in Tennessee on May 15. My goal is to finish it in less than a day. My big audacious goal is to do it under 21 hours.
SRS #1 in Albany, GA next weekend. My goal is to make some $$$.
I’m training for Vineman 70.3 in July. My goal was to beat my last 70.3 time but after looking at the bike elevation, maybe not…
The Chippewa Triathlon
50 miles of canoeing (with portages) mountain biking and trail running near Cass Lake Minnesota.
The goal will be to beat my wife (in the race, not afterwards)
Dances with Dirt Half Marathon – Devil’s Lake WI, goal of 1:45:13
May 17th, Montgomery Alabama, Jubilee Run for Cancer 8k. Wanting to stay under a 9:00 pace on a very hilly course.
Gold Rush Gravel Grinder. 109 Mile Gravel Bike Race in Black Hills of South Dakota. My Goal is to finish in under 9 hours.
10k in Toronto this weekend with 26,000 other runners, goal is sub 40
The last race was a TT about 22 years ago. I came in third in my class.
My next planned race is a 10k in the beautiful Lake District. I am training for a 38:30 PB. It’ll be my first race since breaking my ankle skiing in January!