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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.
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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.
bad weather, but i hope cycling the same
I run to explore. Usually I try to get in an hour of running a day.
On vacation I usually do running with hiking and walking or rent a bike if possible.
Relaxing vacation! No racing. No…
You have to adapt your training to the vacation. Running is the easiest to incorporate and great for getting a feel of a new locale. GPS is especially useful on vacation because you less familiarity to guess and you can share the info with anyone else you’re with–(“I ran to this really cool lookout spot and its 1.5 miles away so we can walk there with the kids later”). But, I also try to use vacation as an opportunity to cross-train. If at a beach locale, I’ll open water swim and do paddle sports. If its mountains, I’ll mountain bike and trail run. And, if its a quick business trip, I’ll do bw squats, pushups, and char dips in a hotel.
I mostly do city vacations so running is most practical and often in the morning while my travelfriends still sleep.
I have a few races I do every year as part of something called “the swedish classic” (link to ensvenskklassiker.se), and during summer it’s a bike race and an open water swim race. Apart from preparing for those I try to keep up the running in order to be ready for races during the autumn.
I’ll use it on runs and on mountain trikes!
I try and do a long run around wherever I am to explore areas off the beaten path.
Usually do quite some running, trail and trx :-)) quite intense but always great fun!
usually train in the hotel gym, otherwise explore where ever I am by running. In fact my next race-vacation is the singapore sundown half marathon in July!
Find whatever Strava segments are around and go for the KOM!
I often golf, but enjoy running to see the area
When I’m on vacation, I ditch all my tech. Phone? Gone. GPS watch? Gone.
When I’m vacation I don’t worry about then numbers and just go on long runs… just for fun.
Always try to sneak in a run, but hey, it’s a vacation!!
I usually limit my training on vacation to running which is a nice way to explore a new area. Sometimes I will get in some swimming, depending on where we are at.
Running is must at almost any vacation place but often time when possible cycling long rides and interval rides on the race bike or mountain bike (depending on the vacation place).
I always try and keep active and do some activities I don’t normally do at home.
I usually go into vacation with plans to run but after the first day those usually die off pretty quick.
just a run. or a swim. or a run followed by a swim.
Short runs and hikes, but would love to go on a biking vacation!
Once rain a half marathon up vail mountain on vacation.
If I ever were to go on a vacation I think I would look for local trails to run and explore.
I aim for an hour a day on vacation, and it doesn’t matter what it is, just an hour of exercise. I enjoy the vacation more if I get that in. Then I drink my weight in coffee.
Running around whichever city we’re vacationing in. Great way to scout out where I want to spend more time with the wife.
Love to explore the vacation areas by doing a long run. I use my GPS watch to act as an electronic journal by recording my path. I download it to Google Earth when I get home to relive the trip. Andy
My training in my vacation shifts to cross country adventures. Me and my friends just load up our bikes and go to a camping which lays in the middle of nothing. This is our starting point to just all kinds of waypoint we will be cycling through. We mostly enjoy rough terrain. My Garmin is a essential tool in these training adventures, because most of the time we are cycling through forest where the roads aren’t used for a long time. So lot’s of time on the bike and lots of time getting the bikes over fallen logs. But those are the greatest adventures.
I usually do easier short runs, together with my wife, if we have someone for the kids…
Swim-bike-run ’till you drop, then get the ultimate recovery treatment (aka water battle in pool with kids & hubby)…so hard looking forward to our August vacation in South of France…
Cross training and good eating – vacation is the time for hiking and exploring!
My vacations are usually at places where I want to trail run or ride. So, I always get in some running or biking, but the emphasis moves from specific workouts to seeing specific trails, peaks, or points of interest.
Usually I will run outdoor a few times
Typically vacation training shifts to the workouts that require less gear and less specialized facilities. So more running, pushups, situps, etc. Most hotel gyms are pretty worthless anyway.
On vacation I use to spend time with family, so I juste run once a week.
Mountain biking, even on bad weather and trying to forget a week of hard work!!!
Over Easter I laced up my runners and done some cliff top trail running combined with flat tack running and clocked up K’s on my deadly treadly in the hills for a bit of leg burning action
Thanks to this blog, I have now made it a habit to go for a “runaround”. Great way to explore a city and get a feel for it.
On vacation I usually run easy and long to enjoy a new place unless I’m at a critical point in a training cycle–then it’s my usual schedule.
run!
I relax. Take a nice recovery week on the beach.
Run on the beach!!!
12oz curls!
I tend to schedule family vacations around 100 mile races or other longer ultras so it’s mainly resting or hiking except for the big day.
Last summer, knee injury having thrown training plan into disarray, I did laps and laps and laps of the 5m swimming pool. This year hopefully runs, lake swims and maybe a sneaky day’s bike hire!
When I take a vacation, I take a vacation from exercise and dieting as well.It’s a time to enjoy the bad things I have been missing :)
Bike and ride whenever I can. Rent a bike or take mine with me. Best in the mountains of Portugal!
Since I’m from MN I run on the beach. Strain my calves, and get blisters on the feet.
It’s not a holiday if you dont go cycling!
Never stop running. It is always better if it is in good weather.
Beach run followed by a swim.
In the summer period workouts are the same, 3 times a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Gym) and Sunday morning run at least 10K
Training more than usual AND eating ice cream, so net training effect about equal to a normal week.
I love running on Vacation. I normally have more free time than during the workweek and I get to see new areas so it all works out. Of course it’s vacation so there should also be plenty of Ice Cream and Chocolate (or in the case of visits to Maine, plenty of whoopie pies).
It depends. If preparation for a charity-ride or trail run, I get in as much as I can, as early in the morning as I can before everyone wakes up!
Post race or ride, I try to stick to my regular diet and activity levels, but definitely indulge a little.
I run with my wife early in the morning, relaxed pace and breakfast together
Running in new places is a great way to get some sightseeing
Vacation interferes with training routines, so vacations are the odd man out!
I’ll typically get out for a few 100km bike rides during vacation. When I’m not on vacation its tough to find the time to get out for long rides.
My last few vacations were visits of my home country, which usually means eating a lot of great but unhealthy food, no movement except for next beer and like +10 pounds a week as a result… I’m actually kinda glad I’m not doing that this year…
It depends on where we’re going. On a true vacation, I try to take it easy-ish, but never completely off. Even if that means only 3-5 mile runs, hiking, or renting commuter bikes to ride around for a while. When we go visit family, I usually just go to the gym and do an hour each day of some good cardio.
Depends on the location/purpose of the vacation, but usually it becomes running-focused training so I don’t have to try and find a pool or bring a bike. And then plenty of hop-based hydration!
After serving in the military, touring in Iraq and having 4 kids a vacation has to be a VACATION. Would be nice to have one of these though! Thanks.
At Vacation training time and durability will increase – my diat will be more strict as it is easier than during work time with all the customer dinner and lunch.
I will continue cycling and running and take my bike with me where-ever I go.
My vacations normally involve mountains, snow and my snowboard. So I suppose it’s a week of Cross Training :)
Cheers Ray, keep up the good work!
I hike for sure, and bike sometimes.
I do some running, and if there is a swimmingpool, I wil do a swimtraining with my girlfriend.
long easy runs to sight see. Cycling trip in spain a few years back opened our eyes to exploring on foot/bike.
When Im on vacation I like to ride more and if possible swim as much as I can
Swimming. Ideally before breakfast, ideally in open water. Surely it’s my turn to win one of these giveaways!
I run almost everywhere I go on vacation. It’s the easiest to do and all it really requires is a pair of running shoes. It’s the best way to burn some calories and get your sweat on. Plus, you get to explore the area and if you run early in the mornings or late at night, you often get a different perspective of wherever you are. I often follow this with a little hotel or tent yoga. Tents offer a warm yoga environment because after that sun comes out they turn into an oven. Then I eat ice cream.
During the summer vacation involves mountain biking trips. So I’m not formally training but doing fun riding. During the Christmas holidays I’m visiting my parents so I go out nordic skiing a few times or running if there isn’t enough snow. My volume certainly drops during the Christmas holidays since skiing means a 115 km drive each way and I don’t really enjoy running that much.
A little less running, a little more carb loading.
Vacation is the best time to train. As I have more time I forget the treadmill and try nice and farest tracks.
During summer vacation by the lake at our summer house, I tend to relax. But also do some training, especially with my 8 year old daughter who picked up triathlon last year. So we’re doing some sessions together in the lake, on our bikes and in the running shoes. At a relaxed pace and only as much as she find funny. I have to say that’s some lovely quality time! :)
Running on the beach, which I believe is not as fun as it sounds. (soft sand bites)
Chris
I just started running in September and haven’t gone on vacation since then. I hope that I would continue running with the same regularity and intensity. Truth be told, I will probably slack off a bit.
I’m exclusively a cyclist, so I try to rent a bike at a local shop wherever I go. I eat terribly, though :)
Training usually gets bagged in favor of scotch, margaritas and cigars!
Morning Ride to eat whatever I want by lunch! :)
A vacation is an opportunity to run in new places; and since I live in the desert, if there is water near my vacation spot… OWS! (which I’ve done in some pretty murky conditions)
Best part of my vacation IS the training. When else would you have the chance to see new things!?! That way I make my Strava friends jealous when post the pics!
I pack my bags with the best intentions always taking my running gead, Im as diligent and strong willed as possible it just seems to be that those damn French pasties and Italian cannoli gets the better of me. I have ran in a few places though!
I cut back on my training whenever I’m on vacation. I try to rest and recover as much as I can. But I squeeze in a small run or swim when I get bored.
On vacation I just do a regular run, just a run to enjoy the view of that country.
I always think I will be able to continue with the same volume of training. However, in reality, my training volume usually goes to 0.
We tend to take it a little easier on vacation, that’s what it’s for right?! ;)
when we are vacation we try to do some cross training… so instead of running we’ll go for a hike or kayak or something active but not necessarily running. we also try to walk everywhere while on vacation to make sure we are burning some of the extra “ice-cream” calories we are consuming.
I try to get creative with what constitutes a “workout.” For example, eating ice cream sounds like it involves a respectable amount of effort moving ice cream from cup to face.
I always have the intention of keeping my training schedule, but I tend to do less than planned each time I travel. I will usually hit the pool and do a little cardio in the gym. I really should run and hit the weights a little bit too…
run everyday
Training on vacation usually means playing. But a good vacation involves lots of playing. (Mt biking, skiing, wakeboarding, hiking, fishing, etc). Occasionally if I have time, I’ll toss in a run here or there.
Morning Run or if possible late afternoon early morning. If can take my bike with me, medium long runs when I can get away with it with the wife.
Vacations interfere with my training routine so altough I have to time to press harder I always end up by resting more than needed :(
That’s life I suppose!
Good luck everyone.
I always ensure to incorporate activities that involves at least swimming/snorkeling, hiking and walking into my itinerary. That way, I get to enjoy my holiday without any downtime on exercise. Less holiday weight literally equates to less catch-up workout when I get back to reality.
I tend to spend more time training on vacation. Not sure why but it just seems easier.
i just run even more
I usually jog to the nearest pizza place in town
Vacation for me is going outside and moving around. Either on the bike, by foot or what else.
Normally a random round of whatever is available – stand-up paddle-board, kayaking, hiking, running, cycling whatever. And I always try to wear my HR monitor just for the fun of seeing what different activities do to my HR.