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.
I’ve got my tarmac mounted on the Kinetic Rock And Roll, recording the ride on the Edge 1000. i’m gonna aim for at least 100k over the weekend so i won’t have to feel guilty over all the chocolate i’ll be eating.
Going for a long run on Sunday and maybe a swim at some point.
I’m hoping to get in a long ride outside and maybe a mid-distance run.
I’ll do a long, easy ride on saturday and some intervals on monday.
~4000 yard pool swim on Saturday and a 7 mile run on Sunday, then doing some gut stretches as I try to eat all of the candy that my wife got for our 2-month old daughter.
120 km to the north of North-Holland :-)
Long ride on Saturday afternoon on the WO&D
Training will only include light recovery runs. I did the Georgia Death Race last weekend and have been taking it Slow and Easy!
Thanks!
Intervals at the track Friday, long run Saturday, and another run Sunday. Marathon training!
A nice 28km progression run in preparation for my next marathon in three weeks.
Two long rides with egg hunts sandwiched between.
Everything outside here is covered in ice, so it looks like I’m hitting the trainer in the basement this weekend.
I going to run a 14K as part of my training for the marathon of Rotterdam on the 10th of april.
Trail ride saturday and an 18 mile run sunday.
Easy trail run tomorrow and an 18 miler on Sunday. Fueling with a chocolate gel, maybe?
Have a Happy Easter weekend. My plans are to do a Trainer Road session then run later this afternoon; Saturday – aerobic swim in am, Trainer Road around lunch, aerobic run late afternoon/pm; Sunday – weights.
I won’t be running…
But I have a 3k zwim and 1h bike ride.
Easy 7 miles on Saturday and fishing from the kayak on Sunday (also known as cross-training).
Have fun with the kids.
Taking the weekend off to spend with family.
This Saturday is actually a race. 80 mile gravel grinder in March in Minnesota. It is looking like there actually won’t be much snow anywhere. Recovery on Sunday.
Swim and Run on Saturday, 2 hour bike on Sunday
Pickleball and a massage (I’m on vacation).
Going for a city loop on a hopefully sunny Saturday in San Francisco.
This week-end I have planned a swim plus a team duathlon for sunday, plus a monday bike ride.
Planning on some threshold work today, and hopefully a longer ride on Sunday!
Saturday about an 9 – 10 miles easy run, Sunday about 50 miles on the bike. Tapering for the a 1/2 distance tri on April 2nd in Ocala, FL
Swim workout this morning (done), open water long and steady swim this evening… 2 hour run tomorrow morning, some apartment moving, and then finally a longish (~40 mile) bike ride tomorrow afternoon. Sunday will be hiding eggs and eating chocolate. I don’t normally double up on swims, but this week has been kind of weird and it’s resulting in a glut of open water time.
An hour of power on the water.
Threadmill run, swim
Tri bike workout on Sun w/ a brick run
oh, and easter dinner :)
Im injured. So I will rest for the weekend, will start running again on monday.
This weekend is to be my first ever race! Probably going to be incredibly painful as it’s a Crit. and I’m by no means a sprinter! Should be good fun and if I get dropped as I suspect I will, it’ll make for a perfect training session ready for a summer of racing!
Just received a dump of snow which will take a few days to melt, so it is a couple of long bikes on the trainer. Can’t forget about the last hockey game of the season- spring/summer is almost here!
Family Gym Session this weekend, 3 brothers with core and kettle bell work on the agenda
Enjoy with my family on Friday, quick run Saturday morning, a promenade with my girlfriend on the afternoon and celebrate Easter on Saturday night!!!
15 k run.
Long ride on Saturday and a run on Sunday.
Planning on a saturday bike ride and with some luck a short sunday run in between rain showers!
Hopefully a short jaunt around Central Park on Saturday, and a longer run in Chicago on Sunday — So long as travel, family, and other plans all line up in perfect harmony.
Run (or elliptical) on Saturday, pending how cooperative my shins are. Strength training on Sunday.
Final run of my 8 week training cycle and a few days rest. Spend weekend with my 3 grandkids.
Group ride on Saturday, long run Sunday
Friday – 25 mile over/under interval ride on my fixed gear
Saturday – 70 mile group ride on the road bike
Sunday – 11 mile run
70 miler through the hills – and lots of chocolate easter bunnies to refuel
Lots of running, reading and eating for this weekend.
Ran 8 miles today and taking Saturday off. Then it’s back to half marathon training with a short 4 mile run this Sunday.
This weekend I’m taking it easy cos I’ve just finished recovering from an injury. Going for a 5km race tomorrow and then maybe hit the gym for an upper body workout on Sunday :)
Running running running trying to pass the physical fitness test for an employment opportunity!
Turbo sessions, while watching the Oxford-Cambridge Boat Race.
6 mile run on Saturday, 12 miles on Sunday. Preparing for the Big Sur International Marathon.
2km swim this morning
Long bike tomorrow hopefully with a couple of Zone 5 efforts to get ready for the race league
Recovery spin and run on sunday before another big bike on Monday,
With lots of chocolate of course
Start the weekend off with a morning ride of 40k followed by a 10k row in the afternoon and a technical rowing practice on sunday.
Rowing 10K on Saturday, stroller jogging on Sunday
I’m behind on biking so I probably need two longish rides of 20-25 miles. Weather looks great so I may add a third shorter slower ride with my wife. If not I’ll try some of the threshold stuff with a run and my shiny new fenix 3 HR.
90 minute spin class.
2 hours of zone 2 today. A group ride on Saturday and Sunday will be a neighborhood cruise on the banana seat bike with the kids.
Pretty packed plan:
Friday evening maybe an run depending on weather (& mood/motivation)
Saturday longish road bike ride
Sunday morning easy run (possible short late afternoon MTB ride)
Monday morning 10k race, trying to achieve a new PB, afternoon recovery bike ride
Long run, ~ 90 minutes followed by an endurance ride for 60 minutes.
Off on Sunday.
Not much training. Just eating chocolate bunny and visiting Berlin!
Enjoy your weekend
r.
Enjoying a little walk/hike in Engadin (CH), relaxing two nights there, having fantastic dinners planned and last but not least getting the kg back off on Monday on a 100km bike tour around home.
A 10K run on saturday, with an emphasis on elevation gain :)
I have been sick this past week and can only manage some easy bike workouts on my trainer this weekend
Hopefully walking around the block with my newborn in a stroller.
This weekend is mostly a rest weekend for me but I will go out for a 5k run.
Today was 2 Hours L2, tomorrow is 200km ride with Mixed intensities. Rest of the Weekend should be recovery with a lot of chocolate :-)
Does setting up the training area in the basement of my new house count? I hope so. And hopefully a run. After eating a chocolate bunny…..
Hoping to go for a long run, but will probably end up drinking bloody marys instead…
Taper for my first marathon this year next weekend in Freiburg. So just a couple of shorter runs and some biking,
Mountain bike 6 miles followed by 30 miles on my road bike.
Headed out of town to see family for the weekend so it’ll be limited to running for me. Planning a 5 miler on Saturday and a short 3 miler Sunday morning.
This weekend, I will do two 30minute runs, cycle outside of town and do some couchsurfing.
This weekend im Swimming tonight, Trail run on Saturday morning, and Resting on Sunday.
Thanks!
Early start today with 53 miler.
Lots of snow here, so running has taken a back seat to skiing… but hopefully can fit my long run in this weekend, 12m.
13 milers coming up in the next few port days. Need to clear the cobwebs, I haven’t been on land in almost 3 weeks.
Run, ski and bike,and if I manage all that then a beer and some chocolate.
Today is a short 4-6 miler and tomorrow a 55-60 mile ride through the country side.
Thanks to both you and CT. Looking forward to spending all the monies.
run, run, run and tryin to catch the bunny
Long ride and a transition run in between thunderstorms
Ran 27k today in the rain, will get on the trainer for an hour.
Strength on Saturday morning, followed by 3-4 hrs on the bike.
Sunday 2x60k if the weather is fine, else some time on the trainer.
Monday – bike & run.
Long 5-7 mile run Saturday morning.
I was hoping to ride at least 50 km both Saturday and Sunday but Mother Nature is not cooperating.
After a front blows thunderstorms through today, it is supposed to clear up real nice here in the Northeast US. My wife and I are planning on taking her new Specialized Ruby out for its inaugural cruise, a 15 mile loop with 1500 ft in elevation.
2 Hour group bike ride on Saturday.
12 miles long run on Sunday.
gorge myself on chocolate.
I will go for a 14-15km run with about 400m in height.
And eating with my family can become a challenge
Zwift trainer session tomorrow morning. And resting on Sunday.
A long run is up on Saturday and an orienteering race on Monday.
Happy easter!
A 12 mile hilly run today in the Cotswolds, and maybe a shorter faster one on Sunday.
Finally looking at some good weather, so ride, ride, ride….as many miles as time allows.
Going to be cold again in New Hampshire, so the only bike rides will be trainer rides. Will get outside for a run though!
Hoping to get out for a good ride… but will see if chocolate gets in the way
Final 23 mile run in preparation for the Boston Marathon!
My weekend plans for training involve working on endurance and climbing. I am going with a group of guys and girls (~6-8) and riding an 85 mile (137 km) route up Fort Mountain in Chatsworth, Georgia and Burnt Mountain around Ellijay, Georgia. I believe it will be about 6,000 feet of elevation.
link to connect.garmin.com
This is to prepare for the Italian Road Bike Festival (link to cartecaybikes.com) on April 2nd. It is an epic ride of 104 miles and 10,853 feet of elevation.
I did this ride last year and it was a great time, although it completely wore me out.
link to strava.com
My goal this year is to finish in 6 hours and 15 minutes!
So there is my training plan and fingers crossed, I win!
plan on a 70k ride on saturday
Didn’t run at all last weekend so hopefully 2 runs, 12 miles Saturday and 8 miles Sunday.
I plan to ride at least 60km on Saturday on my single speed because my road bike is still mounted on the trainer. Don’t worry though, the road bike will get some Zwift love on Sunday.
Next week if weather let me do it I will ride some 350-400km with 5000m of ascension. With weather fail to me I will ride maybe a 150km on rollers.
Working both days……no bueno
My goal will be to finally get three rides in (Sunday, Monday, Wednesday) to kick off my cycling year. At the very least, two of those days. Now if only it’d stop being so windy.
Will be biking to the Cherry Blossoms in DC this weekend.