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 a 2.5 hour ride tomorrow morning and an hour and a half run on Sunday. Last long workouts before the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler next weekend!
A (last) trainer bike session and a long run on sunday!
Sprint ride / swim / long run on Sunday – then eat!
Parkrun is an absolute must with my kids. Then hoping to find a local 5k fun run for us all on Monday.
3 weeks until my marathon, so I’ll be on the chocolate eggs to fuel for my last long run on Tuesday! :)
I am hoping to run a few miles in preparation for a fun run next Sunday. I also hope to shoot a few hoops in honor of the NCAA tournament.
An easy 5 mile run in taper preparation for half next weekend.
It’s 1 month away from my half marathon race. There’ll be no tapering off this time, no thanks to missed runs due to injury. Will be increasing my mileage all the way to the finish line (hopefully)
Going for a run, and hopefully adding some bike work.
My new Kickr Snap should be arriving! I plan on trying it out and doing lots of agility with my dog.
I’ve got the day off for Good Friday so I’m about to head out on a long hike. I’ll cycle Saturday and maybe run Sunday evening.
I’ll be walking a few miles with the dog.
Long run or xc ski – depends on whether mother nature gives me more snow or not.
I’ll be eating Easter eggs whilst watching TV!
Crossfit open 16.5 (aka death) then some good long runs.
Probably a 20K run on Saturday and a bike ride on Sunday.
Ride 60 miles Saturday, eat the ears off the bunny. Ride another 50 Sunday, finish him.
Snowshoeing in the Rockies with the family then mix in some time on Zwift.
I’ll be doing my first double-digit long run of the year on Saturday and then gorging on Easter Brunch on Sunday!
Two short easy runs… coming back from an injury. One long (for me bike ride).
Cross training today with a hike, followed by some swimming and biking over the weekend!
Three days of riding in the TX hill country, 37 degree temps be damned!
Intervals on Saturday, group ride after Easter eating on Sunday.
My training plan is 2 HIIT sessions. Quick and effective makes for more weekend fun!
I will do a 35km run for my marathon preperation
I plan to go out and ride with my kids! Family training time
On Saturday I am planning on squeezing an ride on the bike trainer before work. On Sunday, hopefully, weather permitting, a long outdoor run between Easter festivities.
Final long run before marathon in 3 weeks, 22 miles
I’m going for two runs and a mountain bike ride. One day is a short run plus the ride, the other is my long run!
Longest run of the training cycle tomorrow – 23 miles. Going to have to start early, though as the family is pretty busy.
Hoping to get a few short to medium runs in after a three week injury layoff. Have a 10 miler to run a week from Sunday, so it’s now or never!
Light sessions on stationary bike and yoga
This weekend is the second race weekend for collegiate cycling. Saturday is a 3 corner criterium, and Sunday is circuit race. Many chocolates will consumed post-races :)
I will be doing a 10 mile run tonight and a one hour trainerroad ride tomorrow morning. Then I will be refueling with chocolate bunnies and jelly beans.
Teaching a beginner triathlete class.
I just finished a 3h long bike ride and I have long run tomorrow. Getting prepared for my first IM!
5k run on sun
Bike Ride Saturday, Long Run on Sunday
No training… 5K race on Satturday and completing the Crossfit Open 16.5 on Sunday. Then a lot of rest
Field test to check where I am before starting base training.
Sat: 16 mi progression run with fast-finish, PM swim
Sun: long endurance ride ~70 mi
Not much activity planned, going to Boston with the family and the max temp is going to be 45F… So chocolate eggs for the win ! (brought to you by flying bells as per the French tradition, as you should know by now)
Thanks for this !
Saturday: 10k run
Sunday: 100k ride
Let’s see, I’m guessing that it will be mostly the same as any other weekend: 4-5 hours of swimming plus 10 hours of cycling (assuming that it doesn’t rain). What gadget do I need? Well, an Edge 1000 would be most welcome!
2 hour run scheduled for Saturday
FTP Test, 1 mi low HR TT, 1000yd TT, 3 hr aerobic threshold ride
18 mile run on Saturday followed by an easy 8 mile run on Sunday. Should be nicer weather, at least.
40 mile bike ride on Saturday
Morning hike after sunrise service.
Going for a trail run & biking.
I ran my fastest 5K (23:51) and fastest mile (6:52) today! I have a 12 miler planned for tomorrow and probably another 6 miles sunday to balance out stuffing my face at Easter dinner!
100km in the hills with my excellent road bike
A nice long run in preparation for a semi in a few weeks
Bike ride on saturday and a shirt run on Subway!
My training plans this weekend include pressure washing the deck…
Running Eastern States 20 miler on Saturday and an easy 4 mile run Sunday
Well, maybe i is lucky duck or maybe not :) Anyway i planning to start running from April.
A short run with my dog this afternoon, that may become a lazy walk. We’ll see.
Thanks for the great job, Ray!
I am in the south of france so looking forward for my rides in the pyrenees during this long week-end
FTP test on Saturday, followed up with a long, slow ride on Sunday
I plan on a short run on Sat morning with some weight training.
Mountain biking cross training and final long run before 1/2 marathon next weekend
Enjoying a couple of long rides on my new S5
1.2km swim in the pool
Hiking and camping in Death Valley
sat: 200 km
sun: 61 km
mon: 87 km
Long ride on Saturday and a long run on Sunday. At least with the run I won’t have to worry much about church traffic as they all flood out of the easter service.
Starting to train for my first sprint triathlon — swimming and running this weekend! (and cycling if the weather permits)
Gonna run half a marathon this Saturday and maybe go hiking Sunday or Monday
I have a 70k criterium style race on Saturday (my goal is simply to finish, which is not so straightforward here in Belgium, where there is no Cat 5-Cat 1, but only pro or non licence holder, so the ‘amateur competition’ can be crazy fierce), then Sunday is for eating all the chocolate eggs ;)
Easy 15km run on Sunday morning, preparing my stomach for a nice lamb meal!
Well im going to rest, and probably only go for a small ride, maybe 1h only. Thanks
Run and swim on Friday, first outside ride of year in Saturday
2 mile swim and 3 hour brick on Friday, 14 mile run Saturday and 3 hour bike on Sunday. Woohoo need some goodies
I have to work the hole weekend, :(. Plenty of chocolate for shure!
Regular run today, then squeeze in a couple of short ones when I can over the next 2 days.
Gonna spend the weekend shaking out my new Elemnt and Powerbeat power meters. Got the replacement right pod installed so I can finally get some good power data.
Go for a long run then eat some chocolate
I’m hoping to do my first outside rides of the year this weekend, along with some swimming and running of course.
I plan on eating a bunch of chocolate then going for a 10 miles run stopping at each mile point to eat more chocolate
I plan on taking some nice easy walks around the neighborhood with the dogs
I’ll be lifting and doing some time on the arc trainer and hoping for spring to come soon for outside running!
Spring has finally sprung and I’m ready for a pleasant outdoor run. I’ll be outside running away from the dogs and watching the trees turn into logs at the neighborhood construction site. Looking forward to a great Easter weekend and the beginning of a wonderful Spring season!.
Looking outside, it looks like I’ll be spending some quality time in Watopia. Sounds so much more pleasant than “spending some time in my basement.”
I am planning a 24km run with my toddler son in the jogger buggy.
Running 20 miles, 5 weeks to the marathon
I will be riding down the coast in Southern California as I do most weekends!
Referee some soccer games.
I got injured during my earlier training session, so i will just lay down on the couch this weekend
Waiting for my wife to deliver (3 days late) and probably a stroller run with our 3 year old.
When you have kids are you going to start reviewing running strollers? Because that would be amazing!
One hour on the trainer (it just snowed again :( ) followed by a short run on the treadmill. Hoping for warmer days soon!
I’m planning on going for easy runs this weekend as I’m home from college visiting my family.
I will be doing the CrossFit 16.5 Open workout on Saturday, and starting my training for an upcoming Ragnar on Sunday with a run!
First training camp of the year.
Going for a 50 mile ride on my gravel grinder on the Montour Trail in suburban Pittsburgh where my mother-in-law lives.
Since I am on call at the local hospital it will all be indoor training unfortunately. Zwift and treadmill. 3 hrs ride Saturday followed by 30 min run. 1.5 hr run on Sunday.
Sat. Recovery run after Friday’s workout
Sun A 12 mile Long Run with Speed
no training: will give a rest to my feet.
i noticed some starnge ache in them.
Do Vo2Max Running intervall and some endurance training on the bike.
Saturday long run , Sunday family stuff
Hopefully a run and a ride (maybe zwift)… unless the baby decides to arrive early. Cadbury mini eggs should make for perfect nutrition! Won’t melt in the pocket!
2 hours of martial arts training today, then 2 km swimming on Saturday and probably ski on Sunday – if the weather will be fine.