Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, the new Instinct 3, and countless other Garmin products. Plus a few Suunto & Apple 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!
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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.
Two mile swim in Barton Springs (check it out next time you’re in Austin), followed by a 70 mile ride in Texas Hill Country.
Go for a run
This weekends plans involve tennis, paintball, and running around look for eggs with candy in them.
I’m planning for a nice trail run on Sunday… Happy Easter!
Gonna be a great weekend in RVA! 2.5hrs on the bike with long hill reps on Saturday and then 70min run on Sunday.
I’ll be going for either a ~30 mile ride or a 10k run on Saturday, followed by a ~10 mile hike in beautiful NorCal on Sunday.
10 mile race on Saturday morning, and a wine tasting in the evening (training the palate)
3 hour cross-country ski up in the mountains today. Nothing tomorrow because I’m going swing dancing in the evening. Probably another couple of hours of skiing again on Sunday.
Looks like it’s time to start the outdoors cycling season this weekend, also as far north as Trondheim, Norway. So hopefully I’ll be taking a short ~50km ride after work on Sunday, and a bit further on Monday, at least if it’s +10C and sun as the forecast is saying atm.
8M trail run and max rep squat test.
I think I will go to the cinema to watch a movie.
I’m doing some renovation work on my house this weekend to prep for move-in, which will involve a lot of lifting, bending, and stretching. So, that’s my workout!
I’m working this weekend, which means my training will be a series of 20 minute sprints on hotel treadmills (it’s not nice weather where I’m going…) ;-)
At least one long ride and one long run that’ll force me to hurry up to do it before bad weather comes on sunday…
Gonna hop around the block for a few miles
Treadmill, Lots of treadmill.
800s today, 150 minutes on the trainer tomorrow, and a bit of a brick on Sunday …
Taking care of friends’ golden retriever for the spring break. Lots of running and poo-picking with the dog.
1 hour run today, cross training (tennis match) tomorrow and refueling with brunch on Sunday.
Run, run a then run some more!
I’ll be lucky if I get out for runs this weekend as I am scheduled to work both days! Happy Easter!
I will have a long 34k run on Friday and a nice 15k on Saturday.
A spinning class on Saturday and a run outside (~10k) on Sunday!
Open Waters Swimming combined with some nice pace jog…
Plan to do online video spin classes (StudioSweat) indoors. Still cold here!
A nice 10 mile run on Saturday morning with the running club here in Pittsburgh. Happy Easter.
Saturday run of 8-10 miles. Sunday 3 hour bike followed by 4-6 mile run.
Run on Saturday and a nice long bike Easter morning…
Planning to fit in a ~6 mile run before going skiing for the weekend.
No training this weekend. Going deep sea fishing though.
Smash out some trainer intervals and then rest on the Sunday
Long run on Sunday, perhaps some swim on Saturday.
Happy Easter Ray!
Brick ride and run to work on my transitions on Saturday. Sunday is an off day as I taper into a race next weekend.
Doing ACL therapy exercises and icing to recover from recent ACL surgery due to skiing accident.
Some rides on the Kickr. Still waiting till my rear wheel has been fixed….
I’m planning to ride 100 miles from the city of Santa Barbara to the city of San Luis Obispo though the mountains of the Santa Inez range. When I arrive in San Luis, my girlfriend will meet me there and has promised to ply me with post-ride recovery margaritas.
20miles in about an hour & then recovery run tomorrow & a cycle on Sunday. Happy Easter!
I’ve got 1.5 hours on the bike, a 10 mile run, and 3,000 yards in the pool. Should be fun.
Little 5k action
I will be doing some functional fitness…Cleaning out my garage in preparation for my new home gym setup which will be arriving next week.
10k Race Saturday and ~2 hour family bike ride Sunday morning
As tomorrow is my birthday and I’m gonna be with one year older than I am today, I need to watch out and try to burn more calories – so no chocolate for me. :) I’m gonna start with a few pool laps and finish with some core exercises. For Sunday, my plans are to get involved in a cycling event and pedal a few kms and then relax and get ready for a new week.
I plan either: (1) if we stay at lower altitude and it does not snow, two road bike rides; or (2) if we go to the mountains, one day fat bike snow ride with the dog and one day telemark. Nothing like March in Colorado. Keep up the good work Ray!
Two bike rides and then a long run sandwiched in the middle. I love long weekends.
I will be doing a ride up Bear Mountain on Sunday
Probably 20-30 total miles on trails, looking toward some final tuneups for an upcoming race, testing out new nutrition along thew ay.
Shockingly enough, I will be running, swimming, and biking (trainer) this weekend
The build for the 10k swim continues. 4.5k long swim this weekend.
Saturday: 50 miles / 4,000’…Sunday is 65 miles 7,500′. Final prep for big Mulholland Challenge ride coming up in April.
Long run (14 miles) this weekend
Likely running 10 miles on a treadmill since it’s supposed to snow another 4 inches tomorrow and the 17 inches from Wednesday haven’t melted yet.
A knee injury has kept me out of running shoes and off the bike. And swimming just seems silly. Hoping to get back on the mountain bike this weekend and run down a chocolate bunny or two.
Long run on Sunday morning followed by an Easter brunch bloody mary.
Planning a 10k run and hopefully getting out for a ride on my new road bike if the weather will cooperate. Utah is having a hard time letting go of winter.
Finally getting a ride in Easter morning after a no-riding business trip.
Since I just beat this wisdom tooth thing…
Gonna do some brick training this Saturday and follow that up with an easy run on Sunday
Away from home so it’s 7 minute workout 3 sets
Lately I’ve been stuck on the bike trainer due to the weather outside. Looks like we’re going to have a nice weekend so I plan on going out for a nice long bike ride.
Plan to have either a 10K or two 5k run in the morning over the weekend.
A 25km run on Saturday morning as part of marathon training.
Try to get a long ride today and Monday – with lots of walking around San Fran with friends in-between – does beer tasting count as rehydration and carb loading all in one :)
On Saturday I’m cycling for an hour and strength training. On Sunday I’m doing a 2 hour brick workout (90 min cycling 30 min running).
That will involve eating a lot of eggs, ham, and everything else (except of the Easter Bunny, of course).
Maybe a little wood chopping (that counts as cross-training, right?).
First week of 12 week training plan for UK ironman
Medium-Long run as part of my base building for the 2016 Bolder Boulder, than on to the NYC Marathon training. Also, a medium run. Both will be in deep snow as we just had a blizzard here in Boulder, CO. All runs will be using my wonderful new Garmin Fenix HR watch. I love it! Stay safe in Paris Ray.
Fri 100km group ride
Sat Over Under intervals
Sun Short 40km ride
I’m planning on doing a little walking (after a back injury), and a little Reese’s egg eating. :)
This weekend only a short test run of 30mins. Will be first activity after two weeks of enjoying a nice winter flu :(
Run Sweat Beers at a local brewery tonight, solo jog Sunday.
I’ll probably run 10 miles on Saturday and then 16 miles on Sunday prior to eating every piece of candy that I possibly can.
This Sunday I will be feasting and burning as little calories as possible as my kids go on Easter Egg hunts. Training starts again the following day.
60 mile bike with run afterwards on Saturday, 12 mile run on Sunday.
Sat – 8k trail run , family hike
Sun – indoor trainer bike ride
Have a great Easter
Sick. Movies on the couch and recovery chocolate so I can… go back to work next week?? Sigh
Little HTFU Roubaix ride Saturday with some recovery on Easter Sunday.
Trail race double on Sat : 5k followed by 5k map run. Sun long ride.
Racing the tour of Northumberland
Swimming in the maldives
Some cross-country skiing here in the northern Finland.
In Colorado we had 70 degree weather one day and then a freak blizzard with 2-3 feet of snow the next. So I will likely do some treadmill running and lifting some weights in the basement. Along with all the core/back exercises and stretches required for my aging body that’s falling apart.
…unless it’s 70 then I’ll look for eggs.
Christmas are not an excuse ;) Running as usual – Saturday long run about 20km, Monday easy run 10km with strength session.
Saturday, easy ride to (hopefully) burn off Sunday’s calories…
45 minute circuit training weight lifting Saturday
2 hour ride Sunday followed by stuffing my face
Parental duties for me so rest weekend but I will be watching a lot of cycling…
20 miles on Saturday, 50 miles on Sunday
Une sortie en vélo aujourd’hui et du hiking demain.
Only a quick and easy bike ride as my son is home for college spring break.
Already ran the Two Oceans Long Trail…24km with 1597m of gain. Still a few more runs on the cards for the weekend too.
Saturday I have a 20 mile training run on the books. Sunday will be an easy 3-4 mile run. Happy hunting!
Going for a hike Saturday and a long run (for me) Sunday with some weights worked in!
Mostly a lazy weekend of waiting for UPS to deliver some new shoes. But I might get out for a long run Sunday
I plan on a short swim sans wetsuit in 63F water and following it up with a 12 mile bike. It will be my first real OWS and outdoor bike ride since getting a basil cell carcinoma removed from my face. Wear sunscreen kids!
I’m just starting to taper for an upcoming 50k, so this weekend will be an easy long run (about 2 hours) on the trails on Saturday and then some fartlek action on Sunday. Happy training, Ray!
20 mile trail run through the AZ desert on Saturday, a Sunday morning bike ride (20-60 miles depending on how I feel), and then an afternoon of ham by the pool.
I am a CPA and haven’t run all tax season. I am looking forward to getting in a run this weekend! fingers crossed…
Saturday morning biking and running Sunday afternoon.
Weather dependent, a nice long ride in the hills on Saturday…or indoors on the trainer
I plan to do some serious ITB exercises and probably not run :( I know it’s all about the journey but I want this pet of the journey to end!!!
My goal is to do a nice easy 15 mile run followed by hanging with the fam and some wine!
6 miles walk on Saturday.