Heads up! The big Garmin spring sale has started, with $200 off the Fenix 8, $100 off the Edge 1050, Forerunner 965, Forerunner 265, and countless other Garmin products. 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.
Sadly, no training for me, I’m in bed with a nasty cold :(
Re-attempting my first 24 hour ride after my last attempt (a couple of days ago) got interrupted by a severe storm.
Since I am in holiday without bike, my training will be eating a lot of chocolate eggs!
Long run on Saturday. Chase kids after church on Sunday. Eat jelly beans.
Lots of rest for Oceanside 70.3 (including lots of chocolate eggs!! )
Hoping the weather forecast is wrong so I can head out and get some nice hard miles in! Also copius amounts of chocolate will be consumed ;)
Did 35 miles today (cherry blossoms in DC) and want total 125 through the weekend….
I’m having long tempo run 90 mins on Sat, and then reverse brick on Sun: 1hr run outside + 1hr TrainerRoad ride on Kickr. It’s still cold here in Moscow.
I have a 4hr ride Saturday and 18k run Sunday.
10 miles Saturday and lots of candy eating Sunday.
5-7 mile training runs on Friday and Saturday. Speedwork on Sunday.
14 mile “long” run and a 5 mile shakeout. Half marathon training so much easier than marathon training from a mileage standpoint!!!
My goal for the weekend is to get in about six 500m on an erg on Friday (1000m warmup and 1000m cooldown). Then Saturday will be a nice, easy 5000m worth of rowing. Then Sunday is Long Run Sunday but Easter style! And finally, I’ll get to enjoy a great Easter meal after the run.
Saturday – 5mi @ HM pace / Sunday – 10mi Long Run
No trainings plans. I am injured and can not train for at least 4 weeks :-(
My plan is to do at least a 30 mile ride on Saturday at a fairly aggressive clip – hopefully with some buddies. Oh, and then I am planning to head to Tahoe Sunday afternoon to do some skiing! Happy Easter.
Longish run in Central park, NYC,Saturday morning and a somewhat shorter run Sunday
Breaking in new shimano pedals with some Road cycling mileage… And dying Easter eggs for the kiddos!
I will be going for a 10km run.
Long run on Saturday morning, movie and beer Saturday evening for recovery ;) Bike ride Sunday.
2 hours spinning class Saturday morning
10 miles run Sunday morning
Maybe a swim sometimes too ?
Happy Easter to all
Try to do some base training while taking care of newborn. No easy task.
Trying to train around the in laws!
My wife is about to give birth, so my plans involve sticking close to home and maintaining a vigilant baby watch!
Taper time for me – ez run & ez swim for Sat and Sun.
On Saturday, I will be riding for 2 hours and 45 minutes on the trainer followed by a 30 min run. On Sunday, I am doing an hour and 15 min run at near race pace then sleeping for the rest of the weekend.
the plan is: one run on saturday or sunday evening (15 to 20k)
My plan is a long run and maybe some cycling.
I’m just hoping enough of the snow melts to get back on the bike. I had a pretty good month going, but haven’t been able to ride for over a week.
I have a 14 mile run in the mountains tomorrow and a long ride on Sunday!
Six to eight kilometres on my street route.
This weekend consists of mostly watching the calorie consumption. Between basketball and the holiday that may be tricky. If I can get some time in at the gym then I’ll take that as a bonus.
Well next week’s 100km audax is actually 120km so I’m trying to add the extra distance to my training rides to make sure I’m up to it!
a 20 mile run, chocolate, perhaps a bike ride, chocolate, and some fun with the children :-)
Will head over to the pool for 2k swim in Saturday.
Long run 15k on sunday
I’ll be riding my mountain bike all weekend!
First outdoor rides after a winter on trainer. 120km today. 3h on hills sunday with a pro. Excited. …and some running in the forest by the sea. Great weekend
One last session of xc-skiing and a few slalom turns before a long homeward carride.
Good Friday was a 1600 yd swim workout including 10 X 50’s free. Saturday has an FTP assessment workout on the trainer (would rather be outside) and Sunday is going to be a short run since a) the pool is closed, b) can’t go for a long ride since there is cleaning and cooking to do and c) I’ll be eating too much lamb to do nothing.
Vince
My goal is to do a long run Saturday afternoon, I already accomplished my 30 mile bike this morning, and Sunday I hope to gorge myself with brunch… SO MUCH BRUNCH!
Coming out of a flu, so not too intensive training this weekend! Brief swim session and also a run with my dog!:)
Planning on doing a few easy spins and, if my knee is feeling up to it, an easy 5-7 miler.
Long run on sunday. After eating chocolate!
Trail run training for a North Face run in New York.
Two mile hilly neighborhood hike with the pups, 60 mile bike ride with the fiance, then relax and eat lots of frozen peeps!
Brick session tomorrow (40km/8km), solid 120km ride Sunday, 90km recovery ride Monday – YAY!
Trail running on Friday at Albion hills
First of all, chocolate is a yes!
Yesterday’s snow should be melted off the roads. If it dries, out on #1 road bike, if still wet, out on #2 fender bike. But on the bike for sure!
Going for a quick interval training on bike to try to get back the legs feeling!
This weekend I will be mostly sitting on my ass & drinking beer
Short track workout Saturday and then run SIx miles on Easter Sunday
I just got a Burley D’lite through the REI member sale & dividend distribution. I plan on throwing my 4-year old in it and riding around Haines Point and the Mall so she can see the cherry blossoms. Don’t you miss DC (they fixed all the traffic problems, I swear)?
No training this weekend. Recovering from a cold.
10k walk on Saturday and a ride on my Merida ride 400 on Sunday :-)
I’m running 5 miles and doing p90x3. Then a couple days of rest before I start a p90x3 regiment. I could really use a new fitness was tracker! I’m about to outline the trigger on the 235 but I’ll upgrade to the Fenix 3 hr if I win… Please pick me!
Long distance run at Saturday and 40 x 120 meters on Sunday.
Two days of rest!
Lots of training in eating the little chocolate eggs ? And probably two 10k interval runs. Happy Easter!
1.5h swim + 30min run on Sat
2h bike on Sun
5h consumption on Sun
I tried this on my tablet and I don’t think it worked, so I’ll try again on my laptop. Sorry if I’ve done a duplicate and made more work.
I plan on running some and walking some and maybe biking some.
Speed work on Saturday and 12M LSD on Sunday.
The plan is to ride 30-40 miles on Saturday, with another 20 on Sunday for recovery. Hopefully the weather will cooperate.
Swim, bike and run
Training for the weekend will involve Saturday morning last minute shopping and on Sunday there will be about 80k hilly ride about 2000m of elevation after that lots of cake :)
Follow the kids while they chase the Easter Bunny
Expecting snow this weekend, so I’m probably stuck on the trainer. 2 hours tempo + sprints on Saturday. 2 hours however I feel on Sunday. Probably on Zwift.
Coming back from an illness, it is a pretty easy weekend. 1 1/5 hours on the bike Saturday and a nice short 30 minute Easter morning run.
Group ride Saturday. Intervals on Sunday.
Riding a couple hours on the road bike each day and perhaps getting in my first run since January
I’ll likely spend part of the weekend on my indoor trainer and part of it on the road on my bike getting base miles. Neck issues have kept me off the bike for a few months, so my base miles are virtually non-existent right now.
Riding away on the kickr (4 hours) plus a 2 hour run….unfortunately taking a non-rest day holiday from training doesn’t do much to help build that fitness!
4 hour ride on Saturday followed by a 40 minute trainer ride 1:45:00 run on Sunday. Gonna earn some Easter candy
5M speed run and 12M LSD in prep for my first HM in 3 weeks.
I recently switched up my workout to incorporate more HIIT training which is what I’ll be doing on Saturday and Sunday will be an early morning run. Early in the morning is the only way to guarantee a workout with my one year old and two and a half year old.
the usual longer brick tomorrow and a 3k swim on sunday. with loads of chocolate obviously!
Progression run on Saturday morning and a 12ish mile med-long run Sunday, with both followed by time watching the NCAAs on TV. Go ‘Hoos!
hopefully illness will be gone and I will do an easy ride after sickness
2 last days of downhill skiing ! 90 mins on trainerroad on monday.
Tks!
I am going to take the opportunity of this long week end to do a 4 times 50kms in 4 days…
Park run on Saturday, 13km trail run on Monday
Just a small sickness recovery MTB ride. Sure hope to see double digit temperaures here in Copenhagen soon….
Some cross country skiing. Sweet.
First track session of the year, a swim and a ride.
I recently started incorporating HIIT training into my gym routine which is what I’ll be doing on Saturday and Sunday I’ll be going for an early morning run. Early in the morning is the only way to do it since I have a 1 year old and two and a half year old.
preparing for triathlon training camp on mallorca… looking so much foward!
7km rum on Saturday and hike with Bela on Sunday.
Sailing to Bimini, so no riding for a while. Training the liver though…
Moving into my new house and enjoy some nice chocolate after the moving is done :)
I plan to get a 20 mile ride in on Saturday and some serious nutrition recovery in on Sunday.
Imperial century on Zwift today, recovery ride tomorrow, long run on monday
I’ll be taking my dad (visiting from out of town) up the Gibralter Rd climb. A Santa Barbara bicycling classic, and a new addition to the Tour of California this year.
I will be skiing in Switzerland! Wahoooooo!
Saturday 90 mins TrainerRoad interval, try to do 1-2 hours long run on Sunday
Swim, bike, maybe run. Memy Easter eggs will lose
A gentle long ride before the Ronde sportive the following weekend.
Racing the Oredigger HC TT… If the snow doesn’t cancel it.
Running in the dunes on Saturday and another running training over hills on Sunday.
I am going ride my mtb for the weekend and have an easter diner.
Hoping to knock out an 18 mile run with my wife. She’s training for a marathon in May and is prepared, I’ll likely be hurting.
12-14 mile run
I’m going to a dance convention this weekend, so planning on several hours of class each day and many hours of dancing each night! But next week starts a half-marathon training program, I could use $600!