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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
Plan on training for max ham eating.
60 mile bike, 2 mile brick run Saturday and a nice 11 mile run Sunday.
Training plan calls for running 8 miles but I should run 10 to make up for some missed runs (kids are on spring break, and then there was the Wednesday snowstorm that was supposed to drop a few inches but decided a couple of feet would be better, and we spent all day Thursday skiing). We’ll see what actually happens. The snow from the Wednesday storm is still piled up and more snow is coming tomorrow. Ideally I’ll fit in a run on Sunday, but between church services (choir, handbells) and then hosting Easter dinner, I might just collapse at the end of the day instead.
Friday: Lift, cardio, work, sleep
Saturday: repeat Friday
Sunday: abs, cardio, eat everything in sight
Nice easy run on saturday followed by a long run on sunday!
2k yd Swim tonight, 16mi run tomorrow, maybe a short shake-out recovery run on Sunday.
16 miler Saturday, 8 miles on trails Sunday
30-40 mile rides Saturday and Sunday , midwest weather permitting!
I pan on doing a nice long run of 8.5mi @ 9min/mi pace!!
I’m doing an easy 5K run on Saturday and resting on Sunday. Eating chocolate bunnies and eggs too :-)
Saturday – easy 12 miles
Sunday – plyometrics in honor of the Easter bunny:
– double-lege hops
– single-leg hops
– side-to-side hops
– double-bound hops
– straddle hops
– half-star hops
– hopscotch!
– Box hops
– Rocket hops
A couple of days of Downhill Skiing
One or two gym sessions. With The Bunny…
Hitting all my Apple watch targets each day plus some running
Training for triathlon season. Olympic in May, Half IM in July and full IM in August. It’ll be a long run and ride weekend.
Did cross training on Friday, doing a 25 mile ride on Saturday and a 5k race on Sunday.
I’ll just take it easy. Maybe do a short run but mostly relax.
Sat: simple trainer ride and 3 yo daughter’s birthday. Sun: Brick with 90 minutes on the bike and 30 minutes running.
The highlight of this weekend is a 39K long run on Sunday!
I’ve just spent 3+hrs tonight comparing running watches (that makes 12+hrs over the last week or so-call me obsessive). When I’m not still researching this weekend, I’ll be preparing for my 5k and 10k races coming up, and possibly my first half marathon, too.
Will try to get a couple of sessions of Zwift. Maybe see if I can endure the pretzel.
Loong weekend here in the UK so here goes…
Friday – 86km ride in preparation for some Gran Canaria climbs in April
Saturday – upper body and core workout
Sunday – rest
Monday – Trainerroad over & under workout
Will be doing a 20 mile bike ride with some hill climbs.
The spring break/Easter tri…a long flight with three legs, T1 is dinner in SLC- rapid walking from end-to-end of terminal-T2 is rental car pick-up at FLL-drive to Key West, margarita at ‘finish’.
Long ride on Saturday. Easy ride on Sunday. Building up mileage for a century in May.
Unique chance to to get some springtime XC-skiing.
My training plans for this weekend are to try and keep up with my young children on the playgrounds of their choice. Does that count?
8 mile run on Saturday followed by a 15 mile run on Sunday
Rest on Saturday. Hoping to build my new bike. 6 mile recovery run on Sunday
I was hoping to go on a short trail run Saturday morning, but being sick may put that on hold.
2000 Swim, chocolate, 60k bike, chocolate,8k run, chocolate, sleep, chocolate, chocolate, 75k bike, no more chocolate!
Another dip in tha pool, probably a sprintfestivus or something
I plan to ride David Low way up to Noosa and climb Noosa hill x4 over the 4 day break
I’ll go for a run since the weather is no good for cycling yet…
run. trying to recover from illness, so if i can make in 5 miles i’ll be happy.
A ride a day for four days :)
Long bike on Easter, after kids get their baskets
25k training run followed by egg hunts with the kids and decapitating chocolate bunnies!
Recover ride, slow and easy :-)
Moving houses and hopefully a short ride after.
Saturday the first of our winter pack runs. Sunday the usual long run at the Youies. Monday most likely run with the Wednesday runners.
Trainer Trainer Trainer!
My training plans involve fitting in short runs between all the Easter rehearsals and masses I have to perform with my brass quintet. I’ll fit in as much as possible given that my lungs will be filled with huge amounts of incense from the masses!
Last Sunday run before marathon, easy pace, 15k but on Monday!
Running and biking hopefully and a bit of moving couches, you know the classic workout manual labor
50 miles ride in Saturday.
bike ride 3h prob in the rain… 1h30 easy run and a 3k swim….
Easy 10K today, 25K Long run tomorrow.
Victor Harbour Crows Nest, my nemesis!
I have a 50 mile ride and an evening swim on Saturday. Sunday recovery food…Peeps!
Main goal to do 2x Olympic distance in a week.
3 hour tempo ride saturday followed by a much needed rest week.
Saturday: 1 h swim en easy run.
Sunday : family day with looking for some Easter eggs.
Monday: easy bike ride
Great, another giveaway! I’m planning on letting out my Felt B14 bike, as it has been sitting in the attic since I bought it 3 weeks ago. Bad weather since and today is shiny!
Still on restriction, so either a hike or a snowshoe to keep the ortho and PT happy.
Hi,
My plans are 6km running intervals on Sunday, and rest – lot of resting.
Itamar
Eat some eggs and then deplete the energy through a ride
Try got for a run without dying
Long bike ride in the hills then long lying session on the sofa with some eggs
Swim bike and run of course!
Sleep and rest, some push-ups and maybe a 40k bike ride
Planning on a 7K race that’s half trail, half road shoulder. It’s got a killer 1K hill climb early in the route and pays off the downhill the rest of the way. It’s a good fitness test to slip into your schedule.
Two 2-hour rides with 20 minutes intervals at 85 % of ftp. Slowing down before a new ftp test nest week.
Slow 13 mile run Saturday and probably some bike intervals on the trainer on Sunday before Easter dinner for me
Run on Saturday, bike on Sunday and plenty of chasing the kids around as they hunt for eggs
Sick so I will be happy to get any activity done :) considering the fact I registered for a trail run in april.
15K on a Saturday morning but skipping training on Easter
Riding on Sat and probably recovering on Sunday.
I’ll just hop along to a nice long trail run and have an eggs-cellent time of it.
Long bike ride today and long run tomorrow. Definite post exercise chocolate recovery required!
Saturday a short brick session (40k cycling + 3k running fast)
Sunday 8k run
Monday long run
4~5 hour ride on road, still cold there.
A 60k ride completed Thursday evening, with a planned 80-100km for Sunday.
Trying to outrun the Easter bunny on some brick workouts
One more long run before my half marathon on the 9th of April.
Gardening, track & fields (watching my kid), DIY, friends, and maybe a bit of cycling…
Time for my comeback. 5km easy run.
Biking, climbing gym and Vertical Easter trailrunning (about +1000 meters worth).
Honestly, Ill probably be going on a couple extra runs to burn off all that candy from easter. Maybe a couple 5 mile-ers.
Well, it’s a 16 mile run today with a monstrously hilly 85 mile ride tomorrow. Gonna be HUNGRY!
brick saturday, swim/run sunday!!
Just playing the easterbunny for my little girl and then back to bed. Got a big flu.
A recovery run on sunday after soms heavy cycling yesterday.
Some long rides and runs. Without gadgets at this time.
No training – race on Monday morning (Hills series double enduro) so just an easy 5km run on Saturday.
Weights on Saturday, masters swim on Sunday, and a long ride on Monday!
The plan was to do some kayaking and I can now say check to that, otherwise not much I’m afraid.
Freezing sea swim followed by a run to warm up.
some cyclocross and running in Silesia forests
no training or races planned, but a week full of construction and moving between houses! Lots of stairs to be climbed and heavy lifting involved.
15 mile long run at increase intensity. 5 mi easy, 5 mi GMP, 5 mi tempo pace. I’ll probably try to squeeze in my easy miles too.
Mission this weekend: To put in as many miles as I can before the end of the month. I need to hit my goal of 300-miles.
An 1:20 bike ride followed by an 1:00 run on Saturday and a 2:00 bike ride on Sunday
Running: 20mi on Fri, 8mi Sat, 12mi on Sunday
Some weight lifting on friday, cycling on sathurday, and for sunday will see. And some good nutrition too.
Some hiking for me
Plan to get on the bike for the first time this year. Also plan to start doing hill reps as I am planning to do two epic rides in June.
Interval session on Saturday followed by an easy swim on Sunday
Long ride on the trainer with Zwift
will open bike season sunday and endurance run saturday