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…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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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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FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
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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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Fri: 3.5 hour road ride; Sat: 4.5 hour hilly trail run; Sun: 4.5 hour hilly trail run; Mon: 3 hour flat trail run. I’m prepping for a 100k trail run.
I’m going to run 2 halfs this weekend so I can call it a marathon weekend haha
I plan on getting beat up at the local group ride on Saturday and then hopefully have a recovery ride on Sunday.
Hard-going intervals on Saturday and easier spinning miles Sunday on my recently purchased P1s (through Clevertraining.com… of course)!
Intervals on Saturday. Doing a 9 mi run on Sunday.
Swimming followed by Easter eggs
I rode 90 miles today around Happers Ferry in West Virginia and plan to run 30 minutes in the Kenwood community and enjoy the cherry blossoms.
Two indoor bike trainer workouts – time is of the essence.
HM today and some cycling tomorrow
FTP test on TrainerRoad
35 ride done today with a 10k run on Easter
20km trail run on Sunday
A recovery run on Monday
I ran a Wounded Warrior 5K to show support for our troops. This event was especially significant because I ran it with a friend that is deploying today.
taper weekend before the race, little swim, little bike and a few hops
Trying to be careful with my injuries and keep my race fitness.
Raced a duathlon this morning (first one ever!) and running with my mom tomorrow! It is her 50th birthday (on Easter this year!) and she is going to run her first 5k this spring.
Planning a short run on Sunday.
A 17.5 mile run on Saturday and 7 miles on Sunday
Hopefully a nice bike ride in the woods!
Nothing too crazy a bike follows by a short brick then off to drink some beers! Happy Easter!
Climb the hills of Baguio, Philippines ??
TrainerRoad ride for 90 mins on KickrSnap, 5km run, and 90 mins of soccer!
Ran a 20 miler with 13 at marathon race pace. 8 recovery tomorrow!
I’m still recovering from surgery on my foot to repair a split peroneal tendon so training plan for the weekend is walking again, with a boot on.
A couple days of spring skiing with the family.
Weight training
cranking out an easy 56 miler this weekend…
Long run Saturday morning, 12 with 4 at MP, rest day Sunday. Shopping for a new watch!
Climb Bear mountain in the US, adding more than 1000m climb total in a single ride.
Long run on Sunday then eat chocolate
running 5k and Easter
Thanks
11 Miles run on the beach and river path, training for Hollywood half-marathon.
Short 25 minute warmup Saturday then a 10 miler on Sunday before the chocolate eggs, all warm ups for a June 12 mountain marathon.
Just finished a 90mile bike and 2mile run. Planning a 20mile run Sunday. If you visit San Francisco, this is one of the best runs anywhere – take the Ferry to Sausalito and run back across the Golden Gate Bridge back to the Ferry Building/Terminal/market. Its about 11-12miles depending if you run down to the beach.
Well, I’m driving the family 1200 km from Edmonton to Vancouver island. Hope to squeeze in a 1:15 interval run and a 1 HR recovery run along the way. Once on the island I’ll do a big rude culminating in climbing Mt Washington
Went for a run this morning and sleeping in tomorrow :)
Go for a run, then put
My kids to bed, then sneak on their chocolate stash.
I’m going to get out for a long run with the dog
I made chocolate chip cookies tonight and I have a 12-14 mile run planned for tomorrow!
Mountain biking and chocolate!
Training plans- ride, run, swim, repeat!
thank you, ray!
today 5mile run, tomorrow a swim and another run. then too many chocolate eggs for recovery…
Going for a 12 mile run with my dog!
Saturday: 5k rollerblade with my kids who are trying out their new bikes
Sunday: 1.5k on an indoor track with the kids.
Let’s call them recovery days. At least the kids are training.
Ran 9 miles Friday. Rest day on Saturday. Followed by 6 mile commute tomorrow, and maybe squeeze a bike ride after work.
After a nice vacation with the family in FL (close to CT, but too far given I have little ones) I am taking the weekend off because of the travel times on the return. Monday I will start back up with an easy 5mi before work to get back into my plan before my first race of the season starting next weekend.
Yesterday (Saturday was a 11km hilly trail loop followed by another 11km hilly trail for a friends Bucks Party. He got married that afternoon. Today was a hilly 31km road run. Now to eat all the chocolate the kids haven’t already eaten, because they seriously don’t need any more.
Short run today and tomorrow. My Kickr snap just came in to REI and I’m picking it up this week. Yippee. Thanks for the tip this week.
I ran 22 miles today and running 10 tomorrow
Friday – Yoga
Saturday – 5 mile run, smoke 15# brisket
Sunday – 5K maybe between meals and desserts
I ran 8 miles on Saturday, Sunday I’ll enjoy Easter.
Just a simple commute to work on both days.
10 miles easy on Saturday and 14 miles at marathon pace Sunday. Thanks!
A couple of fort leak runs
Had a nice 8 mile jog with the wife and kids this morning…time to kick the 5 yr old out of the stroller…thing is getting heavy!
2 hours on Zwift tomorrow!
Sunday ride whatever I can do in an hour.
A couple of rest days; off the bike, out for a hike. Avoid chocolate. Resume as normal on Tuesday.
2 hour easy ride on sunday
Fat bike rides on the snow in Colorado
Some short runs to test out some new sneakers and to give running with headphones a try.
Slowly coming back from a calf muscle tear so still not allowed to run, but i will be do some cycling and rowing at the gym to keep my fitness up this weekend and work off the easter eggs!
28k run on Sunday, and strength training on Monday.
Crossing my fingers that my 5 month old twins only wake up once at 4:30 am, I plan on feeding them run 2 miles to the gym do a quick workout and 20 min swim, grab coffee and cook breakfast before starting the diaper change/feeding cycle all over again.
15 mile bike ride + 5 mile run :D
From Mexico!
Planning to run 16km tomorrow as part of my first marathon trainning program!
I’ll be riding a stationary bike, since I messed up a tendon in my ankle running the Phoenix Marathon and can’t run at the moment. I don’t have a bike yet, waiting for the Cannondale CAAD12 to come out in stores.
Mountain biking on Saturday and a mid-size run on Sunday morning if I can squeeze it in.
Training for the San Francisco Rock ‘n Roll half-marathon on 4/3! Ran 10 mi on Friday and going for 6.2 mi on Sunday, to start ramping down before the race. Training with my phone, but really wishing I had $600 to buy me the Fenix 3 HR and train for the other 4 half-marathons: San Diego (June), San Jose (Sep), Los Angeles (Oct) and Las Vegas (Nov)!
Nothing. After completing a half marathon and attending a family wedding.
Local club ride on Saturday probably doing around 50 miles then another 30 miles on Easter morning.
Hopefully a good long run on the Silver Comet Trail.
Run in da park :) Great weekend
I am currently training for an early spring international length triathlon my first tri, running a half marathon and a couple 5ks.
Finishing up a Master’s class… Hope to at least get a run or bike ride in.
I’m hoping to put a few kilometers on my new Cervelo. Boy could I use some new gadgets to go with it though!
Happy Easter everyone.
Trainer ride and a swim
Going to be doing a couple of 100km rides this weekend and also throw in a 10km run in between. For relaxation a game of Golf.
Going for a long run in leu of Easter!
Non stop chocolate.
Next weekend i hope to run 13.1 slr and some body weight training
50km hill ride and a 1km open water swim and then a couple of beers
On Sat a 6 miler and on Sun 8 miler run!
Training for Nifty Ten Fifty
http://www.niftytenfifty.com
Swim workouts!!! Also I think you should re-consider kidnapping the guy at the mall…definitely would add to the decor of the cupCakery!!
SAT Day Off
SUN Ride 2 hours HR Zone 2 Aerobic Endurance
A quick run before chasing egg hunting kiddos :-)
Easter egg hunting and maybe a little bike repair
Lots of chocolate eggs and a quick run to stay fit
Training. Absolutely nothing. nada. zilch. zero. nope. Not by choice really, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying the break from training just a little bit. About 8 weeks ago, I severely sprained my ankle while bouldering. Missed the crash pad. I was two weeks on crutches, and 6 weeks in an air cast. I have been doing stretching exercises and limping around for the past two weeks. It will most likely be another month before I can try and run. By that time it will be hot, hot, hot, here in Phoenix, I missed the best time of the year to run here.
Last year I ran a 50k with not so far off dreams of running maybe a 50 miler. Now? Countdown to the couch to 5k program…
No training this weekend, restarts Monday with a simple 3 mile run plus weight training
did some hill climbing and will do some high intensity intervals.
Going for a short ride.
A couple of trainer rides are on my schedule – TrainerRoad East Vidette and Gibbs. Last couple of trainer sessions before a rest week, which I’m looking forward to!
I plan on riding tomorrow morning before I go on a nice hike with my fiancé. Should be great weather for the occasion! I would love to get my hands on that new Garmin Fenix 3 HR and I’m pretty sure so would my fiancé because I can’t stop talking about it…
Race lookout mountain hill climb. A short tt.
Going to have a nice long bike ride after not really doing much this long weekend!
I would like to break the 1-hour mark in my 10k.
I’m going for a 16 mile long run!
Easter egg scramble with the kids, then some solo pleasure runs through the hills.
My training plans for the weekend involve/involved a nice 15 mile long run on Saturday with roughly half easy and half hard. Then a short recovery run on Sunday to get the blood pumping and to limber up a bit followed by training my stomach :) Happy Easter!