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.
Completing a super week! I ran 93.3 miles this week (150km), my highest ever by about 8 miles. Now to taper for Boston!
I’m planning to do some free weight strength training and go on a nice long run.
80K roadbike and 1h running on Saturday. 3h running on Sunday.
Planning on a 2 hour bike followed by an hour run.
Slowly coming back from an injury, but my times are improving! Ran a 8km tempo on Friday, some 600m repeats on Saturday, and today I’m going to try for a 25km long run!
Just going on a non structured ride today for fun.
Going for a 100km ride on my new bike on Monday. Hoping for not too much rain…
Short run and going to the gym
Grinding out a 16-20 mile trail run
It’s easter weekend, I would be spending time going to brunch with family on Sunday, maybe taking the kids to the park later, and back to working hard on monday.
Open water swim at the lake. Hopefully all the kids are off eating Peeps instead of peeing in it!
Diet beer and running….maybe not in that order.
A couple of slowish 40 mile rides and some quality miles on the trainer. The weather has been awfully nice this weekend.
Did a 5K race on Saturday and spending the time with the family on Sunday.
I’m off to the cycle track in the desert of Dubai for some Farlek training!
I need to get some mileage in, so it’s a toss up between a wet and mucky 18km trail run or a boring yet drier 21km road route.
Long ride and short walks.
2 x 90 min stair stepper workout the pack in preparation for a Mt Rainier climb, each followed by a 60 min run and marathon pace.
Just returned from a trip, so nothing was planned… but I hope I’ll muster some strength to go for an easy 6k or so later in the evening
Brunch and then walk it off
This weekend’s training plans involve 2 easy runs. Saturday a 5 miler and Sunday a 6 miler.
Treadmill long run
I did a lovely 12km trail run part of the Two Oceans Marathon weekend
I will do a 2 hours long run
23km run on Sunday
Training for the Disney Star Wars Dark Side Challenge (10k and 1/2 marathon) and a Spartan Beast (two weeks after). Plans are for a 13 mile run (completed) and a lifting session (completed).
Hilly run yesterday (Saturday) and long easy run today (Sunday) then active recovery in the evening
Sun is out and melting the ice/slush piles remaining from last week’s dump – as soon as roads are dry enough will be heading out for a rural ride…
Just running and swimming. To horrid for cycling.
Track intervals followed by peanut butter eggs.
Run 5k, and IHOP
A family hike down the bunny trail followed by games night Saturday. Then a 10k run Sunday with more family time.
So far did a 6 mile recovery run yesterday and an hour of sufferfest with friends this morning (always better with friends!). Still have strength to fit in between egg hunts and chocolate bunnies with the kids.
My training goal for the weekend – two 1-hour walking workouts.
Been sick all weekend. So, no training, just soups :D
Hiking with friends and working on leg strength with a heavy pack.
I’ll do some strenuous chocolate bunny/egg lifting. Might need to do multiple sets worth.
1 1/2 hour recovery ride Saturday and 8 mile easy run with 1.5 miles at 1/2 marathon race pace Sunday.
Big weekend of racing planned ahead as the weather gets nicer. 25 mile Time Trial Friday, Sunday and Monday, with a criterium thrown in on Sunday afternoon.
Since my local pool will be shut during the weekend, I’ll only bike and run.
2 hours on the KICKR and then binging on Easter chocolate
I have done 25 miles on Zwift today and also plan to do about 20 miles of outdoor trail riding after brunch! Happy Easter everyone
Getting some miles in on the bike. Back on the water rowing tomorrow!
Saturday was my rest day after a long ride on friday and on Saturday I am going to play ice hockey with my friends.
Hopefully a solid 100k on the bike and a hike in the mountains!
Goal was to ride 5:30 hrs, so I did… now my other goal for today is to swim for 1hr20min
Full court basketball with my kids on Friday, 14 mile run (1K of climbing) on Saturday and chow down on Sunday.
I’m taking the weekend off to worship my ancestors, but I’ll probably run there.
Run, user, run!
Saturday was a 2,5 hour power ride in the sunshine, Sunday was a pre breakfast recovery spin. Not it’s all about filling up on those chocolate Easter pieces
I ran a half lasyt weekend, so I am taking it easy this one: A 2K warm up, then 3X2K intervals with 3min rest between.
100 miles + recovery chocolate
Saturday managing my sons t-ball team, Sunday chasing Easter eggs around downtown.
Swim, bike, run, repeat.
No training but racing the IM70.3 in Taiwan. Was an awesome weekend.
Totally…chocolate, ride, chocolate, ride some more!! 3hrs at +3C today outside and the rest of the week back on the trainer. Warm weather is almost here.
This weekend is a recovery weekend, yet again.
PT, yoga and 3500 yard swimming on saturday and sunday
It started on friday with an easy paced long run, then a ~100km ride, today is off, and tomorrow a “seance de fractionné”
That hopefully should be enough to get rid of all chocolate :D
Ran 3.75 yet array and hope to it again today. If I can cleanup my bike, may head for a ride
Bike, chocolate, bike
I’m about to go and do 4 x 500m intervals at the pool…to burn off some Easter indulgence!
Some trail running, sleeping and eating xD
Long ride, running trails & mountains on zwift
Quick 1h ride on zwift today (rain is coming …) with chocolat eggs after and probably a 10k run tomorrow with … some chocolat eggs … again
Then no more chocolat for a year ! :)
Biking out to the coast on Saturday and TT practice + run on Sunday.
Taking my brand new Ibis Mojo HD3 out for a spin!
Easter eggs today. 40km cycle 10km run brick session tomorrow. Swimming bike hiits and long slow run for rest of week.
Saturday was the first “big” training day on my Ironman training plan: 1.5 hour run, 1.5 hour bike, 2,100 yards swimming. Went well.
10K runnning once or twice
Ride the hills here two days in a row if no cold rain gets in the way :)
on Friday i will do about 115 kilometer on suez road and afterwards i will eat an egg that i have painted earlier
on Saturday i will do 80 km of long climbs represented in ain sukhna long climb 350m (700m elevation gain)
afterwards i will eat the chocolate egg :D
on Sunday i will do a 5k run :)
Just a short run in LA. Happy weekend!
Well, my goal for the easter vacation was 200km cross country skiing, untill I managed to crash and break my pole – so… Maybe getting out the bike and getting it ready for spring?
I will be doing an hour run and an hour on the bike trainer on Sunday.
NICA MTB practice w/ son then post McKay Hollow Madness trail race liquid carb recovery!
A couple of quick climbs to the windmills
Weekend away down in Dorset (UK) so walks on the Jurassic Coast
Heading out for a half ironman training ride
Long run but motivation has dropped as its snowing. Spring?!?
Getting over being sick.
A trail half marathon to celebrate my birthday
Recovery day for me! So, I’ll be hopping down the bunny trail…
Feast on easter eggs and then an easy run on Sunday.
Just got back from an 8 day training camp in Mallorca – so I think I’m allowed to take it easy :)
Long run and Saturday and an Easter walk with the family on Sunday.
Get middle kid out with me for a quick 5k.
I took my kickbike out first time.
Roads are dry but there’s still lot gravel on asphalt.
Ride, ride, and ride! :).
1 hour of dry land followed by 6200y in the pool. No practice on Easter Sunday.
Doing a short run to remove the choco calories
Swapped out my spiked tyres on the cyclocross and took a 2 hour ride in the sunshine with my brother today Sunday. Since there is a holiday tomorrow Monday too I’m going for another 2 hour ride tomorrow if the weather is nice.
I’ll be hiding Easter eggs
20 mi bike Saturday and 10 mi run Sunday to prep for the Easter feast with the family.
Sadly, my training plans were very limited this weekend as we were visiting our son-in-law who is in the army. He is TDY in Va. for training and this was a limited opportunity to visit with him while he is on our side of the world. If I get home tonight, I will ride my bike on the trainer. I would love to have a new trainer with a power meter, right now I have a really plain jane trainer which is better than nothing.
2.7 km swimming on Saturday, weights on Sunday, and 12 km running on Monday : a filled Easter week-end !
Done a three day Ski tour in the austrian alps surrounding the Schobergruppe in Osttirol.
Yesterday I biked 9 miles after a long flight back. This afternoon planning some run after the Easter feast. If were not raining then I would go out for some cycle again.
Easter weekend is the only off-weekend of the season. Nothing at all but eating chocolate (and drinking beers !)
This weekend’s training plan includes resting and enjoying time with family. A short ride and a slow run for me.