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.
Going out for a nice 5k or 10k tomorrow.
Getting out for a run
Complete a 13 mile run in preparation for the Hapalua half marathon.
50km run this week before taper week
Start to run, 5km run after knee injury.
Three Days of Long Rides are my weekend.
Rain in the forecast, so it will be a Zwift weekend for me.
Rainy week end here so all my efforts toward chocolate eggs!
Propably will doing a half marathon and some swim.
I am currently training in Lanzarote… so plenty of swimming, biking and running in the sun! :P
My usual easy run of 3km and then a swim in the pool!
Hotel treadmill Friday, 12hr flight Friday/Saturday night, gentle runs Sunday and Monday to work off the jet lag!
Running with my ten year old daughter to prepare for spring racing and as dry land training for her figure skating.
20 Miles long run, training Marathon on May 1st.
Gran Fondo Davide Cassani, Faenza , Italy. 122km ride!
no plans for this weekend, i have to work at the hospital ;-(
First XCM event.. 85km, lots of singletrack
Friday: meandering hike with my brother and his kids; Saturday: 32 mile ride with hills; Sunday: rest. Thanks for a great site.
first outdoor brick of the year on Fri, then swimming drills yesterday. Relaxing today for Easter!
Finally spring, meaning roads without snow here north, so the offroadbike with spiky tires will be parked and the racer will get its first trip this season.
My training plans involved climbing Ben Nevis in Scotland, then riding the bike from Fort William to Oban, to go across to the Isle of Kerera to run around the island. In the end, the only exercise I’ve had has been lifting cans of beer to my lips and unwrapping easter eggs. Oh the shame I feel :-)
Loops of egg huntin’
Actually taking the weekend off … Or riding 30miles for Easter:)
Im currently reducing the workload towards Rome-marathon, and the next session i will have got 3 x 2Miles in Threshold tempo. Other than that im cross training with a bit of cross country skiing and downhill.
A short run on Saturday. Celebrating Easter on Sunday.
I plan on enjoying the nice spurt of weather here in Chicago with a bike ride on the lakefront on Saturday and a run on the same path on Sunday. Obligatory chocolate bunny recovery snacks will be consumed in between all workouts :)
Owing to the weather in the UK I’ll be running a hilly 10k breathing through a snorkel followed exercising my index finger hitting refresh on the Fenix 3 HR page (not generally available here yet)…
Happy Easter!
3 mile run and a chocolate bunny!
Tapering my training for a TT next weekend!
Planning on another 20 miler. I’m going to use a new workout 5-4-3-2-1 all at MP. Hopefully goes good
skiing!
Some weightlifting and a lot of baking.
This weekend is recovery for me. I had a solid week of mountain biking and running and it’s time to rest those legs!
Long ride on Saturday and relax on Sunday!
Traveling across the country to warm weather and running until my legs fall off.
I went for a medium hike yesterday, and today, I’m running for 4-5 miles as my long run for the week.
2.5 hours on the Kickr.
50 miles cycling and a 10K run. And yes, eating chocolate eggs is totally valid nutrition.
2.5k swim: drills with 10x 100m as main part.
Lots of walking along the North Devon coast with cream teas for hydration and fuel!
I ran 5 miles on Saturday and plan to run 5 miles on Sunday. Celebrated Easter on Saturday evening with the family.
Week four of a Marathon training cycle… My will is weak, my shins aren’t happy, quads are wondering why; it’s time to sit in a lawn-chair, drink a beer or seven, (carbo loading… you know…) chase the kids around and eat too much. I’m a believer in taking my recovery as seriously as my training, and Monday the mileage and intensity jacks up so having a strong mind and healed up body will make the next few weeks fly by!
Fallen Comrades Half Marathon at West Point to get in some hill work and support a good cause then 20 miles on the bike to keep the legs loose.
setting up my bike for commuting the coming week
Short bike ride. Maybe two.
Last long run (35 km) before the marathon on 17 April
100km of riding followed by eating my kids’ Easter chocolate!
next Friday I am going to Orlando FL for the Ingress anomaly games, I joined the biking team
so I am giving my bike a tuneup and doing runs to make sure is in tip top shape
I am doing TRX focused on upper body and elliptical to burn some fat.
Just got back from a two-week training holiday, so the plan for this weekend is to take it kind of easy!
My plans were for a 15km slow run, but reality go in the way
My first 50+ Mile outdoor ride with my new tri bike. And a 10k run.
Some running intervals and a long run over the weekend.
16 k trailrun and 2 orienteering competitions
Two rides: A long one (120 km) and a shorter one around the mountains!
My goal is to enjoy the bipolar weather that Oklahoma has to offer.
I’ll be with family all weekend, so it’ll take a bit of creativity to get some quality sessions in. Fingers crossed.
15k cross country ski Sunday. 11k run Monday.
Slow 10k on Friday, even slower mountain run on Sunday.
Saturday – recover from Friday’s 48 mile MTB ride
Sunday – Zwift , try out the new mountain course
Monday – Swim
8 km left to reach 200 in March!
Just had a nice Easter Weekend with the family and a break from sports…
Take time to recover, explore munich, eat some chocolate and looking forward to take some rides next week when back at home
We planned a short run to keep going with our preparation for our runs and bike competition this summer!
I am planning ride my Fatbike, do some yoga and enjoy Easter ham with my family! Monday will be set to work it all off riding some gravel!! Thanks Ray!
Family weekend. No bike this week.
Update Zwift to FTP of 250w and accomplish the planned workout (week10 of 12 for FTP improvment plan).
75 min MAF bike followed by church calisthenics.
Short brick on Friday, 2hr ride on the trainer Saturday, and short hour run on Sunday. An easy weekend.
This will be the first decent weather in ages so I’m for sure getting out!
run 15 miles LSD
Easy weekend, couple of short runs. Set some time aside to service my neglected bike.
Some hilly rides with about 100km and 1000m climbing, if the weather is good.
Roller skiing! 30 km.
Goal nog is to be in shape for “Ronde Van Vlaanderen” next week. Actually overshot my training goals this weekend, it’s not over yet but due to storm tomorrow, won’t be much.
friday 82km: Ghent – Oudenaarde – some E3 climbs – Oudenaarde – Ghent
saturday 60km: Ghent – Schoonaarde – Ghent via the Scheldt
sunday 45km: Ghent – Kalken – Ghent via the Scheldt
As much as I hate running, I’m without the bike so will be doing a couple 4 mile runs.
I ran a 13k on Saturday and swam 3k today
Put the kid into the Bob and hopefully do a 10k later. Then chocolate
Already at the end of the weekend, but since it is nice out doing a bit of running while it’s sunny is on the menu for Sunday after church!
I hope to finish my weekend as stron as i´ve started it. Saturday: 4.4 km morning swim an an afernoon 90 km bike ride. Sunday: 60km and 5km brick run at 3:50. Monday: rest day ;) I hope to win because a power meter would really help me improve my bike splits
Ran a 5k with my nephew
A near Olympic workout (3000 swim, 26 mile bike, 4 mile run) as part of a taper for next weekend’s 70.3.
Riding with the cyclo, maybe some intervals.
Training and this weekend will either be setting off on a 10k run with family to kick off the new season or a session on Zwift, dependant on the very fragile British weather.
12k long slow z2 run in the evening for training for half marathon.
Going for long walk and some 7k run :)
Cruising in Orlando on a beach comber then crushing some spinning in the gym.
Recovery runs and walks are planned in Transylvania after my 19th March Marathon.
Planned: 10k Saturday and Sunday. Actual: in bed with cold :-(
3.5m run on the schedule as part of my 10k training, then stretch and strengthen day.
Summer is comming, so I’ll take my bike for a short ride. Today we celebrated end of winter an went skiing.
Plan is to avoid all the horrible weather! Brief swim and short walks!
Recovery ride and a Z2 MLR – weather permitting!
Taking a bit of a break from the normal Tri-training and playing in a hockey tournament with my brother. Back to the regular grind on Monday!
Ride the bike, despite thunderstorms being forecast!
I just signed up for my first ultra marathon in June so I guess a long run would be fitting. Carbo loading is already started.
Happy Easter!
going for a club ride of 100km
Did an easy ride on Friday covering 71 km, a fast ride with 100 km including a 20 km time trial today.
Tomorrow I’ve planned some high meters with at least 80 km.
Nice long bike rides in the great spring weather.
Ran 20 miles yesterday. Right now going out for a long ride of 80 miles.
TTT practice on Saturday and intervals on Sunday