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.
Watch the kids race sailboats on Saturday morning then weights and a run in the afternoon.
Two rest days coming up I think – been an intense week. Will probably have a leisurely cycle somewhere and go to the beach (though storms are forecast for around here so that might be hopeful)
I’ll be running 10 or 12 miles Saturday morning, and hashing Saturday afternoon. If my legs aren’t too sore, I’ll run five miles or so on Sunday – depends on the weather, too!
Racing in the Scottish duathlon champs
I’m going to try to do a little part of the parcours of Gent-Wevelgem on saterday.
The plan for this weekend is to continue my recovery from a bunch of running ailments. Nothing but stretching and mobility movements for me.
A five mile run in galveston. After that meeting with a group that will most likely beat your podcast cohort Ben at the galveston half ironman in april talk about their brick workout from the morning and the open water swim from the day before.
Gotta try to smash a 12ish mile run into all the Easter goodness. I fully intend on fueling with chocolate bunnies!
A few trail runs (12 to 15 kms) and walks with kids.
Two long rides back to back.
Enjoy some beautiful weather in Korea with some sprints or a group ride.
Family trip, but hoping to squeeze in an easy run
100 mile bike on Saturday followed by a 60 miler on Sunday
Lunch run today, 45 minutes. Brick tomorrow, 90 minute ride, 30 minute run. TBD on TrainerRoad vs ride outside. Then an easy trainer spin on Sunday.
Running at the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff on Easter Saturday!
A short recovery run on Sunday.
On Saturday 25 km run; on Sunday morning I’m going have a bike ride with a couple friends without any particular goal other than burning at least a few of the calories that I am going to eat later on at lunch…
I’m planning on going to a pair of hiit/Tabata classes to really get the heart rate up this weekend!
Going to do some good cross-training
hope to get a short ride in on Saturday; that’s about it!
This weekend, my staple workout is my 27 km long run. I plan to do 6 km of half marathon race pace work at the end. Hopefully, the weather will be nice. Thanks as always for the giveaway, Ray!
Taking it easy with some treadmill runs since I’m on call all weekend for work.
Eat chocolate , go to church and bike 80 km to the in laws for dinner
20 Km running and 30 Km biking!
5 miles easy recovery. Hope it doesn’t rain!
Recovery week so maybe a 14 mile run on Saturday and then 8 on Sunday.
My goal is a light ride on the rollers today to loosen up the legs for tomorrows 40+ mile ride. Plus my wife might drag me to a yoga class. If that is the case, I won’t need to loosening of the rollers
Bike this morning, some hiking, and maybe another bike or two
Looking forward to the long trail run on Saturday!
Bike/Run on Saturday with longer ride on Sunday.
Plan to do a 30km MTB ride and probably a 10km interval run
Starting to get into 70.3 specific training. Brick session on Saturday and then long run on Sunday with a recovery ride Sunday afternoon.
I’ve been terribly lazy of late, so I’ll consider it a success to just get out on one run. Might even make it a hill climb just to teach myself a lesson..
Hi Ray,
Will do a three-days-in-a-row workout, through local woods.
No, not three days running, just three runs on consecutive days – pffeh, what were you thinking :-)
Cheers
Frank
I’m hoping for some good weather! I plan to hit the greenway and do a 6 mile run on saturday and then on sunday ride on the trails with the kids.
Hoping to do a long run fueled entirely on Cadbury eggs.
Saturday: Skiing in the (Austrian) Alps, Medium run in the morning
Sunday: Skiing too (hopefully) and maybe a recovery run afterwards
Monday: maybe some cycling but it will depend on the weather.
We’re expecting bad weather all weekend in North Florida, but I’m hoping to get a decent 6-mile tempo run in on Saturday!
Nice hill repeats on Saturday run, and hopefully a nice long ride or run (depends on weather, about two hours either way). Sufficiently long enough to earn my fair share of chocolate!
saturday and sunday rides – interval training
Planning on doing a 120km race/training ride this weekend and if all goes well, a nice run on Sunday.
First race of 2015 – 5K in Philadelphia!
A good core session and then some open water swimming in the cold Atlantic waters off Ireland
A long ride followed by a short run, and lots of time with family.
Hi, Ray! I’m going for a run today, then hopefully another one on Saturday or Sunday.
Looking for easter eggs with the girl’s family.. after I had a long over due nap.
Bike ride on the beach!
Heading south for spring break with the family, so hoping for good weather and some long, slow, barefoot beach running. Lots of steps at Universal Studios, as well.
Running 15-17 miles of wet, cold trails as part of marathon training. Then chocolate.
5 mile tempo run on saturday, 10 mile on sunday
Bike, bike and more bike – hoping to get 400+ km done Thursday to Sunday
2,5h bike/1h run brick session on Saturday, 3h easy ride on Sunday
If the weather clears, I’ll do a short ride this afternoon, otherwise I’ll Zwift today. Saturday a longer ride outside, and same for Sunday.
So I’m a week from a half marathon, and two weeks after a full marathon, so kinda taper, kinda shake the cobwebs off… I think 13-14 miles nice and easy.
A long easy run on Saturday and some strength training on Sunday
Rainy 80 planned for Saturday :)
Hoping for a nice sunny ride in California on my spring break from Wisconsin.
I am down with some sort of crazy cold this week. So lame as it is, my training this weekend is recovery. And planning for greatness once I am well… ;-)
Trainer ride on Saturday and Sunday and a run Sunday night
Travel for the Easter holiday will constrain my available time, but I’m planning on an easy 8-mile run early (very early) Saturday morning and then an hour on the trainer using TrainerRoad Sunday night.
Some hiking as cross training to celebrate the summer-like weather.
First, spam is awesome. Fry it up and put in on some bread. Great!
I plan to pick up by brand new salsa blackborow fatbike today and go for a ride.
Since we’ll be busy with family obligations centered around Easter, I’ll put in some time on the stationary bike with Netflix!
A short run Saturday, and hopefully an Easter bike ride before the rain hits here Sunday. Jelly bean nutrition to keep me fueled!
Couple of hours on the trainer Saturday and if the weather is nice enough hopefully outside for a few more hours on Sunday.
Friday: planning on a 30-45 mile ride, just have to decide on a route.
Saturday: probably a much shorter, easier ride for recovery
Sunday: most likely going to be a day off since it’s supposed to rain
30k+ run in the local hills, kinda tricky mixing up a bit of training with work and the sharp end of planning a wedding.
I Will do interval on my neo to Day and a 6 k run on sunday
I’m going for a 3 hour bikeride tomorrow and a short run on sunday and maybe another bike ride.
Training plans, not much but I am going to build a new bike!
I plan to weight train, row, run and maybe hike.
Get a long hill run in and possibly squeeze a ride or swim in around the Easter festivities with the little ones
Assuming I can navigate family visitors, I plan the same ~68 mile ride on Sat & Sun in an attempt to finally shock myself into fitness for the season.
1 hr 20min Brick on Saturday (30 minute bike immediately followed by a 50 minute run), then 1 hr 30 min bike on Sunday.
My plan is to go to my wife’s country house roundtrip (about 120km)
Wife’s birthday so mostly eating and maybe a hike.
Still working on recovering from foot surgery to repair a torn peroneal tendon. Back on my feet though (albeit with a walking boot) finally!
Interval run this afternoon. Recovery run and body weight exercises on Saturday. Long run on Sunday morning prior to the Easter Bunny’s arrival!
Friday I’ve got a running workout with some Hills. Saturday, it’s a long bike ride followed by a relatively short brick run, and then Sunday it’s a nice and short recovery run. Should be lots of fun!!
Given the snow forecast for Sat, I’ll be spinning on the rollers. If there isn’t too much snow on Sunday, I may get outside – but probably more roller time.
No plans for training this weekend. I will be spending my time explaining to my wife how I really NEED to spend $600 on a Fenix 3 HR if I don’t win this sweepstakes!
just got to keep moving. hoping for a long run on Saturday and some tennis on Sunday
Once the freezing rain and ice pellets melt off the roads later today I plan a long run (long for me – 16k) this afternoon with an easy run tomorrow and drills on Sunday.
Starting with a 60+ mile ride today through the hills. Will see how that goes for the rest of the weekend.
Starting up my new cycling club CS010 in Rotterdam The Netherlands!
Today 10k in light hills
Tomorrow 4* 2.000 Tempoflex
Easter 26k in light hills
Monday 10k in light hills
No training this week-end, it’s time to compete! I’ll run a 10k as part of the Lyon Ekiden on Saturday, then race an aquathlon on sunday (1000m swim + 5k race).
Heading out running later, rest day then long bike ride in the Peak District weather permitting here in the UK.
Coming from an injury, start again with 5k on Saturday and if my quads want 7 to 8 km on Monday.
Having been to a 10 day “runcation” last and this week, I will do a slow 8k run today Friday and a long run on Monday. I’m training for my second marathon, in Stockholm in June, and I’ve got to find that delicate mix between rest and training.
A Short swim on saturday morning and a sort of long run(>15K) afterwards.
On Sunday the weather should be goog enough for a long Bike ride with my girlfriend :D
Visiting family, so for the most part lots of nutrition. Did a short 7k run today though and try to add another one Sunday evening.
Short run on Friday. Shop ride on Saturday. Recovery ride on Sunday.
Unfortunately, still rehabbing from a knee surgery, so just some basic PT exercises, and maybe a slowish bike ride.
Could use some equipment to make the bike trainer more exciting; mostly a runner.
Long ride on Saturday and possibly another bike ride on Sunday
Some gym time, a 10km run, and hopefully some laps in the pool.
This weekend should be around 12C outside, I will go for my first ride of the year and see if my indorr Sufferfest
training had paid off this winter.
After a long week of bike commuting, I’m taking today easy then getting some “junk miles” in on Saturday and Sunday. Maybe on Zwift, hopefully in the real world! Maybe I’ll wear the bunny ears on Sunday.
This weekend I’ve got a 7 miler planned.
Running on sand mainly now to increase the pain, so probably a whole lot more of that for the Easter break. A 10k on Sunday perhaps…
I’m doing a 90 minute long run on Sunday to get ready for half marathon in April