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.
50 mile ride on Sat, BBQ on Sunday, recover on Monday :)
Polar Flow says :
– saturday : Core 1
– sunday : long run
Fenix 3 HR… One day it will be mine… oh yes ! one day it will be mine !
Fairly modest plans for this weekend as my bike is down for repairs. I’ll probably just be taking a 5 mile walk today, a 5k run tomorrow, a short walk Sunday, and not a blasted thing on Monday.
A typical Houston hot and humid brick workout on Saturday followed by a hot and humid run on Sunday and a restful Memorial Day Monday.
Recovery/Easy week so 10K run on Saturday, visiting friends and family out of town.
Back to training after taking the last two weeks off after IMTX. Will do a 1,500 m swim, 30 mile easy bike ride and 5 mile run. Looking forward to it!
long run (well, for me at least) on Saturday followed by a recovery walk mowing the lawn. Sunday swim.
Friday night – Chiropractics followed by AYCE Korean BBQ dinner (Oh yeah!)
Saturday – BodyPump in the morning, followed by SUP in the afternoon, then going home to receive my VAHR :)
Sunday – Indoor spin with VAHR in the morning, followed by beagle time, then SUP with VAHR in the afternoon
Monday – BodyPump with VAHR in the morning (finger crossed), followed by TBD
Thanks a lot for the giveaway!
Short runs Saturday and Monday with a longer run of 12 on Sunday. BBQ and beer for recovery.
50 mile solo ride to start the long weekend
My training plan will be working on my base. Base tan that is. Lots of water training, swimming at the water parks. Nutrition will involve lots of carb loading with some extra protein (BBQ).
Sat – Bike some hills.
Sun – 8-10 mile run
Mon – first OWS of the year.
This weekend, only glass lifting :(, since I have a wedding and a First communion!
140 km solo ride across the Netherlands for me this Sunday. Any of the listed gadgets would make that even more fun ;).
We just bought new bikes and will enjoy a couple rides this weekend.
Weekend will most likely contain a few hours of running and some more on the bike.. Gotta train for a triathlon that’s coming up way too early for me
This weekend will be a long run and a cold beer.
I was planning on going for run Sat, A long ride on Sun and then hitting the lake for a swim before the BBQ on Monday. However sense it will not stop raining, I may get some strength training in by finishing up my ark and round up some pairs of each animal. Yours truly; Noah;). But seriously, I could be done with the rain now.
Thanks
A long ride Saturday, followed by some brisket smoking on Sunday …
Gran Fondo Mont-Tremblant
Just some easy running in preparation for a half marathon next week.
Running and biking and swimming, oh my! And visiting Bull Run
Getting some weightlifting workouts in before the wedding in august!
Mountain bike ride Saturday, family trail run Sunday, Tour de La Grange 40 mile loop (Memphis Hightailers organized ride) on Memorial Day, urban assault downtown Memphis on the mountain bikes Tuesday with the better half. I’m tired already!
Hiking in California, running if my knee can take it after last nights 10K
Long ride and long run. treining for IRONMAN MIAMI beggins
Memorial day weekend training plans:
Saturday – 8-10 mile run. Possibly a short bike with the wife if the weather holds out
Sunday – Family BBQ, hopefully some pool time.
Monday – Short run with our beginner’s 10K training program that I am a co-leader in.
Have a good weekend, everyone!
My plan is to climb Mt Hood!
I plan to ride a little here, catch some waves there, and eat a lot everywhere.
First Race for the year
Friday night, weight lifting. Saturday, splitting firewood. Sunday rest. Monday smoking a pork shoulder and weight lifting.
Rollerski skating and some steep hill repeats to get in shape for a mountain marathon
Swim, Bike, Run, Bike, Run
Brick workout 3 hours bike then 45 mintes speedplay running.
Early morning ODZ race on Zwift Saturday morning.
Long MTB ride Sunday.
Recovery run Monday.
Running a 50 miler on Sunday.
Hoping to get a few shorter rides while the sun is shining
Long bike ride and run Saturday then long run in the heat Sunday prepping for Eaglman!
My weekend starts already today on Friday where I’ll have a strength training and give a spinning class afterwards.
On Saturday I have a 1h run planned
On Sunday there will be again a strength training and probably some outdoor biking if the lovely Belgian weather cooperates at least a little bit :)
Sat – 5 mile run
Sun – advanced day hike in high altitude
Mon – rest
Weekend filled with Sleep and Beer intervals – I may throw in some long rides in between for recovery, but that’s weather dependent…
Training this weekend involves attempting not to eat my own body weight in food….
Just a 5 mile walk with some BBQ later in the day.
Planning a few hikes and make a bike ride with the family.
I am studying a lot to pass the exams, so I will just make a 30min run tomorrow. Does exercise your brains count?
Weather permitting, maybe a few medium to longish rides and I’ll hopefully be able to sort out some of the issues I’ve been having with my WatTeam power meter. (I will go on record as saying that those guys have the most patient and helpful support team ever).
A longer run today leaves the long weekend free for BBQ and family ?
Saturday: Bike: 50km easy
Sunday: Run -> 30min easy + 25min progresive starting at 4,40min/km ending at 4,15min/km + 15min easy run
Tapering for a June 4 half marathon: 10 mile run on Saturday; 5 on Sunday.
10 mile run hopefully exploring some new trail, yard work, beer and bbq
Biking, maybe kayaking and some IPA drinking!
Make use of my Garmin 920XT by using it as a walking activity tracker to count the trips to the grill and for mowing the yard
Trying to get a ride in between thunderstorms…
I’ll be going on a big ride with my wife :)
Sat: threshold intervals and then build up travel bike
Sun: endurance ride in travel bike
Right now, plan is ~35 miles on the bike on Saturday and Monday, with assorted BBQ with friends thrown in on Sunday and Monday.
I plan to conquer some of these micro hills here in Texas hill country with some sprints. All while prepping my family for our move to South Korea.
Got a 10k run followed by some finishing training for the start of triathlon season.
Running Intervals on Saturday and weight lifting on Sunday.
Saturday: I’ll be riding the Bicycle Ranch shop ride, which is a hard, fast ride of about 45 miles. Sunday, I’ll ride Mt. Lemmon Hwy to Palisades, about 60 miles round trip and 5000 feet elevation. Memorial Day, I’ll ride The Loop for about 60 miles.
No training planned as of right now. My kids have a soccer tournament which will keep us busy, then we are hosting and then attending separate BBQ parties on Monday. Woot.
Something long distance, rolling hills or maybe Highwood Pass (7,238 ft). Whatever weather permits.
Saturday will be first road ride since I have been recovering from multiple leg and knee injuries. Sunday is long road ride (for me), of about 90 min. Monday is leg strength and core workouts. No BBQ plans, other than eating it ALL!
running cycling and barbecue
I’ll be able to finally ride outdoors in shorts. It’s been a cold spring in NY
I will be doing a 200KM group ride on Sunday, the weather is supposed to be awesome, so I am really looking forward to it. Thanks for this contest.
Whistler Bike Park Saturday and ripping it up on the trail bike on Sunday.
Well it was supposed to be my first race but i screwed up so I’m prioritizing taking my wife to a black tie formal.
I am going to ride on Saturday, Sunday I am swimming and running and Monday is BBQ time
Satuday – Bike ride from Sulphur, OK to Mill Creek, OK – 28 miles. Some really good hills
Sunday – Low intensity longer than normal run (just started working on a 80/20 Intensity mix)
Monday – Nice long swim day at the pool since my wife will be out of town visiting relatives.
Training Plans:
1. Family in town all weekend
2. Graduation Parties
3. 12 oz Curls
Go for a long ride on my bike with a hill climb on the local hills in Vancouver.
Not from US, but I also have BBQ plans… I will catch up training on Monday! (bike+short run)
Going out for a few easy runs pushing the stroller. Maybe I’ll spend my $600 on the future baby-pushing power meter discussed on the podcast. :)
Sunday kicks off ocean swimming for me! It’ll be a bit chilly off the NJ coast, but I’m excited to get the open water practice. I’ll go for a longer bike ride on Saturday as well. All so I can enjoy the BBQ & beer on Sunday afternoon…
Moderate run on Saturday (8 mi or so), then long trail run (18 mi) on Sunday to prepare for a 50k. And probably rest on Monday, which is a travel day for me
short 5k race in Madrid
At my parent’s home on another continent, will probably enjoy my teenage boxing bag ;-)
Short turbo rides saturday, sunday monday if post flu allows
this weekend I have my long run… 15km
cheers!
Planning on a short moderate/high intensity run on Saturday followed with a long easy run on Monday.
Probably a short, quick run tomorrow and some intervals or cycling (weather providing) on Sunday.
Running around the Tokyo palace
Fartleks. Demolition of a house. Digging a trench. 10k.
Each day. Swim 1 mile. Walk 8 miles
Long ride Saturday, short easy ride Sunday, and grilling on Monday.
Running a lot of miles really slowly. Just started a heart rate zone training program.
Does spending 7.5 hours in a trampoline jump park with 40+ teenagers for a lock-in count as training? Many calories will be burned, so I think I will count it.
Slowly building back up the miles to maybe do 4.25km as preparation for a 5km in a few months (I snapped a few ligaments in my knee during a skiing accident, so all good rehab)
Hopefully a couple medium to long-ish rides and I’ll be able to get my lingering WatTeam issues sorted out. (put me on record as saying they have the most patient and helpful support team I’ve had to deal with for just about any product).
Tomorrow (saturday) I’m running my first obstacle race (or mud run if you will) of the year. It’s the Mud Masters in Weeze (Germany). I’ll be running with some friends and we’ll be doing the 12K course. I’m hoping for good weather (forecast looks good), fun obstacles and loads of mud :D.
Local fundraiser ride
Looking forward to some open water swimming! And since I keep loosing gps tracking on my beat up 910xt, I could really use a win here.
Friday – Yoga and 5 mile run
Saturday – 2600 yard swim and 90 minute bike
Sunday 13 mile run
Monday – reset
For the hot & muggy Toronto weather an early long run one day , and early long bike the next. A good weekend to jump in the Lake!
I plan to run 50 minutes a day over the long weekend and then eat my fill of Memorial Day food.
Hill repeats, salmon BBQ, home remodeling!
Group run with friends in the Berkeley hills!
Early bird sunday morning: Checking the trail of the Asics trailrun in Vaals with the Mountainbike.
BBQ + DeRosa + Spandex = Oh what a feeling.