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.
Swimfest on Saturday – 750/1500/2250 open water races, then in the pool on Sunday and Monday!
My training plan for the weekend is to run a 5K for Runkeeper’s Global5K.
I did the last one back in Dec. 2015. It was fun and interesting to see how many people all over the world would perform for a 5K over the same weekend.
Run/swim/run on Saturday then ~30 mile ride on Sunday. Nice bbq on Monday
One road ride and one mtn ride, trying to get my lungs and legs back!
Marinated flank steak on the grill, Tex mex style. Hopefully some exercise.
Doing 4.5 miles on the beach
A slow bike tour with the girl and a few running intervalls.
All the best from Austria
A 1/2 hour ride on my Halfbike II and long run in the woods on saturday
a long run today, and a swim tomorrow. maybe swim again on sunday, run on monday.
Tomorrow an easy ride to check out the bike part of the triatlon I’m competing in on Sunday
If I am finally able to get rid of this nasty flu, it’ll only be a short run in the neighbourhood.
Half marathon on Saturday and then all the food my face can fit….
Festival day sat, a little mtn bike hill training Sun and a big walk to the pub and back on Sunday!
Tempo ride Saturday Followed by 6 mile run on Sunday!
Long ride on Saturday followed by a lot of bbq/beers.
I plan on a nice leasurly 5 hour bike Saturday, followed by a 30 minute brick. Sunday will be my first race of the year, a sprint, in freezing cold and rain if the forecast holds true!
Bayshore Half Marathon and then lots of espresso and sleep.
2.1 k swim, BBQ, 35 k bike, Party, 8 k run. Btw – I like my transitions! ;-)
My normal round of 8 km around the water. Next weekend is marathon weekend!
Park Run 5k on Sat morning followed by some running on holiday as we go away for the week. Not sure what yet as I don’t know the lie of the and but hopefully some coastal paths and beaches!
Some quick interval training on sunday is all what my job allows me this weekend. besides the usual finger crossing workout I always perform after entering Ray’s giveaways
Being from Minnesota I look forward to the first open water swim of the year this weekend ?
Wiping up baby vomit, cycling 200km and changing nappies…..
I plan on running a little 10k on Saturday, rest on sunday, vitamin D on Monday.
Hi Ray,
my weekend plans are cyling, swimming and maybe a short run.
Have a great weekend!
Regards,
Richard
First week of training for Ironman Santa Cruz 70.3, so…
Friday: 1200 yd swim
Saturday: 2 hr bike ride
Sunday: Brick 30 min run & 750 yd swim
Monday: 1.5 hr bike ride (usually off, but had to swap days due to travel following weekend)
A short run on Saturday, and looking to get in a good long trail run in the Alberta rockies on Sunday.
Bike/kayak “duathlon” on Sunday, Family Funday workout on Monday
Beach runs in Barranquilla, Colombia
5k
Have a 10k run around Efteling Park, where I spend a few days with the family!
I’m going for an easy 10k run on Saturday, recovery BBQ on Sunday and ride to the beach to have some fish and chips on Bank Holiday Monday! :)
Just bought my first road bike. My plan is to ride to work two times(saturday morning and saturday night). About 90 kilometers :)
I’m going out of town to find some hilly running routes in the woods,
I will be starting training for my 1/3 ironman distance race in October. Longest distance for me thus far. I’m looking at some strength training Saturday, swimming Sunday (this will be taking place at the beach because it is, after all, a holiday weekend!) and biking Monday.
doing the outlaw!!!
A couple of 8 mile runs to offset all the bad food I’m going to eat.
tapering phase for a 70.3 next weekend, therefore only a short swim on Saturday and some biking on Sunday
Some medium-distance runs and strength training to rehab injuries.
This we i Will rest from a bad bike faceplant of last we.
Just opened the weekend with 13.5km medium-effort run through the city park. On Sunday, a 5.5km downtown easy and/or (as rain is forecast) barefoot run. Probably 1500m swimming on Monday evening; then, a last longer prep run on Tuesday for races next Thursday evening (6.5K) and Sunday (10K)!
I’ll be doing two swim trainings this weekend.
As trail running is becoming popular here in Latvia, I’ll go for a 20k trail run.
Sat : 16km group run with some great friends
Sun : 70-80km bike ride with other more good friends.
And all that probably in the rain :-)
Sunday- Lake Casitas Ride (tour of California stage)
Monday-recovery ride 40 miles
Toddler Volleyball in the pool. This is where I throw my 4 year old over the volleyball net in the pool. An absolute blast!
Well on saturday I will be lying in bed taking antibiotics and I think I will hold on to this training programm for a couple of more days, see if it brings any progression :-) but don’t worry, by the time the Gadget gets to me I will be fine^^ Thanks ray and clever training.
No training this weekend. Buffalo Marathon!
Easy run Saturday, then a couple of well deserved rest days!
Riding out a potential tropical storm on the Coast of Carolina, hoping to sprinkle in some swim/bike/run.
Group ride Saturday morning
BBQ Sat. afternoon
Hard 3 hour training session on Sunday
Beer on Monday. :-)
Saturday intervals for the upcoming halfmarathon, Sunday long run…
Doing breathing training to improve pace
Friday: 10 mile mtb training ride for an upcoming enduro race. All elevation training. Evening baseball game, $1 beers and hot dogs.
Saturday: Hiking with some friends, wife, and two year old son in a hiking baby carrier on my back.
Sunday: 12 mile tempo run for a marathon program I’m doing.
Monday: Rest!
40 mile bike ride on Saturday, smoking ribs on the kamado grill Sunday, gotta work Monday, boo!
Tempo run on Saturday and long run on Sunday. Getting ready for the half marathon next weekend :)
Sat- Open water swim with a bike
Sun – long run
Mon – Be lazy…
Running, biking, eating watermelon, thanking those we’ve lost, maybe watch some of the canoe regatta, building a chicken coop!
One and a half hour on sunday! A good running sesion
A 15-20k (Canadian, eh?) slow run on Sunday, and hopefully some intervals on Saturday
I plan on getting a good work out at the city museum in St Louis, a bike ride, and hopefully a hike.
Warm Up 00:10:00, No Target HR… Repeat 6 Times
Other 00:05:00 h:m:s 80 to 90 % of Max
Recovery 00:01:00 h:m:s 60 to 70 % of Max
Cool Down Lap Button Press No Target
Cookout w/ plenty of beverages
Beach running in MI and BBQing!
This weekend I hope to do a short track workout and a bike ride.
I’ll be doing 3.5 hours run – on one hill… over.. and over…and over…
I’ll hit the trails for some active “marathon regeneration” :D
Saturday is always my day for my long run: 18 to 24 km.
I’m going to do my normal daily 5 miles each day with a few cycle rides thrown in. Big BBQ on Monday!!!
Thanks
Visiting family on the west coast. Planning on some trail running, and barbq.
I will be training for my first 10k. Will start things off with 3 mile run after work and 4 come Monday. I am working all weekend so no real BBQ for me.
After long lasting shinsplints problems trying to get running again.
This weekend’s plans are a Hash run on Saturday, not much on Sunday – saving up for Monday’s 10k Memorial Day Race
I’ll be volunteering at a marathon Sat, so lots of walking. First open water/wet suit swim of the year Sun (Canada), with a trail run possible on Sun.
Getting the kids up and out early for long rides on the boardwalk before getting a few hours in on the rollers while they are napping!
Saturday: 7 miles
Sunday: 10 miles
Monday: Recovery ‘Cue
Sat/Sun in toasty mid-80s weather.
I’m still getting back into the swing of things after breaking my ankle. Gradually increasing my miles by 10% each week. I should hit 10 miles for the week on Sunday :)
Run in circles on the track until I get loopy enough to realize it’s not round.
As I am currently recovering from last saturdays Ecotrail Oslo (80 km) i will do one slow and short run on saturday, and just easy strength-training on sunday.
5k Parkrun on Saturday, Vitality 10k on Sunday in central London
No training just playing lots of golf
Long run Sat, brick Sunday
probably resting and maybe a small easy run to recover
100% pure zen, after a week eating shit at work. Cycling to free my mind this weekend to load up for another week in paradise.
Doing my first century post getting hit by a car and following surgeries to repair broken bones and ligaments tears. If everything goes well, then possible signing up for a triathlon :). And bbq hot dogs and burgers on Monday.
Going to Philly, so my training involves cheesesteaks and lots of walking.
2@45 min Criterium races on Saturday then Tandem ride on Sunday with my friend who has parkinsons. We do this for his therapy.
Monday long ride in the am and BBQ in the afternoon.
A race for me this Sunday: a 20km/800m urban trail in the vineyards of Lavaux, near Lausanne (Switzerland)
Mountain biking for a couple of hours followed by … why beer of course!
Been flying solo since Feb, looking forward to my first group ride on Sunday! Something easy, 40 miles or so.
80 Min run in preparation for the Sandhills Marathon. Afterwards, rest, relax, recover, cerveza.
Three 5 mile runs and some hiking in the mountains.
Still recovering from injury but will be doing a lot of swimming and PT this weekend with a couple of short runs as I try to get prepared for NYC Marathon training.
Long run(10 miles) on Sunday!
Cyclocross style long rite on Sat, and a long run on Sunday:-)
Plans this weekend include:
– 30-40 mile bike ride
– Short 3 mile brick run
-Setting up for a major 10k race here in Huntsville, AL, working the packet pickup, then setting up finish line Monday morning (Memorial Day).
– Running the 10k and shooting for a PR!
And with it being a lot warmer and really humid, I imagine there will be some pool time involved as well!
Running a 5k race on Saturday followed by some sort of longer run on Sunday.
I plan on cycling indoors much of the weekend due to bad weather.
Long run scheduled for Saturday… if my toe will hold up.
Long Bike Saturday (~60), Long Run Sunday (~15), Long Swim Monday (~3k). Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
No training for me this weekend, still in recovery mode after hitting my BQ time in my marathon.