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.
I am in the peak of my training
Saturday – 2800 meter drill swim followed by a 2 hour rolling hill ride.
Sunday – 1 hour 30 minute run zone 2/3
Monday – 2500 swim with race pace followed by a BBQ
Long bike and first open water of the season at Walden pond
I plan for a 6-8 mile run on saturday then eat BBQ.
I plan on eating hotdogs and coleslaw, then feeling extremely guilty and trying to run it off.
I plan to use the extra few days this weekend to continue my barefoot running training. Hopefully, the rain will stay away and I can get in some good miles on the trail.
I’ll be mentoring beginning racers as part of an official mentoring programs, which means, I’ll race with them in the crits, which means trying to hang on to fit and fast folks half my age…
….so a 12mile road bike ride tomorrow followed my a mountain bike trail ride with my 2 sons on Monday. We will try to get my wife to come but she will probably just stay in the car as usual.
Ugh, sizable bike/run brick on Saturday, run and swim Sunday.
I’ll be doing some intervals on my run and potentially a mountain bike ride for fun
Running on Cape Cod for the weekend, maybe renting bikes for a bike ride too if I can talk my son into it.
First organized Gran Fondo for me on Sunday (Défi Métropolitain in Montréal)
Run, BBQ, bike, BBQ, run, repeat.
Putting my feet up and watching the final stages of the Giro. Will probably do a 80km recovery ride on sunday morning though
Still in recover after #IMTX. But ending my memorial weekend with Lifetime’s CapTex Tri. Go triathlon!!!
Rowing 500m intervals Saturday morning, cycling or rowing on Sunday, rowing Monday morning, cycling with a friend Monday afternoon.
Hi Ray,
This weekend I have to run 10k on Saturday and 60 min easy run on Sunday…training for San Francisco Marathon. Also, prepare my next trip to Chile on June 3th. If you are planning to go there I can give you advice for your tour, it is an amazing country.
Hope I win the Giveaway!….want to move from suunto to garmin :)
Thanks and you have a nice weekend!
Run into the bilbao triathlon
A ride with the guys to 10,500′ and Brainard Lake.
My weekend started off this Friday evening with a lot of “exercise”. => Took the family to a running-sushi restaurant :p
So for the weekend I’m gonna do a long distance bicycle workout on Saturday.. Guessing it will end up at around 80-100 km and the some laps in the pool on Sunday.
If I do get to be the lucky winner, money goes to by a new training watch.
Best of luck to everyone!
Swim for awhile bike for a bit on Saturday. Long run on Sunday. Nothing exciting.
Long trail run, long stroller run, BBQ!
Been biking hard on the road for National Bike Month, going to switch it up and ride some trails this weekend!
Time to reset and start logging some summer base miles
Will go for a quick run
Climbing some mountains, then hopefully going for a long run
Last long run before the Manitoba Marathon and at least 30 miles on the bike!
Hopefully something on Saturday, seeing as I didn’t have the mojo to do anything today or yesterday. Long slow run on Sunday – 8 miles. Intervals on Monday.
Long run mixed in with some home remodeling and of course hot dogs and hamburgers.
10k trail race!
I plan to do a couple of 3 mile runs.
Pain, suffering and tears or 400m running intervals
Recovering from a knee op, so spin class Saturday and treadmill walk/run Sunday
Will do several Rememberance Runs for my Army buddies who were not as fortunate as myself during our tour in South Vietnam-1967-68. Army Strong! Retired Army Ultra Strong!! Lieutenant Colonel(RET) Nick
Just an easy 50-70 km spin, big mountainride coming up this week
Ramping up training for Chicago Marathon. Long run this Saturday.
Go on a 15 mile bike ride.
A 20km long run on Saturday and indoor rockclimbing on Sunday!
90km mtb on Saterday and 10k run on Sunday!
BBQ in saturday, 30km mountainbiking on sunday
I’m going to cook some meat over charcoal. I might throw in a bike ride or swim too.
A 50 mile bike ride between yard work and BBQs.
Early rise, early stretching, early triathlon training, while enjoying the nice weather here in Northern Greece!
Well since it felt like mid-winter here in colorado it seemed appropriate to backcountry ski this morning, then head to the desert for mountian biking and camping for the long weekend.
Long trail run tomorrow and then the iconic Chattanooga Chase on monday
I have planned a 5k training run with the girl. My girl, that is…
45 mile ride tomorrow, followed by taking the kids to the pool opening for the summer season :)
Will do my first 200+ km Gran Fondo, can’t wait.
Just a little bit of swimming and stretching for me since I’m still recovering from a big crash on my MTB
100 miler tomorrow around Ayrshire Alps in Scotland, with a stop in the amazing coffee shop in Sorn
Longish run on Saturday
Ride on Sunday
Sleep/hang out with family on Monday
Lots of rolling hills on the bike with a day in the kayak to mix it up.
Training this weekend involves a 3 Angels road ride – approx 70km with 1,000 m of climbing well it will of the rain buggers off!! And tomorrow is an off road Duathlon – 4.5km trail run/15km mountain bike/3km trail run.
Thanks Ray, another great giveaway.
I will be running Sundown Full Marathon this weekend!!
60 mile bike followed by 6 mile run. Testing out the new P1’s!
Hilly bike on Saturday + recovery run on Sunday
About 30 miles on the bike with some power pole intervals thrown in.
10k on Saturday, followed by an 8 miler on Sunday. And about a km worth of swimming between the two days too.
I am running my first half marathon this weekend!!!
Run 6 mi. Saturday (on new shoes!). Cycle Sunday and Monday. Approx. 25 mi. each trip.
Saturday long run 10miles ++ with Vietrunner and friends
Sunday Running Club : recovery run, spaghetti with beef
Running the Edinburgh Marathon aiming for 3:45 which would be a pb.
Selling great beer at Taste Cumbria Ulverston, followed by an epic bike climb on Monday up the highest road in England – Great Dunn Fell!
Will try to get a run on around my hotel. On holiday but must keep at it
Am traveling, so will squeeze in a decent run, probably no pool or bike access.
Saturday- crit race
Sunday- rest
Monday- long ride and BBQ
I am doing a lot of yard work, getting the backyard to be livable again after years of neglect. That is a pretty good workout in some regards!
Duothlon on saturday and a long bike ride on sunday
Holiday weekend, ride long Saturday, recover, ride short Sunday, recover, ride long Monday, recover.
To make use of the fine weather, it will be cyclocross on Friday, trail running Saturday and road cycling on Sunday.
Saturday: Round of golf (counts as wilderness hike in my case)
Sunday: Short bike ride
Monday: 6 mile run
Last weekend before Rev3 Quassy! Getting in an open water swim is a priority.
Regular long stuff for the regular weekend, swim-ride, swim-run.
On extra work-free Monday, I’ll pre-ride/pre-run the Escape from Alcatraz course!
Long training run while I peak for Grandma’s in June…..plus some well earned BBQ and beer
This weekend will be 90min bike on Saturday, followed by 10K run and 2000m open water on Sunday.
Monday will be pool swim for 2500m.
10k run Saturday and 1hr kayak on Sunday.
Big training block with 100 miler on Sat, long run Sun and swim/bike/boat Monday…
Awesome Friday that include run: 5km Easy + (24×15″max) + 10km Easy
More awesome Saturday brick: 3h biking + 40′ run
and incredibly awesome Sunday – 4.5h biking
Going to train for the adventure race that Will be Held on 11th June…
So lots of trail running, rowing and riding for me this weekend.
GMR loop!
Will be cutting the weed in the garden which i let grow all weekends cuz i wanted to cycle :), maybe just 1 little ride :)
Hoping we get a chance to dry out from all the stormy weather and get a couple of runs in before we get the grill rolling on Monday!
This Sunday doing a 152km Ride with a few friends through Bavaria, Germany.
I’m planning a 90k bikeride on sunday. Hopefully No Rain
Probably go for a few quick runs, been a little busy lately to get them in.
I am going for a long group ride on Saturday, first by the coast, and then will do a 15 K climb. On Sunday I’ll do a 5K tempo run
Training is done now it’s time for the Ottawa Race Weekend Half Marathon. That is if it goes ahead! High temps and possibility of thunderstorms are threatening.
Running a half-marathon on Sunday if it is not cancel due to… heat wave..
A steady 10k run on Sunday morning
Farmers Market; Laking with friends between rain storms (open water wetsuit swimming in the south); probably a little trail running.
Saterday and sunday depending on the weather, either 40 km on my triathlon bike or 10 km run.
I am planning on a brick workout on Saturday (25M bike, 4M run), a long run on Sunday (13-15 miles) and then I am babysitting on Monday so the better half can race a 5K. I might be able to get in a short 30-60 minute ride in the afternoon before hitting the BBQ and beer.
Saturday, planning on running in a 5k race before going to work Saturday afternoon and Sunday, but Monday I’m going for a 40 mile bike ride (weather permitting) and then over to my sister-in law’s for a cookout and cards.
riding my bike and tearing up the dance floor at a wedding!
At first I’ll create a lawn moving activity to my watch and start my Saturday morning with the smell of freshly cut grass. Then I’ll ride/walk (might need a multisport watch?) to my deer feeder to check that everything is ok. Then I was told that I will be pulling weeds for the rest of the weekend. In very, very difficult positions. Then if I’m not too tired, I might do some training.
Life is good.
its going to be a fun run at the beach and a bit of swimming. Hopefully sharks wont see me as a wadding seal!
Taking my son for a bike ride in his Thule Chariot :)
Have a 5K planned for Sunday. Already did my last training run today. First run in the actual heat. Ugh!!! So taking it easy Saturday and Monday.
I’m in the Uk and will running / walking / crawling my first ultra on Saturday from London to Brighton on the south coast. 62 miles with thunder storms forecast.
Sunday onwards I’ll be sobbing into a pillow asking myself what I was thinking
Saturday – 10M run, Sunday – 19M run , Monday – See if I can eat more calories than I burned during the weekend
Saturday brick, Sunday run, Monday hot dogs WOO!