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.
Bike run brick: 90min bike followed by a 90 min run with 1st 30 minutes hard.
Hi Ray!
I’m writing this in the middle of a freaking long trainer session on Sunday. Can’t complain though if this allows me to win the contest. Otherwise lots and lots of complaints.
Have a nice day you all Ray’s family
Thanks for your great work
A 100 km bike ride on Sunday morning and a swim later in the evening.
Ride the elliptigo out to trail head, get in a quick ten, ride home.
I actually managed to get my butt out for a short run…plantar facsia holding up (after FIVE MONTHS of no running and a couple moths of very gradual trying to build up) and the pollen count, while miserable, is no longer leaving me feeling hungover all day. Woot!
Running, on the track and on the trail ;-)
Quick 6 miler in between softball and soccer.
After a two month recovery period from shoulder slap tear operation, back in running the 5K again and it felt great!
Ran my first 20 mile training run at a 20 mile race on Saturday. Crushed it!
Already did a 10k relay in Brasov, Romania together with 3 friends (10k each). All went as planned, winning this giveaway will be the cherry on top :)
I am US military stationed in Italy. This past weekend I ran a 10 mile run (first five easy, second five progression) out in the country roads through orange and olive groves. Afterwards I walked about fives miles on a beach clean-up in the beautiful coastal city of Mascali. Sunday is my rest day and was spent relaxing with family and going to church. Next weekend will probably be similiar but we will be in southern Sicily.
A couple training runs.
Sunday morning run.
Had to rest for the weekend, but am planning to push myself to train this Monday for my first sub-2 half marathon!
Mountainbike on Saturday and Sunday.
various activities with the Scouts this weekend.
Trailing running in the local mountains!
just finished a two-day orienteering event so I’d say: ‘run’
Some trail running training!!
No athletic adventures for me…nursing a ruptured disc in my back.
Lounge by the pool.
A quick 27 mi ride before heading off to see my wife in concert.
Training for the first Olympic Triathlon this year next Saturday! :)
Taking in some nature with a run along Sligo Creek. Beautiful weather today.
Jogger run with the Kiddo!
Easy 12km
Swimming with my 5yo son… twice, and a long walk into town to buy squash stuff (racquet, balls, grips, etc.)
I spectated at the Belgian waffle ride in San Diego
Relaxing weekend. Just a family hike up the canyon.
Run 33km on saturday.
A scramble up Jack’s Rake in the Lake District on Saturday, and a short jog to loosen the legs on Sunday.
2h30 of indoor cycling
easy run & bike
Versailles sprint triathlon on sunday ;-)
3 hour long ride in the mountains!
This weekend will be an adventure of a wet run. It has been raining for days in Minnesota and will not let up for a couple more. Still better than running indoors!
Ran 5.3 miles and rode 16 miles yesterday and ran 5 miles and 15 miles today at the shore. Getting the house prepped for opening weekend: Memorial Day!
Long session on zwift watching Giro
I’ll be running two local orienteering events (Saturday / Sunday).
A Saturday run and Sunday road bike ride it was.
Swim TT, Biking 30mi, and 45 min run.
Ran a mile at two in the morning with the boys. Why at two? Because why not!
I did some walking and one kettlebell workout, the weather has been too good for sweating!
My bike is currently broken, thus it is switch from cycling to running for me now. So this week I did a couple of trail runs near my home.
Parkrun on Saturday morning pushing my youngest, complete with cheesy pop music. Then hopefully a few laps of the pond/lake at the park and some duck feeding on Sunday if she’ll indulge me two days in a row. If not an evening jog once everyone else is tucked in.
Went for 2 rides yesterday thanks to inclement weather shutting down ride #1 early. Today…thunderstorms. looks like i’ll riding the imaginary island today.
Did a 15-mile hilly trail run around Cannock Chase here in the UK while the boy and his friends took on the red run on their bikes. We all got a bit wet and muddy. Just as we like it.
120km ride with friends
As always when it’s possible: one swim (still inside), one run and a bike tour.
13 miles easy on Sunday
I was going to go for a run but ended up combing lice out of my daughters hair…
Riding from San Francisco to Pescadero
Saturday club ride, 10k RAC road race this morning :)
Weekend plans were very weather dependant. When it chose to rain on Saturday I went for a run on my local trails. With Sunshine today I went for a glorious spin in the sunshine, and got a puncture to add to the fun.
Walk in the city while recovering from injury
Short club ride on Saturday, bried solo on Sunday. Hope for a nice long club ride on Monday weather permitting.
5 K race and 10 mile training run
Going for a 10k run
MTB in Quicksilver heat yesterday and trail run on the creek trail today. Then beer with my honey. Great weekend!
I’m planning to get my road bike out today and do a 20 miler. Wind speed is low and perfect for it.
Easy 1hr ride and easy run w strides.
Zwift, zwift and more zwift. Oh, and being a new father!
Went for a 42 K run on Saturday.
Nothing special, running on Saturday and Sunday (long run) and swimming on Saturday. I also have to mow the lawn. So if I have the energy on I’d also like to go for a late Sunday afternoon bike ride but I doubt that.
For the first time in more than 20 years, my aged parents, sister, wife and I got together for a good hour of exercise. Running competitively has been a rather solitary adventure on my end so it is deeply satisfying to bond with the family at the break of dawn.
I plan on doing g a couple 5k runs this weekend.
Thanks Ray.
Camping, Hiking, and Biking
Started on Friday with a 5k run, going Saturday for a 40k bike ride, finishing the weekend on Sunday with a 2k swim in the pool
Taking a rest week after a very tough half marathon last weekend.
No training this weekend due to a friend’s wedding. Back to the grind on Monday!
20 year school reunion football match! Still hurting….
Did a short run and a Nike+ training app workout yesterday and a bike ride this morning. Need to keep up the momentum this week!
Running around my new neighborhood :)
Went for a run in an unknown park while son was taking a test.
Competing in a mtb enduro race
planned to run a 10miles run, but lost the motivation when my 4 month old baby girl kept me up all night
Walking the dog, next week is exam week. After that I already have my schedule for getting back into gear.
Wrestling with my crankarm, to at least do a flat 30k spin testing the new bb
Only a 5k run.
Did The Annihilator yesterday, a 6.5 mile super hilly race near Nenana, Alaska, and Sunday I’ll do either a long run or a long mountain bike ride. Gotta decide soon!
Thanks, Ray!
Running 7K & then 45′ of body weight exercises. All on the promenade, in Tenerife.
Walking around the beach for Hangout Fest
Competing in the 9colli Granfondo :D
2h rides on Saturday and Sunday :)
This weekend I am running on my first half-marathon…
A quiet ish weekend as the kids revise for exams.
Parkrun on Saturday followed by a swim or a quick Zwift on Sunday !
I just finished a 20 mile training run in Southern California heat. I am doing the RnR San Diego Marathon on June 4th.
Spring thing 100 mile bike and a 10 k run done on grand island my by buffalo tri club
Taking my new cross bike out after dialing in my bike fit – hoping for no more knee pain! I have a 150mile gravel race to train for.
Down with the flu, so my weekend is just one easy run.
Did fbike+run block yesterday: 40km + 7Km. Today is the rest day =)
Longish bike ride and a longish run. Finally seeing some decent outdoor weather in the Pacific Northwest!
And some quick PR attempts on the erg.
My first run since Chemo / Radiation. It was low and slow but felt great to get it in the books!!!
Pushing our brand new Thule double jogging stroller and hoping the weight of our daughters will be advantageous… time to find an all-downhill route.
Kite-surfing!
Just running this weekend.
Not very athletic, unless you count riding around the bicycle shop parking lot. However, I purchased a new bike.
-marc
A sunday afternoon slow run followed by some restoretive yoga. After that the kids will be trying to null the effort.
Not sure if too late, but an afternoon rum followed by a little tai chi practice
Just a long bike ride Saturday and a family day on Sunday!