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.
Half marathon+5k to complete marathon rehearsal
Long run Saturday, easy run Sunday morning. Ran past somebody who was walking on the road on Saturday. She says, “I’ve got you down. 10 mile run when you wear an orange shirt, 5 miles when you wear green.” I guess she’s been paying attention to when I come and go? Also, though shirt color is purely random, taking the top shirt in the pile, here’s me thinking, “not such a bad idea…”
I’ll be running for the first time in 42 days. Recovery from injury sucks!
I biked and biked again
Saturday: Ride 20 miles observe 1 softball game, 2 soccer games
Sunday: Run, observe 4 soccer games
Gotta love Memorial Day tournaments!
Tee ball game Friday. Little bike riding. Hang out with the family. Exercising.
A easy bike ride and a short run , beginning the preparation for the Mexico City Half Marathon =D
Training?! Supposed to be preparing for a triathlon. Not going too well so far.
This past weekend included lots of driving, and participating in a fairly brutal triathlon. Definitely my worst finish in a race in the last 2 years, but not used to so much climbing this early in the season.
Olympic distance with:
2600 ft of climb on the bike
640 ft of climb on the run
I figure if you can do that one you can do just about any. May not have gone as well as I wanted but I finished.
It was the French Creek Triathlon
link to frenchcreekracing.com
Because of crazy work hours during multiple business trips over the past few months, my running has taken a turn for the worst. I’ll just be running and running!
I was running in the mountain of Navacerrada, Spain
Swimming and then some swimming.
Run in the nature/forest.
Biking along the San Diego coast. And some running in Southern Oregon next weekend.
Surfing
Last big running weekend before the taper starts.
Upper capacity intervals Friday, endurance ride Saturday and sprints on Sunday.
Easy Long Run
I was out camping and hiking for the weekend
My usual loop: 40km with 800m of climbing. To change things up maybe do all the climbing in the big chain ring this time.
Gemini run 5K run + 10K bike
10 mile run and 5k race, with some hiking and walking in between.
captex tri!
I spent the weekend training for my first ironman – IM Mont Tremblant in August. I’m doing a half in June so this was a race rehearsal for that – 56 mi bike and 5-mile brick on Saturday, then 2 more hours riding and a 3000 yd swim yesterday.
Does BBQ count?
Raced the Bikes 4 Kids Stage race in Utah!
Refereeing youth soccer tourney, then a leisurely walk with the family around the neighborhood.
200km bike ride and recovery jogging
Kayaking, walking, and recumbent trike riding.
This weekend is a long run on my marathon training schedule.
More bike riding to get some fitness in.
Cold and rainy so more zwift.
a lot of run and run all over the weekend.
Going to cycling throughout the hills in Cincinnati along with hiking with my two dogs.
Hit up some Hiking in Columbus, OH and a quick run after the 7 hour drive back!
Hoping to win from deployment aboard USS George H.W. Bush!
Short run and weights. Getting back into it after work kept me swamped last few months.
I’m discovering new trails on my mtb, and am very grateful for the gps guidance !!
Riding in the hills until my legs fall off!
Trailrunning with friends near Vienna/AUT
Hilly mixed terrain ride on Saturday. Cross training on Sunday.
Long run through the hills where I live.
I rode my motorcycle quickly on twisty roads.
Ziplining, light hiking, tire flipping, sprints, and gardening! Phew!
Didn’t get much defined sports activity this weekend. Spent Saturday watching the kids hit the roller coasters. Sunday did manage to get some weight training in weather was not conducive to outdoor activities. I hope I win this would be really cool.
There were two adventures this weekend, which cost all my power: a 15km interval training and applying two children car seats in our new car. For the next time I would prefer the interval training….
BR
Joe
Did nice training :)
Rocking a run on the Sierra Azul open space trail.
Biking skyline drive north to south with 8 friends
recovering from doing 70.3 races the past 2 weekends
Tapering for Biel 100km Run
Saturday: Recovery week easy ride
Sunday: Another recovery easy ride
Monday: Back in business 70-80km ride with power intervals
Just a simple 10k
Just running this weekend and trying to get my base up.
Thanks Ray!
My first OWS of the year in the freezing UK lakes! Then a solo 50 mile ride on Sunday to test out all sorts!!
Cycling around Araxos airport.
On Friday I was doing a Mountainbike Hillclimb Timetrial (got 3rd overall), Saturday preparing for Sunday, and on Sunday i raced a Mountainbike Marathon. Got 12th overall, happy with that, cause I got the KOM on the 2 hardest downhills with my hardtail.
I’m hoping to get a long brick session in, and maybe even a relaxing hike.
I hit a new PR!!!! Because I ran my first 8k race ever. (I warmed up with a 10k :) Over 4000 people raced to Beat the Bridge near the University of Washington in Seattle. I come in at just under 35 mins which was what I expected. Did I mention the PR? It’s also my personal worst too…
Reckon I’ll try the Edinburgh marathon… again.
Running after the 6 and 8 year old. Front yard olympics.
Stand up paddle boarding in cabo!
Spent the weekend walking around the golf course and chasing my 3yo twins everywhere. So it was certainly an *unstructured* workout.
As I’m recovering from total hip replacement 2 weeks ago, my athletic endeavors included a lot of physical therapy and some long (2-3 mile) walks.
Just trying to make my first km’s on my roadbike after becoming a dad for the 2nd time
I wanted to go swimming, but I ended up biking on Saturday and running long on Sunday :)
I’m running Edinburgh Marathon for charity. I’m aiming for a PB, but training has been a bit sporadic.
800m time trial Saturday, and then a 12 mile long run on Sunday. A few walks around the neighborhood with the family as well, of course.
Went for a 19 mile trail run in the White’s, ended up finding out there were 8 stream crossings to wade through.
Athletic endeavors this weekend consisted of sprinting through an Airport in a failed attempt to catch a plane then testing my flexibility by contorting myself into a too cramped space on a much later flight
Long run weekend
I’ll be running away from my mother in law this weekend, possibly tripling my long run distance :)
It was open water swim on 17 degrees in 1,5 mm swimsuit. Cold.
Hi, this weekend I was just swimming for an hour and relaxing
Run to the ocean
Hill Training… With a BOB Double Stroller… With two kids in it
Renovering from a 21K / Half marathon race :)
Getting back to some running after recovering from a chest infection.
Commutin’ commutin’ commutin’. The sun is blazing away so what’s not to like?!
Trail hiking in the Ozark Mountains with my wife!
Maybe long distance bike ride in a remote area.
Will be running to work with is week, instead of cycling (8km along the Thames). Plus bank holiday on the Thursday, so I will head out early morning and try and run my own marathon. Weather forecast looks gorgeous for that. Betting with a friend whoever can make the most kms every month, loser pays a trip to the steakhouse.
Romantic ride and picnic with my wife
We rode a 400K randonneur brevet with the D.C. Randonneurs this weekend. It was, as always – long! link to strava.com
First Lakeside of Espoo (Finland) by bike, then running at Hydepark London UK, both with great sunshine!
Parkrun and beer!
Short family run with our 6 month old in the jogger for the first time!
200k biking And some running and swimming for an IM distance.
Getting a run in along the coast in Portugal followed by High Intensity Swimming with Kids (HISK).
Doing physical therapy exercises to get over my posterior tibial tendonitis :(.
Bed and breakfast and than all over again. With some jogging and biking between that.
Lots and lots of running. Trying to drop some lbs before I head to the beach. Too little too late.
sat 33km hike with dodgy hamstring
sun 12km easy run
I did a whole lot of camping with a little bit of Trail Running thrown in for good measure.
Watching unstable spring snow sinter into sublime skiability at Cascade Pass.
going for 2 hour recovery bike ride!
My wife and I went for 28km hill climb in Takasaki, Japan with our road bikes. Ended up walking / hiking the last 10km. Painful.
Some mountain bike in Mexico City, even is too hot here this days, the Desierto de los Leones Park is really nice. Mountain forest, great for some MTB
weight training + run. Trying to increase the level of fitness…
Outlaw Half Triathlon (badly!)