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’ll be doing a long run, thinking about whether I should get a power meter or a trainer with my winning credit
Not much of anything, unfortunately. Recovering from flu.
Trying to crank up the running mileage for a swim/run in 6 weeks.
Either a long run (7-9 miles for me) or a hard medium distance ride (20-25) miles. Maybe I’ll squeeze in both. It’s a 3-day weekend after all.
Yoga and rowing (not necessarily in that order)
50k trail race :) I love the woods so
Tri training with my buddies. Ride/run for sure. Take the kids to the park. Enjoy spring.
Riding plans were sidelined due to food poisoning, but would be excited to use a power meter in the future.
Hauling my family and new to us trailer around town.
Took the weekend off. Rest was nice. Tomorrow starts into taper before my C race 4 June.
Ran the Beach to Bay marathon relay in Corpus Christi.
Going out for a hilly ride preparing Ironman Whistler!
Recumbent Trike ride (trike=health reasons) Desoto Bend National Wildlife Refuge iowa.
Camping & hiking at Larrabee State Park.
ride and hike this weekend. miles and miles
light run then soccer tourney
Trail race midweek.. and the usual long miles on Saturday AM!
Training for my first marathon in December
I’ll be training for my first 70.3… Eagleman!
Saturday was a back roads hilly ten mile run. Sunday was three hours of cross training via yard work.
Long run and bike, plus help my Tri teammates prepare for a 70.3
Easy endurance run on Saturday, road ride on Sunday
Going for a SUP on the Port Hacking (Sydney, Australia)
I am preparing for my first marathon Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle on June 18, ramping up to the long run of 22 miles.
Well the weekend already happened, but I went on a 4 hour hammerfest, and an easy MTB ride the next day.
I’ll Prepping for the Mohican 100 MTB race in Loudonville, OH! Last chance to get some miles in!
A little interval workout and an easy run, followed by a marathon (Netflix).
21,1 km :) yippi!!
It was a pretty quiet workout weekend for me: just a casual half- in the rain, followed by live tracking several friends in their efforts to PR in various marathons. Oh, and then there were homemade chocolate waffles. #whyIrun
Run up Mt Lemmon!
Well. i’ve broken my arm while playing football, a bit depressed as i have just finished my first 70.3 Ironman 2 months ago,
i’m planning to srtart indoor biking again this weekend on my trainer and bike with one hand
no excuses
This weekend, I did my first triathlon! (Mixed feelings)
I wish I would’ve trained for it though, due to work tempo I could only run. However I got 3rd in my age group and 21st overall. I killed the swim, 4th overall, and the run 1st overall. My bike leg killed me, not last but not great. So, I’m hoping to spend more time in the saddle this summer to become more competitive triathlete.
I’ll be completing 2 open water swims in the chilly SF Bay, preparing for the Alcatraz Sharkfest Openwater Swim on June 4th!
I am training for the iconic Double Dipsea (maybe the Northface 50miler later this year) and would love to know how my workouts play out on the crazy hills of Marin County as well as the Dipsea stairs.
I kicked the weekend off with a 17 mile run with 10 miles of MP, and then rushed to my group’s semiannual beer mile. For this go-round, I relayed with a friend so that we could maintain some modicum of sobriety. We weren’t the last team to finish, but we were close – we’re both decently fast runners, but incredibly slow chuggers.
I brought the weekend to a close with a 10 mile run.
Starting final TrainerRoad plan leading up to Ironman Boulder 70.3.
Run during a track race event in Beijing
1.2 OWS on Friday, track wko Sat. 3 hr bike, 20 min brck run Sun.,,,,,oh and my Medicare card came today.
Crossed off first century, first 200km, first 150mi ride on Saturday, and did it on gravel.
Thane a happy run around campus.
Interval training and walking the dog!
Last weekend, 21-22, I did a short 18 mile bike ride around the bay in San Diego. Next weekend I plan on taking the kids out in the double BOB for as long as they’ll let me (hopefully 8, but only if the stars align correctly).
Short runs this week and a bike ride with my kid on Saturday
Recovery Running
Early morning mounting bike ride in Minnesota
3 mile run without stopping, I’ll consider that a good run. Running doesn’t come easy for me.
Had a busy weekend but did manage to get in an easy 4 mile run.
I will be cycling 70 miles, followed by a 5 mile run on Saturday and running 10-12 miles on Sunday. Please!!! ???
trying to fit a running session and a roller riding session between diaper changes
Do Greek weddings count as athletic? There is a lot of sit – stand – sit – stand.
Training for Ironman Chattanooga in week three. Swim Friday, cycle for 2 1/2 hours and 30 min brick run on Saturday and then another 1 hour bike ride Sunday.
Long run and cold beer
Two bike rides and a swimming, get back to summer shape
Bay to Breakers!!
20 mile training run for Eastern Divide Ultra.
Short run and long ride! ;)
This weekend I ran the NYRR Brooklyn Half Marathon & then volunteered at the NYPD Memorial 5K run in lower Manhattan! Then lots of city street hiking – lol!
I’m currently injured and relegated to pool running, so my weekend included a few hours jogging in the deep end.
Ended up cancelling everything to work around the house.
Hoping to do a couple 10-12 mile runs in-between my daughters soccer games, while out of town at a tournament.
Training for my Italy bike tour.
Headed down to Leavenworth for some mountain biking!
Gonna find a Zwift event to join and try to hang onto the back of the pack for dear life.
I’m training for my first Olympic triathlon (Chicago) to prepare I ran 7 miles on Saturday (new personal best distance especially when you consider that a year ago I had never done ANY running) and swam for 2000 yards, both measured using my garmin vivoactive hr that I purchased after scouring rays reviews…thanks for all the great info keep it up!
Strava on my Apple Watch 2 didn’t record properly during a PR race, which was helpful!
Cycling if the weather is good :)
Headed to the mountains to camp and get some off-road training in to mix it up a bit.
Run on the beach before chasing my kids around all day. Rinse and repeat x 4 days!
Just keep up and keep my weight on check by: running at least 45 mins. and cycling 1 more hour.
Saturday run, Sunday golf
Celebrating my wife’s birthday with a long hike!
Nothing fancy, a 70km training ride if the weather allows it.
making most of the sunny warm weather before the cold weather comes and getting out there to do some cycling!
Oh as my fractured rib and damaged cartilage heals (which I did by crashing on my MTB), my athletic adventures often are limited to walking the dog as of late.
Will run an easy 10K this weekend after 2 weeks off due to colds.
Bike in the park that what i love to do
I’ll be competing in a 5000m track race on Saturday!
swimming
Looking at getting on my MTB for the first time in over a month!
Graduation weekend for my son. Hope to get in a couple road rides with wife. Hopefully a 40 mile and maybe a 20 mile
Training for my first IM.
Ran a lake loop and one loop of the bike course.
Hills hills hills.
Saturday should be a long training ride,
Sunday will be a rest day.
I am going to do some walking and hope to have time to put in a spin class if I can. It will depend a lot on the weather whether it be indoors or outside.
I was in Mackinac Island this weekend so we did some biking, lots of walking, and reloading all those burnt calories!
Road miles on Sat, more on Sun. Lots of new territory to explore.
Ran 2 mi with my 12 y/o, helping him get a base back after he had almost a year and a half away from running due to a soccer injury. Then 6 mi of tempo on my own.
I’m not training for anything, so probably just some easy running or a bike ride. If I’m lucky, I may get my sons out for a short run.
I was out on Lopez Island this weekend hiking.
biking 100km as usual.
Just a quick 3 mile run.
Hiked on Lopez Island, saw eagles and harbor seals!
Some 10k running close to the house and then running with/after my little kids which is sometimes more challenging than a marathon :)
Marathon training starts this weekend!!!!
Spent time on some hidden trails!
Rode 20 miles on my road bike Saturday and 22 miles on my mountain bike Sunday.
Long Ride, Swim, Not be at work.
Relaxed 50 mile rides both days.
I’m not even sure the deadline isn’t gone already (my Win 10 clock won’t come up!) and the weekend is over already. Since the prize is denominated in dollars I guess it doesn’t matter anyway – here goes nothing!
I’m recovering from an injury and the last days have been all about going back to log some time in the saddle. My 2 hours, flat terrain ride won’t win any prize, but made me happy nevertheless.
Easy 6 miles run after a road trip.
10k easy run
Finally riding my mountain bike! After I finish cleaning the garage