Heads up – Massive Sports Tech Holiday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech deals 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!
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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.
Snow/Rain mix kept me indoors on the treadmill and trainer. Looking forward to Summer..
Had a race this weekend, as usual just a hair off the back that leads to 20 miles of misery as the bridge never happened. That old phrase, so close but yet so far away seems to be my theme!
Finally some nice weather here in PA so I went for a 3 mile fartlek run on Saturday then an outside hiit session on Sunday. The weekend was good.
This weekend I was “Back in tje saddle again!” after dropping a nasty, lingering cold. I ran some intervals at a 3:30/km pace on a treadmill (cause Canada is still cold and icy, eh?) followed by an indoor ride on Zwift (my first group ride). Sunday, was a 21.2 km run outside with a young student-runner outside! Take that Winter!
I got some good mileage in training for my upcoming race, Ironman Cairns.
Despite the freezing rain, wind and sleet, got a Parkrun in and an off-trail orienteering map training run with my two boys.
Recovery mode due to back injury flare-up.
A long run on Saturday and an indoor zwift ride on Sunday.
Rode about 45 miles through a historic part of MD while, unbeknownst to me, my grandson was being born 30 minutes away. Quite an adventure!
Taught my son to ride his bike with no training wheels!
Rest weekend 50k trail run next weekend thanks for the giveaways and enjoy Amsterdam
ran a half mile, which is half a mile further than i ran in the previous six weeks due to injury – progress!
24 mile long run as part of training for first 50 mile ultra marathon in about a month
Weekend weather was terrible so hoping my Friday afternoon outdoor ride (first of the year) after taking off early counts. Spent the remainder of the weekend recovering.
40+ mile training ride with my wife
Spent my “recovery day” doing yardwork…
Running for my trip in NYC! Hopefully in a good weather
This was a recovery weekend for me which is a shame, because we had beautiful weather on Saturday! I spend the afternoon de-procrastinating my taxes. Later on, I got my son to join me on a mile walk to get out in the Sun, so that’s vaguely athletic-ish in that I was acting to get the sedentary in motion.
I went for a long run that wasn’t as long as I wanted it to be because the night before I had some friends around to enjoy some gin
Unfortunately, the nasty weather forced me inside for a trainer ride.
Training for a 100k well underway!
Closing day on the mountain. #SkiUphill
Did an organized ride over the weekend in the warm temps that arrived : )
Silly hot here. Went for an evening ride to christen a recently completed hill aka flyover. Exciting to get some elevation in my ride.
Got my WERQ on at my local gym this weekend.
My plan is to bike all weekend weather permitting…..no set routine…just meandering around….
Rode from DC towards Poolesville on Saturday, 63 miles, not used to our one day warm day (87 Fahrenheit). On Sunday, it was back to 40s with wind and rain; short workout doing loops in Hains Points.
I moved apartments, requiring multiple trips up and down the stairs with heavy boxes!
Ran the Sole of the City 10k on Saturday after a month off for bronchitis and the flu. On Sunday got back on Zwift. Ohh my aching back!
Restarted running the last week, Saturday was supposed to be my third run, but got some virus, so spent weekend recovering.
First outdoor bike ride of the year Saturday.
Huge weekend, 4hr bike and 2 hour run!
50 mile bike ride with the boys and then 5 hours of yard work. One was fun, the other not so much…
It was 70 degrees so I climbed some mountains, it was windy up top.
A mix of outside early spring cycling and indoor on the trainer (it’s raining again).
Some crazy gravel cling and downhills on a gravel bike where others were on MTB bikes.
I blew out my jockey wheels on my bike so my ride on Saturday was to check out the repair, new chain, and to see if my PowerPod is now fully functional with PowerStroke. The repair worked, the new chain was great and the PowerPod is now fully functional.
John
Nothing too exciting…just a training ride in preparation for the local MS150 ride in a couple weeks.
Sunday was a long run – a hilly 25 miles looping around town. Trying to build a base for some summer adventures.
Finally getting warmer so went bike riding with the family.
Does dragging family and luggage through an airport count? I sure hope so.
Lucky enough to land spot for the Marine Corps Marathon this October. Training began this weekend!
After races 2 weekends in a row it was nice to use this past weekend for a 10 mile run at an easy pace.
Road the bike 30 miles up and down the Colombian Andes.
Short ride on Saturday and spent the rest of the time chasing the toddler around Capitol Hill playgrounds. Thanks DCR and CleverTraining!
Pt Reyes hammerfest to beat the rain.
My unit had a physical fitness test over this weekend.
Just starting a new session of training after a hard finish on Sungai Menyala Forest Trail Run 50k Malaysia last two weekends. Manage to run with some southeast asia elite trail runner and secure 9th placing. Next race will be Cameron Ultra Trail 55k in july. Will be aiming at least top 20 placing. Focusing more on building a muscle strength for the first few weeks as the mileage increase.
Hope everyone have a good day ahead.
Cheers,
Shovelling iced slush and snow. It’s terrible.
Solid 100K ride on Sunday with a huge group over some varied terrain – hills, dirt roads, gravel section. Pretty badass.
I went for a cold and windy bike ride
Reading dcr blog all over the weekend XD
Actually had a football match then a 10k tempo run on sat then rest with peace on sun ?
Swimming,running and nursing a minor running injury
Ran intervals … on my way to the ice cream shoppe!
Indoor riding, because winter is back
This weekend I set out to run about 5 miles in Houston. Turned on my Garmin, acquired satellites and pushed start. Soon the watch just went blank and I thought it was time for a new watch. When I downloaded my run – it said that I had started just south of Nigeria , ran across the Atlantic Ocean and finished in Houston. Over 6500 miles of running this weekend!!
Ran a local fun run with some friends.
10 mi run then ride/skate
This weekend (well, including Monday) I rode an ebike without a battery up a mountain in platforms. Not too fun!
Did my first cyclocross race
Went on a short bike ride
I had plans to ride 20 miles but instead tore down and disposed of 1000 lbs in the form of a shed.
3 hour + ride as my first 70.3 training continues. Looking forward to Busselton Half Iron!
Just a little 21,1 km saturday before my dad birthday
2×20 on Saturday and then some recovery kms on Sunday. Unfortunately quite wet :(
I took my first SoulCycle class. The candles were a bit much but great workout!
It’s raining so a a quick run of 5 miles around the neighborhood
My adventure was to see how hard I push myself on the the trainer since I don’t have time to ride outside at the moment.
Made sure i continued to drink Hops Based Sports drinks for optimum recovery
Rode an hour on Zwift, working my way back from an injury
6-mile trail run Saturday into getting a parking ticket
Ran the Boston marathon in epic conditions.
In the order of most interesting to least: chased the dachshund around the house for the rope in his steel like jaws; fixed the setup on my bike to re-connect my 310xt to my GSC 10 (not really athletic I know), Ramsgate swim in beautiful Sydney April weather; weights, weights, weights…
spin class on sunday
Saturday I ran with a much faster training partner. Kept her insight the entire run so I call that win!
Does a hike with the Cub Scouts count?
Yoga + 2 zwift rides + 90 minutes shoveling ice pellets!
I did run the Boston Marathon today which was more a Duathlon this time with swimming and running at the same time ;)
First Spring Ride Friday. Dog Hike Saturday. Long Run Sunday. Hibernation Monday since it’s snowing.
Ran 45 km in heavy rain one night and then 42,2 km (yes, that 0,2 does count) the next day… and can honestly say I look forward to the taper next week! Keep it up Ray and enjoy your new life in Amsterdam!
MTB on mountains as always! :D
This Sunday I was running through the woods in the Taunus, north of Frankfurt in Germany. It was beautiful sunshine and I especially enjoyed seeing the leaves on the trees starting to show up in that wonderful baby-green spring color.
Thanks for this giveaway!
7 weeks out from first half Ironman, the Ironman 70.3 Hawaii!
Saturday, April 14, 2018. Bicycle – 52.25 mile bicycle ride, 2,428 ft. elevation gain, 2:51:10 total time.
Sunday, April 15, 2018. Run – 8.03 mile run, 961 ft. elevation gain, 1:08:35 total time.
Great day of spring skiing in the North East USA before a big ice storm.
Tried to do a long run in all the snow, ice and slush mess we got this weekend. Failed.
Nothing athletic. Helped my son load and deliver his Boy Scout Eagle project. What was it? He built 3 pieces of dog agility equipment for a local rescue group, a set of weave poles, a jump, and a teeter board. Got to do that in the rain, too.
Ran with my son
Zwift race indoors for me.
Helped stake out a short track course, mowed the yard, and rode for 1 hr…..all in the same day. That’s athletic, even for an old guy like me! :)
long run and watching the boston marathon
I did an interval running training by myself for the first time, and the results are really surprising. I felt more tired in 30 min than a normal hour run!
Ran with my husband in what felt like a time warp with the 12″ of snow + some ice!
Still snowing here, so back on the trainer…
Got a shorter run in on Saturday morning before the weather got stormy.
Rode 30 miles on my new Giant Defy Advanced 1.
Too windy outside so a ride on the stationary bike at the gym.
had a ride halfway up a hill but forced to turn back by an unexpected shower. hopped on the trainer for the rest of the day.
Went in to work at 5am on Sunday to do two hours of cardio before having to train clients.
Went to Malacca to take part in their first ever OD triathlon
9th Boston, worst weather!