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
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
Random tidbits – I was featured on TrainingPeaks.com
Just in case some of you missed it (well, everyone but Bill)…I was featured on the front page of the Training Peaks website two weeks ago as part of their member profile series. The front page was then linked to … Read More Here
Training while travelling
After my trip to Spain, some folks asked me how I manage to find places to train while I’m travelling. Given how often I travel (for work or holiday), it’s pretty important to be able to stay on top of … Read More Here
Ya win some, ya lose some: National Half Marathon
I knew on Tuesday things were going to be rough. My HR’s were way higher than normal – both on and off the track. I was hoping I might slide by with enough recovery such that by Saturday things would … Read More Here
Packing your nuts
Tonight I handled a lot of peoples nuts. Thousands of them…and it was spectacular! Tonight Rob and I pitched in and helped with the National Marathon and Half Marathon setup. This is the same race we’re both running on Saturday … Read More Here
The Taper Week Ahead
Taper weeks are always fun. I get to turn up the speed dial a bit and due to the reduced training load – my body is recovering faster and thus going faster at the same HR zones. Which…after all, is … Read More Here
Readjusting
It wasn’t actually the time zone shift with the trip that hosed things up for me. But rather, the work hours in the week leading up to the trip, and then the work hours post trip. This gummy bear was … Read More Here
A little trip to Spain…and Africa.
Back a few months ago I got a great deal on airfare from DC to Spain ($127 round trip including all taxes). So on the eve of the Philadelphia Marathon, the girl and I booked tickets over for a 5 … Read More Here
Mama said there’d be days like this
Well no, actually, she didn’t. She didn’t mention anything about these days. This was definitely not on the talking points list anywhere in my childhood. After 4.5 hours of sleep after working past midnight, it was up at 5:50AM to … Read More Here
Chocolate Milk vs Endurox R4 Recovery Drink – Stimulus Edition
The other day I was chatting with a friend talking about recovery drinks. I’ve been on a chocolate milk kick for a while now – as I’ve previously gone in depth on. Given it’s been proven to be just as … Read More Here
244 Flippin’ Times
1) As I headed out this morning to run I had to make a game-time decision to not run my usual 20-miler. This made me a sad panda. Instead I bumbled to the pool and ended up doing 6,100 yards … Read More Here
Review of Tech4O Trail Leader2 Sports Watch
Back in late December I was contacted to review a new sports watch that’s out – the Tech4O TrailLeader 2 Sports Watch. A couple days later it arrived on my doorstep – just in time for my various end of … Read More Here
Jumping into the deep end
The last few days have been a nice change of pace as I’ve got a recovery week which started this past Saturday through Friday. (The Pacers Running group getting ready to head out pre-run) This change of pace gave me … Read More Here
A few random tips for new (or old) bloggers
Over the past 18 months or so I’ve figured out all sorts of little random things about this whole ‘blogging’ thing. Aside from finding out that it takes a fair bit of time, I’ve also picked up on a number … Read More Here
Reading the cell-phone-treadmill lady the riot act
Do not be surprised. Do not be surprised when I read you the riot act. Do not be surprised when I read you the riot act in the middle of my 5th elevation-interval pyramid, 68 minutes into my workout. Do … Read More Here
Cycles and Cupcakes
There are few things I like less than waking up early. I define early as any time before the sun rises, or any time before 10AM, whichever happens to occur first on that day. Saturday however brought a 10K race … Read More Here
Thoughts on triathlon coaching
A get about an e-mail a day from someone asking for advice on topic XYZ or gizmo ZYX. I’m always happy to help anyone who e-mails me – so feel free to keep the questions coming! Every once in a … Read More Here
A three hour tour
At the gym last tonight for three hours. Seriously. I arrived at 5:30PM and left shortly after 8:30PM. Over 11 miles of treadmill incline interval hell. There’s not much fun about that 4th or 5th set at 5* incline and … Read More Here
SEA to Ski
(Somewhere over the eastern US at sunset on the way to SEA) Last week was rather busy. I was out in Seattle all week speaking a number of times at a large conference. In addition, I was also balancing all … Read More Here
In Depth CompuTrainer Review
Over 18 months ago (September 07), I bought a CompuTrainer as my primary indoor trainer. All last winter I meant to write up a review of it. But alas, it never happened. Until now. The CompuTrainer is like most other … Read More Here
Tuesday Tidbits – February Edition
In no particular order – observations of the last week: No, my blog is not for sale. While I’m flattered by the offer, it would be kinda awkward to sell this blog and blog name. However, if you present me … Read More Here
Double duty – a week of workouts in the world of me
It occurred to me shortly after posting Tuesday’s list of races that I might have to train for them. Which means I might have to work…a.lot. Which in turn means a lot of running, swimming and cycling.Of course, training has … Read More Here
Bicycle Crash Density
Who knew? Such a term. I would have called it “Place where things go wrong”. I was browsing the city’s web site and stumbled upon their ‘Pedestrian and Bicycle Mobility Plan’ from June. This plan essentially outlines how they are … Read More Here
The 2009 Schedule…revealed
Given it’s late January now, and I’m past all the New Year and Inauguration stuffola, it’s time to get on with the new year. Training has resumed back to a normal workload with plenty of harder double-workouts about half the … Read More Here
The State of my State: 2008 Review Edition
It’s that time of year again – a recap of last year. While most folks took care of this prerequisite post earlier this month…I meanwhile…was a slacker. I’ve finally gotten my training records all sorted out. As you may recall, … Read More Here
The inauguration as seen from the masses
We survived. Which, is about as much as one hope for when you go fish with a few million of your friends. We walked a lot. About 7 or so hours worth of walking, standing, walking, more standing, and more … Read More Here
How to make fresh gnocchi, among other things
Way back when I posted the how to make fresh pasta post, Xena asked about how to make fresh Gnocchi. “Can we get a gnocchi post? I *still* can’t get that right.” Ask, and you shall receive. Today after my … Read More Here
Chilly meet Chili
Upon returning back to this continent, my coach decided the best way to get me back into the rhythm was to not tell me what’s going to happen next. Sorta like “You can’t run from the pain if you don’t … Read More Here
Boston Marathon…registration complete
While sitting on my butt doing nothing at night in Kenya last week, I got around to being one with the Kenyan runners and finally registered for the Boston Marathon. Proof below! But first I had to agree to ya … Read More Here
Kenya Day 6: Ostrich Balls and BBQ Crocodile…the end.
Our last day of the trip, after two weeks and a lot of miles, we were ready to wander on home. But first we had the morning game drive. I wouldn’t call it out, but since we saw the very … Read More Here
Kenya Day 5: Simba the Lion King
We’re going to keep this one quick – just photos. The day is our last full day in Kenya before making our way back Saturday towards the US (with first stops in Nairobi, Dubai, and then eventually DC – and … Read More Here
Kenya Day 4: Cheetah vs. Buck
The day started out more or less like any of the previous days in Kenya. We’d get up before dawn (6AM) and shuffle our way to the Land Rover ready to begin the the day. Speaking of which, here’s what … Read More Here
Kenya Day 3: The grasslands
My goal is to make like a cheetah and get this post knocked out. It stands between me and dinner. We left Tsavo National Park relatively early in the day to head to the small airstrip to catch our the … Read More Here
Kenya Day 2: Lions, Leopards and lots of land
Our second day started early…rather early. It seems to be a trend that I need to break actually. But at least we caught the sunrise from our front porch, illuminating the 19,345 foot Mt. Kilimanjaro. The schedule for the day … Read More Here
Kenya Day 1: ‘Smile…you’re in Kenya!’
Despite being a redeye flight from Egypt that arrived at a potentially painful 4:10AM, it wasn’t too bad at all. We were virtually first off the plane and then made like rabbits to the customs area to be able to … Read More Here
Egypt Day 4: Planes, no trains, and some messy automobiles
Very little in life goes according to plan at 4:30AM. The fact of the matter is that nothing should be happening at 4:30AM, so when you try and apply complex international relations at that hour in the morning…things invariably go … Read More Here
