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.
-
Check out my weekly podcast - with DesFit, which is packed with both gadget and non-gadget goodness!
-
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.
Tag Archives: Triathlon
2009 Washington DC Dextro Energy Triathlon ITU World Championship Race Report
The first order of business in any triathlon is packet pickup, which I accomplished the day before downtown at the Hyatt. It as pretty cool seeing a number of the pro’s hanging out in the lobby, preparing for their race … Read More Here
How to race tri’s with a Garmin Forerunner or Edge
While I have many posts on how to get the most from your Garmin Forerunner, it was pointed out to me recently that I don’t actually have any posts on how best to race with it. So this one will … Read More Here
Kinetic 2009 Sprint Tri Race Report
As far as race days go for triathlons, you couldn’t ask for a better day. Despite enough rain lately to consider building an ark, the sun decided to shine for just one day (in the middle of a 10-15 day … Read More Here
Escape from Ft. Desoto Tri Race Report…btw…1st in AG.
Some races you just have a good feeling about, while others you don’t. Back a few weeks ago I had a ‘less than ideal’ feeling about the National Half-Marathon. But this past week, I was feeling pretty good going into … Read More Here
Packed and ready to roll…and run…and that swim thing.
I have arrived. Well, to the Tampa airport anyway…just waiting for my bike case to roll off the ‘oversized’ luggage area. But that should happen relatively soon. I had forgotten how much more ‘fun’ it is to pack for an … Read More Here
New DC triathlon race announced to go with ITU World Cup Race
I’ve heard about this for months and even had some e-mails with the ITU folks about it – and as of today, it’s FINALLY announced – The US Dextro Energy Triathlon. As many of you already know, there’s an ITU … 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
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
To improve my running, I need to improve my cycling
I was chatting with the coach the other day and noted that one of my goals for 2009 is to really improve on my run off the bike. I can run quite well independent of a triathlon, but my runs … Read More Here
Rain rain go away, don’t come back another day
Once again I went camping and watch a friend compete in a tri (her first Olympic Distance event just a few weeks after her first sprint). While the weekend was a blast – it would have been sooooo much nicer … Read More Here
Nations Triathlon 2008 Race Report
You may already know the resultant, but let’s talk through how it all went down. Pre-Race: I was a bit concerned with logistics race morning as a TON of streets were closed and since our bikes were already checked in … Read More Here
Hardware Collection – Nation’s Tri – 3rd place in AG
Details later on…off to the pool (not to swim, just to enjoy the 95* day).
Swim, Bike, Run, Rinse, Repeat
Monday marked a return to the norm. The ever constant and cyclic training regime: Swim, Bike, Run, Rinse, Repeat (actually, there are many rinses, fear not). Except, the cool thing is that since I’ve got a race on Sunday (Nation’s … Read More Here
Me vs the Hurricane
Let’s be clear…I won vs the Hurricane. Well, actually…we won. Because I’m tired and already behind a day on getting this written up and posted, we’re going to go with pure picture mode. Booyeah! (Our little Spot Tracker GPS trail) … Read More Here
The Tattoo
There has been much discussion amongst the populous regarding whether or not I’ll be getting a tattoo with a little M-Dot logo or other pictorial to signify my finishing an Ironman.To round up some of the comments:Jeanne took the more … Read More Here
Rhode Island Ironman 70.3 Race Report
The entire race can basically be summed up in the following: “Holy CRAP did I just bike that fast?”. But, since I’m not summing it up in just one short phrase – you get the full race report. Logistics: The … Read More Here
2008 Philly Triathlon Race Report
It will be my attempt to keep this somewhat short. However, usually I fail in that endeavor. Actually, it will be more photogenic than usual, with less text.Saturday:A good friend offered to both take photos…and fly me up to Philly … Read More Here
Friday Night Lights
Less than 36 hours from now I’ll be finishing up the Philadelphia Olympic Triathlon. One of the fun things about this race is it’s considerably shorter than all my races thus far this year, and also shorter than my upcoming … Read More Here
In Transition…T1…T1…T1…
After last evening’s 90 minute swim (back and forth a gazillion times), it was time to quickly pack up the automotive transition area and head over to the coach’s place to go through transition ‘refinement’ and practice. Translation: He must … Read More Here
Proving that we still have a lot to learn
A bit back I stumbled on this post by Joe Friel’s Blog. Essentially Joe is the god of all things when it comes to triathlon training (and to a large degree running/cycling). While all of his posts are awesome from … Read More Here
Wildflower Race Report: Where art thou…?
Wildflower has a bit of a reputation, both on the course and off. Off the course it’s known as the ‘woodstock’ of triathlon. And on the course it’s known for dishing out the pain.The long course has its renowned huge … Read More Here
Cal-e-forn-ya
I have arrived. Well, I’ve arrived in California anyway. I’m not sure I would arrive to otherwise really. Although I swing through the state with an odd regularly (at least once a month it seems somehow), I tend to forgot … Read More Here
Newspaper Running Roundup
Think of this like a bit of a link clearance. Stuff I saved up that’s interesting, but didn’t have any specific post to put it in.Running is a drug:Most of us have felt the ‘high’ of endorphins after a good … Read More Here
One year later: My first triathlon training workout
Well…I made it through my first ‘year’ of triathlon training. It was this week one year ago today that I did my first training for a triathlon (exactly one year ago yesterday). I had decided to signup for a 70.3 … Read More Here
Oceanside 70.3 Race Report (aka: There be big hills in California)
Remember yesterday’s post about how the Oceanside area is beautiful? Well, it is – that’s still true. Except, I probably should have withheld a bit of judgement until AFTER I had to cycle over 56 miles of hills. In.the.wind. With … Read More Here
Let the games begin!
I arrived relatively late (ok, technically really early – 1:15AM) last night into the Oceanside area – about 30 minutes north of San Diego. This where tomorrow 2,000 less than smart people will set off onto a 70.3 mile journey … Read More Here
Are you in the lost and found bin?
We’ve all eagerly awaited for our race-day photos to appear on the photographing companies web site. Sometimes we get awesome shots, most times we get unflattering shots…and then sometimes we’re missing in action. You then ask yourself: How could they … Read More Here
Time Capsule: My First Triathlon – Seafair Sprint Tri 2007
Last summer I did my first triathlon. This was before my blogging days. I originally wrote up this race report for a triathlon distribution group/list within my company, as is customary after a race. I realized I had never posted … Read More Here
Did ya miss recording Ironman Hawaii (Kona)?
Well the TV gods have granted you a second chance. Think you can handle getting Mr. Tivo all working this time before the big day? If you choose to accept this challenge, then tune your Tivo’s to: February 16th, 2008 … Read More Here
Bike Fitting
About a month ago, I had a bike fitting done by Coach Ken Mierke, a local triathlete coach and active poster on Trifuel.com. I had originally asked for advice on Trifuel back a few months ago about getting a bike … Read More Here
The State of my State
So this is my 2007 wrap-up and 2008 goals post all in one – and a few days later then the rest of the blogosphere. Cause really – ya’ll got your fill of reading the resolutions and goal posts last … Read More Here
Fuji Newest 3.0 Road Bike Review
(And now… I present a return to Tri/Running stuff…) I do a lot of traveling. In particular, I travel quite a bit to Seattle (where I’m originally from) for both work and leisure. The problem with travel is that it … Read More Here
Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island Race Course Preview
I signed up for the Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island race back a month ago. It’s located near where all my extended family lives in Connecticut and Rhode Island, so it seemed only logical given it also fits perfectly into my … Read More Here
Monday Race Registration Reminder
Just a quick reminder about a few upcoming race registration times/dates: The Cherry Blossom 10 Miler here in DC opens tomorrow (Tuesday) at 8AM sharp! It sold out last year in two days (or so they say, I thought it … Read More Here
Why should you date a male triathlete?
Since I’m single – this seemed like an appropriate thing to post. I stumbled on it a few weeks back posted elsewhere; but it’s funny enough to warrant a repost. It originated from cyclists, but I think it applies better … Read More Here