Heads up! Here’s your massive list of sports tech deals! This includes the Garmin Forerunner 965 for just $499, Garmin Epix for $429, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 Black Titanium for $735, the GoPro Hero 12 Black for $299, (or Hero 13 bundle for $339!) and plenty more! Go check out the full list 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 2023 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.
My favorite racing memory this year was finally breaking into the top 10 of my 50-54 age group at Ironman Racine 70.3.
I’ve been doing a trail race series this summer by the coast. Amazing place who motivate indeed I was on holidays.
Having a date with the concrete this past weekend mounting my bike coming out of T1…the mounting area was a little congested :)
My best was finishing a triathlon on the island of Bintan in Indonesia back in 09. Fabulous weather and thoroughly enjoyable race.
Hi Ray, my “best” memory so far is going ass over tea kettle off my mountain bike during a local off road triathlon series.
I was racing the shorter “beginner” route, and chose a path up over a narrow dirt mound to avoid a sand patch. I had done it countless times before, but this time there was a huge divot in the middle of the path, and I didn’t react quickly enough. My front tire went in, and I went over the handle bars.
I few teenage kids were coming up behind me and all I could hear as I lay there was “whoa that was nuts.” Other than a few scrapes I was totally fine and ended up getting a PR to boot. But wow, that was something.
Lots of racing memories from the tough day at BSLT to the hail and thunderstorm at MIM. STP was also a great ride!
Epic heat in Texas this summer – can’t beat that training come fall/winter racing.
Swimming in a reservoir is the weirdest thing. It’s all green and you can’t see a thing. But I love the lack of chlorine. Please sign me up for your giveaway!
My favorite memory was finishing Bike to the Beach (DC to Dewey Beach), 100+ miles, having not previously ridden more than 55 on any training ride. Getting to the beach after 6 hours pedaling (longer with rest stops) and having a tasty beer…..Yum.
Set a marathon PR in July. Hoping to shave off 9 minutes on October 1 at St.George Marathon to set another PR and qualify for Boston before next year when qualifying times get 5 minutes faster.
Finishing my 1st marathon
I finished my first 10k, hated evry step and loved every step all at the same time!
Can’t wait to do my next LOL
Getting caught in the beginnings of Hurricane Irene downpours while training for a half-iron man in Central Park last weekend…
Cheers,
Andy
My best summer training memory was on the first day that I got my new road bike after I finished my ride for the day, realizing that my pace had immediately jumped 3mph simply because I wasn’t riding a huge mountain bike any more.
Took part in the Bulldog Sprint Triathlon in August. Finished strong and felt great!
Good morning!
Starting and finishing the C25k program! Being new to running again (about 80 pounds and 15 years ago I ran about 3-4 times per week) it just feels great to get back into the groove.
Ahh, running while the evening is still light, catching the scent of all the grills cooking dinner. I’ll miss that when winter hits (but I won’t miss the 100-degree temps)
Running 7 halfmarathons in 7 days, in very different weather conditions from showers to 90F :)
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I successfully completed the Edinburgh Marathon!!! My first one :)
Tuesday night team rides with VeloTrocadero.com!
Almost always any event or training done in the rain, it just adds some element of mental difference which keeps those sessions a bit clearer in my mind compared to all the others..
And thanks as always for the great info you share along w/ the cool gadgets!
I set a PR on a midnight 8K this summer and working on my first marathon.
My best summer memory for 2011 was qualifying for USAT Age Group Nationals!
Thanks for this awesome End of Summer giveaway.
Did an XTERRA trail run this past weekend and while I finished 20 sec behind my age group winner, I finished mid-pack in the overalls.
My best summer memory for 2011 was qualifying for USAT Age Group Nationals!
Nothing tremendous this summer. My 1/2 marathon which was my summer A race was a bit of a disappointment. I have however been organizing monthly mile runs on a track near the office and I managed to run a post high school and +60 pounds PR of 5:52 last week.
Best training/racing memory is completing my first race…the Broad Street 10 Miler in Philly in 2006. It was a great accomplishment and long before times and place mattered!
I am training for a half marathon in October, and just ran my longest run, 8 miles. I was so jacked and was ending with my fists pumping and a sense of power I will not forget!! It was then that I knew I was a runner….;D
For fathers day wife gave me a trip to DC so I could go down and train on my old stomping grounds with my friends from DC. Best part of ride was stopping for two hours at Italian Store in Arlington for a nice lunch.
Lol… I think its awesome that you do giveaways like this. Keep it up.
Anyway, I’m new to running and recently began my marathon training a couple months ago. Well I was scheduled to do a 10 mile run and I kept thinking there’s no way I’m gonna pull this off. Being new to running, having asthma, and a smoker of 11 years(I quit two months ago when I took up running) I was pretty skeptical. The first 3 miles were pretty much a warm up the next 5 miles flew by, and by the time I got to the last two there was no stopping me. When I finally finished I felt as if I could accomplish anything. Thats my best moment so far.
Hi there, preparing for my first half ironman, this would help :)
Rev3 Half and picking up a 58 minute PR. Thanks Ray!
Pushing my year-old daughter in the jogging stroller, with her squealing in delight when the pace picks up, and making “faster Daddy” noises when I have to slow down.
Running in the rain this summer. Being in Texas with this killer drought the feeling of rain was absolutely magical.
My best summer memory… my second metric century on a bicycle. 100km, I decided to take a tour of the city I live in. Photos can be found here: Flickr
Garmin connect info here: Garmin Connect
It was by far the most incredible bike ride I’d ever taken. I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of doing a metric century. I weighed around 380 pounds at the time, so a lot of people didn’t believe that I was capable of doing something like that. I didn’t care. I knew I could, and I did. I discovered a beauty in my city that I had never appreciated before. It’s amazing how you can live your entire life in a place and not realise how awesome it is. It’s so easy to just drive through a place, ignoring all of the little things that make it wonderful, but when you’re on a bike, discovering every tiny little facet of your city, something hits you.
I’m down to 360 pounds now, and training for my very first Imperial Century. I am hoping to make an attempt this weekend, but the rain may not cooperate with my plans. My deadline is October.
Getting 2nd in my age division!
First Du in years, along the beautiful Prince Edward Island coast. Hadn’t ridden in the drops in ages!
Riding the Dairyland Dare in Dodgeville, WI. I didn’t know you could have so many hills per mile.
PR-ing in the half IM distance with my first sub-5 hour time!!! Woohoo!!
Finishing my first triathlon and knowing that I can check that off my list of things I wanted to accomplish.
I did my very first trail running race in July. It was a really hot and humid day, but other than that, it was a perfect race.
I finished my first Ironman 3 years ago now, and I’ve never felt better than I did in that moment. I have been training for the last year, trying to get back into the same shape I was that year.
Down here in TX September does’t mean the end of the heat. We have forecasted highs still above 100 throughout the first week of September. A new Garmin 610 would ROCK! Thanks for the chance to win!
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My first ever round the lough! great times even though we got lost and did a 22km detour, never laughed or grinned so much in my life! (that’s Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland btw)
can I please have the watch?
That’s inspiration to get for my fall fitness routines :)
Coming in first for my company in the corporate challenge and getting a little wind-up monkey-with-cymbals as a trophy.
Thanks, Ray!
Great idea for getting comments. THanks for posting. I think we have about 3 weeks left of nice weather, so its still summer for me
Finishing my first full sprint distance triathlon in North Louisiana. The temperatures were 115 at midday, so the morning race saw 96 degree temps on the run and the swim was in a lake that was down 5 feet with water temps just shy of 90. Great experience but HOTTT!
I out-sprinted a dog on the flats and hit 38 mph. Never sprinted that speed since.
I want one
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Many years ago, a half-marathon in the middle of a heat wave in Kansas (80 degrees at race time, 108 that afternoon). Won my age group, came in 6th overall.
First half marathon in Chicago! Love the ambience in the windy city.
Running with my 10 yr old son for his first 5k this summer in under 34 minutes. It’s not much, but the look of pride on his face after he finished, and our new found way to bond (running together) is what is awesome to me. :-)
Competing in the Madison Marathon at 9000 ft.
Great blog!
I went from sitting on the couch to competing in four triathlons and a 1/2 marathon!
Next up: San Juan 70.3
Racing NYC Tri
Losing my timing chip during the swim leg, continuing with the race, appealing for the results, and getting 1st in AG in the end :)
Thanks so much for doing this! (even though the chances of me winning are like 0.1%)
I ran a small local 5K pacing my mom and pushing my then 11 month old, it was full family affair. Little guy fell asleep halfway through the race. It was great!
My first “un-retirement” run about a week after my son’s emergency brain surgery. He is 100% recovered now, but at the time I was giant ball of fear and stress. Getting out the door on an early quiet morning was therapeutic.
First Overall win at a Triathlon this summer!
Best racing memory is hands down taking the last step to cross the finish at an IRONMAN! The pure joy of completing it and actually being able to stop moving makes the pain go right away :-)
running my first marathon where I had to run the last 6 miles on a badly sprained foot…
call me crazy but i’m signing up again next year (hopefully without the sprained foot).
Doing the xterra trail series, which means I get to run at different trails and also meet new runners.
Summer never ends!!!
Hello,
Reached my first 10k last evening, trainging for the 20 :)
Completed my fisrt HIM race last Saturday, the Provo Half. 95 degrees when I finished. I look forward to my next race in October.
Making it over the top of Old Stage Road at Boulder Peak.
Running a PR at a charity race. Someone I knew in HS that was killed in a car accident. Awesome to run well and help a good cause.
celebrating my ten year running anniversary by running my third half marathon, and ending at the Brooklyn boardwalk!
Great give away! Hopefully my running times will decrease with the fall weather as well!
Unfortunately, my memories of this summer are all of my poor training habits. However, we did buy a new house, which means my favorite memories are of discovering new running routes. Now I just need a gps watch to measure them!
Its not summer in this part of the world where I am at but my memorable one is doing long runs and bike rides in the provinces and away from all the chaos in the city.
Very simple, when I came home with the family after my first Olympic triathlon my 7 year old son looks at me and says ” I want to do triathlons just like you dad”
Biking 100 miles for the first time in Iowa years ago in 95 degree heat with 90% humidity – could not for the life of me figure out why I had stopped sweating and was getting goosebumps.
My favorite memory this summer is moving to a new house and looking for new running routes. Now I just need a new gps watch to measure them.
I hope this time is my time.
Thanks.
AC
Training for my first marathon this fall.
I just started running at the age of 51. My best day of training was just this saturday during a planned10 mile run. The group leader took the wrong trail back and the run was short by .5 miles. Only 3 of 35 of us kept going to complete the planned 10 mile run. The rest stopped at 9.5 miles. It felt good to be one of the three.
Thanks for doing this.
One of my fondest training memories was riding for hours through a torrential rainstorm. Really felt hardcore after that!
Finishing the local races with my wife! We had a great time!
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Finished my first 15k in Jacksonville.
Finishing my first 50 mile ultra last weekend is probably the best summer memory this year.
In fact, the memory remains in the form of lingering pain and swelling.
Best memory? Breck Epic 2011 MTB stage race. Oh hell yeah.
Realizing that getting into full Marathon training post tri season that I do not like speedwork
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Favorite memory was racing my second half after two metric centuries and feeling great!
my best memory is racing my first marathon, the cost to coast marathon on the Amalfi Coast, the first edition, with all the road completely closed to all vehicles, and the car drivers in the small roads waiting for the end of the race, really angry, kind of a revenge….
I started running this June
First Xterra race @ Rocky Gap this summer….awesome! Can’t wait to do another…
I developed plantar fasciitis this past winter and it’s taken January to now for me to be able to run again. So my favorite training memory for this summer was being able to share my first run back (albeit slow…) with my wife. I still have a ways to go, but it feels good to be making progress.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I have only ran in two races since the 9th or 10th grade. It would be july 1, 2010 (Canada Day) finishing 15k, the longest run of my life. Thanks.
105 miles at Skyline in a 200 mile bike weekend!
An epic 5k open water swim race in Watkins Glen, NY. My first open water swim race and conditions were perfect!
Just got back into running this summer after a long time. Best run so far was completing a 3+ mile run faster (by a couple minutes) than I had the prior week and feeling better during the run.
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During an olympic distance somewhere in China on 1995 I forgot to take my helmet at T2.After 1Km in the run I gave the helmet to a soldier who was controlling people in a busy junction road.At the end of the race my helmet was together with my bike in the transition area.That’s awesome !
After a long vacation, slowly getting back in action.
My highlight of the year was either getting my finishers medal from Chrissie Wellington in Kansas 70.3!! And being 777 Kansas luckily qualifying for Vegas 70.3!! But this past weekend rivaled Kansas in that racing Tristar111 I got to talk with Macca at expo and then go on a river boat with all the pros (including Macca) for post race drinks, food, and awards!!! Talk about awesome!! And Im sure I have one more great experience in Vegas + a lot of pain : ) thanks, Jake C
Best moment was finishing in the top 10 overall in an event last weekend.
My 4 yr old son running into my waiting arm at the end of every race this summer…Priceless
My first-ever bike workout, which opened up a whole new sport to me :) (It also made my newly acquired FR210 suddenly feel inadequate as I’d now appreciate ANT+)
I am training for a ten mile race, quite a step up from my 5k last year. I’m running with my super fit sister, so I was happy to complete eight miles Sunday morning. I’ve never run that far before, but it felt good. The ice bath that followed was awesome.
My biggest race memory will be my completion of The Hood to Coast Relay here in the Pacific NW. 32 hr long Race, No Sleep, I totaled 17.25 Miles. Had tons of Fun.
Running a five mile zigzag around hurricane Irene debris.
My biggest race memory will be my completion of The Hood to Coast Relay here in the Pacific NW. 32 hr long Race, No Sleep, I totaled 17.25 Miles. Had tons of Fun.
Summer marathon training, long runs on the weekend watching the sun come up. Not freezing my ace off.
Recording my fast times at the 5 and 10k mark. This was the first time I training with a purpose other than just “finishing”
My favorite moment was watching my wife cross the finish line of her first triathlon.
I finished about 20-30 minutes ahead of her, collected my medal, and then ran around the course trying to find where she was. From there I ran to various points on the running route and cheered her to the finish. It was great!
Starting to train for a half marathon and my first 8 miler had me run a half mile downhill only to turn around and run back up it. Thanks for the giveaway.
Completing my first Tri this year was pretty awesome. Same race I got over my running mental block and got a 5k PR out of it. Now it’s time to work on that bike!
Cool Garmin. My cousin has a similar model and directed me here. Would love to win!
I finished a half ironman the same time as a friend and we got some funny finishing pics as we’re trying to squeeze through the chute at the same time.
Best part of the summer has to be my first 70.3 race. Finished 4th in my AG at Boulder 70.3. Definitely the highlight of the year. Thanks for the sweet give-away.
The morning after my cousin´s weding I start my program for my 6th november marathon, the night after i was drunk….but at 8 a.m. i was running 8 km warm up and 3×2000 mts , it was delirius my 8 km paca was horrible jeje
Either running my first Go Commando race, or RAGBRAI… it’s a toss up!
Completed my first open water tri, and actually enjoying the swim.
Favorite race: The Camp Pendelton Mud Run. A great course, supremely organized & run by the Marines. And ran it with great friends!
Deciding to do a Half Ironman with little/no training, thinking my previous Ironman training (from the year before) would carry over. Not so much!
in the most important race this year just at the moment my team partner and myself caught the first group he had a puncture …
Ran in a 5k mudrun sponsored by habitat for humanity not a long run but a fun one for sure.
Dealing with the heat, one of my strategies was 2 a days, I didn’t like getting up early and I didn’t like the heat, but I spread the misery.
My best summer challenge was run 24 miles in my summer vacacions
racing the Garden of the Gods 10 Miler. So beautiful, but altitude isn’t my friend.
Running a half with best friend from childhood.
Training for the provincial summer games as a teenager in an outdoor pool, getting distracted by the sun, clouds and birds in the sky…
Hello I write from Spain and every day I follow your site, I’m training for my first half marathon on September 17. thank you very much
Thanks for a great blog and all these great giveaways! Keep up the good work.
Hallo, I am preparing my fist marathon for this october in Italy and is very hard, I hope I will finish it!
Italy Mirko
At 40, placed high enough in two summer tris for first time ever to receive age group awards.
Yay for fall running season!
Running at night by Tagus riverside, and been cached by a end-summer wind and rain storm with some lightning. Never run so fast with that strong wind gusts helping.
Training for and completing my first ironman.
Would love to check out the Forerunner 610, since my 205 is starting to lose it’s life..
I can never forget trying to finish a 20 miler in the pouring rain. I felt like the scene in Caddyshack when I tried to convince myself that, “I don’t think the heavy stuff’s comin’ down for a while.”
I went by my house to change my shoes 1/2 way through, but I got it done.
My favorite summer memory was reaching the finish line at the 2011 Eagleman 70.3 and getting soaked by the local fireman man with their fire hoses. I could have stood there all day. Thanks for all the great reviews, I based my Garmin 500 purchase on your site. Spot on.
Completing the Baltimore 10 Miler with a stress fracture and therefore very little training. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to race since due to the fracture and back issues, but am now training for a Fall Sprint Tri and my first half marathon (Rehoboth).
Last summer I moved from jogging aimlessly around the block to ‘training’ for a 5k.
I figured I was good for it, but I hadn’t run more than a vaguely approximate 2 miles at a time yet, so I plotted out a 3.1 course on gmap-pedometer and ran it, the whole way.
The feeling when I walked back in the door was amazing, I felt a little bit more like a real runner.
Thanks for running a great giveaway, hope I win!
I was on my honeymoon last week in Paris/Spain and I was tracking to see how fast the train from Paris to Beaune was going (180 mph btw) using my Garmin 305. When we departed in a hurry, I left the Garmin on the train window sill.
So a few days later, while doing my training run down the beach of Barcelona, I couldn’t tell how fast I was going and had nothing to look at but old naked people on the beach.
Please, I need this! Wedding present? :)
First ride back after being sidelined for 6 weeks on a broken foot. One doesn’t fully appreciate things until you’re not able to do them for a while. It sure does feel great when you get back to it though!
Best summer experience was last weekend finishing my first OD for the trifactor triathlon and absolutely killing it. Great race, tons of fun, and I’m quite sure i’m now addicted to tri for the rest of my life.
Deciding to HTFU a couple weeks ago, and start my long ride in the rain. Despite the weather predictions, the sun came out about 10 mins into the ride. Great day!
Completed my first 200K bike ride ealier this year, and it had 10,000 feet of climbing!
Thanks for the giveaway!
Running at dawn through old growth forests on trail marked by glow-sticks. Awesome.
Finishing IMWI last year was my best memory so far. Hopefully more to come, especially since my birthday is the day after the giveaway!
Great blog, been reading for a couple months now…
My best memory of the season was hitting the water in my first tri ever at DC Tri. After a mad 100m dash, I panicked and almost grabbed onto a kayak. I managed a few measly breastrokes and have literally no idea how I made it to the end. Was all the fear I expected in the tri and I’m glad I endured its initiation.
My achilles ruptured. Went to the hospital and met my current girlfirend =)
I ran my first marathon this summer–it was hard but oh so worth it!!
Highlight of this summer was completing the Pikes Peak Ascent (13.32 miles, 7800 vertical feet of gain)!
My best summer time memory is actually the worst when i learned how to hydrate myself properly, after a 30 km run, in the heat even after drinking loads of water i was dehydrated.. Red piss scared me to no end.
Finished my first HIM at Buffalo Springs Lake in Lubbock TX. The high temp that day was 114F. Fortunately I was done well before that point but it was a very hot windy race through the west Texas canyons.
Favorite summer racing memory: Running a Friday evening 5K (that I signed up for at the last minute – originally having no intentions of running in near 100 degree heat and 90% humidity…) and actually winning 1st in my age division!
A 100km bike ride with a friend last Saturday, from Nantes (France) to the sea. Beautiful weather, beautiful beaches…just nice !
As a University of Michigan alum + fan, my best moment was kicking away from an Ohio State fan en route to a 3-minute 5K PR. It doesn’t get any sweeter than that.
Running with buddy of mine’s high school cross country team and knowing I can still hang with them even though I’m almost 40.
LagunaB
Finishing my first half ironman!
Best memory from the summer was finishin my first Olympic distance triathlon in Kuopio Finland. It went great and my next project is a marathon in 3 weeks and after that it will be training for next summers half Ironman :)
First bike event of my life was a 150km in the pouring rain. Needless to say i had never done more than 50km prior to that :)
Long time reader, first time commenter.
Running at night in Ragnar Great River along the Mississippi.
seeing my wife at the end of the IMFR!
It’s always summer where I’m from but it still has to be finishing my first half ironman with my family cheering me on.
1/2 Marathon this summer. PR’d by 3 minutes. Beautiful sunny morning for a run and having the family there to cheer me on.
Thanks for the reviews and all! My race this year that I loved was the KRISPY KREME CHALLENGE, it was in early Feb, but I loved every min of having to do the challenge of eating a dozen doughnuts then racing back in under an hour!
Best this summer was the swedish mtb race “Cykelvasan”, the classic 90 km cross country skiing race “Vasaloppet” converted to a 94 km mtb race in mid august.
Long Saturday morning runs!
I try to avoid racing in the summer, because it’s so hot here, but my best summer racing memory is a toss up: breaking 18:00 5k in High School while passing 2 guys in the last 100m to take 5th in a JV meet, or podiuming and wining my AG in a du to finish off the 2009 season.
Working out for fun and not for a race. Viva la off season! I’m gearing up for my first Ironman next year in Canada.
This past March I broke a bone in my foot playing intramural basketball (definitely not something I was expecting, it kind of messed up my entire crew season). I was on crutches until June and then I had to stay in a walking boot for a couple of weeks after that. My best memory of the summer is finally being able to run in mid-July. The feeling I had when I first strapped on my shoes and labored through the hot sun was amazing!
Finally getting back to full on ironman training after battling chronic ITBS for approx 9 mos (since last IM actually)
Completed my 1st IM at Penticton this past weekend!
-Francis (enterprise_17101@yahoo.com)
My second ever half marathon, a trail run at the beginning of August with lots of hills. It started at 8am, and it was already in the 70s. It was easily in the 90s when I finished like 2 and a half hours later. The last few miles were the longest miles of my life. But it was a great experience, and my inauguration into trail races.
Jumping in a cold lake after any long triathlon. A summer must.
My first tri in 2007, in Nockamixon State Park in the Lehigh Valley. My result wasn’t much but as my dad said, “you looked like you had a blas out there!”.
after a long bicycle ride i always have to go to In and Out. And order a 3×3. yum
bye sam
Thanks for the contest.
My best racing memory this year was at a very small local sprint triathlon because it was the only race I’ve done that hasn’t been wet!
I started training for a half-marathon this summer. Every saturday morning I got the chance to run with my 16 months old boy. Priceless
Finally breaking the 20 minute mark in a 5k race after 6 weeks of racing.
I’d love to win to replace my dying FR305.
Improving my half-marathon time by 5 minutes!
Just starting to run and realizing how great it makes you feel!
A running buddy of mine convinced me to try Crossfit – i must say, it was quite a workout and a nice change of pace
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Thanks for an amazing blog and for the giveaways. The accomplishment of the summer (so far) was riding 1251 miles in the month of July. I was challenged to ride 1000…so figured I’d do a little extra!
Realizing that getting on the podium wasn’t as important as running a struggling racer into the finish line. I now run to finish upright and smiling!
Simone L
Hot as Heck Summer 60k trail series with starting line temps over 100F! Yes, it was actually fun! Steven in Austin TX.
Running early in the morning through the streets of Beijing and Shanghai.
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Putting on my old HRM yesterday and noticing that my resting heart rate is more than 20 bpm lower than it was three months ago…thank you IM training…
I have two real highlights of the summer season. First, I PR’d on the half marathon. 1:39:16! The second highlight is finishing the Seattle to Portland ride in July. Just picked up cycling last october, so I’m really happy about it.
Watching my 8 yr old daughter complete her first triathlon at Lums Pond, DE.
My favorite training ride this summer had me climbing the steepest hill I ever attempted while still putting up a PB for a 3 hour + run – showed that the training is paying off ;)
Thanks Ray!
I ran at 32C weather for a total of 26k and ate up a whole watermelon! Yummy!
Ran my first 8k this summer and during the race, as I am going through the neighborhood, there was a guy offering all runners “Beer and Oreo’s”. He had signe made up letting you know Coors light and oreo’s were available. I wish I could tell you that I took him up on the offer, but I didn’t think it would help my efforts in finishing.
Thanks for the giveaway!
Favorite memory? A 15k trail race with 3000′ climb – sore for a week, but an awesome view at the top!
Finishing my sprint ti and starting my semi tri focused blog mcsrunner.blogspot.com
Watching my form and strength improve (after 45 years as a runner!) through judiciously adding VFF-shod and barefoot running into my training mix.