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I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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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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FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
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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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
No Kona or Hawaii so far. Maybe 910Xt will get me bit closer to both :)
It’s a good race….
vkooy at hotmail.com
Watching as a kid in amazement at how long they were swimming, biking & running
Chrissie Wellington winning last year after her injuries.
hilh
Chocolate covered pineapple for afterward!
I’ll give it a try! What the Hell!
raelert catching alexander, crowie leading and cramping
I got an entry into the race in ’92, went there, got sick and couldn’t race. Not my favorite memory.
My first memory of Kona was actually watching the IronMan World Championships last year and just being amazed by how quickly the professionals completed.
I strive to one day complete a full distance Ironman and maybe one day become eligible to compete in Kona as an age grouper!
Love Kona.
Macca v Raelert…..awesome!
Volcanos are cool.
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Iceland has Asdis running this year, only the second person from Iceland and hopefully the first to finish, Go Asdis
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I need that! Please pick me.
Two guys from our club doing Kona today. Yupeee.
The ‘Thank God I’m Not Racing’ Party sounds like a lot of fun
PMGODWIN
Thanks for all the work you do.
My birds are named Stitch and Leroy…thats kinda of hawaii-related right ^^?
Thanks for an awesome website!
Watching Macca and Raelert go stride-for-stride back in 2010.
Seeing a coach from our team laid out on the road on the run. A reminder that Kona is not to be taken lightly…
Watching my coach compete – she is such an inspiration to me.
My favorite Kona memory was the classic running dual between Mark Allen and Dave Scott.
Chrissie victory last year. Amazing !
It has to be the underpants run!
Went there for my honeymoon earlier this year, hiked up diamondhead. Also love their cookies and coffee.
One day… :)
Learning about the sport for the first time on a lazy afternoon (for me) and having to figure out what this “Ironman” thing was. Pre-google days.
Dave Scott and Mark Allen’s ironwar.
Diving with manta rays, Volcano National Park, South Point, biking to Hawi, green and black sand beaches, and most importantly meeting my granddaughter for the first time.
My favorite Hawaii memory was holding on to a boogie board so my grandma could ride the waves in.
Watching my hero Macca destroy the field
Old men
This!
link to youtube.com
The dream of making Kona
the warm air and water!!!
Snorkeling with the sea turtles was on the of the best experiences ever!!
Night diving with dancing manta rays.
Watching Maca smirk as he ran up to the Queen K, reeling in Lieto — 2010.
Pro’s have just started :-)
The best memory would me landing an Hawaiian airport to watch the ironman triathlon live, before a week enjoying the sun and the sea.
Hawaii 5-0 is the closest I have gotten to Hawaii so far…
Watching Kona as a child and thinking “How is that humanly possible!?”
Watching Kona as a teenager and thinking “how is that humanly possible!?”
watching kona in the eighties as a kid
Norman S: Noooo, another f…ing flat tyre!!!!
Hawaii sounds nice right about now.
I just had a conference call with Honolulu on Thursday.
Cheers from Slovenia!
Kona (blend) coffee! Straight Kona coffee is too expensive. ;-)
The Brady Bunch visited Hawaii. Saved by the Bell also went to Hawaii. Sadly, I have never been to the islands.
Live Stream!
eating a large big mac meal while watching people do the marathon. Priceless
Sunshine
sunshine
sunshine
Watching Wellington race all scarred and bleeding.
Triathlon on Hawaii would be exotic for a Norwegian triathlete.
Rooting for GoSonja today. This will be my favorite memory.
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Go Hawaii!
All new lovely bikes
Epic Scott vs. Allen….
Hawaii has always been special to me as my father lived there and is now buried on Maui. I have tried but have yet to either qualify or get in by lottery to Kona but I keep trying in memory of him.
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I’d like to Hawaii some day… A colleague once told me about a helicopter ride he took inside a volcano. That sold me alright :)
~afrofrench (geemail)
Beautiful blue sea
Hoping to race it one day!!
The beautiful sea!!
Big Waves, and Wind
My hawaiian shirt… no; won’t post pictures.
I zip lined in Kaui. Fantastic!
I was in Kona a month ago, what a perfect place to Swim Bike and Run. Want to move there. Oh well maybe retire there!
Watching it on TV and wondering how their bodies can take such a beating.
You got a nice blog, gongrats!
Watching Kona all day for the last few years.
Traveling to Kona with my family for the Ironman 70.3 and playing golf the day after the race with some friends who happened to be vacationing at the same time. Thanks, Ray!
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I bet Hawaii is a lot nicer than Colorado is today.
Watching Kona 2011 while eating Hawaiian pizza and sipping rum.
Christie Wellington being a machine all those years!
We’ve enjoyed watching the live Kona coverage and then the recording in Dec. Makes me want my hubby to do it!
Macca and Raelert side by side!
Watching the event unfold now :)
Watching it on our laptop in the living room on a cold october day
Swimming with the turtles!!
Nothing to do with running, but our 20th anniversary was spent at Kona with my bride.
Watching Kona for the first time – AG start was amazing
The race with Sian Welch & Wendy Ingraham…Crazy!
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I think its great watching the pro’s at the end of the race congtatulating all the age groupers
Tim DeBoom winning in 2001, shortly after 9/11, always holds a special place for me.
Watching tv coverage of the race and seeing and having memories of highly tuned athletes coming apart at the lava fields? My heart goes out to them.
Keldog
Feeling bad for the athletes coming apart in the lava fields!!
Keldog
There couldn’t be a more challenging and beautiful place to host the Ironman World championship than Kona!
Too much glue.. norman stadler