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.
Hawaii for me still is, and will always be, israel kamakawiwo’ole… Nothing better than walk back home after a nice run and hear some of his tunes and pretend you’re coming back from a nice day on a Hawaian beach…
Francis Medeiros
The old ESPN coverage!
The cannon going off over looking the water for the mass swim start. Spectacular!
Last year, watching the race for first time, while we were eating a Spanish paella in Costa Rica. Good memories!
Thanks for sharing!
I actually love the coverage prior to the event: All those nice pictures and reports shared online by athletes going to Kona getting ready for the race weekend.
Ukulele
link to youtube.com
Norway is freezing now, the first snow has arrived some places – wish I was in Hawaii :-)
Salut Ray,
J’apprécie les photos du tri-Hawaï :) Et ce qui est super chouette maintenant, c’est que l’on peut laisser des commentaires en français !
Au plaisir de se croiser dans Paris
the Sand
I could definitely use one! This and the FR610 are the only Garmin watches with four data fields per page. Yes, I’m a bit of a data geek :)
When Chrissie Wellington had a flat and used her co2 cartridge unsiccessfully but won nonetheless
Kona ??? it is where Conan the Barbarian goes on vacation?
Meilleures salutations ;-)
Watching Kona archives and dreaming to one day qualify to compete myself!
although seeing Luc Van Lierde win in 96 in a record time was impressive, i still think that the 3rd place of Marc Herremans in 2003 hand cycle division was far more inspiring: it took him more than 13h to finish! (He ended up in a wheelchair after a bike-accident during a triathlon training on Lanzarote; he ended at the 6th place in ‘normal’ race of 2001)
Why not adding surfing during the Triathlon? Just to make it even harder.
I think it is great that the first non-American to win the race was an Australian, Greg Welch.
Every time I watch an old Kona with Rick and Dick Hoyt or Jon “Blazeman” Blais it makes me cry, inspires me, and then I sign up for another Ironman. I doubt I will ever qualify for Kona, but it doesn’t stop the dream.
Great Watch…!
Just saw Hawaï Five-0 on TV but I dream to visit Kona one day. A french runner who read your excellent blog well before you move in Paris.
A past Kona recap interview with Lew Hollander was priceless. He sets a great example for others.
Hot triathletes among hot lava fields :)
Watching coverage on NBC Sports (I think) of the Kona IM and getting goosebumps watching not the pros, but the age groupers finishing just before cutoff time.
I borrowed a Iona t shirt many years ago and it lead me to learn about triathlon and a sport. Love it now….
Watching coverage on NBC Sports (I think) of the Kona IM and getting goosebumps watching not the pros, but the age groupers finishing just before cutoff time.
As an european my dream is some day have a chance to race at Kona!
Watching coverage on NBC Sports (I think) of the Kona IM and getting goosebumps watching not the pros, but the age groupers finishing just before cutoff time.
I would love to run Hawaii marathon some day
As an european my dream is some day have a chance to race on Kona
Watching coverage on NBC Sports (I think) of the Kona IM and getting goosebumps watching not the pros, but the age groupers finishing just before cutoff time.
Watching coverage on NBC Sports (I think) of the Kona IM and getting goosebumps watching not the pros, but the age groupers finishing just before cutoff time.
Paddleboarding with the turtles
Watching coverage on NBC Sports (I think) of the Kona IM and getting goosebumps watching not the pros, but the age groupers finishing just before cutoff time.
Watching coverage on NBC Sports (I think) of the Kona IM and getting goosebumps watching not the pros, but the age groupers finishing just before cutoff time.
Following the race online cheering on a friend to his first finish! One day maybe me?
Eric.
Appledoc23@yahoo.com
Deep blue sea and warm air…
Newton Lee
I want my honey moon in Hawaii, but too far away!
Hawaii Five-O
Sunshine, especially when it’s raining at home
Best Kona memory: seeing Craig Alexander in front of me in the final straight, I speed up and begin to overtake him; he curses as I pass the finish line. Then the whole cheering and clapping wakes me up…
It was watching the Kona broadcasts on NBC in the early ’90s that planted the seed. It may have taken me a decade and a half before doing my first tri, but, now, seven Ironmans later, I couldn’t imagine my life without the sport.
Aloha
Spending the night last year watching Kona and drinking beer
Hi Ray, I remember the 6th place of the swiss Iron Mike Aigroz !! Cool ;)
I mostly remember Luc van Lierde ‘s first victory in 1996 (while I was only 12y old). The first and still only Belgian I think to over win the Hawaii Iron Man and if I’m not mistaken in a record time that stood until last year. Incredible athlete!
“I wish I was there” – as simple as that
No.1 watching Chrissie win last year but no.2 was meeting one of the guys who competed in the fifth Kona in, of all places, the EUROTUNNEL departure lounge on my way back form IMCH!
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This year will be the first for me to be followed via live stream.
I’m looking forward to it.
so will lance be racing at kona?
Watching IM Kone inspired me to compete in Triathlons;)
My memory is that every time I see Kona on TV, I think about picking up triathlon again. Although I like cycling probably as much.
Waking up on sunday morning and watching the age groupers come in:)
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Waking up on sunday morning and watching the age groupers finish;)
Andreas Raelert fighting against Chris McCormack on the run in 2010
goal is to someday race in Kona after watching it every year
Would love to go to Kona :D
The International Airport
Favorite Kona memory: watching the TV coverage and seeing Sister Madonna Buder. She inspires me!
Thank you for your incredible giveaway!!
Even if I run quite well, I swim like a poodle attached to a rock, and my bike skills are well.. like a poodle again :(
But I don’t why, I’ve always been attracted to tri :o)
dreaming to be there.
Hmm…I have not been in Kona but what I saw last year made me start running, cycling and swimming; thank you Ironman
My memory of Kona is always watching the coverage; whether that is live online or on NBC afterwards. I could watch those shows over and over again (and I have while on the trainer or working out)!
Jason
kmjbreathe@gmail.com
Volunteering at the race the last two years!
Ukulele music!!!
I love the lava area of Hawaii, the food and of course this great event…another thing on my to do list is this Ironman
Kona isn’t the destination, it’s the journey to get there.
My first tri ever, Ironman Hawaii 70.3 2009. Hooked ever since!
Hmmm..sunshine.
As an Aussie it has to be the first time a non-American won it – Mighty Mouse, aka Greg Welch.
I haven’t been to Kona but have watched tv show of last years event
Never been to hawaii buy I really want the watch.
Cheering on my boyfriend!
Hawaï, probably i’ll go there one time !
Hang loose…
as usual, I try to win something… never won in my life…
Watching the Hoyts compete.
Love Hawaii 50!!
Someday I’ll be there…
will never forget the smell of the flowers arriving in oahu airport and the look of the lava fields in kona. what a race it was last year for chrissie. I miss her for sure!!!
Rebekah Keat’s generosity to Chrissie Wellington in 2008 on Chrissie’s puncture.
no actual Kona memory, but when I was a kid I remember eating _way_ too much pineapple and my mouth getting all weird while in Hawaii.
Even though I’m not able to watch Ironman World Champ live, I do catch it later on YouTube. I’ll be rooting for Crowie again
Watching Chrissie and Rinny fight it out last year!
The crawl
I’m still training to qualify.. and then I’ll have some memories to share.
So far it’s only sweat from training hard and hoping to get there someday.
I really wish I could visit Hawaii some day.
And given the future of my MotoActv seems to be up in the air (though I do really like it), I’d take a 910
Watching it on TV for the first time and becoming so hooked that it has become my life now.
I remember watching the race as a youngster. About 10 years ago I got to ride some of the course on a bike tour of Hawaii
Waiting for returning of Chris McCormack to Kona! :) Great man!
Kona is the place to be on day. At least in of the beaches
Dick Hoyt and son Rick
member of my team is racing Kona, she’s going to rock it!
I’ve never watched it as I’m new to running/tri, but I’m planning on it this time around!
Awesome giveaway! Sadly though, I don’t have any memories of Kona or Hawaii to share…
Spam. As in canned spiced ham.
The Waves
My first honeymoon and of course Macca’s performance.
the sharks