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.
Swim 4K as:
600 wetsuit + 400 free fast (for me 6’30” pace)
600 paddles/pull + 400 free fast
600 kick w/fins + 400 free fast
600 (25 drill + 25 free) + 400 free fast
Today’s run – 4 miles at 8:00/mile pace with a few faster segments thrown in ~ 3/4 mile.
I’m doing the swim tomorrow that I blew off today! It’s from link to amazon.com and I know it’s E form 1
I like surprises.
Cycling training session on the BKOOL trainer. A 50km Alpine session. Targets are Z2 and 200+ average power.
Cycle up some hills
Sunday’s workout will include a 8 mile run at tempo followed by a 1 mile pool swim. Swim includes sets of 150 and 200m alternating free and breast. Swim goal to complete in under 30 min (including rest intervals).
Sweet, sweet hot yoga tomorrow night. 90 minutes of sweaty stretching to cap off my workout week.
Swim, main set of five lots of 400m every eight minutes. After a warmup, obviously!
Swim:
300 m WU
8×50 drill
8×50 build (10 sec rest)
1×400 Easy
16×25 all out (20 second rest)
8×50 pull
200 CD
ski the bumps at Magic on March 3rd… :)
Bike:
15 min w/u
2x [6 min at 110% watts, 4 min recovery]
14 min endurance interval – large gear, cadence at ~70
15 min c/d
Sunday Long Run 11 miles @ 6:30 min/km in preparation for DC’s half marathon in 2 weeks
Push ups…I use an Android app called Push Ups Pro and it works pretty well. It gives you a program of 5 sets of gradually increasing repetitions over a period of time with rest periods thrown in. It’s fun.
its currently ski season still!
so my current weekend workouts involve lots and lots and lots of lunges and single leg squats while telemark skiing down various ski resorts in New England with a few easy workouts during the week either riding on the trainer or running around boston.
Today’s swim workout will be warm up then 6-8 150’s on 2:30 interval followed by 4-6 50’s on 1:00 or less…depends on how the crew elects to swim them! We have structured flexibility!
12km over hills and mud as fast as I can ready for an event next Saturday.
Lunchtime run. 6k of sliding and slipping through slush and water covered ice.
5 x Summit Ave. hill run
at some point within the next week, ftp re-test, just have to pick when i want my day of pain to be.
Hi Ray! Thanks for helping me with all my Garmin products. Just purchased the 910 from clever training… you were a hugh help. It’s been great learning how analyzing my swim matrix and that’s what I’ve been using it for. Planning a trip to the Appalachian & Creeper trails this summer and sure could use the Fenix! Here’s to you my friend… keep the rubber side down!
I plan on riding in a ‘training race’ on Sunday, This also happens to be my first cycling road race ever.
4 mile run, 10k pace, trying to get back in running shape after taking about 3 months off. Just got lazy.
Getting used to my new TT bike which means easy going this week
On Sunday I will try to implement a 23K in 1:30 on Mountain Bike in the forest on icy single trail. Hopefully with a happier end than my friend last weekend who had pressed his ribs :-(On Sunday I will try to implement a 23K in 1:30 on Mountain Bike in the forest on icy single trail. Hopefully with a happier end than my friend last weekend who had pressed his ribs :-( Gona be a fun be hard ride :-)
4 hour ride, 4000 ft climbing followed by a 30 min run.
Run 2 hours, without dying, for however far that takes me, at goal pace through downtown San Antonio.
Today I’m doing TrainerRoad’s “Olancha” workout: 4x9min sets of 15s on/15s off (150%/50% FTP) with 4m recoveries. Should (not) be fun!
For tomorrow’s run:
15′ WU
8×20″ Quick cadence “sprints”
15′ Z2
10’CD
8 mile run as every M-W-F, Swim every T-TH and long ride ~60-80 miles total during the weekend
Saturday: 15 km trail running at La Pila in Desierto de los Leones (State of Mexico, Mexico)
Sunday Long Run 11miles @ 6:30 min/km in preparation for DC’s half marathon in two weeks
Next Tuesday’s workout will consist of a 15 minute warmup at mid Z2 wattage and then 5x5x5 at 112% of FTP or ~285 watts for me.
My fun workout(s) for tomorrow:
Morning:
Swim 2km
Lunch time
Strength:
100 Pull ups
100 Push ups
100 Deadlifts (45lbs)
100 Squats
100 Elbow to knee
Evening
5 Mile run pace @8:45 a mile
As I said, FUN!!! ;)
Barely can wait for a run in the mountain… oh wait I’ll watch tomorrow’s sunrise (and moonset) up in the mountain! #trail_running_up_in_the_backyard :)
Run three 10K, and then swim 1 mile after
I’m starting my training so I’m doing the slow HR method, so my goal is to bike 90 km this saturday and do not pass 151 BPM. Is going to be an interesting 6 hours ride, hahha
Next 7 days
Mon
morning swim @ pool – 400m wu, 400m kick, 1km freestyle, 200m cd
morning 50min run @ hr 140-154
evening coached run – various track intervals
Tue
morning bike (trainer) – spinervals hillicious
morning 50min run @ hr 140-154
evening coached run – various track intervals
Wed
morning swim @ pool – 400m wu, 400m kick, 1km freestyle, 400m kick, 400m cd
gym – various leg and lower back exercises.
evening easy run @ hr 120-130
Thur
morning swim @ pool – easy swim for distance 3k
morning 50min run @ hr 140-154
evening coached run – various track intervals
Fri
morning 35min run @ hr 140-154
gym – P90X ab ripper
Sat
morning coached run – various track intervals
morning bike (trainer) – spinervals muscle breakdown
Sun
easy run 25km @ upper hr 150.
eat the rest of the day :)
Stay standing during the entire Bachelor party this weekend and make it to yoga Sunday morning.
Try to get back into shape after having a broken collarbone. A 5km run in the morning and 30minutes ride trainer at evening
16k road race on sunday, so tomorrow 8k running and 40 minutes on the turbo trainer after
Ride 15.3 miles home from work then run 8 miles at marathon pace.
It’s a sprint tri weekend!
500m swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run, partially on the sand.
7 mile trail run around the FOB. One hill is 250 ft elevation/.25 miles, the other is 75ft/.25 miles. 7 Laps.
Sunday: 20 miler in prep for NJ Marathon on May 5.
Road bike hill climbing up a very steep hill repetitively to work on hill climbing skills and endurance.
This is just crazy Ray!!!!!
Ok, as I’m geting ready for my first HM this year, I’m looking forward to a 2k warm up + 16k at sub M pace + 2k cool down, next week.
Well, my training regime this week includes the ‘no other choice programme’ because i happen to have a make of car that no garage in my area will service I’ve got to drive 60 miles to drop it off at the only place that will do it. Once it’s been dropped off at 8am I’ll have to make my way home by bike, using roads that don’t involve 3 lanes and being picked up by the police, which could be interesting since I have no mapping on my bike computer (so i’d probably be looking at the Garmin 810!) and have never cycled in that part of the country before, might end up doing a few more than 60 miles then! Then, I have to cycle to work & back every day (no biggie, just 14 miles) for as long as it takes for them to fix my car (in week blocks since i’ll have to pick it up at a weekend) at which point i’m probably in for an extremely early start to get up there before noon! Great way to give poor motivation a kicking!
1 hour run today, HRZ 1-2. May try to sneak a McLarty C swim in after work.
After Hong Kong Marathon @3hr06 on Sunday, I start rest for 3 days and jogging in coming days.
Looking forward the next marathon….. Hope sub3……..
Long run of 16 miles at easy pace of 10:00 per mile. Scheduled for Saturday.
Wake up.
Stretch.
Drink beer.
Go to bed.
Repeat.
Tonight’s swim!
Warm Up:
100 Free
100 Back
200 Free
100 Back
100 Free
Pre set:
8 x 50 Drill (Single Arm Left, Single Arm Right, Ripple, Catch up – repeat)
8 x 50 kick
100 Easy
Main Set:
10 x 200 (Free, Pull, Pull + band, Pull + paddles, Free)x2
100 Easy
10 x 50 Sprint
Cool down:
100 Easy
100 IM
100 Back
100 Free
I’ve been taking it easy so this weekend I can do the “Three Peaks” route I’ve planned. Climbing Monument Peak, Mount Allison and Mission Peak in Fremont, CA
link to gmap-pedometer.com
My exercise plan for almost every single week day is:
1. Wake up at 4am
2, Run, bike, lift or any combination of those for at least one hour
3. Go home, shower and get ready for work before my kids wake up
4. Repeat the next weekday
Longer runs and bike rides happen on the weekends.
Indoor Cycle: Mixed 2 – Force and Power 2
Total Time: 92 mins
Warm Up – 15:00
4:00
Pedal Easy
5:00
Alternate 0:30 seated and 0:30 standing
6:00
Seated, alternate 80% of work in right leg for 1:00 then left for 1:00
Main Work – 60
Set 1 – Power – Power Jams – (15 mins)
6 x 0:20 Z5 / RPE 20 / CP1
From a dead stop, with a HUGE gear, stay in saddle, get it going and pedal as fast as possible with the large gear. (2:10 RI)
4:00 Pedal Easy
Set 2 – Force – Long Hill – (24 mins)
2 x 10:00 Z4 / RPE 15-16 / CP30
70 rpm, large gear, hitting Z4, focus on push/pull, full stroke. (4:00 RI)
4:00 Pedal Easy
Set 3 – Power – Power Jams – (15 mins)
6 x 0:20 Z5 / RPE 20 / CP1
From a dead stop, with a HUGE gear, stay in saddle, get it going and pedal as fast as possible with the large gear. (2:10 RI)
4:00 Pedal Easy
Set 4 – Force – Long Hill – (10 mins)
1 x 10:00 Z4 / RPE 15-16 / CP30
70 rpm, large gear, hitting Z4, focus on push/pull, full stroke.
Cool Down – 5:00
5:00 at 80 rpm
A surf session every two days.
Plus running: 3 miles today and on saturday.
As I am only 5 weeks postpartum, I am only allowed to do easy workouts for now. (womp, womp) Another 30 minutes on the elliptical for me and then some upper body strength training. Can’t wait to dive back into tri training soon!
Sunday – Bike 50k through the mountains of SW VA as prep for Mountains of Misery. Z2 effort, try not to freeze in the cold.
pool
warm up 5 minutes
3 x 100 sets with 60 sec rest between, 1st one medium, then faster 2nd, then faster for 3rd.
2 x 400 sets with 90 sec rest between, (medium first, faster 2nd)
2 x 100 (fastest first, medium 2nd)
5 minutes cool down with miscellaneous drills
This weekend I have a 1:30 bike with 5×5 min @ftp, 5 min rest.
***brick Workout**
100 mile trainer ride followed by EZ 2 mile run
Usual swimming workout:
300m warm up
200m sprint
500m with buoy
500 sprint
500 with buoy
Bike trainer: 10:00w/u, 6x- (7:00LT+2:00easy+1:00sprint+2:00easy) 10:00c/d
Run15km within 1hr30mins, followed by swimming session(pool running)
Training for a 10k, so trying this: run 300 meters at mile pace, 600 meters at vVO2 max or 3K pace and 1600 meters at 10K pace. Take no recovery between the components of the compound set. Repeat that 3 more times for a total of 4 compound sets.
10K race taping training…
2×1000/500 r=45/1’30
1000m @ 10k race pace + 6″
500m @ 10k race pace
Swim workout
200m warmup
10x50m technique
100m easy
8x 200m (100m crawl + 50m paddles + 50m paddles)
(Breaks: 30” betw. 100 and 50, 10s betw. paddles, 1min betw interval)
200m cooldown
Saturday: 16 or so miles of [18 min run (easy pace)+ 2 min walk]
I’ll be doing my final long run for my half marathon in 2-and-a-bit weeks. 15 miles with the last 3 at HM pace. Should be fun!
returning from illness to test the legs out in a 18.5 mile hilly TT up the Candover Valley in Hampshire on Saturday….interested to compare with my performance on the same TT last year.
I’m following a Trainerroad plan which has a scheduled 2 hour bike ride on Saturday and a 2.5 hour bike ride on Sunday. Then go to the gym to swim and run.
Back and Biceps
*Wide Grip Lat Pull-downs: 3×12 @ 60 lbs on 60 seconds rest
*One Arm DB Rows 3×12 @ 25 lbs on 60 seconds rest
*Seated Cable Rows 3×12 @ 60 lbs on 60 seconds rest
*Underhand cable pull downs 3×12 @ 60 lbs on 60 seconds rest
*Alternating DB Bicep curls 3×12 @17.5 lbs on 60 seconds rest
*BB Preacher Curls 3×12 @ 25 lbs on 60 seconds rest
*Cable/rope hammer curls 3×12 @20 lbs on 60 seconds rest
And if time permits, easy 5K run.
Great contest!
Swim workouts tomorrow are coach determined, but I’m going to try to get the 2 hour run I had planned for last weekend done this weekend.
First 40 min easy, middle 40 tempo, last 40 easy.
This weeken is one of the last in the huntingseason here, so my training will be walking up and down mountainsides from 10 to 700meters above sea level. And i always have a backpack filled with 7kg extra weight, just for exercise:)
Bike as many km as I want/can in the course of 7 days, with Los Andes mountain range in the background. (going to Mendoza, Argentina for my vacations!)
Today’s workout:
Eat Lunch
Drive to Pool
Swim 1500M Steady State
3X500M 1 min rest.
Run 3.5 at easy pace
Back to work!
I’m getting back into running so Sunday ill do a 5K fun run.
Today: rest
For the next 7 days:
Sat. to Fri:: 1 hours power fitness with 2hr spinning
Mon, Wed, Fri: 2hr volleyball training.
Ride 30, last 10 min sprint race pace, then run 20 off the bike, first 10 sprint race pace. Fun.
Headed into the gym tomorrow for a weight training and interval workouts. If the weather’s nice enough on Saturday I’ll hopefully add an easy spring bike ride.
Run tempo workout
2 mile warm up
4 miles at Tempo pace
2 mile warm down
looking to do my final long run of 20+ miles before the Los Angeles Marathon on March 17. I’ve been sick the past couple of weeks, so i’ve missed a few long runs. im just looking to survive at this point!
Get on a cross-country ski track
Ski, trying to maintain steady pace even through uphills (=interval training for free)
Continue for 2 hours
Being in a world of pain on my turbo for the next week or so!
Hill repeats for two hours friday night
1:05 run meant to be on track
10:00 WU to 75% HR
6X :20 sec run up w:40 sec recovery jog
3x 2400m @80%-85% w/ 400m recovery jog in between
Cool down to under 50% be sure to cool down for more than 10:00 mins
Making the transition to cycling, onto my second workout of 10 miles on Saturday!
wu 10min
run 30min Z2
cd 10min
Gradual ramp up on the treadmill over 2 miles to tempo pace, then 20 minutes at that pace.
Get back into running and hiking to achieve my goal to loose weight and get healthier.
Currently living (working) by the sea. So windy almost every day.
Wind based intervals: On a 10km loop on the coast, after 10km WU the 5km upwind serve as interval and the 5km downwind as recovery. The trick is to maintain the same speed all the time.
This goes for 70km, so it works as a medium ride, without hitting the hills.
100 yard sprint at 10.0 on treadmill followed by 15 kettle bell squats with 38lb kettle bell, for one mile or 16 rounds.
Swim workout, 7 x 400m @threshold pace + 7 sec to threshold pace.
I’ve just recovered from a month of flu, but tomorrow I’m going to go and do a nice easy 2km swim. Can’t wait to get the blood pumping again.
Saturday
Run 8km at 6:20min/km pace and 5km at 5:45min/km pace
Plantar fasciits.finally is finally pain free! I am planning my training for submitting Mt. Whitney in Southern CA. Training starts this week. Backpack filled with 20 lbs., hole 5.5 miles each day with a 10 % gain weekly. Permit is for July, pending lottery acceptance. Wish me luck!
After a good 15 minutes warm up, do a 5 minutes all out and then 4 series of sprints from slow speed up to 20 seconds each with an interval of 40-45 seconds between each one.
Supposed to help improving my “kick” when racing, a big supposed cause Im ever too slow!
Running:
E Pace 30min
HM Pace 2 x 12min w/2min rests
E Pace 25 min
M Pace Remainder of time to 1hr:50min
Bike workout (indoor trainer)
WU: 10 mins
Technique set: 4 x 5 mins
1min Heavy singles (each leg)
2min Light High cadence (130+ rpm)
1min rest
Work set: 10x 1m
40secs moderate pace
10secs heavy low cadence
10secs JUMP sprint
10 mins warm down
Cycle Workout:
45 minutes on home trainer at a cadence of around 80 rpm on Friday. Objective is to keep my legs fresh/warmed up as part of taper for Semi Marathon de Paris, Sunday AM. Ran 5k this morning at race pace, so trainer will complete my taper.
Bike: 80 minutes as 15 min ez spin warmup, 7x(6 minutes at 200 watts, 1 min ez, 1 min at 250 watts, 1 min ez)
Run: 40 minute run off the bike as 10 minutes at 7:10 pace, 10 minutes at 7:05 pace,10 minutes at 7:00 pace, 10 minutes at 6:55 pace
Collapse :)