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.
-
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 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.
Watching it on Wide World of Sports as a kid.
Youtube video of Julie Moss’ 1982 crawl to the finish line!
I remember best last year (or was it the year before?) some agegrouper failing the cut-off time in swimming. It was thrilling. Keeping thumbs crossed that she will make it…..
That was so hard for her…..just few seconds to long. She had been fighting but in the end that was where her race ended.
I went in 2010 to see my younger sister compete and she reached the 3rd place in her age group.
Since then its in my bucket list.
It was in 2010—after listening to the Radiolab episode on the limits of the human body, featuring Julie Moss and Wendy Ingraham—that I went and watched the Wide World of Sports video of Julie from Kona 1982. After that, no other memory of watching it is NEARLY as vivid.
That episode of Radiolab is incredible and I recommend everyone listen to it. The story of Julie Moss is so much more fascinating than the clip of her crawling at the end. It also has a story on RAAM and the limits of what the body is possible of.
My first memory of watching Kona is very recently online this past year. I was amazed at the quality and caliber of the athletes. I’ve only recently started running and considering triathlons, I am amazed at what these super huans can do.
Working as a volunteer at one of the aid stations on the bike course in 2011.
It was probably 1989 give or take a year. I was seven and found it on TV one afternoon. I thought it was so cool. Took me over 20 years, but I finally got into the sport myself.
it’s not a specific race but I remember seeing it on ESPN and was like, man, that’s amazing. I really got into the sport last year and now am in even more awe.
I remember watching Kona on NBC on Saturday mornings as a kid.
The images of these amazing athletes running down the Queen K and their incredible stories would bring me back year after year.
I can’t tri, but the memories of watching Ironman is why I’m drawn to running.
I remember watching a local from my city’s organized racing team compete, and seeing her hometown shirt on (2-3 yrs ago). This afternoon I head to kona from Kauai to watch this year in person.
It was only a couple years ago, watching the 2011 recap video on Youtube. I stumbled across it as a suggested video after watching Truth in 24 about the 24 Hours of Le Mans and was hooked.
I remember watching some clips trying to see if I could find my science teacher in the race. I didn’t find her but remember going “is that, oh wait..no”.
Watching on TV in high school. Being a swimmer at the time I thought it’d be cake to get a swim done and promised myself I’d do one before I turned 40…still have 8 years to hit that goal!
Watching with a friend of mine in the early 80s. I didn’t believe him when he told me the distances.
Easy. 2005. Went to the big island on vacation. Was there the week of the race and had no idea what Triathlon was.
Great… In italy we aldo rock that startde 25 year ago at kona beach ironman and today its along to speck of that… The fenix 2 it’s wonderfoul…
Watching on youtube 4 year ago, Dick & Rick Hoyt. Makes me cry everytime! link to youtube.com
Kona 2013: Klemen Rojnik, who is training in next swimming line to me, finished as 50th.
Chrissie Wellington’s win despite the injuries from her bike crash in training.
First memory:
1982 – Wide World of Sports: Julie Moss collapses short of the finish line and is passed. Yeah, I’m old.
Was it Jim McKay announcing? I think it was.
Kinda lame but since I’m fairly new to the sport I only watched for the first time last year. The memory had to be Carfrae blowing by Joyce on the run. Prior to being a fan it would have to be the video of people crawling over the line to finish!
Binge watched recaps on YouTube 2 years ago as I was getting amped up for my first half distance tri!
Watched the NBC coverage for years…don’t remember the first time, but do remember watching one year when the distances really made sense and seemed so far.
Crissie and Crowie not only as WC but as great ambassador for our sport over the years!
Watching any of the amateurs suffer through it, just like I hope to
Rasmus Henning’s professional retirement in KONA 2012 – he’s a huge inspiration to Nordic Triathletes (including Lisa Nordén)
Mark Allen’s meltdown on the run and Dave Scott running the first sub 3hr marathon in 1987.
1987, my family had just moved to the US and it was the first time that I had even heard of the sport of triathlon. I remember watching something on tv about this crazy event and people talking about the greatest triathlete ever (Dave Scott) wining once again. He never won again, but he is the reason why I gravitated towards this sport many years later.
Watching the 3rd win of Craig Alexander in 2011.
2009. A girl I was dating during grad school was pretty big into triathlon (and is now a pro…eesh) and was showing it to me. I knew what an Ironman was, but that was my first look into the painful glory of what an Ironman distance event was.
Fast forward 5 years (and 4 years since we wrapped up) and she has punched her pro ticket to the big race twice and I’m having the time of my life at Midwest events.
Ray, thanks for all the great reviews and articles. I don’t think I’ll ever begin to understand the work you put into this site. Well, until somebody shows me a dvd about you, I create a small website to impress you and then slowly grow from there.
We watched it streaming on our TV with our kids who were really excited about the race!
When I first heard of the Ironman, I thought it was crazy. I was a teenager at the time and I thought I was a good athlete. Every year I watch as much coverage as I can and read the recaps. I am hoping to go and watch it in a couple of years.
Watching those glorious under water shots during the swim leg. Amazing
Frederik Van Lierde taking down Luke Mckenzie on last year’s run split was simply amazing!
Came across one of the NBC shows on youtube. Inspired me to get off my ass when suffering with a knee injury from running and get in the pool for the first time in a decade,
2008 Kona broadcast. Made me start running again seeing all the people and hearing all the stories they had to share about how they got there and the obstacles they faced.
Can’t remember the year, but it was most likely an 80’s Wide World of Sports recap.
The best I’ve ever read was an article about the first one where the guy showed up with a boom box strapped to his handle bars and a tent. “All in one day?” was one of his quotes.
Cheers
Chrissie Wellington’s last Kona win in 2011 after her bike crash weeks before.
Went for a swim, bike on my trainer and finished watching on the treadmill. Obviously with lots of time in between, I’m not doing it back to back, maybe one day :)
Love watching people go fast (like Mirinda Carfrae in 2013) but the best moment is ALWAYS the last competitor to cross the line
Too much glue!!! and seeing a man in speedo’s biking and running (Faris)
Have to admit, I never saw the actual race but I “lived” in from the inside reading “Iron War”; awesome book, awesome story, crazy race!
My best memory is always the cheesy human interest stories of non-pros who have something dramatic going on in their life. Always makes me teary!
2011 Craig Alexander win!!! wow
Watching Macca win and talking smack to everyone before, during and after.
Love watching the Tweets from my triathlon friends every year.
I first saw it on Universal HD or something like that, and I was amazed that people would swim for that long, I’m from Colorado and we don’t have much water here! Made me want to get a bicycle again though.
Triathlon Motivation video on youtube!
Fascinating to see all these athletes and the gorgeous setting.
The first time I watched was the weekend after I decided an IM was my goal after losing weight. I watched a replay of the 2013 Championship, and I remember them saying how Sebastian Kienle was the fastest man on a bike and I wanted to be like him. Now, I just signed up for my first Ironman(a half) but hope to one day qualify for Kona.
Only a few years ago but being amazed at seeing how hard some seemed athletes push on the bike when they still have to run a frickin’ MARATHON afterwards!
When I first watched the Ford IM Championship 2010 Kona, Hawaii on TV, I was inspired by Macca’s fighting spirit. The finish was really dramatic that it made my cry especially on the part of the disabled people who made it and became an Ironman. I think GREATNESS is always a climb, never a walk in the park. It always involves effort, sacrifice and challenges. Since then, I always dream of becoming an Ironman. If they (the handicappeds) can do it, what more of us who have complete body parts and able to swim, bike and run. They are an inspiration to us all.
Last year was the first year I knew people personally racing and it was incredible to watch.
My favorite memory of the Kona broadcast was 2005? before my first Ironman tuning into all-day race coverage curled up in bed. Best training day, EVER!
2011. It was my 3rd time returning to the Big Island that year and was finally able to catch the Ironman World Championships.
Watching macca running into the energy-lab followed by andy raelert while I am still on the bike :)
My best memory will be watching Kona live tomorrow as my interest in Triathlon has just risen this year…
Here we go – my first memory… let me cast my mind back. Oh, I know….
Ijust went to youtube, keyed in ‘Kona triathlon’ and watched some NBC highlights from 2012 and 2013 – awesome stuff!
Does that work?! :)
I recall watching Julie Moss struggling to the finish line on the Wide World of Sports. Years later when I ran the Boston Marathon, she finished it with almost the exact time that I did.
my best memory in Kona is watching Vasillis Krommidas seting the unbreakable record till today for the course (u23)
The way it makes even the best athletes suffer like the rest of us.
I also remember watching the original broadcast if the 1982 race and couldn’t for the life of me imagine doing something that demanding.
27 years later, some friends got me hooked on triathlon and I did my first Ironman. The night before the race, we watched an Ironman video that included part of the’82 race. The original broadcast came flooding back to me and I was able to fill in details my younger friends didn’t know.
Peter Reid’s wins in 2000 and 2003 stand out for me.
Fernanda Keller in a brazillian triathlon maganize in the early 90’s!
Watching the NBC coverage on YouTube a few years ago and thinking that I want do an Ironman one day!
Watching Natascha Badmann win one of her last Kona championships. I was hooked, and have watched every minute of coverage available since – there’s nothing like it to light a fire under my ass and get me out training when it’s (insert unpleasant condition: dark, cold, hot, rainy)!
Saw a report on Swedish television in the mid 80’s and got hooked!
I’ve mostly just seen short videos of the highlights and lowlights over the years. Watching the inspirational stories of those that aren’t the typical triathlete fighting to come in before the cutoff are the best ones, though.
Watching Julie Moss finish.
i fondly remember watching (one of?) the first Ironman WC television broadcasts and not long after could be found riding my trainer while wearing a Hawaiian lei to remind me of the inspirational efforts i had witnessed.
I love watching all the heartwarming and inspiring stories each year, of people over coming what would seem to be impossible. There hasn’t been just one moment but many.
the madness of starting where people hitting people
link to youtube.com
simply amazing.
Fenix 2 :)
Never got to watch Kona here at the bottom end of the world, but first read about this ‘Hawaiian Ironman’ in late 1980s
Its amazing how these posts get the most comments…
I remember watching Mark Allen shots winning Kona
Aimlessly flipping through channels after a HS CC meet in the late 90s, and being mesmerized by watching some incredible athletes bike and then run through the lava fields.
3 years ago, I watched a 10-minute summary of the race on French TV (I had heard of ironman but it seemed like a rather strange sport for crazy people) and that was it: I went from swimmer + occasionnal rider to triathlete-wannabe…
My first memory of watching kona involves the total domination from Chrissie Wellington. Amazing
I remember seeing the folks coming out of the water and switching into bike gear and wondering how, with so much equipment around, everyone managed to end up in the right place and with their own gear.
Ironman!
The scorching heat of the bike and the start of the swim
Watched many inspiring videos of IronMan age groupers that have overcome difficult situations in their life and raised in Kona. Also, watched some videos at the Triathlon event lat year at Georgetown Prep in Maryland in which I was lucky to shakes hands with Mirinda Crafrae and her Husband Scott.
If selected, I would choose the 920XT.
My favorite memory is of watching a friend cross the finish line after a particularly rough year for her.
Actually got to volunteer last year and watch the swim start from the pier with the sun coming up over 2000+ athletes. A beautiful and powerful sight!
Truthfully, watching all of those youtube hype videos. They get you so awestruck and inspired that you just want to pop out of your chair and start working out. That, coupled with the mystique and aura of the fact that it’s the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP is just enough to make you feel tingly watching it.
Watching with my dad a few years ago and tearing up at the exact same time.
Watching Julie Moss crawl to the finish while riding on my trainer.
years ago, watching highlights, thinking I’d never want to run in cycling shorts. Especially after swimming AND cycling already
Watching Crowie win Kona the second time and flexing with the finish tape, like a boss. I’ll never forget that.
Norman Stadler flat tire & subsequent meltdown.
Watching a good friend from highschool run a 3:22 marathon enroute to a 13th place AG finish.
Watching Chrissie run down the finishing chute (the first time).
First time I’d heard of it was when we watched a documentary on Kona in middle school. I thought I could never do an ironman…and now here I am, registered for my first
Early 80’s with the Pontous sisters…
Around the 90’s, I put a goal to go there sometime, either as competitor or spectator :)
In a lazy stupor, unfit and uninterested, I was mindlessly channel surfing and came across an epic battle. I knew nothing about triathlon, but slowly realized that the two leaders on the run, an Australian called Macca and a German called Raelert, had been racing for over almost 8 hours in the heat and humidity. As I slowly began to understand the mechanics of the race, these two phenomenal athletes were neck and neck. Then, suddenly, as they approached an aid station, Raelert slowed, yelled for Coke, and momentarily lost focus. Macca, in an instant, stepped on the gas, created a gap, and ran himself to victory. On that day, I got up from my lazy stupor and my triathlon obsession was born. I’ve never looked back.
watching Julie Moss crawl, early 80’s….
My best time was last year, 2013. I was studying really hard for an exam and I remember the adrenaline was so high I studied in one day what I would normally do in 3 or 4. Amazing experience
Blimey, thats a tough one.I’m sure my earliest memories of it were seeing footage of the likes of Peter Reid and Jurgan Zack back in the early 2000’s. Footage was usually a cut down version of the one that you get over in the States. More recently I think I have watched at least the last 5 years of coverage on Youtube to catch up on me missing the Chrissie Wellington years.