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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 first video of kona was the famous Julie Moss video of 1982.
I had no idea about Kona until I began doing sports almost 5 years ago. I’ve watched endless clips on Youtube and, as a runner, I can’t help but wonder how people can do the bike segment…
A couple of years ago, during the TV coverage they were following a woman (I believe a school teacher) and they showed her crossing the finish line at something like 17 seconds after midnight. Officially a DNF. I actually teared up a bit for her.
First, thank you DC and clever training.
The best is knoa…for sure the girls ;-)
The first time I first came across Kona on tv was the one which Thomas Magnum competed in.
link to imdb.com
I was a teenager and it would come on TV on the weekend. I had no idea what it was but it was fun to watch and the term “ironman” stuck with me until years later I started training in triathlons.
I guess it was Screen Sports satellite channel or Gillette World Sports Special on Finnish National TV2 on a Sunday morning long time ago in 80s. They showed compilation and I was hooked to the sport. Might have actually been also some sports news clip about Tom Soderdahl. Memories fade to a blur…
I did the SA IRONMAN in 2001 and 2005, and they were showing hi-lights as spots were up for grabs… I like to believe I had a chance in qualifying but I didn’t train to do well I only trained to finish!
10 years ago, Normann Stadlers firs win
First memory is coming across highlights on TV one Christmas when looking for something to watch. No idea what it was at the time…
Thank you for this and such a great website!
First time watching it as a kid during the 80s, thought it was some kind of made-up show with superheroes. Still think participants are supermen/women.
I remember seeing highlights of Kona on some Wide World Of Sports-like program years ago. It wasn’t about just one year at Kona. They had some old stuff (the battle in the heat) and some more current. Al Trautwig was going on and on about how hot the lava is on the way up to Hawi and on the way back to the Energy Lab.
Not much has changed in the annual broadcast it seems.
The atmosphere! It gives me chills every time I see a live broadcast or summary of the event…especially the tension before the start!
Kona, is what made me think – why not me ? And start liking sport…
The finish of Julie Moss on youtube, inspiring me to do an Ironman myself.
Watching Peter Reid take out the title from Dads lap in 2000
It was some years ago then my friend competed in there.
I was very exited, followed the numbers and since then.. i am totally hooked!
I was visiting a friend, and it was on their tv. I thought they were teasing me when they said how far people swam, walked & ran! I didn’t know people could survive that much racing all at once!
Been there, done that! not…
seeing how Marino Vanhoenacker in 2012 was in first place at the start of the marathon (8 minute), and subsequently see how hard the temperature, lack of drinks can be. making him lose time quite rapidly..
I hope this isn’t a duplicate, since I had trouble with my connection. How’s that?
2010 Macca vs Raelert
My best memory is battle between Chris McCormack And Andreas Raelert in Kona 2010 ! Amazing!
That must have been the year that Luc van lierde won. I remember thinking that people who participate in iron man competitions are probably a bit crazy. Now I know for sure that they are.
“Oh man – this is torture”
Definitely Julie Moss video of 1982
I was watching the start to the swim and the water: wonderful!!
Seeing a friend from school that I hadn’t seen in years competing, didn’t even know he was a triathlete
Paula-Newby Fraser – legend
Natascha Badman’s bike out of the future
All I can say is that I’m Kona watch it again!
NBC coverage of CW torching the women’s field.
My best memories of watching Kona were from last year, ahen I had a perfect race!
Thinking “why would you want to do a bike ride AND a marathon, isn’t a marathon enough?!” I still think this way!
Any footage I can find is inspirational to me.
The inspirational perseverance of Macca…
Watching highlights on the internet, looks a great location to race
I probably bought a Triathlete magazine or two after the Triathlon World Cup visited Helsinki when I was there. That magazine certainly mentioned Kona.
As a kid watching the Coverage of Greg Welch winning Kona. That inspired me to take up triathlon.
Faris’ speedos
Every time I follow Eneko live, he has a bad year at Kona. Instead, when I go to bed, he makes the best of what he can do… 2014 will be for him, as I do not plan to follow it at all. Enjoy!
A few years back a ford sponsored segment on Kona. Didn’t even know what triathlon was at that time.
I believe I was ten years old when I saw my first Kona Ironman.
Watching it on tv as a kid!
Watching Mark Allen and Dave Scott on multiple occasions with excitement. This year my vote goes to Frederik Van Lierde!
We gathered with a bunch of guys from the a Dutch Triathlon Forum. The day started with skating on a 5K track, afterwards a run. In the meantime, some were busy putting up the big screens to watch Kona. While watching, we had a massive carbo-loading buffet. We were closely following the Dutch triathletes with the athlete tracker. Amazing to follow Kona with many fellow triathletes.
My best memory of watching Kona was when I first started racing and thinking these are gods among men
The suspense of whether an injured Chrissie W. would make up a 15+ minute deficit.
Remember Chrissie starting in Kona and winning just a couple of years after winning ITU age groups in Lausanne in 2006
Seeing Ben the fish Sanson getting out of the water, years ago.
I remember watching Dave Scott and Mark Allan win when I was young. I remember being amazed at how dominant they were and wondered if I could ever do something like an ironman.
My best memory of Kona was actually being in Kona and finally finding the sign denoting the start/end point. That took way too long to find, and turns out I was next to it the whole time!
I remember seeing coverage of the race around 10 years ago for the first time, and I thought that “those people” were crazy! You’re gonna swim bike and run how far? Being a triathlete now, I still think Ironman triathletes are a little bit crazy.
Normann stadler winning
The only time I’ve seen Kona (on the web) my lasting memory was the fun everyone seemed to be having in the build up to the race.
I remember being awestruck by these seemingly superhuman people putting their bodies through all of this
I remember the bikes at kona….650c wheels and gigantic frames and aero bars. Those 650c wheels.
2011 when craig Alexander won the half and full iron man championship and Kona for the third time. I used to swim in the same swimming club with this little kid who turns out an absolute legend!!!
I always look at the start of the competition with high pulse , when the they soot with cannon I imagine to be there
There is a lot of motivation for me as I enter in endurance sports, running and cycling till now but I will get to the swim eventually
Last year time of Van Lierde is seems almost inhuman, and also he had time to wave his country flag , amazing!
I still remember the sequence when Normann Stadler struggled in 2005 with “another flat tire”. Don’t get me wrong – I respect Normann as a sportsman, but the way he pronounced it is the funny thing: “Änassa fledd Teia! Fakkin!!!”
see: link to youtube.com
I hadn’t seen it until Mirinda Carfrae last year. I was totally shocked at how she could run! I really want to be that fast
I remember hawaian ironman fever during championship.
Two years ago. I did not know anything about triathlon or the athletes involved, but it was fascinating. Now I am hooked, and can’t wait to get started on next race season.
I remember the first time I watched in 2011, I was mesmerized by the bikes the athletes were riding.
First time on TV was the ’82 Julie Moss finish. First time live was this time last year!
I watched/tracked my friend race age group in 2010. Great fun when someone close to you is in it :)
I was injured and couldn’t run the Munich marathon so decided to watch the Kona livestream instead.
Was totally hooked!
Each persoon that starts is a true HERO !!!
if I look af myselve, I cannot start to imagine what kind of dedication it takes to train for it!
Kona, first on Youtube videos after interest in local triathlete Joe Gambles
A photo of Mark Allen with the face thiner than any other athlet I have ever seen. More recently a photo of Ivan Raña with eh the same face. Kona style face ;-)
Good luck for all athlets there this weekend
Paco
Last year, via the PC
I remember the news coverage as a kid in the 90s when Luc Van Lierde won in Hawaii. I found it weird that people were riding on funky bikes in swimwear :-)
Watched the whole thing last year online, recovering from a bike accident.
Recall seeing ‘the Iron War’ on Trans World Sport probably in 1990. It was inspiration for me to take up triathlon the following year. Still get goose bumps watching them race head to head all these years later.
Chris McCormack in 2002!
Anything and everything Crowie’s done in the lead up to and during every Kona he’s been a part of. Though triathlons are not a core sport for me, I have immense respect for him and look to him for inspiration often.
Online last year… Couldn’t believe how many people have that dedication!
First memory is zapping through the channels.
That sports channel caught seeing that person still running after so many hours of sports.
The story of Dick and Rick Hoyt really inspired me to train harder. You can accomplish anything no matter your limitations. After seeing that I did my first Ironman SA.
I have never watched it :-D
But i think i will this year :)
Greg Welch win in 1994!
1989 Dave Scott and Mark Allen on youtube. Amazing!
Watching Miranda beat the record.
Being in only my second year of Triathlon I’ve only seen youtube highlights of Kona as not had the chance to see much of the race, but my favourite moment comes not from seeing something live or a highlight, but reading Chrissie Wellingtons book. She was talking about the levels of heat, humidity and wind at Kona and then the times several atheletes set on the bike leg of the Triathlon. I did a quick mental sum to calculate their average speed, then got my calculator out as I kept getting an silly average speed for those conditions. The calculator gave me the same silly number…. These people are just unreal and so impressive/inspirational!
Great thing to participate and to reach the finish line!
Chrissie’s victory still being injured
Haven’t seen one yet. Just got into triathlons. Will be watching this year.
What is Kona? ;)
I first saw the Kona coverage on TV in 2003. I was inspired by ordinary people doing something extraordinary. I started doing triathlons that spring 2004, and did my first two Ironmans in 2005 and 2006. Just signed up for Chattanooga 2015, after a 9 year break, so I could really use a watch to help me train!
In 2010 as far as a I can remember. Just getting into it.
I remember the first time I watched in 1990?
I never had the chance to watch Kona at all, but I will search for a broadcast to Germany this time.
Watched it IRL during my vacation, and decided that one day I would be a participant
Circa 1986/87 – getting up early with my older brother in Australia and watching Dave Scott and Mark Allen go at it. Pure racing.
Watching follow Belgian Frederik win last year:
Knowing that someone from a small country can win one of the biggest races, was an inspiring moment.
I hope he gets to repeat it :-)
Last year Sebastian Kienle on the bike!
First watched Kona In the mid 80’s ….Scott Tinley was the man to aspire to. Every tri-athlete in South Africa (I have moved to Australia since then) had some form of Scott Tinley clothing or merchandise. Everybody used Dave Scott’s triathlon training book….and burnt out as a result ;-)
Chris McCormack is the firts ‘thing’ it comes to my mind when talking about Kona due to I saw one TV program about him in Kona 2 years ago.
Watched Kona and started running
Was just at my girlfriends cousins wedding. He qualified for Kona last year and proposed on the beach afterwards. He did say his legs was a bit sore when he had to get down on one knee.
About 6-7 I saw a news special on Kona’s special athletes. It was remarkable and inspiring to see 70 year olds and people missing limbs working so hard to cross that finish line. I knew it was a support I wanted to be part of :)
First I saw was a “promotion” video of Kona. I was deciding what to do with sports the next year, looking for a new challenge. I remember thinking: Im not stupid enough to go full distance, but I sure wanna tri shorter. So now I do ;)