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:
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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.
As an Australian it was when Michellie Jones won that Kona first came onto my radar. Coincidently she was this week inducted into the Australian sport hall of fame. A real trailblazer for women’s triathlon here.
my interest with triathlon started last year. i’ve been into running for 4 years and have joined numerous runs. i just saw 2013 Kona where Frederik Van Lierde of Belgium and Mirinda Carfrae of Australia won. The feeling of reaching that finish line is just so rewarding.
2011. Chrissie Wellington. ‘Nuf Said.
I was pregnant with my daughter when I watched a documentary on Team Hoyt. Highlighting what they did at the 1989 Kona Ironman had me in tears (pretty much everything had me in tears then) and I couldn’t stop thinking, “I will NEVER be able to do that, I can barely run a 5K!” Fast forward 3 years and I’ve run a marathon and a handful of half marathons. I’m pregnant again now, but this time as I sat on my couch sobbing over the coverage of Kona 2013 I vowed to start training for a Tri and eventually finish an Ironman!
Watching (circa 2010) and watching people roll over the finish line. Then looking up and reading about Jon Blais & his battle with Lou Gehrigs disease.
mY firs time was 1989 the ironwar race
I remember seeing Mirinda Carfrea dominate the run and win her first Ironman…What a moment!!!
Watched the heart breaking moment where a guy was literally 30 feet from the finish line at the time cutoff and the starter called the time with the guy literally right there. it just killed me to watch it. the guy finished, and that was just the most amazing moment to see the joy on his face despite not actually getting a finishing time.
Natasha Badamman’s comeback in 2005.
My first memory of Kona was watching Mike Pigg run the race way back in the late 80’s. He was the one name in Triathlon that I remembered vs. Mark Allen or Dave Scott.
Still remember watching it on Wide World of Sports back in the late 80s. Epic!
The crawl to the finish line for 4th place! :)
First ironman I heard of. I was blown away to see the finishers push to the very brink of complete exhaustion…plus the Kona coffee I’ve had is awesome.
2012…Harriet Anderson 78YO finishing in 16 hours 59 minutes and 19 seconds. What an inspiration. Her finish encouraged me to complete my first IM Canada in 2013.
A couple years ago I set out on a weightloss journey. August 28, 2012 to be exact. That October I was watching the World Championships and decided I’d try to get involved in the triathlons as way to motivate myself to keep working out. The stories were inspiring. For me less about the elite athletes but more about the regular Joe put in the effort to earn their way there. Now 5 tri’s later I’m working on a plan for my first HIM next summer.
The iron wars in the 80s.
I watch IM Kona every year, there in no finish that has been more impressive than the 2005 watching Jon Blazeman roll across the finish line. In 2006 watching the race and seeing Jon in a wheel chair made me change my outlook on life. Here one day and gone the next, make the most of every moment that you have.
Watching the 2012 Kona where the broadcast had a story about Brady Murray and Rod’s Racing. Great foundation.
92 y.o . Trying to finish the before the cut off time. Very inspiring, mafe me motivate to do it , someday.
Greg welch winning in 94
watched it on TV in 2010 and was inspired for the rest of my life !
Team Hoyt… Inspired
not sure when I 1st watched… I suspect in the ’80’s on wide world of sports…
I will be setting my DVR!
Aussie coverage on Wide World of Sports in early years split the coverage in segments – sometimes even across weeks. First vivid memory…Julie Moss – that vision made the event stand out like no other!
Watching Macca kill it!
Watching Natascha Badmann’s positive attitude and her trade mark smile on tv and even through misfortune in her later years. In person, seeing Pete Jacobs and Leanda Cave win in 2012 and waiting anxiously for Harriet Anderson to finish before midnight. So inspiring.
Enjoyed watching Pete Jacobs run down the competition a few years back to win his first Ironman World Championship.
My first would be watching the 2011 Kona/Ford Ironman WC video in high def on YouTube when I was just starting to train for my first triathlon. So beautiful and so impressive, all of it- just riveting.
Dave Scott laying waste to the field and me thinking I could never ever do anything like that. This year I finished my 6th ironman.
Love the swim start!
My first memory was about 4 years ago catching the NBC broadcast. Ever since I have been glued to the NBC broadcast every year and record it on my DVR so I have something to motivate me through the winter while on the trainer. Last year I watched the entire race online for the first time. Man was that a long day sitting on the couch :-) But it was inspiring to watch.
I first watched Kona on tv a few years back as my wife was just getting into triathlons (and at the time I thought she was crazy!). Now we’re both hooked!
I see Kona for first time in youtube 3 year ago. I love it. meabe one day can see it on live…
Watching 2103 broadcast and the amazing stories.
2009 Kona – Crowie runs down Lieto and Chrissie Wellington breaks Paula Newbu Fraser’s 17yr old women’s course record
Remember seeing the distances they cover and thinking they are truly mad….. Now I have completed a HIM and I know they are mad! Keep up the good work Ray!
In 1998…Mountain biking was it its peak in Canada and for me. Then Peter Reid came along won Kona and inspired the triathlon community and I gained a true appreciation for just how special an event the ironman is.
I had watched the race on TV before, but after reading IRon War, I had a new appreciation for each part of the race.
I watch the Iron War race and it was amazing to the end!
It inspired me to be come a triathlete and do an Ironman
Watching Wide World of Sports as a city kid in the 80’s. It was amazing as a child and even more awesome as an adult!
Watched the 2013 Championship on NBC Sports and I’ve been inspired after watching folks much older than me complete an IM.
I dunno.. probably WWoS!
2003 – Finally Peter Reid and Lori Bowden finish first in their respective races. Both Canadian like me. From 1998 on, one would win and the other would finish second or pretty close but in 2003 the stars aligned.
After doing my first sprint tri at 52 2 years ago, I decided those people are crazy while watching Kona. I’m doing IMAZ november 16th and hoping to do Kona before I quit Tris. I must be crazy now too.
2010 race finish with Chris McCormack and Andreas Raelert going head to head. Absolutely incredible to think of such a long race coming down to the last mile. I can’t imagine how incredibly mentally and physically tough it must have been to be competing head to head at that point in the race.
My favorite memories of watching are not of the elite pros but rather watching the people who go to hell and back to complete the distance.
Seeing you tube highlights of Julie moss crawling followed by the ironwar
crazy hot daydreaming days in the lava fields…
Miranda Carefree winning
On Youtube couple years ago after I started running
My most important memory was last year’s broadcast (2013) when they showed the Sandy Hook dad who was racing in honor of his daughter. My husband and I were getting ready for a date night during the commercials and so there I was with mascara running down my face, so incredibly heartbroken for and inspired by this dad. I was also signed up for my first 70.3 (Kansas) and already slightly overwhelmed by the training that hadn’t even begun yet. The age groupers all inspire me so much. I love following the elite athletes too. But seeing the age groupers perform well and overcome their personal challenges helps me to believe that I can do amazing things too.
Watching Craig Alexander win the title in 2011 was incredible!!
The mass swim starts will always be my favorite.
Last year watching and actually recognizing some faces of people I’ve met on the road was pretty awesome!!
Watched it on the Web cast a few years ago. Leader stood up on his bike for a bit heading into transition…
novice commentator: how nice … he is stretching
Experienced commentator: uh .. I don’t think that’s what he is doing …
;^)
2012 Ironman World Championship, Kona on Youtube
My inspiration of life
Watching the replays of Dave Scott & Mark Allen head to head for the entire race until the last 7 miles after reading “Iron War”
Watching all the Ironman Legacy athletes get to race Kona in 2013. To me, it’s almost more fun than watching the professionals, as these legacy athletes have tried for so long to make it to Kona. You could see their love for the sport as they raced their dream race.
It must have been some time when I was a kid in the early 90’s. I don’t even know at this point . . .
Kona is a dream for Triathlon. I am still far away from it but watching it inspire me a lot to train harder.
2010, watching with my brother-in-law and getting inspired to go down to IMAZ and sign up for 2011 together.
Last year’s with Mirinda winning !!!
Mirinda Carfrae winning Kona last year, she is an awesome athlete and all around good person.
Watching it by being in the race, in 2005.
YouTube was my first sighting.
watching Macca and Raelert as they nearly replicated the iron war. Wonderful racing on both of their behalfs!!
very early years – watching Dave a Scott on TV. Drop bars. Sorta remember they had to stop & be weighed.
Watched a good amount of last year, went for a run with one of my best friends, and then came back after to watch some more. Very chill day.
Julie moss of course
Soooo many entries already, but here goes. I remember watching the NBC broadcast of Ironman 2012 and feeling so inspired. The next season I did my first triathlon and I’ve been hooked since.
Headwinds during the bike
Two years ago, I sat in the living room floor with my twin almost-one-year-old daughters, who were absolutely enraptured by the bike leg of the race. They didn’t have many words in their vocabularies at the time, “bike” was one.
on tv when I was about 15
Many years ago seeing Julie Moss collapse and crawl to the finish line.
First year watching over the internet was watching Chris Lieto dominate late into the marathon before being overtaken by Crowie!
without any doubt, julie moss!
Watching how humble a race can turn people to, for example Ramsay.
Watching the bike part across the lava fields. And having the wind beat against them as they pedaled across.
Unbelievable strength and stamina from these athletes. I aspire to compete one day.
Fernanda Keller’s 3rd place in 2000! EPIC!
My first memories were when my husband & I watched a Kona marathon on TV one weekend a few years ago. I was most inspired by Jon Blais’ story.
Watching the two ladies crawl on their hands and knees to the finish. It was unbelievable to me.
Watched one of the early NBC broadcasts when I was in high school. Thought then that these people were crazy. Still do. I’ll be doing my 3rd full this year…
Rinny smokin the run last year.
For sure it was Mirinda Carfrae!!
Probably Julie Moss
Last year with Frederik Van Lierde, little Belgium at the top ! :-)
Last year! Watching Frederik Van Lierde dominate and cross the finish line minutes ahead.
2011 – Crowie setting what I believe was a course record on his way to his third and last win.
The sheer determination of the contestants to continue and finish the race
Norman yelling too much glue
Christie Wellington after the bike crash not long before Kona , road rash was not enough to stop her
Chrisse wining the first time
Following my buddy Scott competing a couple of years back.
The excitement of the swim start…and watching Rinny win!
Watching Dick Hoyt swimming and dragging a small boat behind him with his son on it was an inspiration – u can do it if u want to
Watching Crowie break the record in 2011. I was on my way to losing 100 lbs and completing my first Ironman 70.3 in Haines City.
Craig Alexander in 2011.
Watching Kona, I have learnt a lot as a Tri-athlete. I am working hard to get my self qualify for the race in the coming years.
willing Chrissie Wellington to make up the deficit and win her last Ironman