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.
2010 – watching Rasmus Henning – that hurt!
Dave Scott and Mark Allen rivalry
My first experience with Kona was 3 years ago, and know allways looking forward.
I vaguely remember seeing Julie Moss crawling on Wide World of Sports.
Like so many others…Julie Moss.
Loved seeing the enthusiasm at the finish line for even the late finishers!
Watching Craig Alexander drop a 2:45 run in 2008. Completely in awe of his focus, determination, and endurance!
My 1st Kona in 1995. 1st year of the now more common place legendary winds. I saw a man blown off in front of me coming down from Hawi. Winds were so strong difficult to get hydration in and BTA etc bottles not common. I ended up Dnf on bike mile 72 and taken in on an iv. Passed by Mark Allen dualing it out with Thomas H. Then while in med tent at end Mark Allen coming in after his win next to me getting an iv.
Kona and early NBC broadcasts are the reason I started triathlons.
1980’s news report
Julie Moss crawling.. that was crazy
Grew up lifeguarding at the pool where Dave Scott swam masters. When he was competing, the team would get together and watch him.
Only seen some snippets on youtube when I figuring out if I want to jump in and try a triathlon.
I remember watching Ironman Hawaii (the only one then) on TV as a 14-year-old in the early 80’s thinking “I will do that someday.” Finished 6 times so far…
I first watched a while back when there wasn’t any cycling on tv. Definitely got me interested in starting triathlons!
My first memory of Hawaii Ironman is from 1992 watching Pauli Kiuru from Finland finnish 3rd. I was 9 years old but I still memember watching the bike leg and asking “What is this sport?”. We do winter sports here in Finland (hockey and skiing) but triathlon is now the ‘new black’. It is amazing that we had this type of athlete back in the days. He raced a time of 8.04 in 1991!
When I was young in a marvellous TV series: Magnum P.I.
Don’t know when or who it was, but I just remember being shocked at the lengths that people would go to to prove themselves. And now I want to do one too!
For me it was also Julie Moss crawling
A couple of years ago on the TV. I just remember thinking how awesomely fit the folks taking part are; really inspiring.
My first memory of Kona was when I was probably 12 or 13, watching thinking they were nutters. 25 years later I completed my first Ironman this year!!!
Watching Chrissie’s last and fourth win in 2011 but also find it amazing I can now watch whole event live on my tablet on Ironman website away over here in Scotland.
It very easy for me, first time I sew it I knew I need to do it!
I remember seeing the year that Julie Moss collapsed as she neared the finish line. I thought “that is crazy” and “what an inspiration” at the same time.
Julie Moss’ will power and courage to finish in 1982!
Unbelievable stuff by Julie Moss.
I watched it stream on the internet one night and considered with awe the effort of those athletes and thousands of others who work as hard but don’t qualify, and realized we’re all successful!
Tracking and watching my friend/age grouper wishing I was racing.
Watched the guys in Kona 2009 the first time. So impressive how they actually fly through each disciplines. Looks not too fast, but when you see the numbers it’s just insane!
I remember watching the beautiful images of the start of the swim and the cycling (especially the great gear) each year. Sitting on the couch with a heart rate of 120 myself, wanting to watch the whole race but also highly motivated and wanting to train at that moment!
9 years old watching because we didn’t have cable like the cool kids.
Want to be there
Only last year was my first time and I’ve already started training to have a try myself one day!
Last year, just watching the effort and emotion of the age groupers finishing makes you want to be there. Maybe one day
my first memory will be this blog post since i don’t know it :)
not watch coverage live, only read about the races. Hoping one day to take part.
I will always remember the race back in 2012, when my favorite athlete just collapsed right after going over the finish line. Andreas just scared me so much back then… a true champion in my eyes!
Maybe a little bit too much sometimes, but that’s Iron Man at pro level I guess, getting as much out of your body as possible.
Yes, please.. Getting ready for marathon the 12th
Watching an Internet stream which was quite bad. It was more an audio stream since I was lacking bandwidth at that time.
Hmm… First Kona memory would likely be coverage in the late 80’s. Without cheating/googling, I think it was Welch/Allen and Paula Newby-Fraser, but I could very well be mistaken there! Thx Ray!
Watching Pete Jacobs win!! The years before that I had followed the race by reading comments on a forum…
2010 – Raelert vs Macca. True champions at it’s best. So exciting, unbelievable performance!
Kona 2012, when my favorite athlete Andreas Realert just collapsed right after going over the finish line. Andreas just scared me so much back then… but a true champion in my eyes!
Seeing Bas Diederen’s personal loss was unfortunately my first experience last years Kona, 2013. But his determination and dedication made me feel sad but strong.
I just remember Cycleops running a contest on predicting the podium, and that was when I sat down and watched the NBC 1 hr special from the previous year.
Iron War 1989 thanks to YouTube
Chrissie Wellington getting a flat in 2008 and her amazing bike speed afterwards.
Watching Mirinda Carfrae bust ass through that marathon leg, way faster than I could ever run a marathon on it’s own!
Best Kona memory: watching it with my daughter 2 years ago because she finally saw how cool the sport of triathlon really is.
The first year I watched was 2011. Knowing nothing about tris, I had just decided to join DC Tri’s new triathlete program the following January and after watching those guys figured that a sprint would be a piece of cake.
Watching this year’s live stream now; very inspirational! I’m currently training for my first Ironman 70.3 in Haugesund, Norway.
Remember watch the abc wide world of sports recap when I was a kid. Hopefully make it there in the next few years!
A clip on TV a few years back. Was very impressed.
Kienle cycling away last year
Watching Kona this year is/will be my first experience with the event. Hoping for a top finish for Jan Frodeno! Thanks for the giveaway!
Julie Moss finish!
Seeing a video of a friend starting it’s third Kauna posted by his wife on a blog.
Julie Moss, is the most dramatic running/walking I have ever seen.
VanLierde winning in 2013
The dinner I had with friends following the Kona ironman
The Iron War was definitely my first memory!
Norman on winning the title for 2nd time
Last year. I caught the tri bug and now I wouldn’t miss it.
Stadler racing his bike record
I don’t remember where exactly I saw it, but I remember seeing video of the underpants run and thinking, “This is very silly. I want to do this.”
The first time I heard about Kona was 2008. Eneko Llanos finished second that year. What a superb performance
YouTube clips. Most impressed by those finishing just before the midnight cutoff. The effort on their faces to do it and then the satisfaction after the finish line – respect!
When training for my full distance IM in 2012
Unfortunatelly I’m not really interested much in professional triathlon competitions, more so that they’re not covered in Polish media. But I’ve Googled for “Kona” and it turns out that I’ve already seen that crawling finish by Julie Moss. It was a couple of years ago, when I was checking “What is this ‘triathlon’?” and after seeing it, I was wondering why on earth people do that :-D
First time watching, i Remeber 2009 winner Craig Alexander overtaking Chris Lieto at 21mile of the marathon.
When lance won it for the 7th time in a row.
Watching with my husband all that effort an performance of these super athlets.
My first iron man finnish i ever saw was Luc Van Lierde from Belgium win in 1996.
And i was verry proud to be a Belgian :D
I’m new to the sport, but I remember seeing Mirinda Carfae making up an enormous amount of time in the running stage to end up winning the Ironman. Fantastic.
First memory: watched youtube. Mirinda Carfrae’s win in 2010. Found the video accidentally while I was researching this thing called “triathlon”. Now I’m hooked.
I’m proud of those Hungarians can see there…
Mark Herremans crossing the finish line of Kona again as a handbiker.
Seeing Craig in 2009 taking the win late in the run. Magic.
“Rinnie”s amazing run last year to secure the win!
Oh boy. My dearest memory is watching the sports newscast special on Ironman World Champs when my compatriot Pauli Kiuru managed to snatch the second place there, in an era dominated by Mark Allen and Paul Scott. I guess the year was ’93 or so?
I remember how no-one seemed to understand how ******* tough an accomplishment that was, but for me, it really left an impression that has lasted.
I really enjoyed watching cycling in the Iron Man Hawaii, because I think the gear they use looks awesome.
Watching tv, fascinated by age groupers running at night carrying glow sticks. People stopping, then going, doing anything to finish. Not aa few … hundreds.
Best memory is sitting in my hotel while skiing in Quebec watching an old recorded version of the 2005? 2004? race where Normann Stadler gets 2 flats in a row and completely melts down on the side of the road shouting ‘Flaaat tiiiiiiyyyre’ at the sky. I had just started training for my first tri and this was the first time I was seeing the Kona race, and his meltdown was hilarious. I think I laughed for about 10 minutes non-stop. Having done many more triathlons since and been gifted a few random flat tires along the way, I’ve got a bit more sympathy for the plight of someone who loses his lead because of a flat…but it still makes me chuckle a bit.
My first memory is from a few years ago, before I was ever interested in tris, flipping through tv and seeing a special on the race and on various military members and other people preparing for race day, competing and ultimately crossing the line in the most happy pain in their life
watching Julie Moss crawl, like so many others. Although i’d have to say it didn’t really mean as much to me the first time i saw it as it does now – now that i’ve had a chance to participate in some endurance sports myself :)
Only ever watched on TV and I can’t really remember the first time. I do remember saying “I wanna do that” and now I’m getting a little closer all the time.
Finish line crawl! I was about 10…
Watching the Crowie/Macca rivalry.
First time, way back in the 80’s – it’s still as impressive now as it was then!
Frederik Van Lierde 8:12:29 win in 2013. Following in family footsteps
2008 – Chrissie Wellington – wins after that nasty flat tire
I watched on TV the beautiful Fernanda Keller finishes in third place in 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000
Must be the MTB…. Back in the 90’s
Last year first as I didn’t know before there’s a way to see it live via internet.
First time this year!
Watching age groupers stumble across the finish line just under the 17 hour time limit. Such determination!
Watching the streaming feed in the background while ‘studying’ seeing macca take it
watching it for the first time tonight :)
I’ve just gotten back into running after a knee injury. This watch would be awesome to track my progression back.
Team Hoyt is my first & strongest memory of what it means to be an Ironman triathlete.