Heads up! The Garmin Enduro 3 is down to $829, some $70 off. That’s the lowest price to date on this new device. The Enduro 3 is notable though because it’s basically a Fenix 8 Solar minus the dive/voice features (and the Fenix 8 Solar/MIP starts at $1,099). Everything else is there, and it gets all Fenix 8 software features (and, insane battery life). Meanwhile, the Fenix 7 down to $429! Or Epix at $429. There’s a bunch more sports tech deals listed here too!
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 2024 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.
Everesting my local hill.
…or attempting to at any rate!
3 mile run home after dropping my car off to have snow tires put on. Hope the weather’s good!
i plan to run the Sao Sylvester in São Paulo Brasil about 16 km run in hot weather will be fun
3k swim workout Monday, assuming this cold clears.
Speedo Santa cause winter is no excuse for tan lines.
Eight mile trail run with friends and family on the Stoney Creek Trail. Followed by ice bath in Stoney Creek..burrr
Cheers
10 mile hilly run tomorrow morning, and possibly a bike ride in the afternoon
Thanks for all the work you do. I just had a terrible first open water swim and decided the swim it would be a good mental safety net. A slightly early Merry Christmas.
A trail run at Slanske Vrchy in Slovakia – which is 40+km trail run with approx. 1500m uphill – this is the 2nd annual Christmas trail run of our Ironman training group Nereus East Slovakia.
Participating in a local running streak… no days off from Dec 1 thru New Years.
Crossfit + running as cross-training
A long training run preparing for the Hilo to Volcano 50K.
Heading out to Vancouver Island for Christmas and hoping to finally complete a Nanoose Bay to Comox and back ride. Its just over 190km round trip and i tried a few months ago in October but bailed after 160km and knackered legs due to a brutal wind. 2.5 months later of some trainerroad and i’m hoping to slay that beast.
In what has become an annual tradition, starting the base miles for next season with the Rapha 500 challenge: 500km on the bike (outside) between Xmas eve and New Year’s Eve.
Daily swim bike run in an effort to get fit enough to do a 70.3 next year. Holiday challenge is for my knees to stay with the run program for 1h at least
Festive500 is coming up. Always a good time :)
12 mile training run on the trails in preparation for a february 25k muddy run!
I’m going to my first tri @ Anthem Sprint Triathlon
I like to do a brisk 10k run on Christmas Eve once the kids are in bed. I pretend it’s to make room for Christmas dinner the following day, but in reality it’s to help me get to sleep because I’m still a big kid at heart and can’t sleep.
Will have a 10k run on 28th of december in Frankfurt, Germany!
I’ll be running the Winter Runderland 5k Donut Challenge tomorrow, a race put on by my work, Manhattan Running Co., here in Manhattan, KS
Currently training for my first half marathon. Two months ago I started running having never previously gone for a run of more than 7K. A couple of weeks ago, I did my longest run ever at 14K. Before the end of the year, I’m hoping to get up to 18K on one of my workouts. That’s easier said than done, as the roads here are already ice covered with temperatures well below the freezing mark.
6 miler this weekend, trying to get back into peak-summer shape!
10 km run at Hyde Park with my wife during a vacation in London.
Resting until Jan 1st! Long summer/fall!
Royal Parks Winter 10K Series – Regents Park 14th December. Part of the slow build up to my first marathon in Amsterdam in October next year!!
Ride the icy single track here in Minnesota to improve my bike handling skills
Various plans, but definitely going out for a hike or run in the morning of 24th as I do every year.
Tomorrows workout, Endurance ride – 10 min spin warm up then 3×15 at 90% of FTP with 3 mins spin between – spin to finish time – stretch well post run
5k race in Central Park.
Yoga extravaganza!
Just read we are supposed to put a future one.. Too bad I can’t edit…
I’m planning on running another 5k a few days after christmas – just around my neihborhood. I’ll (hopefully) be trying out my new watch I got from christmas.
Next Saturday: a pretty short long run of 6 miles with friends. Thanks for having this awesome drawing!
Jingle All the Way 5k – tomorrow morning in downtown DC in the freezing cold. Brrr!
Capital cross at lake fairfax va tomorrow
Taking full advantage of the lovely long summer days I will be riding to work with a big detour through the Adelaide Hills!
I have a 10 mile run scheduled for tomorrow morning.
Thank you for such a great giveaway!
Just ran my first marathon (Philly marathon) and after a two week rest I start back with my group for a short 5 miler on Monday and then some light track work on Tuesday! Can’t wait!
As part of my half marathon training plan, this month is chock full of interval, easy pace, and long distance runs.
I still row (I wish you did too, Ray!), so I’ll tell you my post-holiday workout.
Get on an erg at your local gym or cross fit. Strap on your HR Monitor and pair with the erg. Enter in the following intervals: 12′ on, 1′ off, 11′ on, 1′ off, 10′ on, 1′ off (all the way down to 1′ on, 1′ off). Rubber band your mobile phone to the erg monitor or pull a big TV in front of you and start rowing!
It ends up being 78′ of good erging that’s pretty stress free. I like to do it at 140-150 HR but keep the strokes per minute under 18, ideally at 16.
Good luck to everyone and happy holidays!
60k mountain climbing session on the bike! (It’s summer where I am, so the oppressive heat should make for a nice companion travelling at <10km/h up hills!)
Scheduled and already training for IM Hawaii 2015, on October, in Kona. Just waiting the lottery to confirm my name and DC to pick my name in order to get some more training tools… :-)
(6) One mile repeats, jogging one lap in between each one.
No official races scheduled, but weekend 8-10 mile Sunday run scheduled tomorrow. Plus adding 1/2 hour 3x a week on the rowing machine between runs on the weekdays for a differentvworkout to mix it up.
Wednesday night 10k
I’ll be running 3-4 miles a few times a week trying to get back after a hip injury last spring. I’m just glad to be running again.
Houston Half Marathon, not in December, but in mid Jan 2014
With 3 little kids and always changing New England weather, it’s hard to do too much planning for training runs (especially with no races on the horizon pushing me). So, the most I have planned right now is to take advantage of those rare December days when it gets in the 40s and just go run as far as my legs will take me. If that day never comes, you’ll find me grinding it out on the treadmill.
A continuation of 100 days of running with my kids.
Having packed all of our belongings into a tiny storage box we decided to congratulate ourselves by running up mt Victoria in the wind and rain. Left the VFFs behind so here goes the clodhoppers!
60km CX Sportive 5 March – Top 5 Last time, this time aiming top 3
No official races between now and end of year. I plan to do a lot of treadmill running instead.
First day of winter (Dec 21st) – I’ll be doing a 60-minute run/walk (probably 4-min run/1-min walk intervals), followed by 30 minutes of yoga. Still recovering from a recent 50K.
Maybe a few 3.1 mile runs in Japan
1st trainer ride ever when I get one as a Christmas gift
2 aday workout with 6 miles at race pace in the morning in Cleveland and 6 miles at race pace that same evening in San Francisco. Both likely on treadmills at Marriott hotels.
10 mile run on Sunday the 8th. Supposed to be a balmy 7 above here in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Treadmill running – goal is to get blood sugar low enough that I can avoid medication!!! Thanks for the contest !
I’ll be starting my marathon training for the spring in a week or so.
A good LSD run in an attempt to build up the base I’ve lost since the last IM.
5k trail run after recovering from a 1/2 marathon.
Still in post ironman laziness. Workouts start Jan 1st
Long December of trainer work preparing for Ironman 70.3 Texas
Half Marathon Trail race right before Christmas. Should be lovely!
Riding with new $100 Garmin Virb on Skyline Drive in VA
This response has the right email address
Just completed a marathon. Lazing around till Christmas. Then the work begins …
I have 3-hour Saturday swim workouts scheduled with my triclubs every Saturday through the rest of this year. Hope to transform from a brick to a fish.
A 4 miler around the Charles river
Sunday morning 13 mile training run. The usual
Lunchtime therapy… a 7 mile run around the lake to break up the day and provide a chance to think about the days events away from the office.
Night ride to the beach to watch one last 2014 sunrise in sydney!
Goofy challenge. Back to back races, half and full marathon at Disney World.
50km ride through the North Yorkshire Moors.
Building my speed with 800 repeats and 200, 400, 800 1600 ladders.
Swim Training: 300m warm-up, 200m Drills, 4x200m Fartlek Intervals, 200m Speed Intervals, 200m Kick-sets, 300m cool-down.
A 10 mile run in the forest, ~2000 ft elevation gain/loss
Running the 15km Phoenix Hot Chocalate race.
Running the 15K Hot Chocolate Phoenix tomorrow
Phoenix Hot Chocolate 15K :)
10 Km run in São Paulo
I run-commute to work 4 miles each way. On top of that I’ll be attempting my first 50+ mile bike ride the weekend after Christmas to officially start my training for a 500+ mile tour from CO to UT in the summer…sure would be nice to have an Edge 810 for that one!
2 hour run Sunday morning.
I just delivered my second baby…at home..with just my husband…and nobody else…3 weeks ago! I’ll be back on my bike the weekend after Christmas to support my husband…but not for all 50 miles!
As usual. Hilly 120km ride each friday (~2200m ascent)
4 mi tempo run with 2 mi @ 6:58
One workout: going to run with the local run club and check out the downtown Christmas lights here in Omaha. Purely social, but will be fun!
Hoping to get back in shape for some sort if triathlon next year. It’s difficult since we are also trying to move, but probably trying to do 1.5 spin, or 2000 meters in the pool and 49 minutes of treadmill or stationary bike.
Plan on riding 40 miles on Monday.
indoor cycling ftp test and a 5k interval run.
Yanick
Keeping a 100+ cadence with nonstop pedaling for two hours straight.
10 mile marathon pace run on 12/23!
Took a break after the last race through Thanksgiving and a recent trip to Oslo. Ready to start with some run training around the neighborhood to keep an eye on the holiday decorations. Nothing too serious – I leave the structured training for after 01 Jan…
A bright and early Monday morning masters swim workout.
Running
15min zone 1-2
4x200m progressif repos 1min
5min facile
4x2min zone 5 repos 2min jog
1km à 4min/km
15min zone 1-2
Next tuesday.
15 mile ride tomorrow to round off the 85 I did today, and make up for an otherwise slack week where I did nothing else.
I ran a fun 5k today. Hopefully that counts. :)
5 miles easy tomorrow morning. Boston training begins.
Training runs for my first 15K in January. Happy holidays!
Cross race tomorrow. (If I don’t have to go to the office)
gradually building base mileage, then my training plan for the Eugene Marathon starts on 22 Dec.
Just started back running 6 months ago. Will be doing my longest run of 4 miles on Sunday