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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.
depends… beach vacation – complete laziness, wilderness vacation – lots of hiking
My wife and I mostly take our bikes with on holiday, its a great way to keep some training going and explore at the same time.
Other than that early morning runs and some swimming if its near to a beach.
Running to and from the closest ice cream shop :-)
Vacation time is to relax. I usually do lots of low impact long runs.
I am a biking nut on vacation, my folding bike collection travels well and faster than me.r.
I try to keep running, in fact it is a good way to explore new places and keep adding running maps to my list.
I normally pack a bit of running kit, though if I’m in a city I end up just walking all day instead!
Usually Mountainbiking and Mountaineering.
I’m going to do a lot of mountain and hill training, in my flat country (Netherlands) this is unfortunately not possible but in Austria or France it is wonderful.
Vacations = Cycle, MTB & explore by bike.
train when on holiday…don’t think so. I’m with the feet up brigade
I like to run long and explore. For trips where I’m staying in one place for more than a few days I like to take my bike too
Running
Running or hiking… or just relaxing and play beachvolley! :)
I just pack a couple of shorts and shirts, along with the running shoes. Then I go out and “explore” my surroundings, courtesy of the concierge’s recommendations. These runs are typically early in the morning before the rest of the family get up.
Nice to get new routs or especially trails to explore. 1 month left to my vacation….
Running as much as I can…. biking if it’s within driving distance and I can bring the bike though!
I usually go back home to my family in Norway where we enjoy training together in fantastic nature. Thus I tend to ease off a bit intensity-wise, but my mother has a mean finish, so I can never back off too much!
Vacation means pushing the limits not horizontally, but vertically in the mountains.
Our family love the outdoors and usually stay pretty active, but we do also refuel with lots of ice cream.
hiking and mountain biking
Usually running, in between eating ice cream
Sleep deprivation training
There are Saturday, Sunday mega rides organised by our cycling group.. So !! never miss those !! And rest of the days running and Swimming ! Thats my schedule !
Training continues, even on vacation! [usually run & swim — the bikes stays home]
I use the free time to up my training schedule and do more bricks
I just try to get a couple easy runs completed! I like seeing the sights in the morning while running!
I keep up my schedule but try to experience as much of the scenery as possible
a bit of running, and if some water around, openwater swimming.
On vacation I do whatever I feel like doing, no schedule
biking/running
bicep training! Drink to mouth, drink to mouth.
Some vacations are for racing, if not then I’ll do something most days…mainly running, sometime hiking.
I try to plan training and vacations around each other. Sometimes that’s no running at all because it’s a built-in rest week between training cycles; other times a race is the reason for the vacation, and training continues as needed.
the running gets done and sometimes the swimming but because of costs the bike usually gets left out. Thanks for doing the giveaway.
Vacation workouts are usually limited to running, since that takes the least amount of gear. Shoes, shorts, watch, hat and shirt…
For several years now we go to the same place in Turkey (all-in!)with our two kids and the in-laws. Even if the latter doesn’t sound like vacation to some (most?), it helps us a lot as my son at his age (5) is a hand full and my daughter (3) was born prematurely and suffers from Cerebral Palsy, so she can’t walk and has to be carried around or wheeled.
Anyway, this makes it difficult for me to train like I want to (I run, bike, work out, and yes, on holidays also swim).
So having my wife’s folks watch over our kids from time to time, does allow me to spend some time in the gym or the pool for an hour or so.
We built a new home last year (and proud to be home owner!), so unfortunately no holidays for us this year!
I run as normal, and hopefully as much as I can. I try to swim but that depends on the water where I am. My cycling typically suffers but I sandwich the week before and after with hard weeks of cycling training to make up for it
Training carries on as prescribed.
When in a hotel, I run indoors and swim (assuming the pool is of decent length). If it’s an “outdoor” vacation, I’ll bring my mountain bike and then ride some trails and run. Not really “Training” per se, but just keeping up on fitness.
trying to stay on schedule :)
running, all you need is a pair of running shoe
No matter where I go for vacation. I can always make time for a nice run or two.
I´ll pick any of the parts included in the triathlon.
If I´m lucky perhaps I can do 2 :)
Usually I’ll go on early morning light runs. No more than 3 miles. That’s is unless I am vacationing with like minded people and training becomes part of the vacation.
Running on the the first day is a “must”. This helps getting on the right mood. After that the entusiasm goes down – less training and more beer.
My vacations typically involve beaches and large amounts of luggage. The bulk of my training on vacation becomes running, with a little open-water swimming thrown in, depending on water temps.
Always try to put the trainers in the bag for some extra holiday runs (even when skiing ;-))
Running and swimming :)
And since i got an accident, im trying to get the courage to get back on my bicycle!
Try to run near the hotel most of the time and hike as high as I can :)
I just work whatever fits in the schedule. If we are going some place nice I try to get a run in. Otherwise it’s mostly biking in the fitness room at the hotel while the rest of the family is sleeping.
On vacation I try to keep the training like the plan.
I usually run on the morning.
sometimes I bring the kid rinding while i run.
I dont race during vacation or mid summer.
fred
Running shoes are the only gear that make the trip with me, and then they tend to sit in the hotel room on their own little “vacation!”
I will usually stay on course with my schedule. A couple years ago I went on a cruise while a couple months or from my first Ironman. I swam the Oceans of St. Thomas and St. Marten, ran the track on the ship, and took spin classes all while still having fun and indulging in a drink or two!!
What type of training I do,on vacation all depends on what is available. I’ve tried doing runs on a treadmill while on a cruise, but the up and down of the ship on the treadmill makes it interesting, especially if you are not on a treadmill facing forwards.
I also keep a mountain bike at my parents house for weekends away, in case I feel motivated.
I will try to fit in 50% of my runs on vacation but most of time I end up falling short, family trumps training. :)
I run indoors and outdoors. I cycle indoors and outdoors. I like seeing the data at the end. Seeing those small improvements and hitting personal goals are what drives me. I love everything about all of it!
Vacations are for rest. We have luckily planned them after big events or during recovery periods where we can do some long hikes.
If we are camping, it is even better. We bring our own food and we cook really tasty and nutritious food to back up our efforts.
Have a great holiday Ray you deserve it!
I tend to keep running but keep the distances short to allow some recovery. If near a beach I run on the beach, at sunrise if I’m up. I also swim a lot.
Except when it’s a holiday to go a run, and then I run a marathon or an ultra :)
Have fun and fingers crossed!
I run! That’s the easiest on vacation.
What ever the kids and the time allows… rather trying not to overeat!
Orienteering race as usual :)
On vacation, I cut back and enjoy the time with family.
My vacation training is all about keeping the calorie burn high, since the calorie consumption goes over the roof. If I’m vacationing with extended family, there’s also the “try to hold on to my sanity” long runs, but that’s enough said about that.
Thanks for the chance!
Chris
I like to go on city trips, and use my runs to see city….
It’s really about maintenance and guilt. I’ll do just enough to justify eating like a pig. Although if there’s a scenic route to run, I will always go at least once.
try to continue running during holidays, but most of the time get stuck with hiking with the family.
Running whenever and wherever possible. Long runs preferred.
I like to boost my ice cream experiences, while my husband and son are out for hiking…
If i’m not at work my steps go way down ( job is on feet all day)/ So holidays are long runs, long walks, long rides and time to relax.
I am going Mountainbiking in the alps.
On vacation I try to use most time with my family. But I will take my running clothing with me and do some running when possible :-)
I usually try to plan vacations around my training schedule, during lighter weeks, so that i don’t feel as much pressure to train and can enjoy time with family.
Triathlon training, mainly running and biking
Open water swimming….Long distances!!!
Walking on the beach and playing in the ocean with the nieces and nephews, that’s a work out by its self.
Tipically my main event of the season is on the first week of June and it’s a triathlon. Then I move to a 16 mi run race in the middle of the summer and I finish the summer with a triathlon in “million like” spectacular views of a Dry Forest.
Some trail running usually
I try to make working out on vacations fall into exploring/learning about the place rather than focused effort or specific training. I’ll go for a run, usually getting lost, while trying to explore a new area or see something I wouldn’t see if I wasn’t running.
A paddle on one of those heavy plastic canoes you find on the beach at most resorts.
I never go without running shoes. Last vacation was to Spain.
You know. Chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool and all shooting some B-ball outside of the school.
Running during the morning, swimming in the sea during the day. Eventually I had to head back to the vacation house so I whistled for a cab and when it came near
The license plate said fresh and had a dice in the mirror
If anything I could say that this cab was rare
But I thought, nah forget it, yo home to Bel Air
I pulled up to the house about seven or eight
And I yelled to the cabby, “Yo homes, smell you later”
Looked at my kingdom, I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the prince of Bel Air
There is no workout schedule planned on vacation – I just do what I want!
I work with my coach to plan around vacations & make them an easy week. I spend enough time away from my family, vacation is a time I should be spending as much time with them as possible.
That said, if I can get up super early & get a run in before they all wake up, I will. Swimming & cycling usually don’t happen simply due to lack of proper facilities & equipment.
If it’s just my wife and I, I’ll try to get in a few runs, but a family vacation is all about the kids.
I try to get a few runs in
if I were to a have a vacation it would be to wake up hours before the family and go for a long slow run and explore the new area. Be back as everyone wakes up and then enjoy the day together.
I usually end up running a lot more cause it’s easy to pack shoes and shorts. If I’m at a beach I will always try to get some ocean swims in too.
Typically holiday style training. Really trying hard to go frequently: but when the end of the holiday is near, regretting you didn’t go at all :)
Train harder, no icecream for me
Mostly running because its more convenient. If it is during summer…. also swimming
On vacation the training continues but with less effort. Need to keep up the training to enjoy all the ice cream and food that is consumed on vacation.
Running and biking!
Try to keep it light, but am always tempted by morning runs in a new area!
So, when I am on vacation I typically love to do a little of everything. Indulge in really good food. And, I try and find a 5K or so to participate in during my vacation. Rock on!!
Frank
I do cut back on vacation but I also use it as a time to cross train. Maybe mix in kayaking or hiking or open water swimming – whatever the destination has. It’s a break in the normal routine and feels more like fun than actual training :)
i just stick to long walks on the beach!
Depends a bit but if I can I’ll bring the bike but definitely run and find a place to swim.
I usually head out to the mountains where I can get some hiking in during the day to work off all the beer and ice cream from the night before.
I try to keep it to short training sessions less then an hour so I can have time with the family.
If I am in a training program for a particular race then I will adjust my schedule to get long/hard runs in before and after vacation but will still get in the majority of my mileage that week. I also try to choose a vacation location where I can train safely on the roads so I don’t have to use the dreadmill.
If I am not in training for a race I run anyway just to tour the area I am vacationing in, find good spots for family pictures, restaurants, activities, etc.
(and I eat ice cream, and chocolate, lots of chocolate…and burgers…and whatever else I don’t usually eat a lot of…pizza…man can’t wait to go on vacation now)