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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.
In vacation I run and go cycling. But less than normal.
I love holiday training because I can act like a pro. Early morning session, rest, another session more rest and then a late afternoon swim.
just need a fenix 3 to record it all.
If vacationing on land I look for new trails to run on but keep it light so my companions aren’t mad at me. If at sea, around the little deck, lap after lap after lap. Cocktail in hand.
I usually take a vacation from training when I’m on vacation
Vacation time for me means I get to savor my running / cycling / weightlifting. The thing I hate most about training is that it’s usually somewhat rushed due to the craziness of everyday life. Vacation time means I get to take my time enjoying the activities that make me tick – especially running and cycling.
I like to ramp up my training and use it as a way to explore new places.
run…run..run…and swim!!!
Hi Ray,
During holidays I mountainbike, run (trails) and hike more than usual since I have extra time to enjoy all of this!
Cheers,
Pieter
I “cross-train” with lots of walking around. :) My vacations usually involve some hiking and sometimes biking or kayaking too. I don’t train, but I get exercise. The GPS watch is used for later photo tagging.
I’m on holiday at the moment – St Lucia for our honeymoon. I intended to keep up the running but have only ventured out a few times on the beach and resort gym. Must. Have. More. Dedication.
Must stop eating and drinking!
Vacation usually means treadmill running early in the am before everyone wakes and the day begins.
I typically run along the seaside, breathe the fresh air and listen to birds singing.
Running before breakfast all the time.
My Vacations (or holidays as we call them here in the UK are usually based around an event and I;ve yet to work out what I like best. Race early in the holiday then chillax afterwards and make the most of the hotel; breakfast buffet, or get there before the race to have plenty of time to recce the course and do some taper training… Both would be ideal!
Might try to plan a training camp ‘holiday’ at some point too, without a race just lots of training and exlporing somewhere new by bike.
Al.
Best vacation workouts are swimming early in an empty pool.
Love to run with my wife wherever we go, beach, hills, cruise ship, city…
I like to swim every day, as when at home I only get to swim once a week. Having a pool outside an apartment is an amazing treat for my holiday.
Triathlon training. The running is easiest to maintain. I usually book somewhere that has treadmills, pool and hopefully an indoor bike. When visiting family for vacation, I bring the bike. Having a Fenix3 would be much better than carrying around the abacus for cadence and heart rate monitoring and my authentic Mayan Sun dial for time and ‘gps’ functionality. Those get a bit cumbersome.
I like to change up the training on vacation, if I’ve been riding lots I’ll switch to running or swimming, it’s nice to not have the schedule pressure too midday instead of first thing.
On vacation usually get my runs in and do extra core work. The runs are usually a mixture of tempo runs and if in a new scenic location a slower seeing the sights run at day break. Rarely do I take my bike. But when I do I search on ride with GPS
Either a hike or eating and drinking lots of beer. I should combine these on my next vacay!
Vacation training for me is 1.5 hour a day running, cycling or swimming and the rest of the day with my 3 sons !
It depends on where I am or who I am with exactly what I do but it almost always now involves getting my runs in. On vacation the gun is around so I don’t have to schedule the runs around his work and the kids or push a giant jogging stroller. And there’s always the added excitement of the change in scenery. Love vacation runs!
For me, practice in vacation means pushing harder.
I try to get a run in — it is a great way to see new places and get a more local feel/explore parks/etc… Usually the run is to counteract the fact that the rest of the trip is comprised of slow shuffles between coffee shops, restaurants and ice cream parlors.
Just running and swimming if possible.
On proper vacations I’ll usually get some running in; longer easy pace stuff to explore the place I’m visiting. I try to plan holidays / my training schedule around each other so that I don’t feel lazy for not training!
I cut back, but always continue training. One of my favorite parts of a vacation is exploring on the run. Those runs are typically lighter and shorter than normal, but still getting done.
I generally pick up my training when I go on vacation as more time is available. More running, more hiking, and swimming.
When I go on holiday, my training schedule goes as well.
I guess doing activities on holiday makes it less bad…
Vacations are essential, and so are the workouts/training while vacationing. For me and my wife, we often get our best training runs in while vacationing. But when in warm ocean locales I like to get long swims in.
Thanks DCR! (And for good measure: random # generator, pick me!)
I try to get to the gym or pool and do shorter workouts so I’m not too tired for late night adventures. I’m going on my first cruise with Disney in June and I plan to challenge Mickey to a triathlon throw-down.
I continue running, but do body weight strength as opposed to weights.
Vacations are training camps of course!
Give something new a go. Then make up for it drinking beer.
usually push back, it is vacation after all
Stuck to the schedule – with bonus ice cream. Don’t mess with the schedule! Bonus sea swims are good if by the beach. Get to use the open water function then too
I’ve been taking vacations during the cold months (up North) to run races where it’s warmer. Learned after the first vacation that one should run the marathon (or any distance) at the beginning of the vacation and not at the end……………..
I became a runner later in life (after 40), and have been running now for close to 5 years. During vacations, I like to push my limits by running in locations that are new to me, as well as pushing the distance.
My training now has taken on a new purpose with the passing of my mother. With brain cancer being the culprit, her spirit during the whole ordeal gave me a renewed energy within the sport of running.
I try to bring a bike with me on any vacation I drive to. I don’t “train” but I usually get some challenging rides just exploring the area.
Only workout I do on vacation is walking to and from the pool and lifting drinks :).
In vacation i’ll only do what my kids say i’ve to do.
And running or so isn’t part of their vacations vocabulary.
Have running shoes, will travel.
I AM CURRENTLY TRAINING FOR MY FIRST SPRINT TRI SO HOTEL SWIM OR RUN IN THE AREA.
Beach run and pina colada intervals!
Wifey usually picks the vacation spots, so its usually hiking in the mountains or plenty of open water time at the beach…although I do get to mix in Escape from Alcatraz before we head up to Sonoma in June
Combining running and sightseeing, nothing better than that.
mmmm ice cream and some running
Running takes a vacation too, by which I mean that I only do fun stuff. This generally involves finding a short, local, low key race where I can sweat, smile, and hang out with the locals. I’ll usually try to do a long run, as it’s fun to explore vacation locales on foot. If I’m near some water, I also like to haul my butt out of bed for at least one sunrise run. It’s usually beautiful, and it feels good to sweat a bit before a leisurely cup of coffee and/or beach bar Bloody Mary.
I spend my vacations running and hiking to explore, hopefully leading to new ice cream places!
Mountainbiking and trail running would do the thing for me :-)
I usually stick to my training schedule – unless I’m at the beach and can work in some longer runs.
I try to keep up my training schedule while on vacation.
Since most of our vacations include a race for either me or my wife, that’s how one of us stays active. Since I’ll be with her in Galveston, TX for her 70.3 this weekend, I’ll be doing the best I can to get my swims and runs in. Transporting an extra bike just isn’t worth it, so the goal will be to make the most of the opportunities I have in front of me.
My vacations tend to involve a higher level of training than when I’m at home… and I usually pair that with higher levels of unhealthy eating and drinking in order to compensate.
Short runs in the morning to get the metabolism started.
I definitely try to avoid extensive training while on vacation, but strive to continue running to help offset all of the ice cream, bon bons and wine that will be consumed!
Depends if travel is for work or with family. With work, treadmill; with family, training gets totally derailed.
On vacation I usually do moderate pace and distance runs.
If I’m cruising, it’s usually a few laps around the ship decks!
Usually a holiday involves the sea so lots of swimming, with a handful of runs thrown in for good measure.
Running and hiking
My vacations are usually based around what I can do for physical activity – most common hiking, running, & swimming.
Always keep running on vacation. Cycling and swimming only if there’s an easy way to find a bike and a pool!
Yes will try to run on vacation
Definitely become more flexible with training but a holiday is a great opportunity to run, ride or swim in some fantastic places and a convenient way to do some exploring off the beaten track.
Its always fun to run through new cities or towns. Its generally nice and quite in the mornings in most places. Then once the training is out of the way, let the vacation begin ;-)
Some running but also surfing! Looking forward to try an surf app in my new fenix3
Training completely falls apart on vacation. It’s a disaster.
going for a little weekend holiday up to the north of ireland, would like to get a few kms in on the bike up there but ive been forbidden to bring it :(
If I can sneak away for a few minutes from my familly, I try to go on as planned…. and I treat them all with ice cream after to thanks them :-) This somehow makes my training acceptable!
Vacations means training in areas where I am not used to! I try to go out of my normal routes!
A lot of our vacations are based around taking part in specific events. So training tapers off before hand and the first part of vacation and then the last part is post event recovery.
Just run some extra miles
I try to run all mornings and do some open water swimming from time to time.
in summer vacations I cut back on running, but try to do something resembling swimming training
i always come home from vacation exhausted. A happy exhausted. Have time for longer runs!! Always up super early to explore by foot or bike new roads.
Vacations are focused around sports and activities. No letup on workouts
I usually do similar training while on vacation just at more unique times and places that help me enjoy it more. What better way to see a new location than to go for a run!
Keep on running, but while relaxed.
Typically I do shorter runs than normal, but I throw in more intervals
I try to stick to my schedule but inevitably end up lying around drinking beer…
There will be just enough running to not totally blow up the waist line. :)
Sometimes I have vacation only to do some sports, because here you will have plenty of time for all actions you cannot do on a regular working day. The best of all is, at the end of the workout you will find enough time for the family and friends.
bicycle new routes and family bike rides on rails to trails
Generally I take vacation time as a mental break from the structure of training. Spend time working out easy with my wife and eating a bit more than I normally would
On vacation it’s usually a little more time for training, but it has to be running most of the time. Unless I was able to bring my folding Bike Friday road bike.
When I am on vacation, I will still continue with my training. The difference now is that I will not have a planned route like usual. Rather I will just run around the area of vacation and enjoy the scenery and learn about the place more while during my run. Of course I will take nice pictures with my photo along the way. This is part of my personal feat to RunTheWorld Diet wise I will let loose and eat whatever that is good and famous there.
Couple of sea swims a few rides, the odd run and plenty of food
Sometimes I take a bit of a break from training on vacation, but some vacations are active ones. Usually more being active than serious training is done on vacations. It’s a great opportunity to see a new place and what better way to discover than running or biking in that place!
Usually lots of walking to offset the beer drinking
I always pack my running shoes but doesn’t mean I use them. 50-50
I take my eating on vacation very seriously. My training, probably not so much
I typically stick to running on vacation.
It depends on the location, mainly I just run, but typically way less than I had originally intended. If there is a beach/lake nearby I usually do some open water swimming too.
I train as usually, i have a 30k race in four months….YES!!!
i hope i can use my brand new Phoenix in that race…jejeje
regards
On vacation mostly much walking to discover the world.
I’m a destination race kinda guy.
Do I easy 5km run while listening to some classic music. Help your body and mind get balance for the fun that should come later (ice cream, cookies, margaritas. ..)
After all, you are on vacation. Have fun !
Rent a road bike and go exploring! Local LBS are more then happy to help and point the way!