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.
one hike and a 4 miles run
Both kids with hand foot mouth and me with bad cold. Only managed to manage one easy run.
Just my normal 10 mile run per day.
I had a 5k, at which I PR’d, followed by a Zwift Threshold Development trainer session. Fun times were had.
A group shop run and ride on the central coast of CA
Hi Ray,
Playing with the idea of a morathon in 4 weeks – so, I ran an easy 16km on Saturday and a quicker 25km on Sunday (took the week to 100+km). Wanted to do some strength training too, but the will was not strong enough.
Nathan
mashing watts on the trainer cause #midwesternlife aint easy. #winning
I planned a long run on Sunday and a spinning class on Saturday, but my stupid master thesis got in the way… :-( so I didn’t log anything but hours in front of a computer screen.
A short recovery run and 2000 yards pool swimming. Decided will continue swimming and take it easy on running.
Saturday way a rainy indoor gym day, with 1,5h on the treadmill and 1h weight training . on sunday I went for a 10k and spent 2h on a relaxing bike ride
I decided to have a rest on saturday because I was physically and mentally H.S and I started training again on sunday with strength on hometrainer !
I did a 20k cycling on a raining day. it felt great.
Since it was a tad cold outside (Albany NY), all I did was 1 hour on the trainer… Thanks for doing this Ray !
Kickin off this years Tour of Sufferlnadria
Whole household was sick so managed to sneak away for one run on the treadmill. Phew!
Not sure I’d call it training but got my first two snow rides in on my fat bike!
Last weekend, was able to get a run out of an easy effort 8miles.
A Saturday long run did happen as planned. The rest of the plans… did not.
I raced the Mora Vasaloppet ski race in Mora Minnesota at a whopping – 5F. Ended up with corneal abrasion from the cold and had the gf take me to urgent care on V-Day.
I got to pace my first race – the dogtown half marathon in southern utah. Super fun pacing the 1:50 group. Took it easy Sunday. Monday was crazy good weather so I enjoyed some of our amazing mountain bike trails on my 20 year old bike.
I ran a 5K on 2/13 in subzero weather! Alas, I was suffering from a head cold at the time, so the easy 50 minute run on my calendar for the following day was exchanged for a much-needed rest day instead.
I a rest day on Saturday followed by a relay race that our running clients participated in called the Valentines Day Massacre on Sunday.
Was suppose to do Hills on friday and 1h30 calm run on saturday. Friday was the most horrible rainy day since 6 month and i had to move my girlfriend to her new appartment on saturday. So i finished doing 21km run on sunday with the last 6km in Z4.
Got the HR up, followed by inactive recovery!
A short run, then some snow shoveling in Valentine’s Day.
Kayaking for several hours this past week in Key West, FL :)
Swim on Saturday, run on Sunday…
Mon: Rest
Tue: Rest
Wed: Rest
Thu: Rest more
Fri: Rest again
Sat: Watch people running on TV and rest
Sun: Guess what?! Rest!
PS: Being injured sucks. :(
The core is 2×10 30″ on 30″ off.
Run over 20km (22). First time in my life :)
Two runs, a 4 miler and a 10k. I used runtastic’s story run for the first time this weekend, (tetradome). I had mixed feelings about it.
Saturday – 90 minute Trainerroad bike session.
Sunday – 2.5 hours Trainerroad bike session.
Saturday was spent spinning at the college rec center for an hour and a half, while watching the 2014 Ironman world championships. Sunday was spent running 7 miles in a pretty hefty snowstorm that left my face covered in ice and snow!
Just some mountain bike drills.
On Sat I did a 5 mile trail run to prepare for my upcoming trail relay. On Sunday I did a 4 mile hike and then some high intensity interval training at home.
Friday 6km on the treadmill while working
Sunday 6km on the treadmill while working.
Thus week zero runs on the treadmill?
Ramping up training for the Comrades Ultra Marathon, I did a half marathon on Saturday
Monday: 2500 meter swim
Tuesday-Thursday – trainer time, interval work
Friday: 2000 meter swim
Sat-Sun – trainer time, too cold to ride outside, endurance work
Three long easy runs…
Swam with the lady on Friday (main set was mixed 50’s sprints with a ladder). The weather was horrendous on Saturday, so we saved our legs for a ski trip on Sunday up to Wintergreen, Va, where the frigid temperatures made for great conditions!
We were pretty sick last week and I missed more workouts than I had in a couple years. Saturday I got in 90 minutes of Z2 on the bike, but I definitely was not ready to run again Sunday.
I’m sorry to disappoint you Ray and other internet strangers.
I spent the weekend downhill skiing with family.
Due to a bruised leg after getting knocked off my bike, took it easy and had a 10km run to volunteer at a local parkrun, followed by a 10km run home.
My training was two days at Copper Mtn
8 mile long run Saturday, followed by a 90 minute trainer ride on Sunday. Looking forward to spring!
I got in a 10k run and 90 minutes with Zwift.
I did 20 minutes of slow building warmup, 3 sets of 6 minutes in Z4 with 2 minute recovery, followed by a 9 minute Z1 cool down on Friday. Then I took the rest of the weekend off to spend time watching college basketball, going to a fancy dinner and outlet mall shopping with my wife. Got back at it on Monday with a 1000 meter tempo swim.
Saturday: morning swim 2000m, early afternoon 45 min of running, late afternoon 1.5hrs of indoor cycling
Sunday: 2hrs of running
It was my daughters birthday and while she was watching a movie with the family I was able to go for a quick 45 minute run. Spent the rest of the weekend with family. Awesome!
Yoga on Saturday and a short treadmill run Sunday
A 3 hour race sim bike ride on saturday followed by a 2 hour trainer ride on sunday!
Still trying to shake off an ankle injury, so no workout last weekend :(
Will be back at it this weekend though!
Unfortunately, kids activities, Valentines day and a family birthday (w/ party) scuttled my workout plans. However, Friday and Monday included 5 km and 12.5 km runs respectively.
Was a long weekend for me… Saturday: 70mi ride with club and 1k swim to relax. Sunday: 4h hike with family and short 5k run. Monday was off so: 21k run with wife, kids showing the way on their bikes.
Cheers!
I have a football training tomorrow with an importement game on sunday!! Cross fingers please! :)
60 Minute HIIT in “bootcamp” style once, mixed with 2 x 1hr cardio commuting roadbike ride each day.
Sidenote: -5C this week, my fingers are regretting it!
A freezing cold run around Boston on Saturday. Sunday, I chose the warmth of a Trainer Road workout
3 hour 40 minute group bike ride although with wind chill in the low teens it got cancelled.
Snow shoveling and ice scraping intervals while traveling. The bike didn’t even see daylight.
17 miles on the roads, with a core circuit and leg circuit after, followed by foam rolling and wine tasting.
Long run
I’ve done absolutely nothing last week, no workout :)
90 minutes on the trainer and swimming drills.
30 minute run, 20 minute Vasa “swim” and 60 minute bike. All nice and easy.
Sadly, there was no training for me due to nee injury…
The wife’s birthday so lots of fun but limited to an hour on the trainer. Though, thinking about it, does running after a 2 year old all weekend count?
I went for a 12 mile trail run on a build-up for a 50 mile ultra later in the spring.
Hey Ray,
Last weeks workout regiment:
– 2 x 60min spin class
– 2 x weight lifting with intermittent sprints
– 1 x physio for torn meniscus
– 1 x hot power yoga
Too cold for open water swims in Canada at the moment unfortunately; or at least that my excuse.
it was cold last weekend here in Toronto. We went for a long walk through Rattrey marsh on Saturday and then followed the power-line from Southdown road to Indian Road and return. The weather was much warmer on Sunday and we even had to take off our hats and mittens for a while.
The weekend training was dominated by completion of this years Tour of Sufferlandria at home on the rollers, so A Very Dark Place + Nine Hammers on Saturday and Power Station + Violator on Sunday. Have no fear all intervals were completed at the correct intensity with resistance cranked up to the max so no need to set the minions on me, enjoyed my rest day on Monday though! (NB/ not a doughnut in sight)
Simple 17 mile long run on the schedule, but it was made fun by good running friends and 0deg F temperatures. We ran along the local river and enjoyed the morning.
I was supposed to do two long runs, but a cold kept me out of order for the whole weekend,
Saturday: 1h30min on Zwift
Sunday 1h15min on Zwift
Not so much running/biking for me. I was in the Austrian Alps skiing, but I guess that count as exercise as well.
Did a 2 hour easy run, 90 min in Z2 then 30 in Z3.
I did a short run with my dog on Saturday with no watch. Just running for as long as I wanted with no plan, which new for me. Then hike on Sunday cause it was sunny.
There weather is rather cold in Canada right now, so I wasn’t doing much riding outside. I ride an indoor trainer for about 1 1/2 hours 3-4 times per week. Shoveling snow also helps! :-)
13 mile long run, slowly building for my 50k in April.
It was a snowy hike up the local hills to recover from the weeks cycling :D
Bad weather in Belgium so a stint on the indoor trainer it was.
HIIT workout on Sat (didn’t happen) and long run on Sun (also didn’t happen). These didn’t happen due to a knackered knee. :-(
Got in a few Trainer Road rides over the V-day weekend.
It was -30C here duing the last week-end, so no sport outside was possible. I did one hour of interval on my TACX + Trainer Road on Sunday.
My workout consisted of moving a sideboard, laying a carpet and moving said sideboard back again, plus the building of a desk……I found muscles I never even knew I had!
Recovery week, so two short runs of around 6 km on flat terrain.
While my wife was in Hawaii with her parents, I was working and finding little time to train — 3 runs totaling 15 miles.
It was supposed to be a bike and a day of rest… Turned into 2 days of rest.
Basically it was a 2 7-8k easy trainings followed by a lovely Valentine’s day run on Sunday. It was all drizzle and rain, but we got through.
One 90 minute ride on holiday Monday, and an hour chasing my 4 year old around an empty parking lot on his little bike. No training wheels, and the kid’s got great cadence!
Given that last weekend contained both my wedding anniversary and valentines day, training took a vacation. However presidents day was all for me and I got in a Sufferfest climbing video.
A simple 10k
LA Marathon and a new PR!
Rest on Saturday before a half marathon on Sunday, in which I beat my goal time by almost 7 minutes!
About 2:10 on the trainer. Without a fan, and in a heated room(~70 degrees).
Long ramp intervals up to about threshold power, and then a few 1 minute hard intervals.
Sunday was rest day.
Did two fast-paced (almost race) tempo 1 hour runs and decided to take a weekend off.
Recovery week last week, so Friday I did a 6 mile easy run on Friday, and 14 miles Saturday. This week is a hard week and then 3 week taper for the Barcelona marathon, and my first trip to Europe!
week two of Ironman Lake Placid training
Went for a 1 hour bicycle ride on Saturday and a 3 hour bicycle ride on Sunday.
Unfortunately nothing, since I had to pause a week due to a cold :(. A shame considering the not-so-bad weather in Hamburg, Germany.
I had two runs on the calendar for the weekend to finish a 42 mile week – a 7 mile easy run and 11 mile long run at a moderate pace