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.
Planning upcoming training trips in Spain, the Belgian Ardennes and the French Pyrenees. Does that count as training ;-)
Saturday: 10mi Pace 8:00 min/mile
Sunday: Valentines day run with Wife, 5K
Monday (long weekend here): 40Miles Foundation Ride plus 1mile swim
Two great early morning TrainerRoad sessions on my KICKR.
Short Trainer Ride (45 min) and strength work on Saturday, rest day on Sunday and I snuck in an early-morning swim on Monday (President’s Day here so still the weekend!) before the snow and ice shut down the DC area for the day.
8 mile trail run through icy woods
It was my first road race in 11 months and I promptly got dropped before riding solo for 50 miles with 6000 feet of climbing.
I did Sufferfest – Do as You’re Told Workout on Say, 2/13 and TrainerRoad Workout – Taku-1 on Sun, 2/14
Last saturday I went for a 2h cross country skiing @ -25C that was supposed to be at worst 1h30 but ended up making my own trail for 6Km out of my 15Km.
Longest swim and zwift ride of 2016, along with a last minute XC ski before the snow melts.
Chased my 18 month old around. More tiring than intervals
Friday was a rest day, then Saturday was hill intervals followed by a Sunday indulgence of wine and fine food followed by a 13K race on Monday.
Group ride with LT and Vo2Max intervals at the end.
A 50 km Ride on Kinomap an a very short run
Not the best weekend of the year for training : poor weather on Saturday and a quick bike session before the Valentines lunch restaurant… afternoon nap was then mandatory after eating so much :-)
Saturday consisted of water aerobics (felt like a clown) as I continue my recovery from a torn MCL & cartilage. Each step was a step closer to getting back on the bike though!
Sunday was multitasking – icing the knee and keeping the leg elevated. At the same time as lots of online bike shop browsing!
Saturday was a 3 hour endurance ride with a 25 minute tempo interval in the 2nd hour, Sunday was straight endurance for two hours.
A hike up Quebrada la Vieja in Bogota and a 10k slog
Treadmill intervals and an indoor mile race. Thanks!
Rebuilding base fitness after a surgery took me out like a candle pin!
fexix3 HR
My first three hour ride ever on my new home trainer. Man that was a lot of Netflix :-)
Did a steady run and some intervals on the bike. Great weather here.
I was on call last weekend, so just treadmill and TRX
On saturday I did 12km run and on Sunday 17km easy pace long run.
I ended up not doing much of anything other than a couple of sessions on my new WaterRower. I can’t go very long yet, but I can already feel the hit to my core, so I’m looking forward to good times ahead.
Training for the Glass City Marathon. Had a 15-miler long run on last weekend’s menu. Even ran it with my wife!
The weekend was workout free, unless you consider bedroom workouts.
Recovering from a ruptured achilles tendon…
On Saturday a 19k long steady run, on Sunday a 6k recovery run.
Friday: 75km Bike Ride
On Saturday I rode my bike about 20 miles to Downtown LA to watch the Olympic Trials. On Sunday I did an easy 4 mile run.
A swim session on Saturday and a HM on Sunday was enough for for this weekend.
I had an easy 2 hour ride recovering from a hard 180 KM ride in the Israman in Eilat.
17 mile ride on Saturday with high cadence and 35 mile ride on Sunday with Zone 3 HR range.
4km of swimming and 2h of biking on saturday.
7x1000m running on sunday
A wonderful duathlon at our local motor speedway. Nothing like a nascar track to give you inspiration to go fast through a 2 mile run – 16 mile bike – 2 mile run.
Run a weekly total of 50 miles.
Running intervals on tuesday and thursday and a looooong run on sunday.
5x1K reps and a 28K long run at marathon pace
Exactly nothing, as I was still recovering from my knee trauma, however started doing a few short runs this week, so far – so good!
Nothing, sadly enough. :(
Had a sprained ankle since a fall on ice.
9.2 mile LSD Training run. 3 miles on Beach. Foot Hurts. Why is it hot in February? only one GU used.
Training log from last weekend:
Saturday – 3h endurance ride in single digit (Fahrenheit) coldness
Sunday – 2h45mins on the trainer with 3x(15mZ3,10mZ4,5mZ5) watching Tarantino movies. Temperatures outside were -20F with the windchill!
TrainerRoad!!! Week 4 of Sweet Spot Base 1, mid volume. It always tries to kick my butt but I’m prevailing… It’s the only way through a NY winter.
Saturday: short bike ride
Sunday: half marathon in San Francisco
Monday: recover, trying not to move too much
30 mile ride.
My workout plan got the boot – I’ve got a pinched nerve in my back, so the weeknd consisted of bed-couch-back to bed.
90mi bike ride thru Zion National Park
I went skiing for three days in Vail.
I am new to biking and got a 12.46 mile ride in on my bike and trainer Saturday and a 3.2 mile run on Sunday! #losingweightandfeelinggreat #down67lbs!
A scenic 5 miles along the river-walk in San Antonio!
Recovery weekend that was spent hauling to travel volleyball games with my wife and 4 kiddos!
An easy 6 miles on Sunday
Nothing…. :( That’s why I could really use this prize…
Easy 17 miles on Saturday followed by an easy 6 on Sunday.
Just a short run and bike. It was the last weekend before ironman training started so we took it easy.
Last week had a lot of hard workouts, plus it was the coldest weekend of the year so far, so some light recovery for me. 6 x 12oz repeats of Tröegs Cultivator, mostly.
2 endurance ridrs, solo 1,5 h on Saturday and group ride for 2 h on Sunday
I did a 9 mile run and a 1.5 hr bike ride.
Rode the Sufferfest “Blender” at LBS on Saturday and Trianerroad “Cheaha” on Sunday, trying to get as many intervals in a s possible!
I did a 5k speedrun (not race).
Saturday was a recovery day, and I did 20 minute threshold intervals on Sunday. Monday was spent shoveling snow.
My coach had me on a light Saturday of 3 miles easy and then I ran 8 miles of trails on Sunday in my new trail shoes. Can’t wait for Garmin to really start shipping the Fenix 3HR!
Took a mud bath on my MTB (worked on my bike handling skills) and spent some time skiing
Planning next dive trip
It was one of the coldest days of the year here, but a few of my friends bundled up on Sunday for a 5k around the neighborhood.
16km LSD on Saturday (running) and 45minutes on the trainer the day after.
40 mile ride up Palomar in San Diego with my buddy.
Training log: My long run for the week before the snow fall hit..
Twice weekly intervals, indoors on the Fluid2 bike trainer, Wednesday and Saturday. Rinse and repeat until the weather finally warms up… (sigh)
John
3:30hrs of mountain biking and 20km of trail running.
I had 4 short runs, for a total of 18.59mi; plus, we’re doing a stair climbing challenge at work, so I had 364 flights of stairs.
I tilled a back yard full of rock hard dirt and planted 3 trees. Less desirable than a nice long bike ride along the coast, but tiring nonetheless.
Had plans for a 6K easy tempo. Got ill. Stayed in bed.
Recovering from injury :-(
Today was my first run in 2016.
I was out of town so my coach gave me 10k on the treadmill and a day off. Thanks for all you do, Ray!
Only managed a a single trainer ride last week
Two easy runs, 4 and 8 miles. Not doing any speedwork yet.
Very Cold 20k Ski Race Saturday, followed by an easy trainer session sunday
I spent most of the weekend driving to Utah from Texas (about 30 hours total). I got one game of racquetball in, and I had one good play in the snow with my kids (yes, that’s what I’m counting as my workout… I know, I need to set my goals higher). On the drive, though, I set a 5 year plan with my wife to work up to Marathon, Tri-athalon, and MS150 fitness. Here’s to meeting those goals.
A brick session on the indoor bike/treadmill, and a Spin class on the Sunday morning
I did some cycling on sat 100km, Some swimming on thursday 4km and 12 miles running on sunday.
Cross country ski; trainer road “Clark” and a long hike.
Tuesday: 4x1k @ CV Pace and 4×200 @ Mile Pace
Wednesday: Light 30 min Recovery Run
Thursday: Meet, Running the Mile and setting a new PR
Friday: 20min Recovery Run
Saturday: Shakeout Run Due to Extreme Wind Canceling Practice
Sunday: 3 Mile Tempo with 3x30sec Hill Sprints + 3x15sec Flat Sprints
Monday: Light 30 min Recovery Run
Tuesday: 4x1k @ Mile Pace + 3xAll-Out 400 sprints
Saturday: Went for a moderate paced 6-mile run
Sunday: Strength workout routine
Monday (because I had the day off): 30 minute swim and yoga.
A game of badminton with the wife followed by a 3km run on Saturday.
Another 3km run on Sunday.
Rest on Saturday, and an easy run on Sunday.
Absolutely nothing … travelling and the airline lost the bag with my running shoes.
A few hours in the gym here in ice cold Denmark!
90 minutes of virtual riding on Zwift!
Soccer practice and lifting weights. Thanks and have a great day!
Unfortunately no training this last weekend due to a knee injury :-(
Rest weekend, due to an injury, but it still involved chasing after two toddlers :)
Saturday 2.5 hour ride, and Sunday 1.5 hour run and 1 hour swim. Weekend fun!
need, want, power meter..r
3 runs in the week – all short.. under 8k each.
2 Longer runs on the weekend… 20 on Saturday, 30 on Sunday… 70k for the week!
Training…….
My training consisted of trying to keep up with my fourteen year old cross country/track phenom…..
doing mile reapeats
he has gotten fast…..
I’m four weeks postpartum and just started getting back into a daily routine of yoga and walking – can’t wait until I can add some runs in!
Swimming, gym and yoga.
Stages 8 and 9 of Tour of Sufferlandria. Saturday was ‘A Very Dark Place’ + ‘Nine Hammers’, and Sunday was ‘Power Station’ + ‘Violator’. Both done on TrainerRoad with the Sufferfest videos, and also hooked up on Zwift.