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.
Saturday a 56.8 km KICKR session for 2:26:55 with the standard 10 warmup segments, then Z2 chunks @ cadence 105, 100 & 95 descending, followed with 15cm raised front wheel, Redshift seatpost “back” position @Z2 50 cadence climbing chunks and then higher wattage accelerations.
Sunday AM 1650m in the pool focusing on David Marsh drills with a few hard finishing 100’s alternating some with closed fist since antipaddles not avail. Some Core Strength Prehab work for 7 minutues at the pool as well. Rehab nap.
Sunday PM 18.8km run @Z2 with standard varying cadence thorough warmup, then 8 10 minute segments at increasing cadence from 184 to 194 cadence. Strides and a cool down to complete.
Feeling blessed to have such a detail oriented coach!
Xc skiing and skiing.
Sweating saturday doing 50k bike and 10k run….. Easy sunday with friends doing 100k bike
Brick workout on sunday, swim and run on saturday.
monday- 10k run
tuesday- rest day
wednesday- 30k bike
thursday-8krun
friday-60k bike
saturday- rest
sunday-10k run
Practice snowboarding after cross country skiing
I did a short n easy 5K in Montreal. very cold though :)
Indoor velodrome cycling
21 miles running
2 miles swim
40 mile bike
20 mile spin.
Good Week.
Playing badminton in local training facility
Bondcliff workout from TrainerRoad
I’m dealing with a recent high hamstring injury, so I just did some core strength training on each day and an easy 10K run on Saturday to see how I was progressing (that was a bad idea, actually).
Friday was a 11 mile long run with half mile intervals at hopeful marathon pace
Saturday was a trainer ride with zone 3 tempo intervals and yoga class
Sunday was a swim with endurance sets at
T Pace +1
I managed to hurt my knee badly during hill training…now it is rest for me
Calisthenics (YAYOG) and walking while recovering from a broken foot.
Powerlifting and intesne workouts for legs
I hit the gym with my son. did some free weights, and then did 3 miles on the treadmill.
50 miles total, with marathon “Time on Feet” run of 22.5 miles in 3:22:24
I was recovering from a marathon the weekend before, so my weekend consisted of a lot of rest.
I tried to get as long a run in as I could on the coldest day I can remember…
This past weekend I was originally scheduled to do some indoor cardio. Treadmill at the gym, and Kickr at home. It was definitely too cold to be out here in the Northeast. However, having gotten sick late last week, this weekend become more of a sleep as much as I need weekend, and try to get well. So I ended up not training.
Done some wrestling and weight training
Just 30 mins on the trainer this weekend!
No plan, I actually ran once and played hockey once and my road back to running has begun…
I’m trying to get back into running after an ankle injury, so its been a lot of walks and a few short runs… about 2 – 3 miles each. Have also incorporated a short 5 min stretch session after each run, and thats made a huge difference in my calves and lower back!
Many basketball games with friends
Long and easy cycling. I really love recovery weeks …
I competed in a 10k race on sunday Bad Fuessing located at the german border to austria. The other training i did was on the eating side :-)
Practising yoga at home
Last week end, I was running a semi marathon, as a preparation for my next marathon. I took the occasion to shatter my personnal record by a handfull of seconds.
I did a 45min workout on the bike trainer. in fact, it was the TacX BRA-2 workout
Treadmill running during the cold winter days
Early-season indoor trainer ride on sunday.
My friend talked me to try a Tai Chi training, done and liked it.
I did 90 minutes of intervals on the Computrainer.
Unfortunately I had to do treadmill runs both days due to the weather.
2.5hr ride in the rain while out house shopping.
Swim, bike and run.
I did some intervals near the SweetSpot on the very old CycleTacx monitored by the edge/vector products.
First outdoor ride of the year now the ice is gone.
I did a nice aerobic training session on my turbo trainer.
Run with my friend who is overweight to push him for healty life
Doing aerobics with my co-workers
I have several ways to spend $600… all good ones :-)
Ran 3 miles on Saturday. Rode 30 miles on Sunday followed by an attempt to run 3 miles.
Upper body weights and 5k run.
No real workout for me, but I did cheer my husband and friends on at the Austin half and full marathon!
Had my first OW swim in 2016, a bit cold, but the hot chocolate afterwards was worth it!
This was sort of a down weekend for me as I coped with a looming cold. But still i did 3.25 miles at a slow 10-minute pace Saturday, followed by a several mile walk later in the day with my wife. Then Sunday I did a little over 4 miles, still taking it easy. All in all a pretty light effort but getting in some work while enjoying this spring-like weather in Texas.
Too cold outside, so all weekend runs were on treadmill. 19K Saturday, 10K + 4K Sunday. Plus WaterRower and nice 15K indoor cycling session.
Still better then doing nothing!
did an indoor sprint tri in the gym
Did 5×9 1under 2 over on Saturday, Sunday was 3 hours low and slow :)
Brutal weather in NYC but I still managed to do a quick 10k run on Saturday and a 2 hour ride on the trainer Sunday
Water polo games
A nice run in the Florida sun
Ugh… didn’t get out for a run on Saturday even though it was the best weather of the weekend – sometimes life gets in the way.
I did get 5 miles in each day on Sunday and for the Monday President’s day holiday – but they were inside on the treadmill. :(
So only 10 miles and I haven’t gotten outdoors for a run in over a week. Yuck!
Interval running workouts outside
I am trying to build up to do a triathlon. My training on the weekend is 1600m swim, 6km run and 20km ride. Loving it!!
Thank you for your blog. You really helped me make a decision about getting the Polar V800.
Speed workout on Sat and recovery run Sun morning.
Was competing in throwing heavy objects for distance on sunday
Three days of skiing in frigid New England, in lieu of the usual trainerroad indoor endurance rides.
Easy 10k run on saturday
A nice long run
Nice giveaway – thanks! I did an hour elliptical on Sat. to avoid a training run.
I did a long 2-hour run on Saturday of 18,3K in cold but mostly sunny weather.
Cross country race on sunday
I’m on a bit of a strength building kick right now to lead into triathlon season so I am doing a lot of explosive plyometrics.
Long trail run Saturday with 2400ft of elevation. Rest day on Sunday.
First week training for what I hope will be a successful half IM. Did a couple 2 mile runs, some 30m interval sessions, and a nice short brick training session.
Due to a problem on my knee, a small MTB track for 25 km on sunday an light workaout at home using the smart trainings from the “7 minutes workout” app, which I usually used a lot when I am on a business trip.
Saturday run: interval + 10x uphill
Sunday: “biking in the rain…” 70k in Z3
Heavy weight lifting on friday before weekend
25 miles on Zwift, quick run outside and a cold beer! :)
Foam Roller, ABC Running Drills, exercises to recover my left leg injury, 1h run last night with 2 friends.
I tried a 5km run last Sunday and surprisingly I made it!
Jogging in the park on sunday
Campus visits with my college bound son
I did a 12 hour time trial in Sebring Florida… clocked (a slightly disappointing) 204.6 miles… in my defense, I had a mild case of food poisoning the night before, so I wasn’t quite at 100%
Last weekend I had a short swim session, and a 1 hour trainer ride. Among all of the family craziness and Triathlon Club duties.
Friday was the seconden to last dat of training camp in Malaga Spain (75 km rode with 2000 height meters) Saturday was planned to be a 2+ hour run/hike through a national park but a food poisoning destroyed that plan. Obviously Sunday wasn’t good for anything either
I hiked and ran along the forest near my home
Weekend had of a long bike ride through steep hills for 100k to arrive to the pool for 400m and 50m check-ups!
On sunday it was turn for the trails (I think those minimus trail are done :( )
Set out with a 10mile TT attempt on Saturday
Followed by a 35mile relaxed ride around local roads with some friends
Everything – easy runs, long run interval and LT
Saturday Subthreshold intervals followed by Sunday longer tempo ride.
2,5 hour bike ride for strength and 1 hour run on Saturday, 3 hour easy bike on Sunday; glad it’s rest week now, not the best weather in Germany for so many hours on the bike outside :)
A session on Trainerroad and chasing my 4-year-old around the park.
Hi Ray, due to illness there was nothing on my training log, but hopefully that’ll change soon, with a little help from you possibly more effective training than ever ;) Thank you!
Weekend workouts consisted of yoga and running both days
First time ever I ran (6km) to and from work place. Backpack with 17-inch notebook wasn’t help me much but I’m pretty happy finding new way to train without time for it :) And on sunday 8.4km with pretty good pace (for me).
Got to Level 9 on the 15m Bleep Test… Once a week is enough !
Just indoor bike intervals. It was cold and snowy here.
Saturday I did a virtual ride around Paris (41km with the Tacx trainer) while on Sunday I did a 5 km run and a 15 km ice skate on the Rideau canal in Ottawa. It was a ‘mild’ -42 C…..
A 30 minute high intensity indoor fluid trainer workout.
Eat, drink, bike
1 hr progression run.
I only did a 8k run last sunday because it was -22F outside the whole weekend!
Down with the flu…. Can’t wait to get back on the road.
Ride Zwift for 1hr in my garage pain cave.
Due to extremely cold temps (-11F) I did a lot of hot yoga class and only a short 2 mile run outside.