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.
Ehhhhhhhh I watched some sports on TV if that counts?
Saturday: just a brief spin around the block for 45min
Sunday: my first proper long run this year (29k). Tried out a new route around northern Munich and discovered a fairly newly created nature reserve squeezed between the soccer arena, motorway and a recycling plant. Quite happy about it, because there is going for sure an abundance of butterflies to watch there in summer :-)
No I now longer need to take the are to get to a place to watch loads of these guys :-)
Travelled to a new location to ride our fat bikes in the mountains with my husband and another couple on Saturday, then did my first hour long run on the mend of bad left hip. Georgeous weather and lots of sunshine!
A long slow distance run!
4x400m run interval at Z4 with easy 5 min jog in-between. Thanks DCR!
Was traveling but managed a 3.5 mile jog along the beach and a 30 minute workout with what weights I could find at the hotel.
This last weekend I was able to do a short run of 5 miles followed by core muscle training. IT WAS A GREAT WEEKEND!!!
I plan to get a couple of miles in on Saturday, a short swim, and, weather permitting, fifteen miles or so on the bike on Sunday. Now, if it’d only stop snowing.
Last weekend was freezing cold in Michigan. Like single digits, negative wind chills kind of cold… Saturday was a 4 mile pace run. I was able to keep my pace the first 3 miles and then I hit a stretch a snow covered sidewalks. So, that slowed me down, and I decided to run 5. Sunday was long run day! After having to get a new parks sticker and the fiancé realizing he forgot his running shoes, we got the miles in (a little later than anticipated).
HIIT Training session consisted of four rounds of kettlebell swings / box jumps / pull ups / weighted rows + rowing machine
Thx
Saturday turbo training on Zwift, Sunday a nice long run!
Last weekend was a moderate run of 9 miles since I am training for a half marathon coming up next month! We also just recently started to convert our garage into a gym, so moving around heavy equipment was a workout in itself. Thanks for all you do, Ray!
Did a fartlek swim in the pool! Trying to stay warm in the Midwest winter!
I did a quick and energetic yoga workout.
I was watching the rain pouring down the window with an injured hip (it rained continuously for some 8 hours or so… plenty of time, sigh).
It’s still the base period and anatomical adaptation for strength training. So hit the gym twice and did one run, one bike ride and one swimming. I also went snowboarding on Saturday!
Last weekend was tough training for me. Friday I did 1 hour spinning session at my local club, Saturday was 15km run in wet, medium snowfall, and Sunday was 12km snowy bike ride plus 1 hour football practice in the evening. I was completely spent but sometimes it’s good to do a bit more.
I did a 5k race on Saturday and then an easy run on Sunday. Was down in Pensacola and both runs were BEAUTIFUL.
parkrun with my adult daughter whose internal argument about how much she was hating was so loud I could hear it. Still we finished together and she was glad the complete it argument had beaten the stop one.
Endurance ride of 130 k, with a few harder efforts on small hills.
I was training with the Sworkit app in my Ipad. Every day i did 10 min lower body training. I hope the weather turn to better and i will cycling with my new Edge 520 :)
Road bike and was planning long run but no show contractors killed that 2nd part :(
A 3 mile run without stopping and a hour long barre session!
A bit of an indoor tri – spinning class, treadmill run, hit the pool – in the unconventional brs order.
Last weekend I was ‘enjoying’ -30C in Ottawa. I didn’t do any regular training, but I did skate on the Rideau canal for the first time!
Saturday was a 35 mile easy group bike ride and a 2500 yard swim SWOLF 30. Sunday was also an easy 25 mile bike to watch the Glendale IMS marathon. Then back for an easy 5 k run.
A decent 5k run around my girldriend’s place, followed by a night of dancing and a very late night soak in the hot tub!
Skipped training and visited my folks for the weekend. Plenty of 12oz curls!
A nice easy “as you feel” 11k with a friend.
I was supposed to go out and enjoy my new cross-bike, but due to a nasty virus affecting the whole family, the final workout was pushing the twins in the stroller through the Aquarium in Munich :)
Absolutely nothing. Running the kids around.
24km long run, slowly……very slowly………..too slowly
100k ride to keep my randonneur P12 streak alive and hill repeats to catch up on the Strava February climbing challenge.
Last weekend was a killer long ride on Saturday and the run/speed work on Sunday. Legs were trashed Sunday night. Felt awesome.
4000yd swim with the local masters group and a 7 mile easy run with the tri club.
This weekend i had 2 resting days – intensity level 1 garmin wise.
On Saturday, I went on a long bike ride to get ready for an upcoming 106 mile race. Tons of personal “2nd place” medals on Strava, so not too shabby! Followed it up with some much needed rest on Sunday.
Hitting back at winter with some Fat Bike action and keeping the legs moving with some treadmill efforts. On the couple bad days, Zwift was the answer. At least the days are getting longer!
Due to illness (and Valentine’s day) we spent the weekend away from home at a resort for some family time. If I was healthy, I would have been prepping for South African Xterra Championships that is happening this weekend
I did a 2h walk/hike through the woods with my 1year old son in my shoulders… the nicest 8kg weight to keep recovering from my jumpers knee issue.
Weekend long run:
* 110 minutes at Z2
* 20 minutes at Z4
25K run on Saturday in Budapest with the last 10K around 4:10/K. Sunday was an easy 7k run.
Suffering. And by that I mean I was supposed to do 8 miles but was at 7200+ ft in New Mexico and died after 3.
16 mile long run in preparation for Boston. Not as long as I was hoping but excited to be running my first Boston this year!
SATURDAY
Workout 1
Swim
FOCUS: Aerobic/Threshold
WARM UP:
300 to 500 smooth choice of strokes
PRE-MAIN:
100 smooth
2 x 75 build easy to fast
3 x 50 progress 1 to 3 to fast
4 x 25 fast. ALL 15 sec rest throughout.
MAIN SET:
6 x 75 at 85% on shortest send off, 30 sec rest.
300 SBB at 80%, 1 min rest.
6 x 75 at 85% on shortest send off, 30 rest.
300 Snorkel at 80%, 1 min rest.
8 x 50 85-90% with shortest send off.
400 at best effort (aiming to be NEAR the pace/per 100 you did to begin the set).
View Full Workout
Workout 2
Key Run
FOCUS: Muscular Endurance
This run is pure muscular endurance and maintenance. Should be completed on rolling or flat terrain. We simply evolve the duration, but sneak it in as a sign of things to come, by adding some strides and hill power at the end of the run.
WARM UP:
5 min walk into 10 min easy jog including 2-3 min dynamic stretches.
MAIN SET:
50 – 80 minutes Z2 throughout. Nudge effort on any hills Z2/Z3, but holding good form and not creeping up.
Keep a LID on heart rate here. Nothing forces you to lose the ability to chat, and HR never creeps above Z2/Z3 to Z3.
ADDITIONAL SET:
4 x 20 sec Z5 effort with good form on a 6-10% grade. Walk down or 1 to 1.5 min complete rest between.
View Full Workout
SUNDAY
Workout 1
Key Bike
FOCUS: Endurance
We go on a bigger gear, muscle-tension endurance focus. A challenging session that will stretch. If able to ride outside, then take advantage with a steady endurance session (which is preferred always).
WARM UP:
10 min easy spin
PRE-MAIN:
3 x 3 min Z2 (1 min 70, 1 min 80, 30 sec 90, 30 sec 100 rpm). No breaks.
MAIN SET:
2 x (3 min Z2/Z3 to Z3 at 35-45 rpm with 1 min Z1 choice)
2 min easy spin
4 x (1.5 min Z3 at 45-55 rpm with 1 min Z1 choice)
2 min easy spin
6 x (1 min Z3 at 55-65 rpm with 1 min Z1 choice)
ADDITIONAL OPTION:
10-15 min smooth Z2/Z3 fluid and steady form-based riding at choice rpm.
OUTSIDE OPTION: – You can accumulate an enjoyable form-based endurance ride, up to 3 hours. No need to add intervals, but a smooth Z2 ride.
Only focus is the initial 15-20 minutes of Z1, small chain ring fast rpm (over 100 rpm) to begin and finish the ride.
3 runs, 1 bike 2 days of laying tiled floor in my basment
A good swim session on Saturday was on the books and completed. Felt great.
Hill repeats and a 8x400m interval workout!
I spent the weekend skiing in achensee.
I just went for a walk on the weekend …… a half-marathon walk!
Atlantic open water swimming, brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Saturday – 30 minutes high intensity interval training. 30 Minutes every minute on the minute training. 60 minutes of mitt class kickboxing. Capped the day off with a 10 mile fat bike ride on snow covered single track with my dog leading the way…awesome!
Sunday – 20 mile fat bike ride in fresh powder…more awesomeness!!!
I did the first time kettlebell training. I couldn’t walk for 2 days after it
Saturday – 3 hour steady trainer ride with 30 minute steady brick run.
Sunday – 75 minutes of 3 minute 7:35 intervals and 45 minute high cadence spin on bike.
90mins of turbo trainer bike
Just the daily treadmill grind. 30 minutes a day in front of the TV, instead of wet everything.
Long and easy run with a colleague on Sat, and easy run by myself on Sun. First days of nice weather in Norway this year, so really enjoyable!
My train home involved a 45km bike Road ride which involved me carrying my bike over 2km worth of mud track
Saturday 2.5 Hour Trainer Ride w/Intervals
Sunday 90 Minute Run
What I actually accomplished was laying in bed trying to get healthy.
Thanks for this giveaway! And thanks for the site! Last weekend I did an easy 10 mile run, a couple of mountain bike rides, and lots of walking around watching a youth soccer tournament.
Morning : 1h30 swim workout
40mins bike on the trainer.
It was -40 Sunday so I stayed inside.
Finished up the Tour of Sufferlandria on TrainerRoad.
Weights at the gym, trip to the dog park with my Boxer on Sat. Followed by gym on Sunday along with lots of snow blowing/shoveling :)
2.5 hours with Z3 and Z4 intervals on Saturday.
90 minutes Z2 with strides on Sunday.
25k run training.
Just running, but all around me there was stunning nature so I pretty enjoyed it.
Indoor cycling with sufferfest videos!
50 mile on Saturday and 70 mile on Sunday, got to make the most of a few dry days when they come around.
Love me some Zwifting. Getting back in shape isn’t easy but Zwift’s new workouts are a fantastic tool. Last week I was beaten by ‘The McCarthy Special’
Bummer for workouts this weekend. Normally get to do about a 30 mile bike ride and perhaps some swimming or running to go along with it. This weekend was limited to walking do to doctors orders (stitches). Hope to get back at it in the next couple of weeks would be even better with new gear.
The Coach scheduled a 2 hour tempo Ride on Saturday and a 45 minute easy run on Sunday.
I did zero.
Although, we did cook some healthy meals for the upcoming week. That counts for something, right?
Just started back running so an easy 3 miles on Sunday
Trainerroad Sprint Triathlon Base workout Saturday morning and a 3 mile run in the evening.
2 hours easy endurance ride on trainer road and sunday 1 hour cleaning the chain off my commuter bike.
Saturday 21k @ 5:00 min/km and a well deserved pizza after the run
Sunday 15k @ 5:30 min/km
Starting to get tempo road runs back into the program.
20 mile trail run on Saturday
1 hour easy recovery run on Sunday
I jogged a nice even 10k, keeping my HR below 150, on Saturday with some friends and then did some strength training after. Sunday was my day off so I just did some yoga, stretching, and foam rolling.
Run on Saturday and run on Saturday, Quick and easy! ;)
Crushed a 12 mile run on Saturday concluding my second consecutive week at 40 miles. Feeling lucky and needing (ok, more like wanting) a 920xt.
Saturday max power intervals on the trainer and sunday leg workout at the gym with 30min spin before and after.
Did interval run/walk training on sat – warm up 5 minutes then ran 90sec/fast walk 60 seconds -repeated 5 times
Sunday-yoga (to stretch my sore muscles lol)
Was in AZ for the kids swim meet.
So I fit in a couple 5 mile runs between sessions.
Thanks for the give away.
Last week i had 7 bicycle workouts, 3 outdoor runs, 1 indoor run and 1 row machine exercise.
No cycling because I was ill so stretching on Saturday and foam rolling in Sunday.
I did The Sufferfest – Power Station and a short spin outside.
Valentine’s Day Kaiser Half Marathon with my main man
65km ride with friends on saturday and rest on sunday
I did intervals on Saturday morning and strength training that evening. On Sunday I had a long ride with a friend.
Nice brisk walk through the snowy streets of Chicago! And some swimming – indoors, of course.
I decided to follow your advice from a previous post of navigating my way around Heathrow Airport on a run/ obstacle course.
Still more fun than just a local known route!
10 mile run at Cherry Creek Reservoir
Cutback week so 20km Sunday run and some hotspring soaking.
Swim workout on Sunday.
So far, 2016 has not been very good (training wise). Last weekend, I got in a couple walks in single digit (oF) temps, but that was it. Hoping for some better weather soon. Thanks for setting up the “Gadget Giveaway”!
Hit the treadmill saturday for 15k and then a very hilly 32k on Sunday for my Boston prep.
Hit the slopes for some serious powder. Also pulled the kids up a hill on their sled (that counts right?)
Saturday: Bike – 4hs30 60-70% HR Max with 6x5k 70-80% HR Max
Sunday: Bike – 2hs with 3x3k high cadence. Run – 6k recovery
Would like to get the PowerTap G3 Hub Power Meter.
Run 10km in – 15 degree centigrade..
Just a short run. Not the most pleasant weather for training here in Moscow.