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.
Upper body weights training followed by easy 20km ride on Saturday, Spin bike session followed by HIT on treadmill for Sunday session.
Mostly Zwifting with a little Pilates for core
Interval running, Stand Up paddle boarding and some hiking
Saturday – 90mins – building phase
Sunday – 90mins – building phase
lots of TDF replays
saturday 3.5 hour trainer ride using trainerroad and kickr, then 45 minute booty bootcamp
sunday 15 km run in -28C and then 45 minute booty bootcamp
No training due to a bad cold.
A nice 15km in a big city Park and a long walk followed by a yoga the next day.
I ran my second full marathon in three weeks in Fort Lauderdale (the first being Miami).
I was never a runner until now and I ran this past one in 4:57 reaching my goal to break 5 hours.
A long and easy cardio session.
Short, cold North Dakota runs.
Thanks for the giveaway Ray. Didn’t quite get what I wanted to done training, but it was an easier week anyway. On Saturday I did a swim workout for 110 min with my club then later on an easy 60 min ride using Trainer Road and Sunday did another easy 60 min ride using Trainer Road again. Skipped the run I had planned, but oh well.
training log for last week (busy week that it was). 3 weights sessions; 1 turbo session, 1 LSD run and 1 orienteering training session. Variety is the spice of life :-)
-15degC here on the weekend so 1 hour spin class (at gym), 1 hour treadmill running (at gym), 1 hour drooling over Fenix 3 HR (at dcrainmaker.com)
I did some work on my bike trainer and very wet 10k. Thanks Oregon weather
I spent most of my week-end in airports or planes, but I ran as soon as possible in the morning heat (a sluggish agonizing 8km…)
Sunday was 50 minutes of Spin and a 30 minute run. Saturday was our anniversary so it was a rest day though we did about an hour of hilly snowshoeing together!
I actually did run a 10k on Saturday. Training for a half the first week of March.
I had a 40 minute run on Saturday, where I tried to stay in V02Max speed zone for as long as possible. Managed it but was gasping…..Later that afternoon I did a quiet 20 minute swim.
On Sunday I went out and ran a moderately sedate but hilly 16k long run.
4 solid days of training on the trainer.
spent the weekend discovering new trails on my mountain bike, nothing structured just a good pace and plenty of fresh scenery.
My training log consisted of marathon #2 – Mercedes Marathon followed by a nice easy 30 minute ride
Wow what a terrific training week for me consisting swimming, biking and running in both the Philippines and Republic of Korea! Got in a 50K bike on Clark AB, 10 Miler run up to Sapang Bato, 4 Mile jungle trail run and few 1,000M meter pool swims all in PI, arrived in Korea and had a nice 10K around Yongsan Army South Post and will run tonight with a drinking buddies. Life is gr8 in Asia; OnOn to more super training and racing in Asia!
Preparing for the the Roxk n Roll Half-marathon. One long run of 2 hrs on Sunday.
Fishing Trip in the cold northwest of Indiana. Nothing was caught, but good times hiking in the woods and along the streams.
160k ride with 3.500 ascent towards a skiing center and plenty of cold beers on the way back.
Swim/Bike/Run
500 pool
15 bike
5 run
My first adventure race – The Falls Creek Mountain Raid. 16 hours & ~100 km over two days.
swimm drills all week long as well + bike trainer sessions + gym
Last weekend, I actually had to cancel my training plans due to a family medical emergency. Because of the medical situation, I ended up moving a lot of snow and splitting a fair amount of firewood.
The previous weekend, I put in a 19 mile run, and this weekend, I’m going to catch up with a 1000 yard swim, a 4.5 mile trail run, and a 15-17 mile run with some friends who are training for Boston.
I completed my base period on the trainer with an easy Saturday ride. Onward to the build phase using trainerroad.
I did ‘HiiT’ training chasing my 2yr old (Love to see the HRM data on that)
Then ‘Core Strength’ exercises by lying on the floor holding my 3mth old while the 2yr old used me as a plyo box
3 hour bike w/30 min brick and 2 hour run.
Downhill skiing with my boys and some quality trainer time.
16k ride to Tri training. Slow speed bike skills. 3.5k fast run. 1km swim. 16k home.
The dreaded hill repeats since I did the long run midweek.
3 mile run just getting back into running using my Garmin 220 after a winter layoff due to work!
In China for work so I was stuck on a bad stationary bike watching TV I didn’t understand…
2 mile run and repeats
I worked through recovery, being ill with cold and having a hard workout with the ACA in Austin, TX…now on to training camp in AR…
I did my first 10K !!!! And now I’m going for more :)
M: Off
T: 4×10 – 30s@105% and 2min@95% | 1.25hr
W: Off
R: 2×20@95% | 1.5hr
F: 2hrs Z2 with some cadence drills and techniques
S: 4hrs Z2 group ride
S: 4×8@100%
Just double checked the requirements and you only wanted the weekend training log…well you go the whole week!
No workout. Wife Boston training so st v gift was watching kids all weekend.
Light snow forced a 4.75 mile run on the treadmill
Three running workouts, with fartleks, lsr, and hill drills.
I got a new fat bike. Love it entered the Maah Daah Hey race in ND and so training to get fit. Lots 54 pounds last year goal this year though Cycling to loose another 50 . Thank for all the info and motivation.
Presidents’ Day Weekend:
Saturday: morning run, afternoon swim
Sunday: morning run, afternoon planned race calendar for spring/summer
Monday: afternoon swim
TomTom Spark is much better than my old Nike Sportwatch, but its use in the pool seems to be limited to stopwatch mode – it misses many lengths.
A few long hikes in the desert (Canyonlands) in the snow!
Hello DCR! Enjoy your site daily. As you may know, this past weekend in the U.S. mid-atlantic was a 3-day winter mess. Two days of sub-freezing weather meant 1 hour indoors each day on the elliptical on Saturday and Sunday. (Caught up on Flash and Arrow on the ipad!) Hip coffee shop Vigilante in Hyattsville, MD with my valentine. Then Monday meant a workout shoveling snow. Back on the bike Tuesday for the commute to work. Hankering for longer rides soon….
Island loop in Singapore.
Saturday: Long bike, 4×10 min tempo up long climb.
Sunday: Long run, 15 miles with 2×10 min 10k pace mixed in
Knee healed, foot healed. Starting running again 2 weeks ago. Last week I logged 25 miles on the treadmill.
2/9/16-5×1 mile repeats with 400m recovery jog, 2/10/16-7 mile easy run, 2/11/16- 4 mile tempo run at 6:35 pace. 2/13/16 LA big 5k in 19:28, 2/14/16-8 mile easy run
A couple of 8 mile commuter rides, some done in sub-zero temperatures. Isn’t Clever Training in Florida?
2 road rides. The snow is melting, but still a little too muddy for mtb
last weekend : only TRX!
4 Mile Race (running) on Saturday and 35 Mile speed work (road bike) on Sunday.
Jut some short runs as -25 was a bit too cold for a long one.
11 mile run Saturday, Fatbike ride Sunday
14 miles with a HRM that needs to be replaced. My garmin app kept telling me that my HR was 30.
Five vo2 max intervals for 3 min each. Then 2 by 15 sweet spot intervals. I hate myself. Sunday, easy ride outside
Did my 5k valentine run
I did a 50kms recovery ride on the Saturday, well recovery pace!
Friday- Easy 4 run Saturday- Rest Day Sunday- Mercedes Half Marathon
Sadly nothing, but I watched eight hockey games as my kids played in a tournament. Soon, the seasons will change!
Just recovery in the gym for me :(
bike trainer, bike trainer, bike trainer, hockey and then hockey again
Weekend away for my birthday, so no training for me.
5K Sunday in 0°F. Hoping for warmer weather!
1) Friday: 10k run at just under 6min per km pace.
2) Sunday: 10k easy run approx. 6:30 per km pace.
3) Wednesday: 4mm Run Intervals at approx 5min per km pace with 1 minute rest in between, repeat 8 times.
4) Saturday: 20km bike ride attempt at an approx. 25km/h speed.
I started recently, so I’m slow on all aspects. But I feel GREAT!!
Recovering from knee injury so my runs are spaced by a few days but I still managed a couple (slow) 10 milers and added 2 weight lifting sessions along with a spin Class to boot.
I’ll be recovering this weekend from a slip last weekend. Hoping it will be warm enough to take my daughter out for a walk.
I set out on the trails to formally begin training for Cascade Crest 100.
A couple of hour-long runs, one flat, one hilly.
100km cycling up and down Tama river in Tokyo, Japan.
I did an hour and a half on the bike. It was largely endurance with a few intervals of sweet spot. I usually do this while listening to you guys on the podcast!
Saturday: brick in Albert park along the F1 circuit: BIKE: 2 5km laps race pace, 1 easy, 2 race pace
RUN: piramid interval race pace [1 2 3 4 3 2 1] with 1 min recovery pace in between
Sunday: RUN interval 4x[7min Z4 + 3min Z3]
The wife and I went for a long ride (without the kid for a change) in uncharted territory for us on an awesome 78 degree Northern California day.
PS – for reals Ray ya gotta check out the Thule ride along now. I use one on my aluminum roadie.
Saturday: 4 mile run
Sunday: 1 hour trainer ride and 3 mile run with the wife.
Short treadmill run on Saturday. Tried for a longer run on Sunday, but strong winds and freezing temps had me heading home after only about 7 miles. :(
I work Sundays but I cycled long (for me) on Saturday and Monday.
I did the 3rd week of Couch-to-5K program.
Rode Zwift for one hour. It’s kinda lame but it’s better than nothing, besides I am no fan of riding in 10 deg F weather.
2500 yard swim. All pull due to sprained ankle!
Installing flooring and lights into the roof cavity to allow me to reclaim my study. At long last I might have room to set the trainer up again and put some distance in the legs after little person bed time.
A 5 mile run on roads close to home on Sunday afternoon replaced my normal 6-8 mile trail run – just too cold for that stuff last weekend and wanted to stay close to home/family. Saturday workouts vetoed by dead furnace and frozen water pipes
I ran for 30 minutes, foam rolled, stretched, and did 5 minutes of planks on Saturday. On Sunday I did an 8 mile run and then stretched and foam rolled.
First week of half marathon training going rough after taking too much time off
I’m training for my first 50 mile. Since I live in Alaska I had a couple of days of long treadmill workouts. Thankful that is over and ready for the Sun.
No workouts last weekend due to weather, but did go with the wife to order her new ride for the upcoming season.
Nothing at all, as I was injured. But getting back in the game!
Few strengthening trainings at the gym plus a run inside.
I went to an Orange Theory (HIIT) class on Saturday and Sunday rode my bike
nowhere on the trainer. Too cold for me outside!
First tempo run for my sub-65 training: 1.61km of easy run -> 25 mins tempo -> 1.61km easy run. Achieved PB pace.
Friday evening: 20k speedwork/interval running
Saturday: 33k mud trail. More mud than trail.
Sunday: 25k recuperation in the rain
Long run around the park pushing a stroller. Needed Sunday off.
Saturday: 14 mile trail run race – Cross Timbers trail run
Sunday: Turbo trainer 95′, warm up and a pyramid 3,5,7,9,7,5,3 at pwr z3 and 100+ cadence with 2′ easy between each step. Cool down.
1h30 of home traîner friday, 5k swim saturday and 1h of home traîner sunday
The hubs and I did a romantic trainer ride on Sunday. Too many hours on a trainer. Woof.
A cold run and a warm swim
Met my former teammates in sunny SoCal for a training camp. Covered 160 miles and 16000 feet of climbing over 3 day weekend.