Heads up – Massive Sports Tech Holiday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech deals 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 2024 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.
16 miles run, 70 miles+ biking and a lot of swimming
Giving the better half a break and trying to look after two kids under four following a week away for work. If only they understood the need for Daddy’s bike time… :'(
I’m taking a sort-of break from training to go on a 3-day backpacking trip instead. So, not exactly a break, but not on my tri training plan either. Will be hiking around some lakes and hitting a few small peaks. Looking forward to it!
Weekend Beach vacation, 3 hr tempo ride Saturday, 1 hr swim/1 hr run Sunday, 1 hr bike/10 min transition run Monday
I have a long swim and a log run planned for the weekend followed by 12oz curls with some burger flipping.
75 mile bike ride in the mountains of CA!
Long group ride Saturday and then enjoying BBQ Sunday…and maybe Monday
I’m doing an 80 mile group ride and then shorter stuff on Sunday and Monday
Friday: On the hunt for a wedding dress for my sister in Chicago
Sat: Short run in the morning, dinner at the parents house, they are moving so last night as a family after 23 years
Sun: Packing parents moving truck, that counts as exercise, right?
Monday: Another run if I’m not to sore from loading the truck, BBQ at my house complete with family, lots of teenage boys eating all the food and 5 dogs. Supposed to rain. Can’t wait….
Going to Tinalapu island this weekend,easy swim in the morning and 5k run on the afternoon then chillin in the island
Running tonight until I get tired. BBQing with inlaws on Monday. Otherwise, a rare weekend off for me.
I’ll be happy with anything this week. Very few miles have been had lately…
3 mile interval run on the Saturday, 60 mile ride/3 mile run brick session on the Sunday. Plus helping my son learn to ride a bike.
Long rides now that the rain has stopped here on the east coast!
A couple of runs, and a couple more drinks
Going to beach with family, will have some seafood and a long run (HM distance) around the beach.
Short interval workouts carrying my son to the bathroom while potty training him. Cardio and strength workouts all in one.
Hopefully, I will get on a few climbs in Glacier Park this weekend. May be a rainy hike.
Biking, pastry, running, and lots of rest.
Recovery ride today, full rest day saturday, then fast group ride sunday. Extra day monday will be determined.. BBQ sounds good though :)
Ride as many miles as I can manage and get together with friends and family. Maybe watch the Indy 500?
three day weekend means three days to get out there on the bike and enjoy
I plan to do 2-3 long power walks and some strength training. The weather should be really nice.
After a week with a lot of biking the weekend is reserved for a long run, hopefully at least 10K
Headed to Deep Creek, MD: home of Savageman and the Garrett County Gran Fondo, to do some riding. Probably 50miles on sunday with at least 8K of climbing
At a conference today and taveling home all day Sat, so I’m hoping to get on the bike Sunday weather permitting.
Combination of running/biking and BBQing/smoking meat. Nothing like running and biking a ton in anticipation of grilled or smoked meats.
Escort my wife through her final prep for a half ironman (long ride, long run) and of course – setup to watch the 100th running of the Indy 500 on TV.
Saturday – 60km Group Ride followed by 30 min Run off the bike
Sunday – 1 hour run
Busy weekend at work spent moving quickly, dodging and at times cursing. As well as thinking how I need to get some swim time in before my sprint triathlon coming up!
Easy run on Friday, Swim and Bike on Saturday and Sunday, Long run on Monday
I’m going to do an OWS Saturday, and a run bike brick sunday.
Continue to hobble around on the walker as I recover from a fractured hip.
Riding the Challenge of the Centuries in Hartwell, GA. Barbecue at the neighbors house on Monday.
Recovery ride and another ride
My family is flying in from across the country to visit us and my 7-month old daughter- we’re so excited! I suspect the weekend will lean more towards the BBQ end of the spectrum rather than the training side!
Brick on saterday and swim on sunday.
Relaxing and grilling out with the fam.
Recovery Run on Saturday (8 mi), taking the family to the pool Sat and Sunday as well to beat the heat
Do my first century!
Short run today then construction of the new basement play area for my kids. Installing surveillance cameras inside and out and some new wifi access points.
Assuming I can get that stuff and the other chores done I’ll toss in a ride too.
First open water swim at the beach and a couple 10k over the long weekend!!!!
4 hour group ride on Saturday, 3 hours of intervals on Sunday, and recovery on Monday.
Volleyball tournament on saturday and a 5 or 10k race sunday ! Monday begins my week off to take care of my girlfriend and baby !
Sunday starts week 1 of my 10k training! It is going to be pretty hot here in Boston, so I think I’ll have to stick to the treadmill.
Will spend some time in the water (on a floating raft with an adult beverage….)
Saturday I have a 13K than Sunday a 32K and I will finish monday with 24K. It’s my training plan for the Beast of Burden 100
Trail run on Sat. Swim on Sun. Sleep in on Monday.
Hiking and camping in Shenandoah National Park.
Hopefully getting in a long run, which sadly right now would be 2 miles. Injuries really can throw you for a loop, but it’s time to saddle up, get back on the horse and Rule 5.
Also, I’m not sure if wedding dancing counts as cross-training, but I’m going to be sure to properly refuel with the appropriate carbs (crossing fingers for some great beer)
BBQ and the beach!
This sunday the 1/8 triathlon of Luttenberg in the Netherlands. Looking forward to this first one this year. Weather will be bad… Let’s see what happens…
Just had my gallbladder removed a week ago so I’m going to try to go for a short jog to get rid of all this gas! TMI? Probably.
Indoor bike intervals Friday (15 miles), then a 12.5 mile bike/3.1 mile run on Saturday. Back to indoor intervals on Sunday. Monday I will probably rest.
Saturday is my rest day, but on Sunday I will be doing a my long run within a 75-minute time constraint. Monday, I’m scheduled for a 30-minute recovery run, but I may add in some cross-training, as well.
Cycling pub crawl tonight, Parkrun tomorrow & London 10k on Monday.
First open water swimming this year.
Running Intervals 3x4x400m on Saturday
Cycling about 2h on Sunday or Running 1+h if it its raining.
Bike saturday, run Sunday, beer Monday. Hoping the forecasted storms have some breaks in them!
I am two weeks away from a Marathon. This Sunday I’ll be running 21 easy km.
Long indoor bike on saturday followed by some minutes running at high intensity.
Sunday will be a long(ish) run, 2hour~ if the weather is on my side!
Finally trying running again after taking weeks off because of a stupid injury
Starting some foam rolling on my IT band after my first physio appointment last week.
Saturday- open water swim 1.2 miles followed by 50+ miles on the bike
Sunday- 13 mile run followed by 25s on the bike
Getting a new TomTom Spark Cardio & Music delivered on Saturday so planning to do a few runs this weekend to test it out.
2 hour easy ride on both Saturday and Monday. Trying to nurse my wounded knee with an easy weekend.
Most likely running around with my child :)
Hopefully a bike ride with the family down to the lake (a whopping 2 miles each way) and/or a walk with the newborn in the stroller.
Planning to fit in a long bike ride and swim somewhere between the BBQs.
No extra training plans.
Tomorrow my little daughter has her “Little mountaineers” final climb on a nearby hill and on Sunday me and my work colleagues will attend a MTB event called “Team Time Ride” where the winner is not the team with the best time but the one closest to the average time.
Feet still healing from my first 100 run, hoping to get some cycling in to try out my new varia radar.
swimming Saturday, and running until I melt in the mid-atlantic heat Sunday.
2 hours on the bike followed by an hour run on Saturday
Recon climbing in preparation for an everesting attempt next month.
1/2 marathon trail run race!
Singing in concerts on Saturday and Sunday. Doing hill repeats on Monday (and homework).
Nice long run on Saturday and relaxing bike ride with family on Sunday
Trying to fix my IM run – run long, brick run, etc.
going for a relaxed tempo run Sat, sunday swim and Monday REST!!!!!
Mowing the lawn and some running
Still recovering from a long Grand Canyon run last weekend, so I’ll probably keep it simple and mostly eat. :)
Heading to the beach early Saturday morning. Plan to run Sunday and Monday…..sand = killer calf workout!
Mountain biking tonight, road riding tomorrow, running on Sunday, and road riding on Monday. Hoping the weather holds out!
Saturday: a hill climb with the family
Sunday: a joyful bikeride in the sun
Orienteering competition on Saturday, long run on Sunday.
Planning to do a short single speed ride and catch up on some sleep!
5 mile race Saturday… eating bacon on sunday (it’s a byob(acon) party at my house!)… recovering on monday.
This is a little backward, but I’ll mostly be recovering from a harder-than-usual week of training. Will go with something short and easy on both Saturday and Monday. Thanks for the give-away, Ray. Random number generator: Pick me, pick me!
8 miles on the road bike.
Not a special weekend and will do total 10k run in the botanic garden.
Long ride Saturday morning then painting the baby’s room. Easy run Sunday then more baby stuff. Beer Memorial Day
This weekend only a quick run in between of al planned family visits
Short run, which is equivalent to the hub’s long run. Sad face.
Laps in Central Park on Saturday and Monday, Sunday – CRCA race (~37 miles) in Central Park NYC on Sunday. 5:45AM START!
some interval-training on my indoor-bike! (bad weather ahead) :-(
A short run today, 25-30 mile hard bike effort Saturday, 5-6 mile run Sunday, nothing on Monday! Yay!!
Got a tendon firing up so I will just be doing some bike riding.
I’ll be running, swimming, and grilling.
Three hours of biking outside on Saturday and an hour and a half run on Sunday…last weekend before goal race.
Brick workout on Saturday at race tempo, Indy 500 on Sunday, and then 30-40 mile ride on Monday!
My training plans include doing a stage race of a circuit race of 30 mi followed by a 6 mi tt. sun is 47mi road race, and monday is a 40 min crit. After the crit will probably do some open water swimming and bbq.