Sports Tech Summer Deals Still Live! A huge number of the Amazon deals are still going! This includes the Garmin Epix for just $459, and the Fenix 8 for $150 off. The Apple Watch Series 10 for $279, the GoPro Hero 13 Black for $329, smart trainers, drones, action cams, and plenty more! Go check out the full list here!
I’m DC RAINMAKER…
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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Think my written reviews are deep? You should check out my videos. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth!
Smart Trainers Buyers Guide: Looking at a smart trainer this winter? I cover all the units to buy (and avoid) for indoor training. The good, the bad, and the ugly.
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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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FAQ’s
I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. Below are the most popular.
- Do you have a privacy policy posted?
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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.
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!
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.
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!
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.
Half marathon in 6 weeks. So slow 15K run hopefully in 1:15:00. Then a nice lunch with friends :)
Friday trail run, Saturday morning open water swim, then paddleboarding, Sunday long run and kayaking, Monday lap swim.
I’ll be going for a long ride to burn off all the calories I ate tonight at a going away party for some friends.
50Mile ride on Sunday and some rowing in between.
A workout combo of lawn work and getting some middle distance runs in all three days.
After a 18 km run this Saturday, I expect to do another 20+ km long run either in the Forest, or uphill if it’s too rainy/muddy (I can hear the storm right now…)
Thanks anyway for the giveaway!
I have a bike fit Saturday morning and plan to ride later, weather permitting. A short run on Sunday with a pool swim. No plans yet for Monday.
Bike, run on Saturday. Bike on the holiday Monday in the UK.
Finally re-starting my bike training, six weeks after I crashed my wrist in April.
A 10k, a 5k, BBQ, and maybe jump into a last minute Memorial Day race.
Five mile runs on Saturday & Monday. BBQ on Sunday.
In injury recovery mode, so bike ride and swim and BBQ!!
I’m going to the Indy 500 this weekend! Working through the half-million people crowd will be my cardio. I also might do an open water swim on Monday.
Training indoor and watching the giro.
Yeaaaa spectacular…
I’m still learning how to stay for a long time in HR Zone 2, so I’m pretty sure I’ll try to keep as calm as I can for as long as I can.
Maybe an 8 mile “long run” (I’ve dropped back the distance this year), maybe a 20 mile bike ride, maybe a little floating in the pool. But definitely burgers on the grill!
I’m going to learn swim and hm run on this sunday.
To be honest: nothing!
Easy 10km run through Godswood…
5 miles easy run, moped ride, play in the park, pick strawberries, tubing behind the pontoon and a couple more short runs.
Recovery ride after back slipped disk
1800 yards in the pool, then a return to running on Sunday after a first date with tendinitis.
I’ll go for a longer run, but not too long, as I’ve got a 5k race on Tuesday. I’ll try to get a nice sunny ride in as well!
My wife and I have a 600K randonneur bike event next week so we are chilling here in DC, resting our legs. I’ll get the tandem to the shop for a little repair, and try to get lots of sleep.
Crossfit partner work out in am and my bike with kids in the afternoon
Saturday – long run
Sunday – recovery run
Monday – beer run
I’ll have a nice evening on the tennis court today and tomorrow will have a regular freeletics session.
Finding my shoes and remembering how to get a long run in.
Nursing an injury, so will be doing some walking and planning activities for next weekend.
Chicago Marathon training for me.
Taking a few recovery days after a five day bike tour around Wisconsin.
On business travel to the us, but still trying to get in the km in during the week.
Kayaking in the back bay!
Two workouts planned over the long weekend. Starting Friday with a boot camp workout with CG for an hours or so then on Sunday hitting the pavement early with nice 65min training run with my wife and friends at IRun. Later on Sunday hitting a winery to have a picnic and listen to some Blues. Have fun everyone—keeptraining.
Recovering from my hangover on Saturday. On Sunday, loads of biking to and from different disc golf courses.
Recharge batteries and gym to prepare for another week of speedy commuting :)
Couple of big rides on Saturday and Sunday, taking inspiration from the giro
Some interval running with micoach.
I planned to ride a little bit but the rain decided something else so … it will be eating with family on sunday and work on monday !
I’m doing destination running: 8.5 mile run from Strasbourg into Germany
Thunderstorm planned throughout the week-end here, managed to get a 13k dry run this morning, tomorrow morning will probably be road bike repetitions on the hill next door to be able to reach shelter in 5min
Running a 1/2 marathon on Sunday – probably sandwiched between two bike rides. Hoping they’re wrong about our rain.
Well, today I’ve run for 5K and plan to swim 1,5-2K tomorrow.
Does watching baseball count? Taking it a bit easy this long weekend, but probably a bike ride Monday.
MTB action in the not too distant future once my week of work comes to an end…
Long trail run, last one before next Weeks’s race.
2 mile lake swim tomorrow. In under a week, temp has gone from “should I get a sleeved wetsuit” to wetsuit-illegal.
I will do a swim session on Saturday and a long run on Sunday.
Still don’t know if the run will be on road or a trail though :)
Working in the local bike shop in Brisbane all weekend, but I will get in two rides with some threshold/sweet spot intervals on my Speed Concept for an upcoming 40km TT.
After doing a bike/run brick last night, it’s going to be an easy weekend.
Today the weekend started with a Run/Bike/Run/Bike brick training session. Tomorrow fly out 6am to NYC and will do 75 minute run in the evening. Monday is 90-minute bike spin before flying out Tuesday to Aviles, Spain for my race!!
5 miles, BBQ and beers
Just a 35k slow pace Run !
Bike ride Saturday, 10-mile run Sunday, and baseball (watching, not playing) on Monday.
Not much on the training side, but I am running the Ottawa marathon tomorrow :)
Participating in my 1st Tri. It’s Olympic:)
Running a 7k after a cold. Will also try to go do some laps at the pool
Hill climbing and long miles, mixed with a lot of spring cleaning and some grilling.
Unfortunately, I’ll be studying hard for exams. I can’t wait to get back out on the bike again. The great weather is back and I am stuck inside the library:(
Just a 5K race on Sunday, followed by a BBQ!
Easy running – max 25 km during the weekend. It’s too hot to try more… or perhaps it’s jest me being too lazy ;)
16k running race with +700m elevation on sunday.
25km trail run on sunday.
5k Parkrun on Saturday, 5k run Sunday, 20-30k mountain bike shakedown on Monday in preparation for a 100 mile South Downs epic one in July…
A dog walk and a bbqed tofu steak–taking it easy this weekend!
Only one sunny day in the forecast, so taking a nice long bike ride while I can. Then hiding indoors for the rest of the rainy weekend.
Hill Sprints , 10k run on Monday
I will do 90 min SST on Zwift and 10 km run this Sunday. Cheers.
Grandmother in-law’s 90th birthday party this weekend, easy 5 miles Monday.
Planning on a couple of long bike rides, endurance pace. Hope the weather is favorable!
Got my hard ride in early on Friday so I can spend the weekend cruising at the beach. Also, hot dog!
New giveaway! Woo hoo! I did a swim workout this morning and this afternoon I am hoping on the trainer to do a Trainer Raod sub-threshold interval workout. Tomorrow morning it is out for a ~80 min long run.
I still have a few weeks to go to recover from an injury, so my training plans are all about resting :)
Preparing for a short trip to the Pyrenees on the cheap!
Having a cookout with friends and family at the lake and hanging out!!
Heading out for a 60 + mile ride today. Tomorrow will be a run day.
Rebuilding the cross bike after a hard winter of riding
Well, it will be a long run today (it’s National Burger Day, by the way), an easy run tomorrow, and then some strength training and a long ride on Monday. Have a great weekend everyone!
Jog around Toulouse avoiding the protests! :-)
Long ride on Saturday, Climbing on Sunday, and the Boulder Boulder on Monday.
Hi,
I did a long slow distance run on saturday in a hilly environment and will do a recreational 15km run on sunday.
Tom.
Planning a metric century ride.
back to the gym this weekend – first gym session after finally correcting a downslip that went undetected for nearly 10 years!!
Recovering from a PB at the half marathon, so an easy run on Sunday.
Saturday 5 mile run & Monday 3 mile run through the campground. Sunday strength training. The rest of the time hanging with the fam on this fabulous long weekend!
Long run on Saturday, Off sunday
1.5k lake swim, 20 in turbo with 4 x 2min race pace intervals, followed the next day with an olympic distance tri. Gutted however that this tri will be my first DNF as I have a hip injury and cannot run.
Today a long run and an easy bike tomorrow to get fresh legs. buidling up to 70.3 Texas
2h 15min of running and 4hours of cycling. Loving it!
I’ll be doing FTP intervals Sunday and a nice long ride for recovery on Sunday. Hopefully the rain holds off.
Flying out to ROME! Of course I’ll be tracking my activity using my Withings watch ?
Did a 25 min run today, pretty hot those day in Montreal.Tomorrow plan 50 min, monday back to work!
Preparing for a 5k on Tuesday next week, planned some speed work and some strength training.
HiiT me: 30x 40/20s (Saturday), 4x4m (Sunday)
12 miles Saturday and 16 miles Sunday.
5 hours on the bike around Box Hill with the missus. Shepperton lake Sunday morning interspersed with watching rugby and beers. Utopia
This my last giveaway entry…until the one next month!
Getting in lots of bike rides this weekend.
Thanks Ray!
hill repeats on Saturday and Z2 ride on Sunday
I’ve got my first long run ever tomorrow ahhh!