I came up with idea to live blog my tournament, and it ain't even live. Well, I guess it's sort of live? Anyway, I'm going to attempt to live blog my tournament today. We're playing at this place in the Baltimore area called The Volleyball House. It has 6 volleyball courts that are used for tournaments, leagues, practices, and even baton twirling! I actually play here on Sundays and Mondays in leagues, and my USAV team has held practices here. ...

A couple of weeks ago, I was invited to join my parents for some speed training and conditioning at my little brother's high school in D.C. I know that sounds weird, but I am not using any metaphors, people. This is real life! There is a nice football field at the school that is basically empty on Sunday mornings. This field would serve as the perfect location for sprints and lots of sweating. Fortunately, the ground was dry, because there is no fun in running on a slippery surface! The temperature was great for running sprints outdoors in the late fall, and there wasn't much wind to add more difficulty to the workout. ...

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Dunkin’ Brands. I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation. Want to know a secret that's not really a secret? I am a major coffee lover. Like, I have a coffee maker 5 feet from my bed, coffee lover. I'm not ashamed, though. Coffee gets me going in the morning, and really helps give me that extra boost when I have a long day with a late-night community meeting tacked on at the end. Thank you, coffee! ...

Happy Hump Day, y'all! I'm linking up with the lovely ladies in the WOW Linkup, per usual, so be sure to check them out if you get a few extra minutes! I'm just going to dive right in with this Workout Wednesday post, because it's getting late, and my zen is starting to wear off. ( Is that a thing? ) As you know, I usually take Wednesdays off, but I recently decided to turn my rest day into a yoga day, because stretching is super important, and yoga is so good for that! ...

Anybody who says their gym clothes don't stink either has never worn them, or is a bald-faced liar. There! I said it! Now that we've got that little bit out of the way, let's have a serious conversation about the stank that lies within your gym clothes. I don't know about you guys, but for some reason -- thanks to all of the layers I wear due to the cold weather -- I don't realize just how funky and sweaty my workout clothes can get in the winter! After my race last weekend, when I got to the gym where I had my volleyball tournament, and took off my running clothes... Woooo! Talk about funky! (Thank God I had some wipes, because that was not cute.) By the end of the day, those funky running clothes had just been stewing in my gym bag, begging to be washed. And wash them I did! When I got home, I took my funky volleyball and running clothes, a bottle of WIN, and got to it! ...

I wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!  Now, please excuse me while I go calculate how much I'm going to have to work out the rest of the year to make up for all of the calories I'm about to consume... Gobble gobble, y'all! ...

I came, I ran, I conquered! Is it possible for a runner's high to last more than 24 hours, because I think that's what might be happening with me? On Saturday, I ran my very first 10k. I trained for a couple of months, even doing the unthinkable -- running in the freezing cold ! The hard work paid off, and I was very proud of this accomplishment. I'm not a marathon runner (yet) or a Speedy Gonzalez (probably never), but I am super satisfied with myself because I was able to achieve something that I never would have thought I'd be able to. To me, that's more important than the amount of time it took, or the fact that I didn't run the marathon. Setting and achieving personal goals are way more important than comparing yourself to others, which often prepares you for major letdowns and defeat. Learn to celebrate these personal victories, friends! ...

Happy Hump Day, friends! As I lay under my heated blanket, drinking a glass of wine, I reflect on how cold today has been. It has been cold. Very. I also now realize that this is exactly how I ended my day yesterday. Note: This cannot become a trend... Or can it...? Today is Wednesday, as previously established, which means that it is time to link up with Diatta and the gang for the WOWlinkup ! You guys will be super proud of me (I hope) for deciding to actually exercise today, instead of using today as a rest day. ...

Happy Tuesday, y'all! I hope your day has been fantastic! I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but it is FREEZING here... literally! It was 29 degrees when I got home this evening. Yikes! As the temperatures in our area have dropped, the dread for my 10k on Saturday has raised. (Side note: There is still time to donate a dollar - or more - for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation. Donations are tax deductible!) I'm actually really excited about the actual race, and I'm happy to be running for a great cause. I am terrified to be running in the cold over a bridge at 7 a.m., though. I'm such a wimp. ...

As you know, I’ve been on a bit of a Victoria’s Secret Sport review kick. This is, of course, because I received a free Victoria’s Secret Sport bra and tights, as well as a handful of coupons to share with friends and family. Thanks to Influenster, I received this amazing Influenster Vox Box. The sports bra I received was The Incredible . I liked the print because it was different from all of the other sports bras I owned of a variety of brands (I’m kind of boring when it comes to sports bra colors and prints), and it was fun. When I went to the store, I couldn’t find any others with the same print, so I also felt like a special flower (was this why it had a floral print?). In short, I like this sports bra. It’s not my favorite from the new line, but it does a pretty decent job. I give it a B. ...

It's that time of year where we all start eating up all of the baked goods that our coworkers bring into the office, and it's just TOO COLD to want to go outside for a run, or walk the two blocks to the gym. (Okay, that last one felt personal.) Regardless, Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, and this is the time of year where most of us start looking like stuffed turkeys. So, what can we do about it? Well, we can suck it up and run outside and go to the gym. That's probably the best option. But another option is to have a Plan B that prevents you from making excuses. That Plan B, of course, is to work out at home. ...

You guys, I have been itching to run another race. (Not literally, though, because ew.) I was originally training to do the TCS Annapolis Running Classic Half Marathon, but a knee injury and a shoulder/back/neck weird pinched nerve situation sidelined me from running for a few weeks, which is not a good deal when you're trying to run a half marathon. Whomp whomp. Nevertheless, a cool opportunity came my way, which still allowed me to run in the Annapolis Running Classic, just for a shorter distance. Sweet! In two weeks, I'll be running the Annapolis Running Classic 10k. This will be the longest race I'll have ever done, and it will be in my state's capital. I'm so excited! But wait, there's more! ...

Happy Workout Wednesday, everyone! If you've been following along, you know that I usually use my Wednesdays as rest days. I've been running myself ragged with work and general chaos, but I've been sticking pretty closely to my meal plan and have started running again. I'm proud of myself! I bought some awesome compression socks that are surprisingly amazing. I feel like I'm able to recover a lot quicker, which has enabled me to "double dip" workouts again (e.g. run in the morning and play volleyball at night). I can't wait to write up that review for you guys! I'm super late to the game, but I know if I am, there are surely others... I hope. Speaking of reviews, I have a new sports bra review for you today! I have been on a Victoria's Secret sports bra testing out rampage. I reviewed The Knockout  sports bra last week, so this week I bring you The Standout . ...

Hey y'all! Did you make it through Monday okay? Since I decided to get my head back in the game , I figured I would start back up with Meatless Monday again. I like Meatless Monday because it makes me get creative with cooking, but I'm also more mindful of what I'm putting in my body (when I actually remember that it's Meatless Monday, that is...). One downside to Meatless Monday: I am always friggin' hungry on Mondays! My body just devours all of the nutrients loaded in the fruits, vegetables, and legumes I consume throughout Mondays, and I am just in a perpetual state of hunger all day. My stomach starts yelling at me, and it is not a good situation. ...

Okay, so maybe I'm being a little hard on myself, but it's kind of true. I've been slacking off with my running for weeks, and I haven't gone inside my gym in just as long. It is not a good situation, you guys. I was training for a half marathon, and quite diligently. I think the combination of half marathon training and playing what has become 4 nights a week of volleyball was a bit hard on my legs. I started having some knee issues, and I decided I needed to cut out some activity. Of course that meant running, because I can't just not play volleyball. Let's be real. Plus, I would really let my teammates down. ...

So, several weeks ago, I received some free Victoria's Secret Sport products from Influenster through their VoxBox program. I was super excited, and just had to snap some shots for  Instagram . Along with the Incredible Sports Bra and Knockout Tights, I received 20% off coupons to share with friends and family, or to keep for myself. The coupon could be used on any full-priced fitness product, so away I went to test out some Victoria's Secret Sport gear. The Victoria's Secret in The Mall in Columbia had recently been remodeled and reopened, so I had to go to this location because this was my go-to VS store. The store was gorgeous, and it was so much easier to shop for specific items with the new layout. All of the Victoria's Secret Sport apparel was in one large section of the store, so I headed for that section, and proceeded to be overwhelmed. ...

It's Thursday, so you know what that means? SCANDAL! I hadn't created a new Scandal bingo board in a while , so I thought I would make a new version for the 4th season. I have had some practice making bingo boards, so I decided to jazz it up a bit this time. Keep in mind that there are exercises that go along with this bingo game, but they're (of course) optional. The workout instructions can be found below. Reminder: I am not a certified personal trainer, so exercise at your own risk! Check it out, and let me know what you think! ...

I saw a really cool opportunity posted in the Maryland Bloggers Facebook group on Sunday, and thought,  why not?  It sounded like something that would be fun, challenging, and different -- all things that I'm always looking for. If you've been paying attention (which I know you have), then you know that I have really gotten into running. Sure, I don't run as much as I play volleyball, but I do few things as much as I play volleyball. Ya know, things like sleeping and working. So, when I saw something that was going to be fun, challenging, different, and focused on running, I definitely had to step up to the challenge. What is it that I agreed to do yesterday? ...

The Walking Dead premieres its Season 5 episode tonight, and I am so excited! My best friends got me into the show pretty recently, and I already have become a fan of the show. Now, I think the show is ridiculous. It has some really good moments, but some of the main characters make me so angry so often, and some of the scenes are just so hilariously over the top and predictable. BUT! The producers are doing something right, because I can't stop talking about the show with my friends! As you can tell from the title of this post, I put together a bingo board for The Walking Dead . As I have done in the past, I put together some exercises to go with the board to keep you occupied during the commercial breaks. Keep in mind that I am not a fitness professional, and that you exercise at your own risk!  ...

Happy Hump Day, folks! As has been the case for the last few weeks, today is my rest day, and I spent much of my evening watching The Walking Dead and cleaning my room. I'm still here for the Workout Wednesdays Link Up , so never fear, friends. :-) I play a lot of volleyball. A. Lot. I'm talking Sunday-Tuesday, Thursday, and sometimes on Saturdays. I'm also an assistant coach for a Division III volleyball team, which fills my teeny bit of free time with even more volleyball! With all of this volleyball playing, I recently realized that I didn't have enough good shirts to wear for volleyball. I can't play in cotton t-shirts anymore because they get all gross and uncomfortable (and the sleeves make it a little bit more challenging to set and hit), and I only have maybe three good Under Armour tech tees -- which I love playing in -- which is certainly not enough for four days of volleyball plus a couple of runs. ...

This week has been a real doozy! I played way too much volleyball. Seriously. I played a coed match (and a tough one) on Sunday, two games on Monday, another game on Tuesday, and a coed game last night. Insanity! Last night, I asked myself, "why are you doing this?" My back was sore, I was exhausted, and I banged my knees up pretty good during the game. "Clearly I'm nuts." But then I realized the real reason why I can't say no to joining a new team or subbing to help out another team: I have a renewed love of volleyball. Now that I'm actually in pretty decent shape, I'm jumping higher, running faster, and playing better, I am falling in love with the game all over again! Which leads me to the subject of this evening's post -- my five fitness inspirations. ...

It's that time of the week again! That's right, y'all! It's Workout Wednesday! The irony of the last couple of weeks is that Wednesday has become my rest day with all of my half marathon training. That's right -- Workout Wednesdays minus the Workout. (Insert Kanye shrug here.) I've been playing an insane amount of volleyball, plus the half marathon training, plus the new job; I've been one tired woman! Fortunately, the training plan requires rest, because around Tuesday evening, I start to feel like maybe I'm overexerting myself, and I know I would push myself too hard -- potentially injuring myself. Tonight, I went to check out this bizarre movie, Maze Runner , with a friend. (I can't really tell you what it was about, because I don't really know.) My knees and lower back are so happy that I did! So, back to the #WOWlinkup . The theme for this week is to discuss your favorite race. Note: If you want to participate, check out the rules and ...

I neither understood nor appreciated the importance of quality running socks until last week. Yes, I own a pack of three great, legit, running socks, but I just figured they were comfortable but overpriced. I didn't see the point in buying more. I figured I could just buy a pack of low cut Puma socks from TJ Maxx, and they would do the same thing as my fancy Road Runner Sports running socks. Boy, was I wrong. All it took for me to quickly learn the error of my ways was to go on a few long runs. About three miles in to each run, almost to the exact distance, I would start having weird pains in different parts of my feet. First, it would start in the ball of my foot. There was internal and external pain. It hurt! Then, my heels would start having the same pain as the ball of my foot. Sometimes, I would have to sort of trot, just to ease some of the pain. At the end of those runs, my arches would be screaming! I remember being perplexed, until I realized what the problem was. ...

I haven't done a Mix It Up post in a while, and I thought it was about time for me to talk about how I've been mixing it up lately. You guys, I have really started to love trail running! It feels great on my joints (especially my knees and ankles), and I love the feeling of being outdoors, running through the woods, clearing my head. I don't need to listen to music to entertain me, and it just feels so natural to me (I guess it is, technically?). Trail running isn't for everyone, but if you like being outdoors and you haven't tried it, it's probably something you should take a crack at (after you clear it with your doctor, blah blah blah). ...

Howdy, lovely reader! Now that I have a week under my belt at the new/old job, and yesterday was my last day at my part-time job (Ann Taylor), I feel like I can finally unwind a little bit and give my blog (and my readers) a little more love. Woohoo! That little bit of extra free time also means that I can refocus on my fitness goals. I have been playing more volleyball, and my runs (when I run) have been longer, so I haven't been totally sedentary, but I know that I can do better. And so I shall! This week, I'll be beginning my half marathon training. I'm using the No Meat Athlete Half Marathon Roadmap .  I'm not vegetarian, but one of my vegetarian friends suggested using the running plan to successfully complete my first half marathon. So, to have some accountability, and to put my plan down in writing, I put together my first week of half marathon training, using the Roadmap  as a guideline. ...

People, people, people... I am POOPED! I started my old/new job this week (I'll explain some other time), and I have been helping out with the college volleyball team I'm assistant coaching this season. Between the job transition, coaching, and trying to get some rest, I have been neglecting my exercise and blog. I'm sorry! I'm sure you all, in all of your loveliness, totally understand. :-) This week, once again, I am linking up with the lovely ladies of the WOW Linkup . This week's theme is, "What's Your Favorite Sport?" Now, unless you haven't been paying attention, you should know that my favorite sport to play is volleyball. Little known fact about me? My favorite sport to watch is... ...

UPDATE: AMRAP made a change to the prizes! Please check below for more information! If you're a regular reader and/or social media follower, then you know that I am always on the hunt for good things to grab and go for pre- and post-workout. As I've gotten more serious about running, I've discovered that this is more important than I'd initially thought, and since this revelation, I am slowly becoming more intentional about what I put in my body to help with recovery and pre-workout energy. That's why I was ecstatic last month when I was given the opportunity to receive and review the new AMRAP Bar flavors, thanks to my Sweat Pink Ambassadorship. I received a box of AMRAP bars in Fig Cacao, Cashew Vanilla, and Almond Honey. At first glance, I noticed that they were much bigger than I'd expected. They are about the size of a personal check, and pretty dense. This should be interesting , I thought. Keep in mind that I am super cynical about new health food ...

Happy Hump Day! Is is still considered Hump Day, since most people in the States had Monday off...?  I hope you're having a wonderful first week of September! I know I am! I spent the first day of September (Labor Day) getting my sweat on! Sweatember, I think they call it? My brother and I ran across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge -- a bridge that separates Maryland and Virginia by crossing the Potomac River. We didn't run the full Woodrow Wilson Bridge Trail , which would have resulted in a 7-mile run, but we did run most of it, for a total of 5 miles. That was my second 5-mile run in four days, which sounds crazy to me as a newbie runner, but also sounds like I'm making great progress for being able to complete a 10K this month -- my latest goal. A volleyball friend of mine has basically convinced me to run the Annapolis Running Classic Half Marathon at the end of November, so I'll be training a lot harder over the next few months so that I can successfully complete...

Well, it's that time again! What time, you ask? Why, it's time to link up with the lovely ladies from the WOW Linkup ! I've been feeling like I am hardcore neglecting the blog by posting only once or twice a week, but it's the best I can do right now! I'm in the process of transitioning from one job to another, I've had to search for three new roommates (I KNOW!), and there are a few other things going on that I'll share at a later date. I'm sorry, guys! If you are just itching for more interaction with me, you can always follow me on Twitter and Instagram . It's a lot easier to quickly post a picture or tweet something when I'm out and about, running around like a dodo bird, than it is to write a full length blog post. Sorry! I should note, before I dive into this post, that there is less than a week remaining in my #AwesomeInAugust Instagram Challenge! Make sure you enter this week's giveaway (it ends on Friday), and enter to wi...

Happy Saturday! I hope it's not damp and overcast where you are, like it is here in Maryland today. It has been quite a yucky few days! To brighten up your day, and to remind you to stay awesome in August, I am running another giveaway! The folks at SIX:02 were kind enough to offer me another gift card to give away to a reader/Instagram follower as this month's challenge, which is drawing to a close. Enter to win below! And have an awesome Saturday! ...

Last night, I went on a great run. I know four miles aren't impressive to just about any of the bloggers I follow, but it's a good distance for me. I consider it one of my long runs, and while I'm fairly certain I can push myself to do six miles the next time I run (time permitting), the fact that I ran four miles on a weekday evening, in the middle of a hectic week, made me very proud of myself. I ran through Sligo Creek Park, and in and out of Downtown Silver Spring, Maryland. The weather was great, and there were lots of people out running, playing tennis, walking their dogs, cycling, throwing frisbees -- you name it! For me, it's always nice to be around people who are being active. You can sort of absorb some of that energy, and it helps you stay motivated during your workout. ...

Happy Hump Day! I hope you were able to power through the first half of the week, and that you have smooth sailing the rest of the week! I, for one, have had a wicked busy week, y'all. Homegirl is tired! But, never fear! I leave for a conference in Ocean City tomorrow, so I plan to go on a beach run Friday morning, and get some sun and sand after the conference ends. Sun Rays, send me your love! Today, like many Wednesdays past, I am linking up for the Workout Wednesday Linkup (#wowlinkup), hosted by the lovely and knowledgeable Diatta from Femme Fatale Fit Club and Sheila from The Frugal Exerciser . ...

Hello! I am Alexis. Please, let me overwhelm you.  Is that rude? Because I haven't posted in nearly a week, I thought it would be good to remind you about  my first Instagram challenge , and introduce you to another sponsored giveaway I'm running as part of the challenge. Man! I've been so busy with making sure that I follow through with #AwesomeInAugust that I forgot to post on the blog! Whoops. I've also been running all over town, literally! I went for my first solo trail run this past weekend (and lost my iPod in the process), and have even been waking up early to go for a run or to the gym (and without an alarm clock, miraculously). Excuses, excuses. I'll do better next week, dear reader, I promise! Without further ado, prepare to be overwhelmed with giveaways! ...

If you're a regular Flecks of Lex reader, you know that I struggle in the morning . I really, really want to be one of those people who can wake up early, eat breakfast, go for a run, take a shower, get dressed up like they're about to hit the read carpet, write a dissertation, and then go to work and carry on about their day like they didn't wake up at an absurd hour. I am not one of those people, though. I need a little help to wake me up in the morning. Usually, that aid is coffee. That, of course, requires me to get up and get ready and go to Starbucks. Not the best strategy, right? Well, little did I know that I was going to soon experience a new energizer that would give me that extra push in the morning that I've been missing. When I wake up in the morning, I can barely even open my eyes. I look like some sort of mole with an afro. I received a box of Vega Sport Pre-Workout Energizer from the company (in exchange for this unbiased review), and read the ins...

I am just going to straight up brag: I have some awesome readers! You guys are always sharing pointers and fun info with me. I love it! I appreciate you! And because I appreciate your awesomeness, I am going to be hosting my first ever Instagram challenge, wherein I will gloat about you, and celebrate you with giveaways! Now, I know keeping up with your workout regimen in August can be extremely challenging. Here in the Washington Metropolitan Area, August is usually the sweatiest, grossest, most miserable summer month. A few years ago, I spent what felt like the entire month of August wearing maxi dresses, secretly sweating profusely under those dresses (whilst looking fabulous, of course). In addition to the heat, this is often the last chance people get to take vacation time before things start getting busy again with work and personal lives. It's understandable that so many people let their routines fall by the wayside; however, we're not going to let that happen this y...

More important question: Do you even lift, bro? Just kidding! I love to wear gloves when I lift, for a number of reasons. For starters, they protect your hands from getting gnarly blisters. With my line of work, I have to shake a lot of hands. There is nothing worse than shaking a disgusting hand, whether that hand is slimy, ashy, crackly... you name it! (This is the main reason why I carry hand sanitizer when I have work events.) Another great benefit of wearing lifting gloves is that they provide you with some padding when you're lifting. Have you ever lifted a heavy amount, or done a difficult move, where it feels like someone is punching you in the palm of your hand? No? Maybe you should try doing a few sets of these , because you will totally understand. ...

Full disclosure: As part of the Foam Fanatics ambassador program, I received one free entry for a race in the city of my choice. A couple of weeks ago, I participated in what I can only describe as one of the most physically challenging activities I've done in a very long time: I ran the 5K Foam Fest. There was lots of foam, and even more mud, but overall, it was such a fun experience! I believed I had prepared myself for this race, but little did I know how difficult the race would actually be... ...

I did it again, you guys! I woke up early enough that I didn't have to sprint out of my house with goose feathers in my hair! Why goose feathers? Fun fact: I sleep with a down comforter year-round! Weird? Maybe, but I'm always cold! I was reading this article  from Women's Health, which got me thinking about what I would love to have when I work out -- especially when I am a good little fitness blogger and wake up early. So, let's get to it, shall we? Here are five things I would love to have to help me with my workouts: ...

Every Monday, I tell myself that I'm going to make it a Meatless Monday. Of course, this normally devolves as soon as I eat the first meal of the day. (Oops!) Today, I decided to suck it up and just do it. I don't have any real health reasons for such a decision. For me, it's more about discipline, and trying new recipes. I've always loved vegetables, but man do I love some fish and poultry! It's amazing how you can be challenged with cooking as soon as you remove a protein with which you're used to cooking! Though I've been craving grilled cheese all day (ALL DAY), I decided that I needed a little more sustenance for dinner. What to make... what to make... Oh, I know! Zucchini noodles! ...

I woke up this morning around 4:30. I'm not sure why. I have been sick for nearly a week, and I have been seriously exhausted. Nevertheless, my body did not care, and chose to wake up anyway. Now, ordinarily, I would watch something on my laptop until I got bored and fell back to sleep; however, this morning, I remembered that my gym actually opens at 5 a.m., so I would be a good little athlete this morning and get in a workout a few hours before an early work event (and the chaos that is an average day for me). ...

I was Editor in Chief of my college newspaper, and nothing irritated me more than having to edit articles written by freshman journalism students. I do my best to check my spelling and grammar on this blog, but slip up from time to time. To all of the bloggers out there, and fans of grammar and the English language in general, enjoy!   ...

I really enjoy watching the World Cup. It makes you feel patriotic, while also feeling like you really belong to the global community. I know that sounds corny, but I believe it! Oh, right, and another reason I love to watch the World Cup: The hot men. Let's be honest here. I would not be watching it if it weren't for the hot  soccer  football players. It's not too difficult to watch the games without knowing too much about the sport, which can make anyone an instant fan. Short story: I was walking down on the National Mall earlier this week, and I saw people playing Ultimate Frisbee. I could not understand the rules or anything about the game, and gave up watching after about 10 minutes. Last night, I realized I hadn't come up with a World Cup bingo board, so I decided to get on it stat! ...

Full disclosure: I received the Influenster Spring VoxBox, which contained a number of products, including the Rimmel London Scandaleyes Mascara. The review contained herein includes my honest thoughts and opinions on the product. Those who know me know that I'm not one to be super glammed up with makeup on at all times. If and when I do wear makeup, I usually just fill in my brows, put on a little eye shadow, liner, and mascara, and I'm good to go -- in 5 minutes or less. I generally have clear skin, and I just don't like the feeling of having makeup caked on top of my face. However, I do own my fair share of makeup, and I'd say that I'm loyal to certain products that I love, and don't mind spending a little extra for good quality -- especially since I don't have to replenish them very often. Now, obviously this doesn't mean that I'm going to pick the most expensive product each time just because I like it; that's just careless! ...

Team photo from my year at Rutgers. My freshman year in college, I played Division III volleyball at Rutgers University's Newark campus. Towards the middle of the second semester, I was recruited to play Division I volleyball at Long Island University's Brooklyn campus. Transitioning between NCAA divisions was something I was excited about, competition wise, but I wasn't sure what to expect when it came to training. Everything is so different between DIII and DI teams, honestly. You are with your teammates seemingly every day and night, you travel for days (or even weeks) at a time, and you play against people who end up on the National Team. In the off season, and especially in the summer when you're not at school, you are expected to maintain a strict training regimen and diet. Soon enough, I would find out just how different the training would be... ...

Happy, happy Friday everyone! I hope you had a great week, and that you have an even better weekend! For those readers who are not from the United States, you might not be aware that this weekend is Memorial Weekend, which culminates with Memorial Day on Monday. I am thankful for the men and women of the Armed Services who gave the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Please keep in mind those sacrifices as you spend some extra time with your friends and family members this weekend. As you might have already read, I published my 100th post earlier today! Woohoo! In other exciting news, congratulations to Esther for winning my SIX:02 giveaway ! I tell you what: I'm taking that lady with me if/when I ever go to Vegas. That is one lucky woman! (She also won my ENERGYbits giveaway a few months ago!) Las Vegas... that ties in to the theme of today's post: Places I'd Like to Run. This theme was cooked up by the lovely DC Trifecta Ladies ( Cynthia , Mar , and Courtney...

Well, folks, this marks my 100th post on Flecks of Lex. Woohoo! A hundred thank yous to all of my regular readers, as well as everyone who is reading Flecks of Lex for the first time. THANK YOU! I'm still in my first year as a fitness/health/lifestyle/whatever-you-want-to-call-it blogger, but I'm pretty proud of how far I've come in such a short period of time. Since I'm publicly tracking my progress, it has really helped me along my journey. I've been taking swimming classes, I tried out for a professional volleyball team, I've dropped a clothing size, and I even ran my longest race. Thank you for keeping me motivated! As I've said plenty of times on this blog, I am quite the goal-oriented lady. I've been able to cross a lot of things off my list during the first 100 posts, and I'm ready to set and exceed more goals in the next 100! Here are some of my latest goals, both for fitness and blogging: ...

Happy Hump Day, y'all! I've started hitting the gym more frequently as of late. Single Lex (yes, that's a thing now) is bringing sexy back! Now that I've gotten my cardio game up, I'm ready to start incorporating more strength training into my schedule, which of course requires more visits to my local Washington Sports Club. Strength training will make me a better volleyball player, runner, and all-around athlete. In addition to all of those benefits, I also miss pumping iron and flexing my guns! Last week, though, I was so embarrassed, I could not focus enough post-embarrassment to let you guys know about the amazing workout I did! Super embarrassed. And you know what? I don't even embarrass easily! So what happened? ...

I am not shy about the fact that I love discount shopping. Why should anyone have to pay an arm and a leg for quality items, you know? For that reason, I love TJ Maxx and Marshalls for picking up fitness gear when I don't have a lot of time to shop (or when I have to pass the activewear section to get to the home goods...). Last week, I stopped by the TJ Maxx in Olney, Maryland. That TJ Maxx has an amazing  activewear section. Seriously! There were so many big names, and the prices were great! One thing that kept calling out my name was the Brooks Epiphany Bra II sports bra. I know that Brooks is a great brand for runners, but I've never tried on a single sports bra from the brand. They had a bunch, and in different colors. One red flag before I went to the fitting room: They only came in letter sizes (e.g. S, M, L). Ruh roh... ...

A few weeks ago, I ran my first 4-mile race, which is also the first race I've run in about two years. The race was called T he Cougar Dash (not that kind of cougar), and I was invited to race by my teammate Nikki. Her daughter attends Seneca Lake Elementary School, and the school's PTA was hosting this race in order to promote health and wellness. The race was divided into two groups: the 4-mile race participants, and the two-mile race participants. ...

*I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Millennial Central for Figleaves.com. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.* In past years, I hadn't been super excited to find a new swimsuit. I wasn't a strong swimmer, and I have been self conscious about wearing swimsuits for the majority of my life. This year is different. This year, I'm ready to hit the beach (and the pool deck) with confidence! I've been working hard to lose weight, tone, and get stronger. I haven't reached my goal yet, but I'm proud of how far I've come. (I even built up the courage to take a bikini photo!) I wasn't a curvy teenager, but I'm definitely a curvy adult, which makes swimsuit shopping a bit of a challenge. I have to buy tops and bottoms separately, and one or the other has typically been a bit off with sizing. To make matters worse, I'd never been able to find an affordabl...

This week, I decided to link up with Sarah from How My World Runs and Lynda from Fitness Mom Wine Country  for their Wednesday Wonderfulz Link-Up. Today's theme is running gear, and in keeping with the theme, I'm going to do a head-to-toe running gear rundown. Now, if I post at all on Wednesdays, I tend to post workouts, but I am BEAT today. I have gotten almost no sleep this week, most likely due to the fact that I'm not sleeping in my own bed thanks to the flooding that occurred in my room last week as a result of a bad storm. (Last night could maybe be attributed to Chopped  showing a grandmas episode around 2 a.m. I couldn't resist...) After my meetings tonight, I'm probably going to just grill some tilapia, eat more of my yummy beet salad , and pass out. Now, back to the link up. If you're a regular at Flecks of Lex, you know that I love sharing reviews on different fitness products and gear. I plan to continue conducting these reviews, but the items...

As much as people rail against twitter, I love it. It allows me to connect with brands, businesses, and people who I might not be able to otherwise. A few weeks back, a company I started following called SIX:02 reached out to me on twitter and thanked me for being a fan. Then, I received this in the mail: Schwing! ...

Hello friends! I haven't posted much lately, have I? Well, I'm sorry about that! I'm back, so now we can get back to having fun! Over the course of the last week, I have been crazy busy, working hard during the day, and cranking out new ideas for the blog in the evening (after all of my work events and workouts). I am so excited to share all of the new products I've been working on reviewing (including one that contains a giveaway), but I can't reveal all of my secrets just yet! Something I can share: I finally started my swim classes! Can you believe it? ...

That's right, folks! I applied just a little while back to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador, and I received an email today welcoming me to the Sweat Pink Ambassador team. I am super, duper excited about this! Okay. So I'm a Sweat Pink Ambassador. What exactly does that mean? ...