This weekend, I had the most epic fitness shopping experience of my life. The Boyfriend and I ventured over to Road Runner Sports in Rockville, Maryland. I'd done some research about the store before our trip, which is how I determined that this is where I wanted to purchase running shoes -- one of the many things I've been agonizing over for weeks. Let me start by saying that the Road Runner Sports shoe fitting experience was like nothing I'd been privy to before. It was like I became indoctrinated into a new fitness society, and it was glorious. ...

Woo hoo! Just a handful of hours until the weekend begins. This week, I decided to continue with the DC Trifecta Friday Five Link Up . ...

Update: Read my 2020 Fabletics review here. Pictured: Fabletics Norwalk Tank and Pirouette Leggings  For my birthday, I bought myself a workout outfit. That's right! Ain't no shame in buying yourself a birthday present! I went to www.fabletics.com  and filled out a profile. Upon completion, it allowed me to sign up for a  free VIP membership, and offered me a list of outfits that suit my fitness style. Some of the outfits were definitely not my cup of tea, but I found plenty that were. I guess the idea is to see what you're drawn to, and what isn't really your style. That's just a guess, though. ...

Happy Friday! So, I'm taking a stab at this DC Trifecta Friday Five Link Up that Eat Pray Run DC , You Signed Up for What?! , and Mar on the Run!  put together each Friday. This is my first link up, and quite frankly, I have no idea what I'm doing. But that's okay! Here are give things I want to do by next Friday: ...

This is the second in a series on Flecks of Lex where I share workouts that target major muscle groups, and that can be done quickly with little to no equipment. Have some suggestions for Everything Burns workouts? Email me at  lex@flecksoflex.com . Enjoy! Disclaimer: I am not a certified trainer, doctor, dietitian, or cat wrangler. For now, these exercises work for me, and I think they're worth sharing. Exercise at your own risk. Equipment needed: Stopwatch/Timer, Wall, Floor, Yoga Mat (Optional) ...

Tomorrow marks the first day of Spring! Are you ready? It's hard to believe that we're about to enter the next season, considering that we just had a snow storm in DC on Monday. While I've enjoyed all of the snow days (there have been a LOT), I am extremely excited for warmer weather. I love going for runs when it's warm and sunny out. It gets me into a great mood, and I love being outdoors. I'm looking forward to getting some hiking and outdoor climbing in, as well as some long bike rides. And disc golf! I didn't forget disc golf! So much fun! I'm planning to drop my gym membership after this month since I almost never use it anyway between volleyball and some of the other workouts I'm getting in at other facilities. I really like my gym, but there's no point in spending money on a gym you rarely visit, right? I can use that money to compete in some races, and people, I cannot wait to run some races this Spring! ...

The Boyfriend needed to exchange a belt at the local Nordstrom Rack, so I was coming along for "research." I'll be honest with you guys, though: I came for the clothes! I absolutely love fitness clothes. I wish I could wear them at work, because they're so much more comfortable than my suits and separates. Unfortunately, I would be in deep trouble soooooo quickly. I can't even imagine getting up in front of a community group wearing yoga pants and a ruched t-shirt... Anyway, we entered Nordstrom Rack, and split up. The sign for active wear was pretty clear, so I headed in that direction. It was glorious! I like to get designer fitness gear at discount spots like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and outlets, but this might be my new go-to spot! They have everything!! Okay, maybe not everything, but they have a lot of stuff, and the prices are super low and reasonable. Additionally, the store was super clean and well organized. Some of the other bargain spots can feel lik...

What?! Yeah, you read that right. This past Sunday, I tried out for the brand new volleyball team in my region . It is part of the Premier Volleyball League , and there is a men's team and a women's team. I didn't say much about it, on the blog or social media, because I was seriously terrified to try out. My biggest fear? Getting cut from the team. I spoke with my sister about trying out, expressing my fear of not making the team. I've tried out for many teams over the last 20 years, but I'd never been cut. She gave me these words of wisdom: "If the only reason you're not going to try out is because you're afraid to get cut, that's not a good reason not to try out." She was absolutely right. I mean, the worst that can happen is that you don't make the team, right? And if you don't try out, you definitely  don't make the team. So what did I have to lose? ...

Hello out there! I just wanted to share a quick little heart-warming story from yesterday. ...

I absolutely love  Scandal. It is so ridiculous and over the top, and most of it is so far removed from reality, but I just LOVE it! Last season, for the finale, my friend Hannah and I printed out a bingo board to play a drinking game while we watched the show. It was a lot of fun, and we drank quite a bit of wine (keeping up with the theme of the show, obbbbbviously ...). I thought it would be fun to recreate this idea, but with actual exercises as opposed to drinking. Check out my board (printer-friendly version here ): ...

My shoes are getting a little long in the tooth. My poor little running/training shoes are about to get replaced. I think it's been quite some time since I've had them, and I've done a decent amount of running in there over the past year. I know, I know. Some people throw theirs out after 6 months, but according to this New York Times article , it varies from person to person. There's nothing wrong with my shoes except that I've had them for a while and it's time to get a new pair for real running. (I dunno what the heck specific kind of shoes these are. Check the bottom of this post to see how I found them in the first place.) There are a gazillion different shoes on the market, and now I can't choose which shoes to get! Back in the 90s, when I was a kid, there seemed to be very few choices. It's a totally different story now! Now, you have to know what kind of foot you have, the kind of workouts/training you'll be using them for, what color...

This jacket is just so cool! Source: New Balance Of course, the price tag is crazy, which is what makes it fantasy fitness fashion. $174 for a running jacket that doesn't seem to be ready to handle much weather? Ouch! The colors are really cool, and I don't think I've ever seen a jacket that adjusts for how dark it is outside in multiple ways. It says that the jacket has to be charged (charged!) for at least 10 minutes before wearing, which sounds like kind of a pain, since the reflective surfaces are on both the front and back of the jacket. I guess you would have to hang it up in the middle of the room somehow? I'm not sure. I like that it has a drop hem, which is good for people with a little extra junk in the trunk, if ya know what I mean. ...

We have had many a snow day in the Washington Metropolitan Area this winter. Many. I've enjoyed them all, obviously, because the kid in me cannot think of many things better than a snow day. Each snow day, I've attempted different crock pot recipes, and I'm proud to announce that they've all been successful! Yesterday was no different. I looked at the pounds of frozen chicken in the freezer, and the big container of tomatillo salsa in the fridge and thought, yep. I'm going to make some salsa chicken for dinner! ...