Grits in the City - Fitness. Family. Food.

Hope you enjoy all these as much as I do!

London Marathon Training: The final stretch, the big why, and a little help needed

by Leave a Comment

I was moving a little slower than usual this morning, and I have yesterday’s 20‑miler to thank for that. It was one of those long training runs that looms on the calendar for weeks — the kind you plan your entire weekend around. Thankfully, there’s only one more 20‑mile effort left before taper begins.

People often ask how anyone finds time to train for a marathon, and the truth is: most runs aren’t this long. But the ones that are require strategy, childcare coordination, weather‑stalking and a little bit of luck.

Yesterday, luck felt questionable. I woke up feeling sick and genuinely wasn’t sure the run would happen. It took me an hour to get out the door because I wanted to make sure I could even power through a portion of the run.

But I laced up anyway, took it one mile at a time, and somehow powered through. And let me tell you: nothing tastes better than a fresh iced coffee and a breakfast sandwich at 2 p.m. when you’ve earned every crumb.

[Read more…]

Math, mud, and a bit of magic at Liberty Science Center’s Pi Day Weekend

by Leave a Comment

We leaned all the way into Pi Day Weekend this year, and Liberty Science Center made it easy with their annual Math Madness celebration. The whole museum was buzzing with math‑themed activities — the kind that sneak learning into play so seamlessly the kids don’t even realize they’re doing anything educational.


Every corner had something new to try: probability games, math yoga, programming little robot mice, and even actual mouse races. We missed the cockroach counting contest (which, honestly, I’m not too heartbroken about), but there was still more than enough to keep the kids fully immersed. The highlight might have been the moment they spotted The Count, followed by hugs, high‑fives, and a very enthusiastic “ha ha haaaa.”

[Read more…]

Half marathon PR in the middle of marathon training — and a few lessons for London

by Leave a Comment

Running a half marathon in the middle of marathon training is one of those things runners talk about doing but rarely manage to pull off. This cycle, I finally did it. Casey and I headed south to Monmouth County Park for the E. Murray Todd Half Marathon — a low‑key, open course that’s easy to get in and out of, which is exactly what you want during peak training.

The morning started dark and foggy, but by the time we lined up, the air was warm with just a light mist. Honestly, pretty ideal for March. I went in with zero expectations after barely running the week before. My only goal was not to push too hard. Somehow that turned into a huge half marathon PR for this slower runner. I’m still a little stunned.

[Read more…]

Three New Tattoos, One NJ Artist: My Search for the Perfect Tiny Tattoo in New Jersey

by Leave a Comment

I’ve always loved tiny tattoos. I never quite thought of them this way until I saw someone describe them on Instagram, but they really are like grown‑up stickers. Little mementos you carry with you, arranged with the same creative freedom you’d use to design a scrapbook page.

Over the years I’ve shared my tattoos here. Some big(ger), some small, some inexpensive, others more of an investment. Each one holds its own memory and meaning. It had been almost six years since my last one.

[Read more…]

How I Improved Dry, Aging Skin at 46: A Full Pareva Product Review

by Leave a Comment

Turning 46 has come with its fair share of surprises, but nothing shocked me quite like learning that we lose nearly 40% of our collagen by age 50. Absolutely insane and has me kicking myself that I haven’t prioritized doing much of a skin routine at all in recent years. Suddenly, the dryness, irritation, and accelerated aging I’d been noticing made a lot more sense. It’s all been catching up with me. My skin wasn’t just “acting up” — it was asking for help.

[Read more…]

Carb loading + recovery in Berlin

by Leave a Comment

I am very used to the combination of traveling to Tori Amos shows with a side of vacation. I guess it’s prepared me well for this newfound world of race adjacent excursions! Similar to when I travel to Tori shows, I cannot totally pass up seeing some of the local hotspots, just in case I do not get to go back in the future. 

Previously, I have been to Germany on a couple other occasions — to Heidelberg on one of the group school trips my mom coordinated during high school and to Hamburg when I spoke at the Marketing 2.0 and Social Media Conference. But this would be my first time visiting Berlin!

My time there was definitely limited — as well as focused on all things running and trying to somewhat save my legs for the big race. I couldn’t help doing a little sightseeing and, of course, making the most of all the meals! For more of a race-centric recap, check out my Substack, Mom on the Long Run, here!

[Read more…]

Running the London Marathon for the Brain & Spine Foundation

by Leave a Comment

I wanted to share a bit more on my “why” this Giving Tuesday. The London Marathon 2026 will be my fourth Abbott World Marathon Major, but this race is deeply personal. I’m running in honor of our daughter and in memory of my mom Linda Ruth and Aunt Kathy Ensley. Their strength and resilience inspire me to keep moving forward, and I want to channel that energy into raising awareness and funds for the Brain & Spine Foundation.

[Read more…]

Finding my place at the intersection: Reflections from Disability:IN

by Leave a Comment

This summer took me somewhere I’d never been before, both literally and figuratively. I had the chance to attend Disability:IN’s annual conference in Orlando, and even now, I’m still processing just how powerful those few days were. It was my first time at the conference, and it left an imprint I’m not sure I’ll ever fully shake… in the best possible way.


From the moment I stepped into the mainstage sessions, I felt the energy buzzing. Two conversations in particular stayed with me long after the lights dimmed. The dialogue with Eva Erickson and Mitch Guerra was deeply inspiring, the kind of conversation that reminds you why this work matters. And the session featuring Molly Burke and Sinéad Burke was an absolute standout. I’ve just recently finished reading an advance copy of Molly’s memoir Unseen and hearing her speak about her journey added a whole new layer of meaning. Her story is remarkable. So resilient, honest, and full of the kind of perspective that shifts something inside you.

[Read more…]

Black Friday 2025

by Leave a Comment

I don’t know about you, but I’m already thinking about the feast to come next week — looking forward to some time unplugged from work and plugged in fully to family time. The food has been ordered, we’re registered for our town’s second annual turkey trot and we’re already eyeing the first visit of the season to Santa.

While Black Friday is still almost a week away but the deals? So many are already live. I’ll be sharing some of my favorites here. I’ll also be sharing several gift guides I’ve pulled together to help make the seemingly endless shopping this time of year a little less daunting.

[Read more…]

2025 Holiday Gift Guides

by Leave a Comment

If you’re looking to cross off a lot of those need to buy gifts for on your list, I have a list of easy gift ideas to help get you started. This pulls from some recommendations on my Amazon storefront and on my LTK.

[Read more…]