It's a question I get all the time: "How do you make yourself run?" Honestly, I find it just as tough as anyone else. When you’re juggling a five-day workweek, rushing to get the kids to school on time, making sure their lunches and homework are all set in their backpacks—then you come home and whip up dinner, just to do it all over again the next day. By the end of the day, I’m wiped out and really struggle to drag myself out of bed early the next day to hit my running and exercise goals.

This sound like failure, right? Yep, I have plenty of days where getting up and sticking to a solid routine feels impossible. I’m not some elite runner with endorsements or anything, so I just have to juggle it all and squeeze in my workouts wherever I can. But hey, I’ve got a few little tricks I use to "trick" my brain into actually doing it anyway.

1. Plan A Race:

This is totally my favorite thing ever! Honestly, I might even like this more than the running itself! First off, you gotta pick a really cool theme or spot that's fun to visit. There are awesome bubble runs, color runs, wine runs, or even ones themed around Star Trek. And you can’t go wrong with a great location like Hawaii, Huntington Beach, or even Alaska. There’s literally something out there for everyone! Plus, with all this AI help nowadays, you can whip up a simple training plan super quick. It gives you something to aim for and gives you a timeline to make it happen!

2. Find A Partner In Crime:

Exercising solo can be a real struggle. Why not find a buddy who's also finding it tough and could use some support? You could join a local running group, hit up a gym nearby, or even drag your family to the park while you jog around. When you've got someone waiting for you, it’s way harder to just hit snooze and think, "I'll do it tomorrow." Who knows, you might end up becoming best buds and tackling a race together!

3. Reward Yourself:

How do you get a donkey to do what you want? Just dangle a carrot in front of him! Seriously, it actually works! Why not set up some fun little rewards for yourself too? Think about treating yourself to a massage, a pedicure, that adorable new running outfit you've been eyeing, or just a chill afternoon grabbing coffee with friends. It can be something small, like rewarding yourself for hitting that weekly running goal, or go big with a monthly treat. Just keep it close enough to be motivating! Personally, I’m all about that massage life!

4. Go Solo:

I know I mentioned finding a partner, but honestly, spending some time with yourself is super important too. Download a great audiobook, or just lose yourself in your thoughts while you’re out on a trail. Think about your next big adventure! There's a ton you can figure out in your head when you just embrace a little quiet or jam out to some good tunes. It's also a perfect time to push yourself a bit — see what you can do without anyone else around stressing you out. Feeling tired? Just walk it out. If you're pumped, go ahead and speed up! You're the boss here.

5. Don't Give Up:

This is probably the most crucial tip. It's super easy to skip a workout because you or someone close to you catches a bug. Work can get rough and drag on, leading to those long, tiring days. And let’s not even get started on the weather—sometimes it just doesn’t cooperate, making it feel like a total chore (or even risky) to hit the pavement. It's tempting to just throw in the towel and give up. Trust me, I’ve been there. Heck, I’m feeling it now. But here’s the deal: once you put on those shoes and step outside, it’s actually pretty easy. The tough part is just getting to that point. So, go do something—anything! Whether it’s walking a mile, just a block, or tackling that running goal of yours, you'll feel a whole lot better afterward. And guess what? Tomorrow will be even easier. You’ve got this! Just remember, you're not alone in this; we all hit those motivation bumps sometimes, but the true "winners" are the ones who keep pushing through anyway.

I totally get it—hitting up five parks in just five days might sound like a major slog, right? But trust me, if you map it out and do a bit of digging, you can totally make it happen and have a blast while you’re at it. So grab your friends or the kiddos and get ready for an unforgettable trip to Utah! You won’t believe how jaw-droppingly beautiful the scenery is—seriously, it's one-of-a-kind! Check out the quick rundown of the parks below, and don’t forget to snag the full PDF travel itinerary at the end for all the travel times, restaurant and hotel stops.

First Stop: Arches

Getting to the parks really depends on where you’re coming from. Since I’m based in Seattle, a bunch of us ladies decided to hop a flight to Salt Lake City to kick things off. You could totally fly into Las Vegas and do the trip in reverse, but this route worked best for us. After a few hours’ drive, we finally made it to Arches National Park. Because this park needs timed entry, we totally lucked out getting there right at 4:30 pm when no reservations were needed! This meant we could explore the park on day one without all the lines and crowds!

Second Stop: Canyonlands

As Arches is right next to Canyonlands, it's super easy to take a quick trip over. It was raining when we visited, but honestly, it was still incredible! There are a bunch of areas to check out, but since we didn’t have much time, we hit up the "Island in the Sky." Driving through the clouds gave us some seriously magical views of the valley. There are lots of short trails just off the road. We picked a few and they definitely didn't let us down. The terrain was very different from Arches, even though it's so close!

Third Stop: Capital Reef

So, there is some distance between Canyonlands and Capital Reef, and let me tell you, it’s its worth the drive. The landscape totally shifts as you cruise through Utah. Capital Reef might not be the most well-known park—probably 'cause it’s a bit out of the way—but trust me, it’s definitely worth checking out!

Fourth Stop: Bryce Canyon

Now, this park is out of this world! As you're cruising through the pine trees and what seems like any regular park, you suddenly stumble upon this alien-looking area that feels like it’s been excavated. When you head down into this amazing maze of hoodoos, it's just jaw-dropping!

Fifth and Final Stop: Zion

Zion is definitely the most popular of all the parks, and it’s easy to see why. It’s absolutely stunning! The mountains are towering, and the trails are super unique — some are even a bit scary, like Angels Landing. Walking through the water on the Narrows hike was such an unforgettable experience. Ending our trip here was perfect. But honestly, is five days really enough? Not really! If you want to dig into each park and soak up everything they have to offer, you could easily spend five days at each place. But if you’re short on time, this five-day trip gives you a solid glimpse of the highlights. We even tacked on an extra half day at Zion since it’s so massive, and it was totally worth it. The drive back to Salt Lake City was filled with awesome memories from the trip and excitement about heading home!

Trip Itinerary

Whether you use this exact itinerary or modify it to fit your trip plans and preferences, take a look at this pdf. The restaurant options were great, though near Canyonlands, there are not many options. There is a lot of driving on this trip, but again, with some great music and a great group of people, it truly makes for an amazing trip.

UtahItineraryDownloadDownload

Grab some girlfriends or come and connect with some new women on this great 3 day getaway.  Just pack your bags and hiking boots and let me take care of the rest. Will enjoy a great waterfall hike just 3.8 miles with 1250 ft elevation gain right off the bat followed by a hardy, healthy meal prepared for you. We will be staying at an A Framed cabin, with AC, that has a hot tub and rec room.  It is in a peaceful area in Packwood, not too far from the Rainier entrance. Will have some time to relax before the hike to Burroughs Mountain the following day. 

Room options: there is a King and queen Room and one open loft with 2 single beds and a queen bed for dorm style living.

Saturday morning, after a quick breakfast, we will head out for Burroughs Mountain trailhead. This loop trail will bring you up close and personal to Mt Rainier as you walk along part of the Wonderland Trail. There will be plenty of stops along the way to take some photos and take it all in with a loop on the way back to see some fresh scenery. This is a 9 mile loop trail with 2500 ft elevation gain.

After a long day of hiking, food will be again prepared for you. Sleep in the next morning and enjoy a full brunch before packing up and heading home. Check out my instagram page for some brunch highlights from previous trips!

As nature and other unforeseen events can occur, hikes may be different then listed.  All attempts to keep this itinerary will be made. Relax and will have a great time, whichever hikes we end up completing.  

Trip Outline

7/21/22 10 am

Leave Issaquah Park and Ride, 1755 Highlands Dr NE, Issaquah, WA 98029. 

Just over a 2 hour drive to Comet Falls Trailhead. This is a 3.8 mile hike, 1250 elevation gain. After the hike, will head to the house, which is less than a 2 hour drive in Packwood. 

7/22/22 7 am

Up early for breakfast, then off for the big hike of the day. Plenty to see and do with sack lunch provided. Dinner and relaxation at the end of the day will be well deserved.

7/23/22 9 am

Brunch before heading home at 11 am, should be back at the park and ride by 1:30 or so.

This will be a great fall getaway to Winthrop with comfortable accommodations, great food and, of course, an amazing hike through the cascades to hopefully see the Larches as they turn golden yellow. Pack your hiking clothes and boots and I will take of the rest.  Of course I cannot control mother nature, but this hike will be beautiful even if they are not in their full glory.

This trail is a 7.2 mile loop through Maple Pass with a 2000 feet elevation gain. There will be plenty of stops for photos and snacks if needed. 

There will be plenty of healthy food prepared for you during this weekend getaway.  Just rest and relax after the hike and enjoy the indoor pool or hot tub at the neighboring Inn. 

For an extra hike, there is Lookout Mountain which is just 3.4 mile out and back hike with 1158 feet elevation gain and views of the entire Methow Valley. This hike is only 15 min from the accommodations so could be an early morning hike on Sunday.

Trip Outline

9/23/22 1 pm

Leave Issaquah Highlands Park and Ride, off to Winthrop.

Enjoy some amazing scenery on the way, while riding in a comfortable 12 passenger van with snacks and water provided.

Relax, get comfy while dinner will be prepared for you.

9/24/22 7:00 am

Up early for breakfast, hit the road to Maple Pass Loop trail. Sack lunch will be provided. The subalpine Larch, a conifer that displays bright yellow foliage in the fall. It is hard to predict when it will be in full glory, but even if not, the lake, trail and mountain are beautiful in their own right.

After a long hike and amazing views, will head back to the house for some down time while a healthy dinner will be prepared. You can relax, jump in the pool at the adjacent Inn, or rest your sore muscles in the hot tub.

9/25/22 6:00 am

For those early risers, there is a great local hike to Lookout mountain for 3.4 mile round trip hike with an 1100 feet elevation gain. This is an optional hike and those that rather sleep in, are free to do so.

If you are willing to get up early, you will be rewarded with outstanding views of Methow Valley. After the hike we will head back to the house for a grand brunch right before we head home. 

Planned arrival to the park and ride would be roughly 3 pm, with some wiggle room for food/beverage stop on the way.

North West Washington state will not disappoint. Birch Bay is a beautiful location near the Peace Arch park heading to Canada. This downloadable PDF with links for where to stay, where to eat and what to do while you are there will make planning easy and customizable. Want a longer trip? Download Fairhaven and travel up the coast of Washington for a fun adventure.

Rather a custom trip for you and your family? Contact me and I can create a custom adventure and PDF that takes all the work and worry away.

At the base of the Cascade mountains sits Concrete Washington. This small town has some things to offer. There is a slower pace to this rural town, though maybe a welcome reprieve to city life. HWY 20 runs through the town as it heads through the North Cascades during the summer months to Diablo Lake and some of Washington's amazing sights. Too short? Add on a trip and travel around NW Washington.

If you would prefer a custom trip with ages, group size and help with booking, then please contact me and I can arrange that for you in a simple PDF form as well.

Have a weekend and not sure where to go? This PDF will give you four different lodging options, four great places to eat and four things to do and see. Download more than one trip and add then together to create a custom getaway! Great options are Anacortes and Birch Bay.

If you would prefer a custom trip with ages, group size and help with booking, then please contact me and I can arrange that for you in a simple PDF form as well.

Deception Pass bridge crossing over to Whidbey Island with its swift currents below is a Washington State site to see for sure.  Where to stay, what to eat and where to go? This one page PDF makes it easy to plan a getaway and make it as easy as downloading and clicking the links provided and pick a weekend. Want to go for longer than a weekend? No problem. Just pick another quick trip and add them together. Anacortes would be a great add on trip!

If you would prefer a custom trip with ages, group size and help with booking, then please contact me and I can arrange that for you in a simple PDF form as well.

Up for a quick weekend getaway just an hour and half from Seattle but not sure where to go or what to do? This easy to use PDF with clickable links will help you plan your getaway quickly. From hotels to AirBnB options to camping, there will is something for everyone. If a longer trip is desired, download more than one weekend trip and combine them together.

If you would prefer a custom trip with ages, group size and help with booking, then please contact me and I can arrange that for you in a simple PDF form as well.

Want a day trip to Rainier and hike but don't want to drive, park or worry about gas prices?

This trip will be a small group of no more than 5 guests in a comfortable 12 passenger van with AC. A fresh healthy, but hearty lunch will be provided (all allergies taken into consideration). 

We will leave from Issaquah Highland Park and Ride and drive the 2 1/2 hour drive to Rainier. The hike will be the Skyline Loop trail, which is 6.5 miles long, 1788 elevation gain and starts from the Paradise Inn parking lot. 

There is a short detour off this trail to Myrtle falls that only adds 0.8 miles and 150 feet that is worth taking as well.

All you have to do is bring yourself, hiking boots and light backpack and I will take care of the rest.

Wine, Hike and Relaxation

Along the border of Washington and Oregon along the Columbia River East of Portland has some really beautiful landscape. The weather is drier in northeastern Oregon, making the landscape different from its neighbor replacing huge evergreen trees for unique wildflowers, birds and rocky landscapes.

Group Getaway Overview

This spring trip starts in Issaquah Wa with a beautiful drive through the cascade mountains through Snoqualmie pass to Yakima continuing to its drier cousin Satus pass. With less cloud cover, the blue sky is a welcome sight to western Washingtonians. With a stop at Maryhill Winery for some wine tasting, and a quick trip to the memorial replica of Stonehenge then off to the Dalles for some relaxation. The next day, the group will head out to Deschutes river state park for an easy hike through the meadow and along the river edge. If time and weather allows, will also head up to White River waterfall as well. The food will be fresh, made from scratch with a changing menu with each trip to fit the needs of the group. All of these trips are made to be simple and easy to join. Just grab your bag and go, the rest will be taken care of.

Maryhill winery