Our family is definitely happiest when we are outdoors. We love hiking, especially if there are creeks to splash in, waterfalls to enjoy, or rocks for the kids to scramble over. None of the kids inherited my fear of heights, so you can always find one of my girls climbing a tree or tackling boulders!

Family bike rides are another wonderful way to get everyone together. We let the kids take turns setting the pace at the front, which keeps them engaged while ensuring the whole group stays together.

While we all prefer exercising outside, our family is a bit split on our favorite activities. Tony, Julia (11) and Diana (9) love the speed and distance they can cover on their bikes. On the other hand, Emily (6) and I prefer to hike. Emily and I always make it to the top of the mountain, but we like to stop and admire every flower and creature along the way. That said, all three girls absolutely love to swim and would spend every single summer day racing and playing in the pool if they could!

Since joining Burn a year ago, I’ve noticed that not only has my confidence grown, but I’ve also watched my girls become more willing to try different activities. We are all trying to get strong together!

With three young girls, imagination is key. We spend a lot of our hikes looking for “evidence of fairies.” If a trail gets difficult or tiring, we immediately turn it into a game. If they are searching for a specific flower or racing to climb a big rock, they suddenly forget they were tired!

We’ve noticed our daughters’ legs never seem to ache when they have friends around. I also helped coach Girls on the Run this spring at Estes Elementary, which ended with a 5K that I ran alongside my 9- and 11-year-olds. We learned that day that running is much more fun with sparkles and matching tutus! Ultimately, our strategy is simply to help the girls set their own goals and find playful ways to achieve them.