We found it

My name is Melissa Norland, a 37 year old mother of two boys and wife Trevor Norland.  We live in Corvallis, Oregon where we are lucky to have trails to explore right outside our door. We enjoy being a part of an amazing community of cyclists and runners who like doing the same, and spend most of our time training on our local trails or racing some other beautiful place in the Northwest.

I grew up in Portland where soccer was my passion, but have always relied on running as the cheapest, and easiest form of exercise and mental health.  Running for me has been a constant companion, an essential piece of my inner self.  Mountain biking has become just as important to me these past few years, as my husband does not enjoy running, but is very excited about riding bikes. When I run or bike, I listen to myself, put my life in order, and connect with my body.  I listen to the rhythm of my breath, my feet making contact with the earth, the change in my surroundings throughout each season,  and to my thoughts, all which help me make sense of my life.  It is while running  and biking that I feel the most alive, secure and powerful.

Before I had children myself, I remember witnessing some friends dine with their middle school aged children.  I was so drawn to their interactions, as it was obvious that they genuinely enjoyed each other.  They were having fun, talking and joking, and each one of them looked truly happy.  I ran into these same friends some time later and mentioned to them how inspiring it was to see such a scene.  This family obviously has fun together, and I want to know the secret.  The piece of advice they gave me that day has remained close to my heart since.

 "Find something that everyone in your family loves, and do a lot of it together"

My babies both spent a lot of time in the BOB stroller and the Burley trailer in their early years while I got my work out in.  I remember flying down a gravel road on my mountain bike with my oldest son Keller in the Burley as he hollered  for me to go faster, and then grunting up the final climb back home to his encouragement.   He enjoyed those times as much as I did, and I think has paved way for his love of nature and the outdoors.

Keller is 8, and Alleck is 5 and together as a family we have had an incredible year traveling around the northwest attending running, biking and triathlon events.  This blog is about our journey together as a family, committed to playing together  learning together and enjoying each other.

We have found it.  Everyone in our family loves being outside, whether on a bike, on a hike or in the pool and we plan on taking adventures together for a very long time.