More beautiful veggies!

Yum!

The other day we took a trip to the Bellingham Farmer's Market - a beautiful spectacle of colorful and abundant produce, as well as a great glimpse of the B-ham locals.

Yum!

We are so fortunate to live in a place with such amazing things to look at and to eat...all local, organic, and grown by farmers who are passionate about the planet and what they do.






Filling our bodies with "super premium unleaded jet fuel" is such a huge component of the row-fast formula!

Yum!

Yes we have no bananas

Now that there are five of us plus Carlos training here at Lake Samish, I've been put in charge of doing the grocery shopping. I used to think that just shopping for myself was a project...I'd plow through more groceries in one week than any of my non-rower roommates would go through in two!  But put together six hungry rowers working out 3+ times per day and you've got some serious food consumption.  Even as lightweights, with the volume we are doing, eating often, and very healthfully, is a priority.  Some of our staples include, bananas, applesauce, apples, carrots, yams, chicken, fish, and of course, KALE!  

YUM!

Long but good day!

Another interesting training device!

A morning windy row in the double was followed by another windy row in the quad, and then Ursula went out for another windy row in her single (while I napped!).  Then after that, SpiroTiger (see picture), altitude, and off for a hike!  We did a nice mellow hike to Fragrance Lake in Larrabee state park.  (I am disappointed to report that there was only a slight pond-like fragrance and the lake didn't quite live up to its name), but was beautiful, nonetheless.  Carlos and Kristin went for a dip in the Pacific, and we all finished off the Northwest experience by picking and eating some blackberries.  yum!  Time for bed!

Shuttle Legs

For all you rowers out there, I'm sure you're familiar with jumpies.  Jumpies are a classic rower exercise that entails starting from a squat, jumping straight up into the air, and repeating...again and again and again. Well, here at Lake Samish to make our legs stronger we use a machine called the Shuttle (generously donated by Shuttle Systems - my legs don't thank you at the moment, but the rest of me does!).  Using the Shuttle is similar to doing jumpies, but in the same direction as you would push with your legs in the boat, and with resistance and rhythm. Ouch.  Since training here, I have started using a new phrase:  "Shuttle Legs."  All I can say, is that this house is incredible, but there are a lot of stairs. :)
Shuttle, I will appreciate you so much when we're on the medal stand, but tonight, I must just say "Ouch!"

The New Addition

The Samish Center has a new something, something so walker-bys can clearly see what's so special about 931. Well firstly, its about those rings; the excellence they bring, and then the company it houses: stars in training. A project that Abby and myself did to surprise Carlos. I was out there banging the nails in eight 'o clock at night. The neighbors all heard the new box go in for sure, and commented on it this morning. It may need a little help from Dave (Bellingham Bay Builders) to make sure it stays there. Hey I can paint pretty. I'll stick to what I know.

-Ursula

Cross-Training with a View!

A great thing about Coach Carlos:  He loves the mountains, and being amidst some of the most beautiful mountains in the world here in Bellingham, we get the privilege of exploring them as cross-training.  Not exactly your typical leisurely stroll upon a trail--more like trudging up 4000ft elevation gain as fast as possible, non-stop, dripping with sweat, and then running down--but gorgeous, nonetheless!  Last week, Church Mountain, near Glacier, WA.  Many switchbacks open up to an incredible meadowy bowl full of wildflowers and little streams, with a view of Mt. Baker and Shuksan right in your face.  Ursula and my favorite part?  The run back down.  I turn into a little 10-year-old playful kid, bounding over the roots and rocks.  I got a little head-start on Ursh, but knew I was the rabbit and had to run as fast as I could so I didn't end up as her lunch!  :)

Yesterday: Heliotrope Ridge, in the Mt. Baker Wilderness Area.  Not as tough as Church Mountain, but just as beautiful.  After trudging through the trees for a while, the trail steepens and you find yourself in a sea of vibrant colors:  paintbrush, lupine, monkey flower (my fave), all amongst a backdrop of the jagged turquoise Mt. Baker glacier.

Fields of paintbrush, with the glacier in the background

Lupine!

Our team!  Kristin and Victoria have joined us to form the Quad!

I always hike with a mascot.  Here, smokin' rabbit chills on the glacier.

I dawdled on the way down to take a zillion pictures, then began to run to catch up with the group.  I passed a couple of young adult guys, and noticed just after I passed them, that they too had started running, and were hot on my heels!  When I caught up to the group, they ran past and I couldn't help but ask, "wanna race?".  So off we went, bounding down the trail to the parking lot.  My favorite part was when Ursh joined us in running and let me tell you, we gave those guys a run for their money.  :)  So fun.  We made some new Bellingham friends, and although we turned down their invite to play poker that night, maybe we'll see them on the trails again for another challenge!

-Abby

Filippi Site Headlines

Our boats have been sent to New Zealand. Thank you to Filippi for the help. We are gonna rock out in our Italian Stalions! The technical aspects of these boats rewards good rowing with fast speed. That's what every rower can only ask for in the fine crafted carbon beauties. Carlos has worked hard in communications for Filippi HQ. We are excited that all the things are in place. Now we just need the mares!

http://www.eliterowing.com/

Training continues...

Day by day, stroke by stroke, getting ready for New Zealand!

Fundraising

Trials for the lightweight women's quad and single are taking place in Princeton, the end of September. The team will go represent. Then its onwards to New Zealand for the World Champs the beginning of November. Check out our Bellingham quad blog >

Launching the new team

RowStar Project was created three days ago by striving Olympians Abby Broughton and Ursula Grobler. With a brain storming session helped by Todd Packard from Shuttle Systems, the name RowStar Project stuck. It embodied all the vast pursuits we are chasing and working everyday to accomplish, such as striving to uplift the sport of Rowing in the USA by training better, smarter and with unlimited determination; by following a dream that reaches all the way to Olympic Gold.

Read more on our site >