So many memories i have here in Lausanne. The last time that i came here was  for the Lausanne 2006  Junior World Championship.

Where I got a pretty tough experience. I raced my last year as a junior. I definitely had better expectation that I did. I finished 41th overall. However that was I pretty sad result if I was thinking in my previous year result in Gamagori , Japon 9th. But Im guessing, that I was not realistic and fair with myself because I was 5 months with a stress fracture in my right tibia , so i couldn't run at all plus i got sick just 3 days before the race. As well my mind previously the trip was full of "shit" going around and the whole environment  was with negative feeling.
 So after my lovely time in Montpellier with my frenchy Amis Jess and Carole, I took the train from Montpellier to Davos, Swiss. 10hrs of travel but i really enjoy it, because the landscape open my eyes, and my heart . Finally I got to Lausanne train station. "Lausanne Gare"  and I remember that I deep feeling appear in chickitina, and she told herself that this year after 3 months ( May 15th-August  20th)when she will get back to this station (Gare) the the story that she will write down there will be quite different as she did 5 years ago.
 
(Read race report of May 15th-2011)
2011- WHEN CHICKA ARRIVED IN EUROPE-       

Laussane.
While Im In Laussane on  the train on my 2nd last stop before to get Davos. Second training camp of 2011.By the way "Je trouve que Laussane est un ville tres  joli". Where i have so many memories from 2006. I hope that next time (Août 21st  of 2011)when i ll step in this land and I wish to write a new chapter in my journey.
C'est cool..I thing this phrase is one of my favourite phrase in French...Wow i really love the french culture, and the way they speak, eat and are.... So romantic and delicate.

 
 
So 5th place again for 5 times in the year, she didn't want to get. C'ome moi petit chickilina....!!!!
 
So as you could see i could write a new chapter .... So merci beaucoup God and everyone whom were there with me.
 
 
Continually with the narrative
About 4km mark the pace change. My coach was there and tell me now make the move, but i was already in the box, if i change the pace there, 1 km left i will burn myself early and be the last one from this 5th girls pack.
E.Jackson make the move, H. Jenkin's followed her and chicka keep the  same pace, Hewitt overtook her. .." Oh no again i will fight for my 4th or 5th place, again out of the podium and Andrea beat me...."....So at that time some funny thing happen JUST MAGIC and i just put my mind in blanc, C'ome chickitin just focus in each single step... So i  could see still a bit far away Hewitt shoes, wow oh! no it's for real she is just there, so i motivate myself to get there , then next corner i though Jenkin's feet...C'ome chickintin you deserve to be in the podium...and then i just push ......because i knew that i was not alone...And suddenly  Im in the blue carpet and i was in 1st position. I didn't want to see back because i was giving everything, if Jackson overtook me at that time chickitin was hoping for the 2nd place, i was just strongly wishing that her shallow did not appear in the blue carpet next to me......And then the finish line was there....Oh! nop i make it..I make it for real.....what a beautiful feeling...
 
Merci beaucoup....Merci beaucoup God. ( it was just a thinking because i was trying to get back my breath).
 
It was just beauty. My whole Frenchy Team was there, my Old former coach since 9 years old (12 years of coaching), Oscar a very special person, Daniel- A great Chilean's photographs' and Journalist, A few really important friends and my team, my dear D- Squad. So thanks Guys...million Thanks Guys this victory is not for me  it’s for all of you and my country.
 
 
 May be no many people know that i got beat by a Bee on my right eye, during the Bike course Familiarization on Friday morning.That night it wasn't too bad, but on Saturday morning when i went for my swim wake up session it was pretty sore and swollen, Just to open it or put my goggles was quite painful... But i said to myself...Chicka no worries if rocky can fight with the eyes like that you can race like that as well. You are like rocky. A noble warrior
 
So may be it impedes  swim fast enough to the first buoys and i got into the watching machine. Where i lost my chip, plus a poor T1 ....haha No really i thing a just didn't have the right speed and strength to get there with the leader. so i have to work quite hard to catch up the 1st pack.....
 
So now chicka is just resting because the last energy that she put on, in the last 450m make her a bit sick ...;) hahhaha No really i think I missed my little friend Pieter W and his great snack after the race.
 
Any way now time to give a breath to my body and come back on Sept 11st strong again…..
 
All the best  and well done guys for you MTB title as well,
Thanks Specialized's Team for believe in me

 
Merci
 
Chicka

What is the real truth of own life....why we exits. What is my real mission here in this planet....Who will the the person  or soul which my heart will  fall in love!!!!. Many question that Ma chickitina ask to herself to understand a bit more in depth  her  commitment and responsibilities in the planet....

Alejandro Ulloa Azoca(A member of  Santiago de Chile Runners) is one of the person that found his time come an end. He left us, he find that his propose here in  this Earth is over.... His soul's love it was not any more here.

So I just want to wish that his whole family is now in peace and they can understand his decision....Im guessing that is not easy to comprehend it and they are dealing with so many question. So my best regard and
 love and peace for them.

Ale...please go in peace, you ll be always in own soul
 Wish you all the best from my heart.


Porquoi J'a aime frenchy... I fly , I let myself mix with the wonderful nuage (clouds). I feel myself froid...i feel myself confuse....But rapidly Ma chickitina retourner....

Madrid- 2nd WCS  of 2011. Exactly over a week ago and the only different is that chickitin jump in her adventure one hour later 14.36  than 13.36 (time where i started to write my report)

 So the party  started at 14.36. Chickitina chose the left side, next to Findlay and one  Japanese girl. No too cold, no too warm just the right temperature. A smart warm up i guess, so chickitin made sure that was  warm  before the race.

Swim:  Quite good start. Just a bit messy when Japanese girl, started to swim to the right side and hit me a few time, so i have to take a decision  and move over her to the left side and go for Lisa or Findlay feet that were moving away.
5th position i went thru the 1st buoy, oui la la !!! chickitin well done. Thru   the whole 1st lap and reaching the 1st buoy of the second lap, i got into a good rhythm, under control, and felt smooth. Unfortunately thru 2nd buoy some one grasp  really badly my feet and pull me back....., so  i lost Lisa feet. 2nd buoy which was 50m apart again left, right,  i couldn`t swim and a few girls overtook me like  chickitin was capture under a chain lock with out reaction. Any way finally i could clean water and tried to move forward and close the gap which was about 10sec that i lost on those last 2nd buoys.  " even i heard some apologies after crossing the finish line someone who saw me drawing  and  she could see herself  run over me as well ..haha " shit happen guys"
T1: I knew where i was and i just need to do my best to get back to this front group. Fast  T1 and a powerful first few kay's. that let myself right on top of my capacity....Oui la la !!! chickitin, Do you know what is swallow blood??? yes i did and it remind me one of my  friend that told me about a really funny anecdote related of the same topic.

Unfortunately i never couldn't feel good during the bike leg. I was  a bit stress, because jumping on my bike and start to climb i lost my sunnie ....Oh!!! nop my favourite sunnie are gone!!!!!.... And it definitely affect my performance. Im guessing because it was really dusty and my eyes are very sensible.
Ma Chickintin was just looking down so the dust didn't go thru her eyes. Every laps her face was upgrading the redness of her temple.   

T2: With a good T2 and had done a decent hydrate job on the bike i started to affront the last and tougher leg of this demanding race. The Temperature was up. and quite dry atmosphere. Findlay right from the start put a really solid pace that i couldn't follow. I knew that I was mentally tired and i have to pace myself well thru the 10km if not i ll pay it in the 2nd half as last year. So to hydrate chickitin and  build up thru the 10km was the way to go.

At the front were Findlay, Hewiit, Jenkins and Charayron ( the young  talent frenchie girl) which overtook me on the 5km mark. I run a bit with her but then i step back and keep my on pace.

Finally giving everything i crossed the finish line on 5th position. Quite pleased that the race was over and i could have a consistent performance.

As a summary
 Great swim and even better if i didn't have that incident in the 1st buoy of  the 2nd lap.
Strong bike that made me be able to catch the 1st pack and  hold there. As well i knew that physically i was not in  chicka 100%. With some abductor problem in both side  made me doubts if i should race or not. So quite happy that I could finished  the tough race on Casa de Campo.
Run. May be it seen that i was struggling a bit, but i m quite pleased with it because i could  run 1min faster than last year and hold a good form. And over all I improve almost 2min 30sec in compare last year .Imagine with the time that i did last year i will get top16, so well done  to all the girls, it was a quite fast race and if you were not fit enough you knew that you ll definitely suffered.

Finally i want to express my well done to Findlay , Emmy, Jenkins that made an incredibly race.

After a really enjoyable night at GPO fire Wood Pizzaria restaurant were Specialized team celebrate Gavin Nobel his 30th birtday and i share with Lisa Patata Pizza with Rosmery and Proscito with rock leave. I took chickis to bed.

7am  o' clock in the morning my alarm ring." Oh no i have to wake up...and i was having such pleasant time.  I looked from my beautiful view of my room and i could see that the age group race was on.

Jesus my chickis are you ready to rock and roll or not????   Look what a beauty day you got...."
Took me a bit to convince myself to move on and start my wake up warm up. Finally  I decided to go to the Botanical garden  and do some activation exercise and then do stretch core at the hotel's swimming pool rather than go to local pool next to T2( 2nd transition), because the water temp. was a bit cold 24ºC or so . And this little session has the propose to get a good connection between arm and hip rotation, not get cold and try to warm up the body while you are swimming.

As you guys could see(the ones who watched race) we had two different Transition T1, next to the Operas house  and T2 in Hyde Park about 2km far away. The main reason of moving T2 to Hyde park  it was because Opera house have some reconstruction.

Time to enjoy life

After my swimming w/up , chat a bit with the best runner ever from the ITU circuit, weight myself for Liz hydration test and get some massage in my right leg that had been playing with me i got ready to line up

Quite tricky was to chose the right position on the pontoon. On right side Moffat, Hewitt ,Ryf, etc .On  the left side was Norden, Roberts, Holland....It was looking like them were in the right spot because the buoy was looking much straighter than my side (right side). Finally i took the decision to be next Hewitt because the wind was coming from right to left so it tent to push you a bit to the left side( feeling from the day before in my open water familiarisation)

Swim: Main focus this year as you know so the main think keep calm, swim straight, and have fast turn over. First lap pretty good right there on the pack, almost next to Lisa N. But the big deal is to keep the 2nd half as good as the first because last year i had already swam the 1st lap  good but then i  kind of exploit; i went to fast for my real swimming pace.
T1 - I got in a acceptable position to T1, so that mean my 2nd lap of the swim was okay, however i drunk , I think to much water in the buoy's turn and it affect me in the last 2km on the run.
No very happy with chicka T1, but good enough to get next to Daniela Ryf  and a few girls and push hard straight up to the hill so we could caught the 1st pack on the 1st lap

The 1st few kms on the bike i didn't feel great at all, a bit blow up and with less reaction as usually. Certainly I could feel some fatigue.
Definately to be there right up from the start even if the front pack was pushing hard( from my point of view) I could manager get into my tummy some yummy food ;) and hydrate as much as i could.

I was quite surprise how Norden and Holland could get 2 prime on the bike....WELL DONE my dear trainer parnert because in my case I was just managing in the 1st few laps to keep my self there.

It  was freaky,  scary to ride with the bunch. For me it was definitely the harder leg. Any way lucky i could hold a good position and keep Chicka safe.....
"Let dance my chickis " (bambinachos said or BRiveros). Time to jump off the bike and show were my dancing was up to....

" Chickis had good T2, "---wow like that this time i didn't  have penalty...Goggle and cap on the box on T1 and Helmet on T2....YIPPIE.

It was a quite compact running pack on the first lap until Bennett did a surge and change pace, making a gap. I suppose to leave her  and keep comfortable on the pack, however i though that Snowy will start to bridge the gap that it was 2min or so on the 7 lap; and definitely i didn't wanna let her win today.

So i pushed hard to get back to Bennett.
On the 2 1/2 lap from 4laps, i hear that someone said, no worries guys Barb has penalty...."what , shit !!!-chicka said-" I put my cap and goggle on the box, i jumped on and off on the right time and left my helmet inside the box. Getting closer to T2 i tried to find where  it was the  penalty box....I couldn't find it so i started to ask like mad women, around the pack ,"hey guys where is the penalty box", but no response. Finally on the 3rd lap i saw it and  YES GOD... it was not my number...great thanks ....It was a funny situation because Bennett just told me that she was looking the penalty box too and she heared when from the crow they said that i had penalty. " I was looking for the penalty box , finally i could find it and rather than see Barbara Number, shit she doesn't have any penalty, but i do."- Lauren said

Finally on the last 2km where i found myself ready to make some move my tummy start to feel quite funny. Any way i said to myself   "c' om chicka push and break the pack". I did after the turn however it wasn't enough to drop Findlay , so i knew if she overtaking me and change the pace in the last bit she ll get me ....my body was focus to keep my bum together rather than get the whole power from Chicka to attack and have a strong finishing. I reckon that it was the ocean water...
Guys- "I really tried to keep myself hydrate the whole way even on the swim..but Im guessing that ocean water is not the right one ...;) hahaah"


If i believe that i could do anything.....if i believe in love....thanks -Billy Elliot-

Heading to this race i wasn't feeling a 100% , quite flat with my cold's congestion.So i had to tell a few time to myself that Im going to race and it will be a tough race. Not  a tea's party.

Any way i was not sure what to expect of myself this race after get a cold the Tuesday before the race where my throat and nose was block.
I did my best to handle the sickness as best as I could; feeling my body and taking the right decision, talking with my coach and follow his advice.

On race day i was feeling better about 70%-80%, but my nose was still congested and block.

I got the number 5 so i could chose a great position. Right side it was the best place to be, because the current was going to the Northeast created by the Southwest's wind.

My start beach it was just okay, and i know that i can improve it even a bit more, but i have to be realistic as well, and know that again 7-8 feet high, chicka always will struggle.

I quite rough swim, very choppy and really hard to get around the buoy.
 My main focus on  this leg was swim straight and  keep my spot, don't let the rest of the chicks smash me around the buoys.

Bike- With a fast T1, where i really tried to put my cap and goggles on the box but i didn't shoot it, I got my first penalty that i realised after  lap 3rd from 7th on the bike.
At that time i think the break away was done, so  i didn't have any chance to go with them, plus i already bridge some  previous breaks aways. During the ride i experimented  for a bit a quite confused time because i didn't know what to do. What was the best time to take my penalty and don't affect much my performance. I though to tried to break  away and make that 15" gap so i could run with them after it, how ever no one will let me go and i could probably empty the tank.

Run:
I felt better that i though, i never though that i could hold Moffat pace.(probably because  it was a rolling course, but on a flat course Im guessing will not be the same story) Just before finishing the 1st lap i though again the white board to confirm if my number was on the board, and it was but rather that  by 1, it was by 2..."oh shit i said to myself"....I kept running and while i was crossing the transition area i though my spot trying to find my guilty helmet that it was quite tightly next to my bike but not in the box....
3rd lap i tried to change pace, so i can  get some sec in front Moffat plus made a bigger gap from Finlay and the rest of the field.
Finally i took my double penalty of 30" ,finishing the 3rd lap . Overtaking for 2nd time Ryf and run away from Finlay that caught me while a was on the penalty box.

As a conclusion  i definitely made some mistake and stuff that i must to learn to move on,
Im guessing that my lack of concentration and sleeping feeling before this race paid me off and made myself don't think to shoot the box, specially with my Helmet.

Any way overall Im quite pleased  because i could showed to myself that i could swim under pressure well, around 20-30" from the 1st pack-
So im on the right pass to achieve my goal of this year 2011.
Plus keep myself calm and take reasonable decision when i got  the penalties.

Great job chicka

p.s: It was a lot more excited for me to make this front pack that got in the podium.


Thanks you so much Mates

Have a great Day cheers

Barb

After a really nice 3 days which finished with a lovely dinner at Palatina's restaurant ...Italian Pizzeria, with my friends Alia Cardinale, Riccky Lisk , ending Tours- 3rd Grand Prix 2010.

Im heading back to Davos, Switzerland for my last " push up" (block of training) before the Grand Final...BUDAPEST...

During this Petit trip i had met with diffrent kind of people that left me something special in my heart and mind. I can not tell you now what it is that..

when i started my trip i was not very happy at all because i did not want to change my training routine in Davos, and do 20hrs trip for just 1 hr race. However i realized that i was a bit negative about it and inflexible because a break from routine, sometimes it is a great feeling for your mind and for the coming up challenge

Basel i travel on friday lunch time heading to Basel the city of one of the greater building i had never seen.So magic and so pure.....

During my trip over there i met with two nice persons. One on the train and then one on the Goethenum's Library, both guys the Initial letter start with M....As well i saw a grant Dad travelling with her grant daughter whose were setting in front of me during my train from Davos- Kloster. It was something that aware me because i love how he was teaching her, sort of life's lesson and she was so concentrate and listen to him with absolute quietest . I felt that this kind of thing does not happened any more. Actually the bridge between the old generation and the new ones is getting bigger and bigger and no one really care how rich is the Grant parents knowledge.

Finally after stayed over night in Basel i got 16hrs at Tours, France....A Petit Castle town.....

A new member of the Montpellier team was there Liz Blatchford from U.K. A great athlete which make the team a lot more stronger.

Nice pre race Dinner as usually finishing with a Chocolate Tart.....wow really god....( see the photo attach hahaha ;)

Morning swim as a w/up breakky , laid for a bit and ready to rock and roll.

Dry land w/ up because the air temperature was quite freezer and the water temperature 23ºC.

Montpellier called on 4th place next to chaterouxe team....400m againts the current turn 25m and then 300m down the river,turn on the last buoy and 25m to get to exit. I know that you must to deal a lot with the hiting and flight for you spot on the water, however grasp your hand while you are swim is something that i find really unfair-play. Any way the think is to deal with it and move forward, grown up a little bit more from this experience....

I got out from water closing the 1st pack, however i had to do a quite fast transtition to get back on the pack.....It was a extremely hard 3km where i was chasing the tail of the 1st pack. I got there but never felt great. It was a really tricky course, with a lot of hole and bump so i was glad to finish the bike's leg, because i know that i ll be much safeter....

T2 i was a bit back on the pack so I exited the T2 around 6 place with Andrea Hewitt (Rank n2 in the WCS) about 10-20m in front of me. After 1.5k we close the bridge with Erin Densham and three of us where on the leader. Straight behind us where Vicky, U.K (beauvais's Team as Andrea Hewitt) and a couple of meters back the chasing girls.

Finally on the last section we drop Erin and Vicky. Just Andrea and I were in the leader. A bit bumped and unstableness grass it was the final 1km where i tried to change a bit the rhythm but did not work, Andrea was right next to me.

On the Final corner before to head to the last straight Andrea boosted and took first the last corner, and Chicka with her best kicked tried to get back to her..... (have a look the photo. It reflected my expression of doing ......?) hahhaah ;)

OKAY DEAR SPECIALIZED'S MATES HAHAHHA

Keep well AND enjoy life

all the best

with Love Crazy's Beatles chicka ....."C'on baby for Budapest Sept 12 at 14hrs"

So God know why he make the thing up nop?...I just need to learn how to read it.

It was a quite tough day where i suffered a lot... Could be that my mind was not prepare for it ?or my body simply didn't react as i would like to be.

However is not everything on the cloud; because i know where it was the break point. 2nd lap of the swim where i couldn't change pace ....it was frustration to see everybody overtaking me and chicka couldn't go with them... I felt that i was carrying on my legs a stretching band....hahaha...When i finish the swim's leg i was destroyed..my body want to give up, but i said to myself, no chicka " C'on chicka let death in the field" Without much energy i given to myself trying to pull the 3rd pack up , where a lot of chick didn't want to work....I was feeling a bit impotency however i didn't care and i did every that i could do in this leg; without knowing if i could finish the running's leg because i was feeling in the edge and my stomach wasn't happy as well....but "the brave" is the principalship which drive my life , so give up a race never...i don't care to leave my name in the last position ...the most importance thing is to detect with wisdom the reason of the occurred circumstance

Chicka happiness from the life issue determinate to work in her weakness points..."you know want you need to do..".

Okay Dear Bobby and wonderful Specialized's team this ones is another amazing experience which taught me a lot for the coming up challenge.....;)

Thanks God

Big Hug to everyone

With Love and mental strength

Crazy Chicka

A week ago after London - 5ta WCS 2010, i settle down to write down my interesting experience that i went thought. Some people like to qualify it ,as a "shit race" if they had seen my result during this year.

However i don't care what they think or say about because the only think that is matter for me is what happen inside oF CRAZY CHICKA, when that sort of experience going through. Each experience have it own reason and you must to reflex from it and move a bit forward. I love have this kind of day "challenge in the office" because shaking me and make me refocus in my attitude to approach to my personal goals.

Any way sometimes you have issue that you can not comprend at all, but i have the certainty that one time i ll do. Such as my badly 2nd lap on the swim. hey chicka what happen? Did you don't have enough speed?Did i should be much aggressive?Did you can not swim straight so you lost contact? O simply when i tried to swim faster i lost connection between my hip and arm? A lot to thing about and resolve so C'OM CRAZY CHICKA KEEP FOCUS AND WORKING HARD....

However guys, you know what was the most relevant issue that i learnt from this situation?It was the character of DETERMINATION... aspect that born constantly inside of me after the event.

" Hey chicka did you were determinate during the race". Specially in the bike leg where i was in some point a bit confused and i didn't know what to do, giving to myself no matter what; or work with the bunch as my coach suggest in the first time. I though i tried to do my best at that time however it was not enough , and i reckon that i should be more toughness with myself and gave everything with Lisa Norden to get back in the race( I really strong girl on the bike that have definitely much power that me, specially in the flat section) and don't be worried about organised the group. Finally the 1st pack put on us 1min 45sec.Oh! jesus nothing much to do at that point, may be if i can run as a Kenya i could catch them but not now....may be one day...may be one day my dream will come thru hahhaha.

Another point that we worked on in this event. It was the % of my body sweat during the 2hrs race. Definitely it will help me to know a bit more about what is the right intake fluid pre and during the race for the next working face.

Okay doky guys

i have to leave for now, And be ready to work with determination and smart "For the next challenge"

A big hug until Kitzbuhel Austria WCS

All the best lovely Specialized's Team

From Davos , Switzerland

Crazy chicka ;)

Wow I can not express how happy Im after talked with my Dad who inform me that my team mate won in Hamburg 4th WCS 2010. That is terrific "

**** Lisa you desire it. Im so please for you. Happy day for LIsa Yippee.

Any way today the focus of my report will be base in my team mate Lisa and how many obstacle, she had been through, deal with to beat everyone today (Sunday July 18th)

So let me take out my hat Lisa, and Congratulate you atiitude. Attitude which bring you as far as you dream.

Dream unlimited and you will reach unlimited things.

Guys deal with a disc and a sore foot since start of the year is not easy, you must to be patience , listen your body, understand that life sometimes doesn't go smooth and clean as you plan and wish; but Lisa Norden did, because she is determinate , love what she does and is 100% commitment to her dream....

By the way i would like to Congrats my coach Darren S and express how well he had been deal with Lisa's Challenge and the different challenge that we're going through. Great Mate

THANKS YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR COMMITMENT.

Okay friend i ll finish with a little word of how my 2nd Grand Prix went- PARIS- 2nd GRAND PRIX 2010.

Next to Eiffel tower , 6am race started. So 3.45am get up(bloody early) hahhaah.

Good swim , I made the 1st pack. Boring Bike and crazy fast run next to Jodie Stimpson who put together a really fast 5km.

Even that I finished with a strong disappointment because in the last corner before the finish line which was approx. 70m away, the motobicycle where is the media a board push me out of the course and almost run over me. I had to punch them so they realised that i was next to them; my Montpellier team won overall...what a incredible result for them....since 7years ago they haven't been in the higher spot of the podium...

Okay mate now we are on the way to crazy London....to do a good job....Chicka is still a bit tired but ready to dance.

All the nest

keep in tough

With Love

Crazy Chicks

F&*k that is life....when you push yourself to the limit...woowww i felt it yesterday during the Madrid 3rd WCS......Could be great if i could reach the top of the podium because the amazing crown from spain were excepcional while i was racing.....But doesn't matter because i learnt something else.

Casa de campo, 34º C air temperature, 25,6 ºC water temperature, 13.15hrs, it was the environment for Madrid 3rd Dextro Energy WCS ..... With a few more commitment to attent before the race as Interview, Press Conference ,etc. The rock and roll started

Fortunately i got there on Tuesday night so i had a few days to get used to the environment, course, and had a quiet time before the race, specially if the way to get over there from Montpellier was not the best....

The pre days, i was feeling quite tired and heavy, may be the thurday gym session which knocked me out was still there hahah...;).

This time fortunately i didn't have any issue with my bike because the good Specialized's team were there with a great tent, Benno, Dylan, Jeff ( My jefe ) and the smiling Bobby. However Peter the massage mate, couldn't get his visa done, what a shame.... but i felt he was there by spirit...So finally i could find some one to make me massage and i could felt a lot better.

Chilling out and with Interesting days before the race i could find myself calm and clear mind. "C'm on chicka swim straight, you know that you can be there , with them, you did one time, and you can do another time again...."

Big hug to my Spanish friend and the lovely Shapiro from USA, the ITU referee call my number.. " Number one Barbara Riveros from Chile, the leader of the serie with a winner in the opening round...."

Wow chicka there you are, ready to give the best from you....and fight with out limit even if thing does not go your way.I was a bit confuse where to chose because my coach told me that the right side it was much shorter. Finally i took the left side because i felt that real swimmer were there plus the Javi recommendation.

On your mark... a fragment of sec and the game started. Pretty clean start until the 1 buoy where was a bit rough, but i knew that i must to supply my front breath or looking skill and don't stop kicked and stroked.1st lap next to Kate, crazy chicka keep there....remember you did one time and you can do it again.The 2nd lap it was much smoothy until turn on the last buoy and afffront the last 200m.. I got a bit smash there, i tried to get away, but i found that was better keep calm and run strong to T1. During T1 i could see how far was the 1st pack, and they were just there, and Daniela Ryf and Nicolas were with me. C' m on chicka, so as fast as I could i put on my shoes and started to climb. Finally with another 4 girls we caught the 1st pack." great work chicka keep there and be effciency.....

Unfortunately on the 4th lap and finishing the 8th lap happened two big crash..Uff i just missed the last one...So i keep in calm myself and made sure that i got safe on T2 , so it was not the best T2.

1km on the run i had to chase up Nicolas who did an amazing T2 and were a couple of meter up the road. Any way the pace was on, from the 1 meter until the finish line...I knew that i must to keep my pace but i didn't want to leave Nicolas run away too . So the group split up really quick and before started the 2 lap we were just 6 girls. On this time i could see that i was suffering rather than feel that the business just started after 6 kay's "can you change pace chicka......mmmm..."

I hold there but my battery were getting flat and flat hahaah....On the 4th lap Nicolas made a little surge and i couldn't react...my hip started to colaps so i tried to focus to hold everything together and had short impact on the ground...jesus my legs were heavy and death.."Hold all together Daz said"...Finally proudly of Chicka I crossed on 6th place the finish line....Wow mummy mia ....quite dehydrate, with my lips white i walked to the recovery area...."

Okay dear friend thanks for your support, and Im happy that i could delivery another solid performance however we have some stuff to work in...HYDRATE.....,;)

Heading to Canberra city with my Coach Daz, his nice wife, Liz, Eva from Switzerland (Assistant Coach) and a team mate, Zita, I started to reflect a bit about my race.

I can't realise yet what I did, where I took Chicka....it's just unreal for me, I guess I didn't expect it so soon. For me to get a podium this year it could be a awesome achievement, something that I have been dreaming about for a long time. Last night when I got to my friend Ainhoa' s room, it was the first time that I saw some race photos and especially the finishing one. It was unreal, seeing my happy face stamped in the home page of the ITU screen. I will never forget the emotions that I felt at that moment. I don't like to be egocentric, however during last night I couldn't stop seeing this winning picture in my mind, especially as it was such a close sprint finish where I knew that I was not in my area of strength.

Briefly, I will tell you about the race. However the finishing photo on the screen of the ITU website home page already describes the courage with which Chicka believed in herself without any affair ..with out limit

Number 19 I was called to the pontoon. Heading down, I could hear some friends from Wollongong who came to watch me, like dear Fernando and Hugo from Uruguay, Luis Cortes(a very good friend), my old training squad plus Lisa(a crazy Swiss friend haha) and my lovely old flat mate with a new member coming up in September. While we were waiting for the the call of the last athlete the potoon was moving a bit, but nothing as bad as some Tour Rench club races where the middle of the pontoon was under water. The water was roughly 21ºC which concerned me, as I know that I never perform at my best when my body is in colder weather. Although I guess it was not as bad as I felt at the Gold Coast grand final last year, where I finished in 36th place.

Getting off 46 seconds behind the leader, I knew that I was not in a great position, however it was not too bad as well. So I said to myself ´Come on Chicka, the leader of the pack is just there: fight for it, you can make it.` I jumped as fast as I could and with Lisa Netherland, Peterson USA, and Felicity Abram AUS, we caught the front pack in the 2nd lap. Quite happy to be there for my 2nd time of my life, I kept calm and started to focus on getting the right amount of fluid and food. During the 6th lap the pace was quite steady and I thought that someone might try to break away especially if you have the best rider in the front.. In the 6th lap we tried to break away with Ashley ZIM, Lisa SWE and I, however we got caught by Sarah Haskins.

Big down hill, tight roundabout, some corner and T2....Hey Champions, it was quite dangerous on the down hill before the T2. Choosing the right position and taking off the shoes at the right time would be the perfect combination if you can do it; and I did so I could get off my bike and exit from T2 in 3rd place!

Lisa Norden , Kathy Tremblay CAN and Moffatt who caught us in the 1st up the hill from 4th took the lead.

I was feeling quite comfortable and maybe I could pick up a bit the pace however my coach told me to be patient because he wants to see me holding the same pace for the 4th of them, that was the key in this race. "DON' T BURN YOURSELF SO EARLY"..Darren said. So I kept myself calm and tried to focus on a good rhythm between my legs and arms. In the down hill I relaxed my body without any resistance and I noted that in the first 3 laps I got free meter from the other. 1 and half laps to go I checked my shoulder and I saw that we were 4th in the lead, so the real chance to make one of my dreams come true, which was make a Poidum in an WCS was not 100% concrete. So I talked to myself " Chicka , come on , you can do it, just focus, your dream is there, depend on yourself" . I made a surge, trying too break away from the pack and ran away from Hewitt , Moffatt and Adachi JPN but they were still close behind me.

Finally my last chance approached and it was before leaving the Expressway. I knew that if I made a little gap between myself and the rest before getting to the round-about, I could get it. So I talked to Chicka..."Come on Chicka believe in yourself, show to yourself the good work that you had made the last couple of months...." A really tight corner before the finish line, I was just hearing that the commentator was saying Hewwitt and Moffatt ...don´t look that , look the Chilean girl, for the first time in history a Chilean woman. She is looking like she will get it...WOOOW she did.....

- I looked over my shoulder and I knew that the race was mine......,With courage and disbelief i squeezed my fingers strongly and raised my hands to the sky crossing the finish line in 1st position.

I LOOKED TO THE SKY AND I WAS GRATEFUL FOR THAT UNREAL DAY, MY FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES RACE AND I WAS IN THE 1ST POSITION. 6 MONTHS EARLIER I CROSSED THE FINISH LINE AT GOLD COAST 36TH PLACE.

Okay dear friends I just want to tell you that I am grateful for all of your lovely word of Congrats. You don't know how grateful Im feeling. THANKS MATES...

HOWEVER this is just the beginning so I MUST TO KEEP WORKING EXTREMELY HARD, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT I´M STILL VERY IMMATURE IN MANY POINTS IF I REALLY WANT TO BE A WORLD CLASS ATHLETE....LAST SUNDAY IT WAS MY DAY, EVERYTHING HAPPENED WELL-

Okay crazy Bobby.., keep well!

The best wishes travel around the world haahh

With Love

CrAZY CHICKA DANCING ROCK AND ROLL

Settle down at the level #9 at the Ibis hotel watching the big clock of the Sydney's city which is at Central train Station.

It is a pretty lovely day sunny and you can feel the fresh air flowing through your lung.This morning on the open water familization course i could feel the salty water, which for long time i didn't' have the chance to try it.

We(Lisa N and I) had a great talking which the shark while we were swim hahhhaha..;) any way Im getting quite excite for the #1 Sydney World Championship Series, i guess it will be a great party "Just let me dance rock and roll"

Fortunately i feel a lot better than the day before where i was dealing with my body to get thru the last session. I guess after had been racing in altitude, 2 race on a road(Wed Sprint- Frid Olympic), travel 3 days plus change 14hrs different you can't relay how long your body take to get on track, so in this stage you must to be really patience and waiiiiiiiiiiiit... FOR CHICKA had been racing in altitude it was a new experience,where she learnt a lot and has to keep learning even more through his happiness journey.

As well i would like to thank Lisa N which is a tremendous person to let me spent some time with her.

I guess it easy to talk good about her, and say how good is her, but the real question is why is she nº2.???? Is because her talent, her motor, her bio-mechanic or her mental toughness... may be it's all of them or may not....She love to make the different being in the top of every single details, and you always will hear some contribution from any issue from her mouth.

Finally i would like to say how great is the team Specialized and of course his Sport marketing manager the funny Booby.

THANKS BOBBY

OKAY MATES KEEP WELL

CATCH YOu SOON

WITH LOVE

CRAZY CHICKA