Highly motivated because I was traveling to a place that I always wanted to visit. Barbados welcome me to once again to toe the line. Filled up with good vibes after having a couple of weeks of good sensations during training. Once installed in Barbados you can´t go wrong; gorgeous white sand beach and couple of days later the best scenario to face-up a MEGA continental Cup.

My main objective was to risk from the very first stroke. I wanted to make LEO heard. On your marks and BUMMMMM here we go fast but smart I followed the feet of the best swimmers ( my Irish friend) Gavin Noble who lead with other two athletes the swimming portion. All packed-up 12 athletes grab the bikes, not thinking too much I place myself in good position once in the very front before we face a steep inclination. I made this move because I wanted to make others feel that I came here to start EL HORMIGUERO. In the fifth lap a change of speed tried to split the group in two, but my VENGE and I felt the fire in us, so I moved to the front so I can entered to second transition in a good place.

I did a very fast transition (close my eyes and open) then now I was running. I swear to GOD the hunt was already there. With my feet loose my heart asking me to increase the pace, very fast until 1st KM I looked back and saw Unger(Germany), Huerta (USA) and Poliansky (Rusia); the group has been selected. I knew these rivals are tough but I have decided that if they wanted to beat me first of all they will need a taste of blood in their tongues. The four of us ran pretty even. In the last 200mts all four of us were out of breath, I accelerate real hard until it was only me and Unger, whom has a tremendous kick.

Tremendous final, great battle this sensations are the ones that I dreamed with. That´s why IM SPECIALIZED. A new podium arrived to my performance in a very special moment; Olympic year has arrived and little by little we are saving our best to LONDON.

PD: Never but never end a race; sprinting with Unger hahahahaha this guy is fast.

I arrived to Bay Island, Honduras; really excited because of my first race of the year. The goal for this race was to find the best spot, knowing that it is early in the season and I´m not at a 100%. Once I arrived to the island the airline experienced issues with my bike¨MAEVA¨ I couldn´t get it that same day, so I had to leave to the hotel room and wait for it.  I got MAEVA the night before the race. On Sunday the race was scheduled at 7:30 am. This triathlon is one of the toughest races I ever done, due to the long hills during the bike part and run. During the race I place myself in a good spot in the first pack. I got out of the water in fourth place. I knew that I had to be very energy efficient because the bike part could defined the race.  In the bike I felt good sensations and decided to attack in the toughest part (200mts at 20%), I looked back and saw that I had opened a gap, Bryan Fleisman was the only one behind my wheel, once we got on to the run transition the gap with second pack was of 1:45 secs. Once I put my flats on I felt strong again, and push the pace until I could open a gap to Fleisman. I cruised the rest of the run and finished first. After two consecutive second places in the earlier editions.  I have clear mind that is the beginning of this 2011 season, I know for a fact that each of the races this year will be very challenging and hard. This first place in Bay island gives me confidence and good vibes to face next races. I will not be easy, if it was easy anybody could be in the top at any race.

Thanks for your support !! Pura Vida COSTA RICA

Last month was unique; I had a double chipping in to collect points for London 2012: Madrid Super Series and Hy-Vee International Cup. My vibes couldn’t be better, my training went perfect and the only thing left to do was to toe the line and execute my race strategy. Regardless of two weeks preview the race, I did suffer to complete the intensity of my training plan.

Once I step on land of Spaniards, I focus on isolating myself, resting and off course making a smooth transition to JET-LAG, which can affect you very much. Four days went on, in which I always woke up around 2 am and during the day I would get sleepy. But even though with my sleeping disorder, I gave my body enough rest time to remain calm, and reaffirm that everything was going to be fine at the sound of the gun.

The day before race, I felt ready to go and everything was under control, I had study the race course; but the only thing I wanted to do was to sleep. I woke up confident and ready to grab big points.

On your Marks, FEEEEEEEEEE we hit the water, in good position I had a good start at the first boo be, all I needed was to maintain the intensity. Right at end of the first lap I find myself 9 seconds behind the front pack, right beside Javier Gomez Noya, meters later I started feeling weakness in my legs, it was really hard to keep up the pace, and I lost propulsion little by little I lose spots within the pack until I could find the rhythm by just stroking, that helped me to stay in the top 25. During the first T1 I thought that what happened to me was because I started swimming real hard, so did I pay it back in the second loop.

During the bike part I suffered a lot until we connected the front pack. I got really concerned because I stayed in the back of the pack and I still struggle to remain in there. My body wasn’t feeling good; mostly my legs and also I couldn’t breathe as usual. Knowing about all this feelings I tried to stay calm and save energy for run. But surprisingly I felt horrible, I started with good pace but suddenly I went back door at only 2.5km mark. Not much to say I finished jogging, later that day I find out it was the worse time split run of my life.

Later that afternoon talking to my coach, we came to a conclusion knowing that I was tired. On Monday I started focusing on getting good rest and be mentally prepared for next race- Hy-Vee. The next few days went normally, good sensations and specially feeling great in swimming workouts. Once again I arrived to Des Moines with high hopes and extremely motivated.

Des Moines resulted just like Madrid a failure same sensations HORRIBLE.

Back in the hotel analyzing and talking to my coach, we determine that I need to forget about this last two weeks. It was a huge learning experience knowing that nothing but living moment will make me a better and stronger competitor. Why so ? Coach and I realize that we took our emotions way to high after our result in Seoul. After such a tough race in Asia and a long trip, I didn’t let my body recovery as usual and I keep training with the same intensity for the next two weeks. As a payback, Madrid and Hy-Vee all I know my body shutdown .That is why I give great value to the experience we get in each race in this great sport!! I believe these experiences are going to help me minimize mistakes and improve results.

See you guys soon,

LEO CHACON !!

One week before departing to the second round of the Dextro Energy Triathlon Super Series celebrated in Seoul, Korea, I had the opportunity of visit my hometown and share some quality time with my family. Sharing this time with them gave me an extra breath and the usual inspiration that always invades me whenever I return to Liberia my hometown.

As you all know, now I live in Cartago a city which offers altitudes in the range of 1500 msnm to 3000 msnm. Weeks before I experienced weird sensations regarding my training. I hit personal bests during pool workouts, but during my running workouts things weren’t clicking. I struggle with this situation for a bit, but I kept in mind what Roberto (my coach) told me, “stay mentally strong”.

I have to confess, I do hate transoceanic flights, specially the long lines to get to the migration counter, anyways. I told myself, I was going to enjoy this trip from beginning to end. Being positive helped me save $200 of the bike transportation. I departed Costa Rica – Houston – Los Angeles, I stopped at LA to go for a swim and an easy run, and also to take care of myself having a good dinner and sleeping in a very comfortable bed.

The next day I took my flight from LA to Seoul. I was really tired, so as soon the airplane departed I fell asleep. Next thing I knew, I was in Seoul. I felt fresh and ready to go. Seoul’s airport is massive. I took my luggage and after a very nice explanation of a Korean kid and a quick google earth study of the city, I ended up in the Swiss hotel.

As soon as I hit the hotel, I change clothes and went for a run around the Korean Wall Street, I was impressed by the organization of the city. During this loop around the city, I locate key places of my interest; the pool. Later in the afternoon I went to swim, and I ran into my friends Ivan Raña and David Hauss. It was nice to share some time these guys.

Is hard to forget that during a walk around the city, everybody dresses extremely formal, suddenly a car started honking the horn and I was wearing surfing shorts, flip flops and a hat, it was hard to understand that this Korean guy was upset because of my outfit, people around me were laughing very hard.

Two days before the race during the recognition of the bike course, I had an accident which leads to an inflammation in my very low back. This inflammation was very uncomfortable; I could not sit on the bike seat. I went to see the ITU doctor, he gave me some medication to kill the swelling, and it seemed like if I had a two pair of Balls.

As part of the accident the front wheel got damaged and it was hard to fix. I contact Specialized Team Factory, located in Seoul; they helped me fix my bike very quickly and efficiently. Having the support of specialized makes a difference when racing at the highest level is about to start. I felt tranquility and confidence to have my war machinery ready to go.

Food in Seoul was an issue for me, all menus were in Korean and nobody spoke in English.

Although I learn a word in Korean RICE “PAB”; for chicken I had to make the sound of a chicken to get something close to it.

The day previous to the race the pain remain the same, but I told myself I have to erase all those thoughts and focus in the race.

Super series are my favorite races; these give me an extra motivation. The fact that, I come from a very small country unknown worldwide, Costa Rica is a country in which we want to change the way athletes approach execution at the time of racing. Minutes before the race I was ready to enjoy it and be smart, I wanted to be part of it.

I set my mind to omit the feeling of the cold water, different from my hometown where water is warm. I was focused on every small detail of the race; I studied every turn of the bike course which was very technical and dangerous. I felt very comfortable because during the course recognition, my friend Ivan Raña, showed me some tips to approach the curves of the bike course. Raña is a humble Champion.

The day of the race, I found myself in good position during the first lap of the swim, at the end of the second lap, I saw Javi Gomez very close to me, seeing him close gave me an extra motivation to make a fast transition and connect the first group.

During the cycling course the difficulty of it made it be very controlled throughout the eight laps. From the moment on I knew that during the running part every second will be golden.

After a second slow transition, I started to focus on the guys in front; I wanted to roll them one by one to find the best position I could. In the last 2 K I found myself in the top 20, that was my goal, but I still wanted more, suddenly I saw a pack of three guys in front, immediately I started the chase focusing on just shutting myself down until I cross the finish line. I finished 17th, a super result and hard to believe.

My Dreams little by little began to come true, I’m going step at a time.

From this competition I would like to highlight:

1. Before the race learn to read your body, in order to have feedback and know what to do.

2. If God puts an obstacle before a race, is not because God doesn´t want to see you achieve a positive result, simply God knows that you are capable enough to excide the obstacle.

3. Always enjoy and laugh the most you can of every moment you get to live, leave a side racing, life is short, we have to fully enjoy it.

4. The support I received from all my friends and teammates in Costa Rica and around the world is part of me in my lonely moments previously and after the race. You guys are the most powerful fuel that keeps me going, I highly appreciate your VIBES….

Two weeks ago during the opening of the Costa Rican triathlon Cup, celebrated in Jaco Beach. Many spectators waited until last moment to hear the sound of the gun. I competed in the sprint distance, everything looked great; competitors beside me and a beautiful environment. But something was wrong in me. I try to fight that bad sensation until the end, but I didn´t feel comfortable racing like I usually do. My body just shut down. The blissful part of the race was to see my friend and teammate Rom Akerson get the win. I finished fifth.

Before the race my coach and I have already anticipated a tough day for me. My training volume has been extremely hard for the last two months, I felt slow and tired. The drive to always win, but knowing that I had to manage the best I could my energy throughout the race, I constantly recall one of my strengths; being positive and mentally strong. Afterwards, I thought even though I had a sucky day in Costa Rica, something better will come.

Two days later as part of my swimming work-out, 1500 mts all out. I hit a personal best under (17min). This work-out helped me mentally; I pray and told God thanks for giving me the patience I needed to travel to the Continental Cup in Peru. My Coach was right patience is the key.

I find Peru very comfortable, delicious food, and natives proud of their culture. Also Peruvians are well known by their sea food specialties.

On Saturday already installed in Peru we practiced in the cold water of Callao, it felt like a million of stings straight to the bone, what a horrible sensation. Once I finished swimming my goal for next day was to swim to the first boo bee and get there in first place. My goal was to end up on the podium, a month ago in Ecuador I finished third. I sense the adrenaline through my veins at the time of planning my race, I knew I was ready to what I like the most “Compete.”

This is how it goes, the race started I swim as hard as I could, reaching the first position in the group. During the cycling part we knew that Brasil and Colombia had a full team of 9 men. My teammate Rom and I attacked the peloton to measure their hunger, but soon enough they made the move to control the race.

We got to last part in the asphalt, I knew I had to break the group, right at 5k I pushed the pace and the pack break down to 4 four competitors, 2 Brazilians, an Ukrainian and myself. In the last 400 mts the South American champion sprinted to the finish line, the pace was brutal hard to maintain. One behind the other very close to each other, one second was the difference between first and third. Brasil, Ukraine and Costa Rica.

Extremely tired but satisfied all I wanted to do was to go rest at the hotel and of course talk to my Dad and Coach. Almost asleep I waited for everyone to get in the bus. Suddenly a friend from Brazil says “Chacon let´s ride the bike” I replied “are you kidding Bro is too far away” Brazilian said “no no no I know a shortcut” ……WOW……! That short cut became in an hour and thirty minutes bike ride. I ended up almost walking with my knees.

A tasty coconut ice-cream, watching the sunset at Miraflores and a third place in the Continental Cup, turned out to be glory, after a time of lot´s of sacrifices and tough times.

It´s has been a week already of living at altitude and training low. I find this experience highly enjoyable, joining me in this new training stage of this 2010 it’s been great to share all training sessions with American USATF Manny Huertas, Omar Velez (Puerto Rico) and the Hungarians Peter Bajai and Gabor Bajai. Added to this group Bansol CRC Endurance athletes; Rom Akerson, Guillermo Loaiza and Roger Rodriguez.

Despite of the isolation and lack of internet, we have shared fun times playing video games (FIFA), and reading.

It´s an inspiration to wake up and see the clouds in front of you, also the surroundings inspire us, looking to men harvesting flowers, strawberries, and potatoes. Those men are a motivation to us, it can be easily seen the hard work they put to become successful individuals.

This coming Sunday we will be competing in the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica “ Jaco Beach”, a beach well known by surfers worldwide. This coming weekend will be a warm-up for a month of end to end competition: Continental Cup Lima, Peru; Regional Games in Panama, World Cup in Monterrey, Mexico and Super Series in Korea.

Come visit Costa Rica, it’s a country filled with natural beauty and wonderful people.

From the Mountains of Cartago and the Irazú Volcano beside me. bye bye people.