2025 - Its a wrap with El tour de Tucson

Reflections on 2025: Growth, Balance, and Endurance

Every year I look forward to this quiet time at the end to slow down, catch up with friends and family, and reflect on the past twelve months. For me, 2025 was all about stepping up as an engineering leader—tackling complex public cloud adoption and large-scale legacy modernization projects. I built a new team from the ground up, committed to aggressive timelines, and delivered high-quality products alongside cross-functional partners. It was demanding, but incredibly rewarding.

Even with the heavy workload, I stayed committed to my passion for cycling, finishing three major events this year and, as a bonus, completing my first half-marathon. I’ve always believed that sports sharpen your mind and build mental strength. The real difference-maker is consistency, commitment, and the willingness to take the path less traveled. When you keep your mind and body in sync, you stay ready for whatever comes next.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” — Neale Donald Walsch

My 2025 Approach: Less Is More

One of the biggest lessons this year came straight from sports: when a new opportunity appears, grab it with confidence—like there’s only one shot to make a first impression. Instead of trying to do everything, I focused on just one or two big things and gave them my best.

In cycling, I chose two key events and added marathon running. At work, I zeroed in on serverless and container compute at scale. Quality over quantity.

Prepare and Plan

Balancing a new sport with a busy work schedule meant I couldn’t just train less—I had to train smarter. I kept the same weekly hours but shifted intensity, technique, and timing. Weekends became a mix of learning new tech and logging miles. My coach, Mr. Vivek from Qubit and Uphill Into the Wind Cycling Club, was a huge help in figuring out what worked.

Work Backwards from the Goal

I set clear, time-bound targets: half-marathon under 2:15, 62-mile ride under 3:45, and 100-mile ride under 6:30. Starting with last year’s baselines, I adjusted my plan—adding more strength work for core and legs to support the mix of cycling and running.

Build a Strong Foundation and Experiment

Endurance comes from consistent base miles, mixed with intervals and strength training. My weekly routine looked like this:

• Monday: Easy run
• Tuesday/Thursday: Legs, glutes, core
• Wednesday: Interval cycling
• Friday: Upper body (biceps, chest, back)
• Saturday: Long ride or run
• Sunday: Rest

Resilience Through Setbacks

New challenges bring setbacks—whether it’s an injury in sports or a tough project at work. I learned early that you don’t push through alone. When injuries hit from juggling both sports, my coach(Yes I have coach for my fitness and mentor at work) helped me adjust the plan and keep moving forward. Over 30 weeks of consistent training, I finally felt ready to test myself.

Game Day: Half-Marathon (Arizona 48)

The Arizona 48 is a flat, beginner-friendly course with over 1,500 runners. I warmed up for 20 minutes and aimed for a steady 10:15 min/mile to finish under 2:15. The first half went exactly to plan. The second half brought blazing sun, but I joined a group of runners at my pace and leaned on the crowd’s energy. I crossed the line in 2:12—a new personal best and proof that the plan worked.

“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” — Lance Armstrong

 

Finale: El Tour de Tucson 100-Miler

The weather forecast was brutal—rain and 20 mph headwinds for the first 40 miles. I used energy-saving tricks I’d learned from running: tuck in a group, feed every 20 minutes, and stay calm. At mile 73, we turned with the wind and pushed hard, averaging 21 mph over the last 27 miles. The final stretch was pure grit, but I finished my third-best 100-mile time ever, even in those conditions.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius

Key Takeaways from 2025

This year pushed me further than I expected—professionally and personally. I learned to embrace discomfort, stay curious, and lean on the people around me. Some reminders I’m carrying into 2026:

• Say yes to things that scare you a little.
• You don’t need to know everything upfront—just be willing to figure it out.
• People notice your attitude and energy more than you realize.
• Surround yourself with people who inspire you to grow.
• Let go of ego so you can learn faster.
• Think big, then break it down into clear, doable steps.
• Skills last longer than any single project.
• Share what you’ve learned—it makes you better.
• Move your body every day—even 30 minutes is a game-changer.

As 2025 wraps up, I hope you take a moment to rest, recharge, and head into the new year with fresh energy and clear priorities. Health first, always.

Happy Holidays and a wonderful New Year 2026!