Challenge Accepted!

As 2025 kicks off, I find myself reflecting on a balanced and much-needed winter vacation. It was filled with snowy adventures, moving through the crisp air with the kids, and enjoying the simple joys of being outdoors. Training wasn’t exactly at the forefront – unless you count that one impromptu threshold session, which involved a rather spirited XC-skiing session back to the car. But honestly, the break felt right. Sometimes, stepping back is what you need to step forward.

Today, though, it’s all systems go. Work began with a 35 km commute to the office, a ride that felt both refreshing and invigorating. It was also my first real outing with my upgraded steering setup – the Vision Metron 4D Flat MAS Di2 Carbon with J-Bend Extensions. The smooth handling and aerodynamic feel reminded me of why I’m gearing up for what lies ahead. Only 169 days remain until SWISSMAN 2025, and the clock is ticking.

This year already feels like a delicate balancing act, much like the last. Stepping into my role as Head of Application and Calibration is an exciting challenge. Leading a team, managing projects, and shaping our direction demands focus and discipline. Yet, it also demands boundaries. Work must remain a marathon, not a sprint – something I remind myself every day.

At home, the chaos is no less dynamic. The kids, as always, push me to rethink and realign. They challenge me to strip life down to its essentials, to be present in the moments that matter most. Balancing their needs with work and training isn’t easy, and truthfully, I still don’t have the formula. But I’m learning to accept the imperfection of it all, knowing it’s the effort that counts.

And then there’s SWISSMAN 2025 – the 3.8 km swim, 180 km bike ride, and 42 km run with a grueling 5,760 m of altitude gain. It looms on the horizon like an impossible peak. But impossible peaks are kind of the point, aren’t they? The journey has begun again, one small step – or ride – at a time. My fitness isn’t where it needs to be yet, but it’s moving in the right direction. Testing gear, easing back into structured sessions, and just getting back out there – it all adds up.

The new year is full of questions and uncertainties – again. Will I be ready? Can I balance work, family, and the demands of training? There’s no clear answer, and maybe there doesn’t need to be. What matters is trying. As the saying goes, “The only time is now.” So I’ll take each day as it comes, finding the rhythm that works for me – messy, imperfect, but mine.

With the clock ticking down to SWISSMAN, the stakes feel high. But so does the excitement. This is yet another year to try, to move forward, and to embrace whatever comes next. Let’s see where it takes me.