We’re in a fascinating contradiction. In 2017, when I started my Data Structures and Algorithms repository, AI was niche. Today, AI agents solve complex problems autonomously. Yet understanding DSA has never been more critical.

Why? Because AI agents are not magic, they run algorithms. If you don’t understand the algorithms, you won’t understand why they work or when they fail.

The Problem: Jumping to AI Without Fundamentals

I’m seeing developers learn ChatGPT and coding assistants before understanding:

• Why time complexity matters
• When to use a hash table vs a linked list
• How agents actually make decisions

This creates blind spots:

• Debugging: When something breaks, you can’t understand why
• Optimization: Your system works fine until it scales
• Security: You miss algorithmic vulnerabilities
• Control: You follow AI suggestions blindly

What’s Really Happening Behind the Scenes?

Path Planning

When an AI agent plans steps, it’s using graph algorithms (BFS/DFS) and dynamic programming. Without DSA knowledge, you won’t know why it chose a particular path.

Token Optimization

When models process information efficiently, they’re using tree traversal, stacks/queues, and sorting algorithms. The difference between milliseconds and seconds comes from algorithmic efficiency.

Vector Search

When agents retrieve information, they use binary search and hash tables for O(log n) vs O(n) performance. Scale matters.

Why DSA Matters Now

1. Understand Agent Decisions
When an agent uses recursion, caching, or systematic search, you need DSA knowledge to evaluate if that’s intelligent or wasteful.

2. Debug Failures
Wrong answers often trace back to algorithmic inefficiency or wrong data structure choice. Without DSA, you’re guessing.

3. Build Efficient Systems
The difference between a 100ms response and 10 seconds is algorithm selection: Merge Sort vs. Bubble Sort, Hash Table vs. Linear Search.

4. Spot Security Issues
Hash collisions, stack overflows, timing attacks, all algorithmic vulnerabilities that AI systems inherit.

5. Future-Proof Your Career
AI tools evolve. Algorithmic thinking is eternal. Developers who understand DSA thrive; those who skip it struggle at scale.

The Real Example

Without DSA:

“My AI agent is running out of tokens.”

With DSA:

“My agent uses depth-first search (storing the entire call stack). I should switch to breadth-first search or implement iterative deepening to reduce memory overhead.”

One is helpless. The other is empowered.

What You Should Know

• Data Structures: Arrays, Hashing, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs, Heaps
• Algorithms: Sorting, Searching, Graph Traversal, Dynamic Programming, Recursion
• Complexity: Why O(n²) breaks, why O(log n) is magical, why O(n!) means “don’t”

Get Started

I’ve maintained my DS-Algos-Python repository (and recently revamped) since 2017 with:

• Fundamental data structures and algorithms
• Multiple solution approaches
• Real-world examples

The Bottom Line

Every AI agent decision is an algorithm. Every performance bottleneck traces back to data structure or algorithmic complexity.

Developers who understand DSA:

• Build better AI systems
• Debug failures fast
• Make informed decisions
• Stay employable

Developers who skip DSA:

• Build fragile systems that break at scale
• Can’t debug mysterious failures
• Follow AI blindly
• Become obsolete

The agentic era doesn’t make DSA obsolete. It makes it essential.

Start learning today. 🚀

Thanks for reading!

2025 was a year of varied terrain,long drives,early starts,and quiet lessons on the course. Between work,travel,and regular training, I managed to line up for five endurance events- each very different in character yet connected by a common thread: the love for long hours on foot and the journeys that come with them.

Most of these races began the same way, a road trip from Bangalore with a small group of friends,sharing playlists,conversations and that familiar mix of excitement and nervous energy. Some runs flowed smoothly while some tested patience and one reminded me quite clearly that the mountains always have the final say.

Instead of writing individual race reports,this post is a consolidated race diary- a snapshot of my 2025 running season. It captures the experiences,the people,the travel,and the learnings that stayed with me long after the finish lines.

🏃‍♂️ 2025 Running Events – Summary

🏃‍♂️ Vagamon UTrail – 36K

📍 Location: Vagamon, Kerala, India
📅 Date: January 18, 2025
⛰️ Elevation: ~800 m – 1400 m
📈 Elevation Gain/Loss: +1187 m / -1316 m
🛤️ Terrain: ~85% paths · 5% tracks · 10% roads
🏅 ITRA Points: 2
📏 Distance: 37 KM · Strava activity

Vagamon UTrail marked the start of my 2025 running season and, like most of our race weekends, it began with a road trip from Bangalore 🚗. A small group of us travelled together, turning the long drive into part of the experience - conversations, shared playlists, and the gradual shift from city roads to misty hill routes.

Vagamon UTrail 2025 is an ITRA-certified trail run, and it had been on my list for a while. Initially, I was planning to run the 60K, but later decided to go with the 37K distance this year, mainly to experience the trail that I had heard so much about. In hindsight, that turned out to be a very good decision.

We stayed close to the race venue, keeping things simple: early dinner, gear checks, and a calm night before race day. Preparation for this run was straightforward: regular walking, daily short runs, and strength training — nothing fancy, just consistency.

The course was absolutely beautiful 🌄. Long stretches ran through rolling hills and lush tea gardens, offering postcard-like views that made it easy to forget the effort for a moment. Most of the route followed well-defined paths, making the run feel runnable while still demanding respect due to the steady climbs.

At the start of the race, I had a fall and hurt my knee 🩹 — one of those moments where you pause, assess, and decide whether to continue. Thankfully, it wasn’t serious enough to stop, and after a quick check, I managed to carry on. The rest of the run became more cautious, but also more focused — listening closely to the body and adjusting pace accordingly.

Post-race, we regrouped like tired, relieved, and content, replaying moments from the trail over food and coffee ☕. It felt like a satisfying and honest way to kick off the year.

💡 Takeaway: Trails test more than fitness — resilience and calm decision-making matter just as much.

📷 A few moments from the trail

📸 More photos: Instagram

🎥 Videos: YouTube

🏃‍♂️ Ooty Ultra (OOTYULTRA) – 60K (Road Run at Altitude)

📍 Location: Ooty, Tamil Nadu, India
📅 Date: March 23, 2025
⛰️ Altitude Range: ~2100 m – 2600 m
📈 Elevation Gain: ~2000 m
🛣️ Surface: Road (High-altitude climbs)
📏 Distance: 60 KM · Strava activity

Ooty Ultra (also known as OOTYULTRA) was very different from most of my races this year. While I usually prefer trail runs, this was a high-altitude road ultra, and the challenge came not from technical terrain but from elevation, exposure, and persistence. Like most race weekends, it began with a long drive from Bangalore 🚗 — familiar faces, winding hill roads, and the gradual realization that the air was getting thinner.

This wasn’t my first time at Ooty Ultra. In fact, it was my fourth time at the event — three times as a runner and once as a volunteer. That familiarity helped, but it didn’t make the race any easier.

Race day turned out to be hot and demanding ☀️. With long stretches of road and very little tree cover, the sun was relentless. The altitude made breathing harder, and I struggled during the first 15–20 kilometers, dealing with early cramps and discomfort. It was one of those phases where everything feels off, and the only option is to stay patient and keep moving.

Slowly, things began to settle. I adjusted pace, focused on hydration, and broke the race into smaller sections. The long climbs demanded steady effort rather than speed, and by the later stages, it became a test of mental resilience more than physical strength.

I managed to pull through and finished just in time, tired but satisfied. It wasn’t a smooth run, but it was an honest one — the kind that teaches you something.

As always, the event was exceptionally well organised. Huge credit to Coach Kay and the Ooty Ultra team for their efforts in making the race smooth, safe, and memorable. Off the course, it was another fun trip with friends — shared travel, shared fatigue, and shared stories.

💡💡 Takeaway: At altitude, heat and patience matter more than pace. This race also highlighted the need to improve my early-phase running, as I tend to struggle initially before finding my rhythm later.

📷 A few moments from the Ooty Ultra 2025 weekend

📸 More photos: Instagram

🏃‍♂️ Jawadhu Hills Ultra – 50K

📍 Location: Jawadhu Hills, Tamil Nadu, India
📅 Date: November 1, 2025
⛰️ Elevation: ~Up to 1000 m
📈 ITRA Points: 2
🛤️ Terrain: Forest trails · Technical climbs · Steep descents
📏 Distance: 50 KM · Strava activity
🔗 Race: Jawadhu Hills Ultra 2025

Jawadhu Hills Ultra was, without doubt, one of the toughest and most memorable 50K runs I’ve done so far. True to its reputation, this race fully lived up to the word ultra.

As usual, the journey began with a road trip from Bangalore 🚗 — a small group travelling together, mentally preparing for what we knew would be a demanding day. The Jawadhu Hills, tucked away in the Eastern Ghats, feel raw and untouched, and that sense of remoteness sets in even before the race begins.

The course had everything a trail runner could ask for and fear 😄. Relentless climbs, technical downhills, deep forest trails, and intense heat made this a physically and mentally taxing run. There were long stretches where you felt completely alone in the forest 🌳, surrounded by silence and effort, with nothing to focus on except the next step.

Jawadhu isn’t just about elevation; it’s about sustained effort. The climbs were unforgiving, the descents demanded attention, and the heat made energy management critical. Brutal at times, but absolutely worth every step.

What made the experience even better was knowing that my ultra team buddies were out there tackling the same beast 🤝. Even though we ran most of the race alone, that shared challenge created a strong sense of connection. Finishing this race felt like a collective achievement.

It was also great meeting runners from across the country and making new trail friends along the way 🌍. Moments like these reinforce why the ultrarunning community feels so special.

A big shoutout to the Chennai Trail Club for putting together such a well-organised and memorable event. From logistics to course marking, everything was handled really well — no small feat in such a remote and demanding location.

💡 Takeaway: Jawadhu Hills demands respect — steady effort, mental resilience, and humility matter far more than speed on such rugged terrain.

📷 A few moments from the Jawadhu Hills Ultra

📸 More photos: Instagram

🎥 Videos: YouTube

🌙 Malnad Ultra Night – 50K

📍 Location: Malnad, Western Ghats, Southern India
📅 Date: November 22, 2025
⛰️ Elevation: ~800 m – 1500 m
📈 Elevation Gain/Loss: +1710 m / -1710 m
🛤️ Terrain: ~85% paths · 5% tracks · 10% roads
🏅 ITRA Points: 2
📏 Distance: 50 KM · Strava activity

Malnad Ultra Night was a truly special run for me — my first-ever night ultra 🌙. While I had run Malnad earlier in daylight, experiencing the same forests after dark was completely different and unexpectedly intense.

As with most of these races, the journey began with a drive from Bangalore 🚗. On the way, we took a small detour to visit the beautiful and historic towns of Belur and Halebeedu, adding a quiet cultural pause before the physical challenge ahead. Those temple visits felt grounding — a calm contrast to the long night that awaited us.

The race unfolded in the heart of the Western Ghats, and the conditions made it even more memorable. It rained, the trails were wet, and for long stretches I found myself completely alone in the forest 🌧️🌲 — guided only by my headlamp and the narrow beam of light cutting through the darkness. The silence was deep, broken occasionally by rain, footsteps, or distant sounds of the forest.

Running at night demands a different kind of attention. Pace naturally slows, footing becomes critical, and the mind plays a bigger role than the legs. There were moments of discomfort and uncertainty, but also moments of calm and clarity — the kind that only come when you’re moving alone through a forest at night.

Despite the challenging conditions, the race was exceptionally well supported. A big thank you to the organisers and volunteers who stood out there in the rain, deep inside the forest, making sure runners were safe and looked after. Their effort made a tough night feel reassuring.

Crossing the finish line brought a quiet sense of accomplishment — not loud or celebratory, but deeply satisfying. This run wasn’t about speed or timing; it was about experience.

💡 Takeaway: Night running strips things down to the basics — focus, patience, and trust in yourself matter more than anything else.

📷 A few moments from Malnad Ultra

📸 More photos: Instagram
🎥 Videos:

• Belur Temple visit
• Halebeedu Temple visit
• Running highlight

🛑 SRT Ultra Pune – 50K (DNF)

📍 Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India
📅 Date: December 13, 2025
⛰️ Elevation Gain/Loss: +2253 m / -2182 m
🛤️ Terrain: Mountain trails · Fort climbs · Technical descents
📏 Distance: 52.9 KM · Strava activity
🏅 ITRA: Solo · 5 aid stations · 400 participants
🔗 Race: Sinhagad–Rajgad–Torna Ultra (SRT)

SRT Ultra Pune was the final event of my 2025 season, and in many ways, the most ambitious one. This race wasn’t just about distance — it was about history, terrain, and respect for the mountains that define this iconic route.

The journey itself set the tone. Four days, four runners, and nearly 2000 km of driving 🚗 from Bangalore to Pune made this more than just a race trip. Along the way, we met runners from across the country, soaked in the vibrant energy at the expo, and witnessed some fantastic performances by local running groups. It already felt like something special before race day even arrived.

The Sinhagad–Rajgad–Torna (SRT) route is steeped in history. These ancient forts once served as critical routes for trading, farming, and warfare, and today they stand as towering reminders of Maharashtra’s rich past. Running through them feels less like a race and more like a moving journey through time.

Race day started early, and the climbs came thick and fast. Sinhagad and Rajgad tested strength and focus, but it was the Rajgad downhills that truly caught me off guard. I underestimated them, and that mistake gradually added up. By the time I reached the approach to the mighty Torna climb, I had narrowly missed the second cut-off.

Calling it a DNF was disappointing, no doubt. But standing there, tired and reflective, it was clear that this race had still given me a lot. The terrain was unforgiving, the elevation relentless, and the margin for error small. Sometimes, the mountains simply demand more.

Despite not finishing, the experience was overwhelmingly positive. The race was exceptionally well organised, and a big thank you goes to Western Ghats Running team for delivering such a challenging and memorable event.

As we began the long drive back, the excitement had already returned — not for what went wrong, but for what could be done better next time.

💡 Takeaway: Big mountain races reward respect and preparation — underestimating terrain is costly, but every setback carries a lesson.

📷 A few moments from SRT Pune

📸 More photos: Instagram
🎥 Videos: To be added

Final Thoughts – What 2025 Left Behind

Looking back, 2025 wasn’t about chasing timings or ticking boxes. It was about experiences- long road trips from Bangalore, shared stays, quiet forest trails, tough climbs, and the people who made each race meaningful.

Running with a small, familiar group added depth to every event. Whether it was sharing fatigue after a tough race, sitting quietly during long drives back home, or supporting each other through highs and lows, those moments mattered as much as the running itself.

Not every race went to plan, and one ended with a DNF- but that, too, was part of the journey. Each event reinforced something important: patience, humility, preparation, and respect for the terrain.

As the year closed, one thing was clear- the desire to keep exploring longer distances, tougher routes, and more intentional races remains strong.

Onward to 2026.

📚 Earlier Race Reports (Detailed)

If you’re interested in reading more detailed race-by-race experiences, you may find these earlier posts useful:

• 🏔️ Malnad Ultra 2024 – Race diary & experience
• 🦬 Bison Ultra 2023 – Race report
• 🏃‍♂️ Ooty Ultra 2023 – Race experience
• 🏔️ Malnad Ultra 2022 – Race diary & experience
• 🏃‍♂️ Ooty Ultra 2022 – Race experience

If you’ve run any of these events or are planning them, feel free to reach out at pp@pradeeppant.com or drop a comment.

Happy running and happy trails!

Cheers,
Pradeep

नाग मंदिर परिक्रमा दौड़

नाग मंदिर परिक्रमा दौड़ केवल एक दौड़ नहीं थी, बल्कि समुदाय को एक साथ जोड़ने और स्वस्थ जीवनशैली के प्रति जागरूकता बढ़ाने का एक छोटा सा प्रयास था। इस आयोजन का उद्देश्य युवाओं को फिटनेस अपनाने, नशे से दूर रहने और नियमित शारीरिक गतिविधि को जीवन का हिस्सा बनाने के लिए प्रेरित करना था।

यह दौड़ उत्तराखंड के पिथौरागढ़ ज़िले में स्थित बेरीनाग के नाग मंदिर से शुरू होकर वहीं समाप्त हुई। लगभग 2000 मीटर की ऊँचाई पर स्थित यह मंदिर स्थानीय आस्था, संस्कृति और प्रकृति के साथ संतुलन का प्रतीक है।

इस पहल की पहली कड़ी वर्ष 2024 में अनंत चतुर्दशी के दिन शुरू हुई थी उसी दिन जब बेरीनाग में पारंपरिक रात्रि मेला आयोजित होता है। इस संयोग ने दौड़ को स्थानीय संस्कृति और सामुदायिक जीवन से और भी गहराई से जोड़ दिया।

इस आयोजन में बच्चों, युवाओं, बुज़ुर्गों और गाँव के लोगों ने उत्साहपूर्वक भाग लिया। यह किसी प्रतियोगिता या समय सीमा से बंधी दौड़ नहीं थी बल्कि सहभागिता, प्रेरणा और सामूहिक अनुभव का उत्सव थी।

नाग मंदिर ट्रस्ट, स्थानीय स्वयंसेवकों, शिक्षकों और सहयोगी मित्रों के सहयोग से यह आयोजन संभव हो सका। प्रतिभागियों को प्रोत्साहन स्वरूप छोटे पुरस्कार और यात्रा एवं भोजन के लिए प्रतीकात्मक सहायता भी प्रदान की गई।

आगामी वर्ष 25 सितंबर 2026 अनंत चतुर्दशी के दिन नाग मंदिर परिक्रमा दौड़ के अगले संस्करण की योजना है। आशा है कि और अधिक लोग इस पहल से जुड़ेंगे और इसे आगे बढ़ाने में सहयोग करेंगे।

Why This Run

The Nag Mandir Parikrma Run was not planned as a race or competition.
It started as a simple idea to bring people together through movement, promote fitness, and create awareness among the younger generation about healthy lifestyle choices.

Growing up in the hilly regions of Uttarakhand, opportunities for organised sports and fitness activities were limited. This run was a small attempt to change that narrative, even if just for a day.

The first edition of the Nag Mandir Parikrma Run took place in 2024 on Anant Chaturdashi, a day when the traditional night mela is held in Berinag. Aligning the run with this occasion helped root the initiative naturally within local traditions and community gatherings.

Nag Mandir – The Inspiration Behind the Run

The Nag Mandir in Berinag is a temple dedicated to Nage Devta, the serpent deity traditionally worshipped across this region of the Kumaon Himalayas. For generations, the temple has been an important cultural and spiritual landmark for local communities, symbolising protection, respect for nature, and balance with the surrounding environment.

Situated at an elevation of close to 2,000 metres, Nag Mandir also served as the start and finish point of the Parikrma Run. Choosing this location was intentional the run was designed not just as a physical activity, but as a symbolic loop around a place deeply rooted in local identity and tradition.

The Place & the People

Nag Mandir is located in a remote part of the Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, surrounded by hills, forests, and quiet village life. The terrain itself naturally encourages movement walking, climbing, and spending time outdoors.

The run saw participation from local youth, villagers, and visitors. There were no rankings, no timing chips, and no pressure — just people moving together, encouraging each other, and enjoying the experience.

Landscape

Berinag, located in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, sits in the Kumaon Himalayas and is known for its expansive views of forested ridgelines and distant Himalayan peaks. The region has a long cultural and spiritual history and remains deeply connected to nature and daily physical activity through walking and hill movement.

This landscape formed the backdrop of the Nag Mandir Parikrma Run quiet roads, gentle climbs, forest sections, and open views that naturally invite movement rather than competition.

View of the Himalayan ranges from Berinag, filmed a few years ago. This landscape defines the setting and spirit of the Nag Mandir Parikrma Run.

How the Event Came Together

The event was organised with the support of Nag Mandir Trust and a small group of volunteers.
There was no registration fee, and participation was open to all.

Several friends from the running community and personal well-wishers quietly supported the initiative through small contributions. This helped cover basic logistics and made it possible to organise the event without external sponsorships. I’m deeply grateful for that support.

Route Map

Our Youngest-at-Heart Runner

Ashok Ji (66 years young) travelled from Dehradun to participate and motivate local children a powerful reminder that inspiration has no age limit.

More Than a Run

The core objective of the Parikrma Run was to:

• Encourage fitness and regular physical activity
• Create awareness about staying away from drugs
• Promote a healthy and disciplined lifestyle
• Strengthen a sense of community participation

To encourage wider participation, we introduced small prize awards across boys, girls, and other categories, purely as a form of motivation and recognition. In addition, every participant received a small token of appreciation to help cover basic travel and food expenses ensuring that participation remained accessible and inclusive. In remote regions like this, even a small event can leave a lasting impression especially on young minds.

Personal Reflections

For me, this run was deeply personal. It brought together three important parts of my life:

• Running
• Giving back to the community
• Reconnecting with my roots

It was a reminder that not every meaningful run needs a bib or a finish line. Sometimes, the value lies simply in showing up and doing something positive together.

Acknowledgements & Gratitude

This initiative would not have been possible without the collective support of many individuals and groups.

My sincere thanks to Nag Mandir Trust for providing the foundation and support to organise this event, and to the local volunteers who worked tirelessly on the ground.

I am deeply grateful to the schools and teachers who encouraged and accompanied children to participate, making the run truly inclusive and community-driven.

Several friends from the running community and personal circles generously contributed towards logistics and arrangements. Their quiet support played a crucial role in making the event successful.

A special mention to Race Director Lalit Pant for his vision, planning, and continuous on-ground efforts this run exists because of his commitment and perseverance.

Thank you to everyone who participated, supported, and believed in this initiative.

Looking Ahead – 25 September 2026

Encouraged by the response and participation, we plan to organise the next edition of the Nag Mandir Parikrma Run on 25 September 2026.

We hope to see wider participation from local communities, schools, and running enthusiasts, while continuing to keep the event simple, inclusive, and purpose-driven.

More details will be shared closer to the date. We look forward to your support and participation.

If you’d like to know more about this initiative or support similar efforts in the future, feel free to reach out.

Moments from the Run

Here are a few video highlights from the day candid moments of participation, smiles, and community energy.

Explaining how non-linear causal relationships reveal hidden process changes.

Most systems can detect that something changed.
Very few can explain why it changed.

Machine learning models rarely fail dramatically.

They degrade quietly. Accuracy drops slowly. Predictions become unstable. Business impact often appears before monitoring dashboards raise alarms.

In many process-driven systems — banking, manufacturing, healthcare — this degradation is caused by concept drift, where the underlying relationships between variables change over time.

But the real challenge is this:

Systems usually detect that drift occurred but they rarely explain what caused it.

This research focuses on closing that gap.

The Limitation of Traditional Drift Detection

Most drift detection techniques rely on:

• Statistical change detection
• Window-based distribution comparison
• Linear Granger causality
• Prediction error monitoring

These approaches are useful, but they mainly detect symptoms rather than causes.

Traditional Granger causality also assumes linear relationships, however, real-world business processes rarely behave linearly.

Examples include:

• Workload affecting turnaround time in complex ways
• Customer attributes influencing outcomes non-linearly
• Resource allocation interacting dynamically with control-flow behavior

Linear tools often miss these hidden dependencies.

Reframing Drift: A Change in Causal Structure

Instead of asking:

Has the data distribution shifted?

I asked a different question:

Has the causal structure between process variables changed?

Event logs typically contain two categories of information.

Primary Features

Control-flow patterns representing how the process executes.

Secondary Features

Contextual attributes such as age, workload, or resource usage. If contextual variables begin influencing process behavior differently over time, it indicates structural drift.

To capture this, the proposed framework combines:

• Process mining
• Change point detection (PELT)
• Non-linear causal modeling using MLP
• Statistical validation via Wilcoxon test

Core Idea of the Framework

Two predictive models are trained.

Model 1

Uses only primary process features.

Model 2

Uses both primary and contextual features.

If Model 2 significantly improves prediction accuracy, we infer:

Contextual variables are causally influencing process behavior.

This converts traditional drift detection into:

Causal Drift Explanation

Why Use MLP Instead of Linear Granger?

Traditional Granger causality identifies only linear dependencies.

Real-world systems often contain:

• Sinusoidal patterns
• Exponential effects
• Non-linear lag relationships
• Multi-variable interactions

Multilayer Perceptrons (MLPs) can naturally model these complex relationships.

The framework therefore:

• Uses lag-based time windows
• Employs 2–3 hidden layers with ReLU activation
• Applies dropout and early stopping
• Evaluates performance using Mean Squared Error (MSE)
• Validates causal significance using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test

If contextual variables consistently reduce prediction error — and the improvement is statistically significant, they likely represent true causal influence.

Experimental Validation

The framework was evaluated using three datasets.

Synthetic CPI-generated datasets

Controlled experiments with:

• Sudden drift
• Gradual drift
• Recurring drift

BPI Challenge 2017 dataset

A real-world dataset containing 31,000+ loan application event logs.

Large synthetic non-linear dataset

High-dimensional time series including functions such as:

• sin
• log
• exp
• sqrt with injected drift.

Key Results

• Consistent MSE reduction when contextual variables were included
• Over 85% statistically significant improvements
• Detection of non-linear dependencies missed by linear models
• Low false causal detection

These results demonstrate strong robustness, sensitivity, and statistical reliability.

Why This Matters for Industry

In production ML systems, monitoring usually answers:

• Is model performance degrading?
• Is the data distribution changing?

But organizations need deeper insight:

• What caused the degradation?
• Which contextual factors changed?
• Is the drift operational, behavioral, or structural?

This research moves toward a more powerful paradigm:

Drift Detection → Drift Explanation → Root Cause Insight

The long-term goal is to build ML systems that:

do not just detect failure — but understand structural change.

Limitations & Future Work

Some challenges remain:

• Fixed lag windows may miss dynamic temporal dependencies
• Pairwise modeling limits full multivariate causal discovery
• Real-world logs lack ground-truth causal labels
• Hyperparameter tuning remains important

Future directions include:

• Neural Granger approaches
• Transformer-based temporal modeling
• Multivariate structural causal models
• Self-Adaptive MLOps Pipelines
• Online adaptive drift monitoring

Conference Presentation

In July 2025, I presented this research paper Explainable Concept Drift in Process Mining Using MLP-Based Non-linear Causality Detection

at the 16th International Conference on Computing, Communication and Networking Technologies (ICCCNT 2025) held at IIT Indore.

Final Thoughts

Concept drift detection alone is no longer sufficient.

Modern ML systems must be:

• Causally aware
• Non-linear
• Statistically validated
• Interpretable

Drift is not merely a statistical anomaly.

It is a signal that the system’s environment, structure, or context has changed.

Understanding why it changed is where intelligent systems truly begin.

Discussion

This work is part of my ongoing PhD research.
If you have suggestions, feedback, or ideas for collaboration in areas such as concept drift, machine learning, process mining, or adaptive ML systems, I would love to hear your perspective.

Feel free to leave a comment or reach out via email.

Type of Terrain: 85% Paths / 5% Tracks / 10% Roads

Distance: 50KM Strava link

ITRA Points: 2

Date: November 23, 2024

Malnad Ultra 2024 is an ITRA-certified trail run and a UTMB Index Race. This was my second 50K trail run following the Bison Ultra 2023. Having previously run a 30K in the Malnad hills in 2022, I had some experience with the terrain. You can read my blog here.

For preparation, I stuck to my usual workout routine, which includes cycling, running, and strength training.

Stay:
Since we had a larger group this time, we chose a homestay near the road leading to the starting point. Here are some important notes about the stay:

1. There’s very limited mobile network (only some BSNL coverage), so it’s advisable to inform family and friends when you're near the main road or car park.
2. Due to the remote location and limited transport options, carry essential items like medicines, snacks, and other necessities since stepping out unexpectedly may not be feasible.
3. Room service is limited, so it’s best to adhere to the scheduled meal times in the common area.
4. The food was fantastic — home-cooked, with both vegetarian and non-vegetarian options.

Areas for Improvement:

• More frequent room and bathroom cleaning would enhance the experience.
• An electric kettle in the rooms for tea, coffee, or warm water would be a useful addition.

Event:
The starting point felt like something out of an adventure novel- a remote location accessed via a winding, narrow forest road that was buzzing with activity even before dawn. Cars and runners filled the path, headlights slicing through the darkness. Despite the chaos, the organizers did an outstanding job of managing parking efficiently, ensuring everyone found their space. Hats off to Coach Anand and his team for handling logistics so well in such an isolated area.

We arrived at the venue around 6 a.m., greeted by the cool morning air and the faint glow of sunrise peeking through the trees. Breakfast was simple yet energizing—light enough to keep us nimble but sufficient to fuel the miles ahead.

One challenge we faced was the limited availability of toilets reserved for female runners due to the shortage. Given the dense forest setting, this was understandable—part of the rugged, unpredictable charm that comes with trail running.

The race kicked off promptly at 6:30 a.m., and we set off into the unknown. The first 2-3 kilometers felt exhilarating—a fast-paced downhill stretch that had us cruising along, soaking in the morning breeze. But this was short-lived; soon, the trail climbed steeply, testing both legs and lungs. The first hydration point appeared around this section—a welcome sight after the demanding ascent. Here, we paused to take in the view—lush green valleys bathed in morning light, mist clinging to distant peaks. Moments like this are what make trail running special.

The final stretch of the run was a downhill segment, which seemed easier on paper. However, with the sun now overhead and fatigue setting in, it was far from effortless. The well-placed hydration points and first-aid stations ensured runners stayed safe and energized throughout.

Our entire group — me, Suresh, and Mey successfully completed the 50K run, while Dr. Raju and KC tackled the 10K+ walk with equal determination.

Crossing the finish line was immensely satisfying—not just because we made it within the designated time, but because we shared the experience with runners from across India and beyond. As always, we captured plenty of memorable moments with photos and videos.

Final Thoughts:
The Malnad Ultra is truly a remarkable experience. The breathtaking scenery, challenging trails, and wonderful community of runners make it an unforgettable event. Here are some key tips for anyone planning to participate:

• Try to book your accommodation close to the starting point, though options may be limited.
• It’s best to run with a partner or find someone maintaining a similar pace.
• Carry essentials like extra clothes, sandals, snacks, and chargers in your vehicle. Given the poor mobile network, a backup phone with a BSNL SIM can be handy.
• Traveling in a group enhances the experience and adds an extra layer of safety.

This was a quick glimpse into our Malnad Ultra experience. I’m hoping to return in 2025/2026 — maybe for the 100K challenge!

Feel free to reach out at pp@pradeeppant.com or drop a comment if you’d like to share your own experiences or need tips and advice.

Happy running!

Cheers!

PS: Most of the pictures were taken by me, Suresh, and our friends. Some are from the official event photographers.

Here are some pictures from our trip (featuring I, Suresh, Mey, Dr. Raju, and KC):

Day 1: Bengaluru - Malnad

Our road trip route

Starting from home

Breakfast at Naychiyar Cafe, RR nagar before leaving

En-route Chikangluru

Homestay

Always delight to meet fellow runners at Bib collection

Our before race day night ritual

Day 2: Race day - Malnad

Parking lot - beautiful open area

Quick breafast and coefee before we start

Race course

:

Beautiful route

Mey and his poles :-)

Me and Suresh, most of the time we were together during course

At finish line

Finsher pic with group (Me, Suresh, Meyyappan and Laxmikant)

Pic with Run Addicts group

50K medal

30K from 2022 and 50K from 2025, lets hope we get the last one (100K) in coming years…

Day 3: Shivamogga - Meeting friends and sightseeing

Morning coffee at Shivamogga charging point

Breakfast with friends at Shivamogga courtesy Kariyappa

Professor’s Poori love

Visit to Elephant camp

Our camera savvy Doc

KGF gang

Evolution of Elephant – Amazing history

Elevation: approx 1100 mt - 1500 mt : elevation gain ~ 1500 mt

Distance: 50KM [Strava] [Certificate]

Date: 10th Sept 2023

Preparation: For preparation of Bison Ultra 2023 50K I just followed my daily workout i.e. a mix of cycling, running, and strength workouts. No custom training plan, my last long run was Ooty ultra 30K in April. You can read my blog post on Ooty Ultra 2023 here

Travel: I and Suresh started around 6 a.m. in the morning and later picked up Mey and Laxmi near the SilK board junction on Hosur Road. Our first stop was Shree Savarna Bhawan, near Krishnagiri, for breakfast. We tried mini tiffin, idly, mini dosa, and uttpam. We loved the Tamil-style sambhar and filter coffee. The next stop was the Tata Motors show room at Salem for charging our EV. The people at the showroom were very friendly. It was warm weather at Salem, so we took some rest while our car was on charge. We also took a test drive of some of the EV vehicles from Tata. I am really impressed by Tata Group’s commitment and future planning for the EV push. We were supposed to have lunch at Salvi Mess (recommended by Mey), but later felt that due to the heavy breakfast and heat in Salem, we decided to start climbing towards the Yercaud Hills. We just had a quick coconut break before entering the hills. Our running start point and stay were 8–10 KM’s ahead of Yercaud town. We reached around 4 p.m. at Last Shola, which was on the way to Heavens Lodge (our stay and bib collection place). There we met coach Kay (the organiser) and many other runners having lunch. We were also hungry, so we quickly had food that was available to them (though a bit costly, but understandable as we had not given prior notice). Overall, our travel was good; we had a good charge in an EV after reaching Yercaud.

Stay: Heavens Lodge Cottages, Yercaud. Newly built cottages with a beautiful valley view of the Krishnagiri area

Event:

Before night, I was in doubt about whether I should wear my Luna sandals for the run or normal shoes. For almost the last year, I have done most of my runs in sandels, so that was my first choice. Anyway, I was carrying basic walking shoes (actually, not even suitable for running). After checking with some runners who have done this trail in the past, I decided to go with shoes but kept my Luna in an extra bag (I thought it would change at the 25 km mark). But my decision to use shoes was very good, though initially I was not very comfortable during downhills because of the fear of slipping, but slowly I tuned my mind not to think much about that aspect and focused on the route, which eventually helped me. Coming to route, it’s beyond words; most of the part of route was trail, only some road streched but very calm remote village roads. Volunteers has done a great job of setting up water points, but it was not easy. Lunch at 25–26 km was great: Idli, Sambhar, and Chutney, very nice and light. There was a small loop of 3–4 km at the lunch point. Initially, I was thinking of having food after completing the loop, but Jay, with whom I chipped in somewhere after 8–10 km, advised having food first, then entering the loop, which indeed was a very good decision, and we were already tired, and solid food was very much needed. btw, Jay is an accomplished runner (has done border 100 KM). After the sun was fully up, we entered the road. I tried to run with Jay, and later we were joined by another runner, Anant Kansal (a Ladakh marathon finisher), who was also running at a similar pace. After 8–9 km of road, our final climb of 10–11 km started, which was tough and grueling. We tried to climb together and were finally able to finish just before the cut-off time. Suresh was there at the finish line to motivate us to cover the last couple of hundred meters.

Final thoughts:

This was a small event in comparison to other running events, but the challenges were much greater because of the terrain and remote access. Coach Kay has done his best to organize, and I must congratulate him. The food was simple and nice. The location of the stay, especially Heavens Lodge, was superb, though some runners also stayed in Last Shola, which was our starting point. The finish line was at Heavens Lodge. So we walked about a kilometer in the morning to the start line.

Some learnings:

• Trail shoes or shoes with good grip are a must-have; no experiment with minimalist or barefoot.

• If you are used to energy gel, it is better to plan for the road part so that you can save some time.

• Walking sticks are good to have, but you can fetch a wooden stick in the forest itself; btw, it helped me a lot during the climb.

• Try to run in a small group or with at least one person (very important). This will help you stay on course and not get demotivated. Also, if possible, add the map of the route to your watch; this will also help you stay on course.

• Big no to headphones and even using a camera while running. Your focus should completely be on the group to avoid stones and other objects. There are chances of falling, so be very careful.

• Last but not least, if you’re not feeling well or injured, don’t think twice before calling for help.

We had a lot of fun together, and the overall experience was phenomenal!

This was a brief overview of our Bision trip ultra run. I hope to revisit it in 2024.

Feel free to write in at pp@pradeeppant.com or comment here in case you wish to share your own experiences or need more info.

Happy to help!

Cheers!

Finally, here are some pics from our trip ( I, Suresh, Mey and Laxmi (Lucky)):

Our road trip route

Start at home

Start with Suresh

Drive to Yercaud

Mini tiffin breakfast at Shri Sharvana Bhavan, near Krishnagiri

Route to Salem

EV charging at Tata Motors, Salem

Coconut break en route before entering the Yercaud Hills

Our stay in a beautiful place

Enjoying evening tea

Lucky in deep thoughts

Sunset view from Heaven’s Lodge

Beautiful Valley View

Beautiful area outside our stay

Evening at Heavens Lodge with runners

Relax evening at Heavens Lodge

Ultra team at bib collection

Race briefing

At the Bib Expo

Pre-race day

Group pic with coach

Sun-protection gear trial

Lucky’s mobile love :-) relaxed evening

Bison Ultra 50K route

50K elevation profile

Trail route

at the start line

Ready for the run

First climb – Beautiful view

Sunrise

With 25K runners

More climb

Climb and Sun

At 12KM stop

Beautiful temple en route

With Lucky

Road climb

much-needed break. - Guava

Crossing trail

This guy helped us make a stick

en route fun

Our hero Boy

With Anant

My running partner

Final downhill with Jai

Final steps to finish line

Medal earned

Finisher pic

Medal pic solo

Medal pic with Jaisingh

With Coach Kay

Before return

before leaving Heaven’s Lodge

Met podium finishers on return

I loved the customized medal with my name on it!

I filed a bug in Chromium bug tracker and after much discussion and testing, they acknowledged the bug.

The second bug, “PrintPreview is hanging and is taking a long time to load,” I found while testing the first bug fix. I filed the same on Chromium bug tracker

GitHub repository contains all the code and screenshots I’ve used to re-create the issue for developers.

Some thoughts: I filed the bug in multiple official channels, like Google Chrome support, Microsoft Edge support, Microsoft Visio support, and the Chromium bug tracker. Google Chrome replied, but Microsoft Edge and Visio were not bothered to acknowledge it. Anyway, even the Chromium development team was initially not very keen on checking, but later, when they saw the severity of the bug, many developers jumped in. Their testing team completely missed that. I also learned how big open-source teams like Chromium work. I am happy because the first bug was blocking one of my customers.

Elevation: approx 2100 mt - 2700 mt : elevation gain ~ 1000 mt

Distance: 30KM [Strava] [Certificate]

Date: 2nd April 2023

This is my second time at Ooty Ultra (OOTYULTRA). Check last year’s 2022 experience blog here. Running in Ooty is always a challenge due to the elevation and unpredictable weather, but the scenic beauty of the Nilgiris makes every Ooty Ultra (OOTYULTRA) edition special.

To prepare for it, I just followed my daily workout i.e. a mix of cycling, running, and strength workouts.

Travel This time we took Suresh’s newly bought EV car, he wanted to test the battery power and overall drive experience, and he had done good research on available charging stations en route. At Mysore, we charged our car (not full) but calculated the safe zone to reach Ooty as there were no charging stations between Mysore and Oooty as this is a forest area covering Bandipur Wildlife Sanctuary of Karnataka and Madumalai hills of Tamil Nadu. It was such a wonderful experience while crossing the forest by car as we could feel the smoothness and minimal noise of the EV car, a true delight for inhabitants. As soon as we entered the ghat section with 36 hairpin bends to cover to reach Ooty we saw that our car battery was draining fast, And slowly our whole focus shifted from our normal chit-chat of the evening planning to checking battery perventage as it was coming down very fast with each bend. Anyway, the last 1hr or so before reaching Ooty was a bit adventurous and a bit of panic as well. Finally, we reached Ooty town with less than 5% battery but learning for future trips is that climb takes much more charge so always keep that extra buffer, good that we have done a top-up charge at Mysore, We later met a couple of other EV cars owners who also faced the similar issues, even one of them have to toe car to hotel. Anyways good experiment and learning. I think there is a need for charging stations before the climb to Ooty. Hopefully, this will come as EV infra is coming very fast. Thanks to enthusiasts like Suresh and other guys who like to explore and eventually help in developing infra.

Stay: The stay was ok, the hotel was nicely located and close to the venue, We just spent a few hours in the evening and then came for sleep only. Actually, our experience with the hotel for EV charging has not gone well, they were trying to squeeze us on electricity charges. They should not have done it, we found another hotel named Gem Park, they had plenty of places to charge the vehicle and good facilities for food and drinks. They were very customer friendly and we had a good experience there. I think in future with the EV boom coming, charging points can be a good place for food and entertainment, and seems Hotel Gem Park management has seen this opportunity.

Event: A very well-organized event (as usual Coach Kay style) - lots of hydration points, first aid kiosks, etc. Kudos to Coach Kay and his team for all the arrangements. The course was fully road-tracked with excellent views. The second part of the course was more difficult because of the sun. Overall a good run, we all were able to finish well within the given time. I was able to reduce my 30K timings by about 30 minutes from the previous edition. As usual, I didn’t lose the opportunity to click loads of pictures :-)

Final thoughts: Ooty Ultra is absolutely wonderful experience. The beauty of the place, route, and overall crowd make it a very special run. We were supposed to stay back post run but due to some emergency at home with one of our team members, we returned back on the same day.

This was a brief of our Ooty trip ultra run. I hope to revisit it in 2024, maybe for 60K.

Feel free to write in at pp@pradeeppant.com or comment here in case you wish to share your own experiences or need more info or advice.

Happy to help!

Cheers!

Finally, here are some pics from our trip ( I, Suresh, and Mey):

Our road trip route:

Start at home

Ultra team starting from Bangalore

Start trip full tank: The Breakfast

On the way crossing beautiful Ramnagara, the Sholey city

EV Recharge at Mysore

Mey in deep thought, I should put a chip inside his head :-)

Night Stay

Pre-race dinner at Hotel Gem Park, our car charging place

View from our hotel

Gear ready for race day

Ultra team ready

Morning start point meeting with Dr. Vinod aka Dr. Velocity and his team from Trichanapalli, we met them during the Malnad run

Fun before Run

Waiting for whistle

My first long run with Luna sandals

Sun and runners

Fellow runners

Suresh at Doddbeta peak.. highest in Niligirs

Beautiful tea plantation

Landscape

Villages from far a bit nostalgic look like my hometown in the hills

Tea gardens - Just like my home town Berinag-Chaukori now vanished 😐

On running route

Run with Luna .. felt so comfortable

Route view

Climb

Relaxing with excellent food, thanks to Suresh for telling Coach for south Indian breakfast rather than English

Medal 30K

Finish line medal

After run effect :-)

Elevation: Approx. 800 mt.–1500 mt. Elevation gain: +1010 mt; Elevation loss: -1010 mt

Distance: 30KM Strava link

Date: November 26, 2022

Malnad Ultra 2022 is a trail run certified by ITRA and a UTMB Index Race. This was my first full trail run experience, and I must say it was beyond words.

To prepare for it, I just followed my daily workout, i.e., a mix of cycling, running, and strength workouts. Before this run, I’d done a 25K run at Kodagu.

Stay: So we stayed at Jhari Eco Resort for 2 days with our ultra-running team. It’s a unique place, on the route from Kaimara to Attingundi, few things to mention about the place and overall stay.

1. You can't take your car to this location; they will send a 4x4 on the main road towards Atingudi so pack your stuff accordingly.
2. Ride to the resort in a 4x4 can be challenging for very old people or people with heavy back pain, etc. This is because there are lots of jerks, but they have excellent drivers, and it's really fun!
3. There is no network (only limited BSNL), so make sure you inform your family and friends from the main road or car parking.
4. Because of the location and limited transport facilities, please make sure that you carry basic essentials like medicines, snacks, etc., as there is no market and unplanned stepping out is not possible.
5. Room service is limited, so it is better to follow the food times that they serve in the common area. The rooms and toilets were clean, and it seemed a lot of natural material had been used. They have integrated the resort nicely with nature.
6. The food is excellent, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian, with good, caring staff.
7. Excellent waterfall view and natural sound. They organized the trek also, but we skipped it as we already had enough from our ultra run.

Improvement areas:

• More cleaning of common areas, dining, etc.
• Electric Kettle in rooms for tea, coffee, or warm water

PS: Don’t forget to carry your favorite book as there will be plenty of time as there is no network

Event: The start point was a remote place with a single-lane forest road that was fully packed early in the morning. The organizers have done good work with allocating good parking spaces and the overall event. We’d reached the venue around 6 a.m. and had some light breakfast. One of the challenges was not having enough toilets to accommodate so many runners, so it was only given to female runners. But anyway, it was a dense forest, and this is all part of the experience. The run started on time; I think at 6:30 a.m., and we just had a light breakfast. The first 2-3 kilometers were downhill, but the last 5–6 kilometers were a steep climb. The first hydration was around that point; the views were superb, and it was a mix of running and walking. The last 8–9 km were downhill, but the sun was also there. There were enough hydration points, first aid kiosks, etc. Kudos to Coach Anand and his team for all the arrangements in such a remote area. We met many runners from different parts of the country and abroad. I and Suresh have done 30K, and Mey has done 50K in Luna Sandals.

Overall, it was a good run, and we were all able to finish well within the given time. As usual, I took loads of pictures :-)

Final thoughts: Malnad Ultra is an absolutely wonderful experience. The beauty of the place, route, and overall crowd make it a very special run. A few things one may consider:

• Try to book your stay closer to the start point, though there will not be many.
• Start early on race day from your stay, as the road from Attingundi to the start point parking is a single-lane, broken tarmac, trail forest road, and there might be traffic and restrictions due to the sensitive zone.
• Make sure that you run with someone or find someone to run with at your pace.
• Carry some extra clothes, sandals, snacks, chargers, etc. in your car. Mobile networks are also a problem, so it is better to keep a spare basic phone with a different network SIM, preferably BSNL.
• Traveling in a group will be much more enjoyable and safe!

This was a brief overview of our Malnad trip. I hope to revisit it in 2023.

Feel free to write in at pp@pradeeppant.com or comment here in case you wish to share your own experiences or need more info or advice.

Happy to help!

Cheers!

Finally, here are some pictures from our trip. ( I, Suresh, and Mey):

Day 1: Bengaluru - Mysore

Our road trip route

Our staple Kumaoni snack for road trip

Fun at the marriage party with Suresh and Mey’s friend’s daughter (KGF gang)

Day 2: Mysore - Jhari Eco Resort, Malnad region, Chikmagluru

Our road trip route

Stop at Gommateshwara Temple

Gommateshwara Temple Climb

Gommateshwara Statue

Met Ooty Ultra Coach Kay at Bib collection at Kaimara

Evening at Jhari resort

Relax mode at Jhari resort

Mey enjoying at Jhari cottage

Day 3: Jhari Eco Resort - Sipani Coffee Estate (Start-Point)

Drive towards start-point

Before sunrise

Walk towards the start point from the parking area

At the start full flock

Route

Sun and climb

Second climb

Coffee plantation

Crossing stream

Beautiful forest

Medal 30K

Mey after finishing 50K

Met a senior runner from Chennai

At the finish line

with RunAddicts gang

With Race Director Coack Anand and Ooty Ultra Race Director Coach Kay, Good to see that organizers of other events supporting each other

Met Peter, an accomplished trekker, and founder of Chennai Trekking Club post-run. Can’t resist meeting BELGIUM ppl because of my long association with the country :-)

Relax evening at Jhari post-run

Process mining can be used in multiple domains mainly where processes are defined. Below is a sample example from an automobile company from which use cases can be taken.

• Purchasing and Finance (improves compliance and automation rates)
• Development (reduces development cycle and increases standards)
• Change Management (improve transparency and product quality)
• Production (reduce throughput times and rework rates)
• Leasing (faster processes)
• User Experience (usage of products)
• Aftersales (optimization of customer touch points)
• IT (optimization of the IT system landscape)
• Data mining techniques are typically not process-centric
• End-to-end process models and concurrency are essentials for process mining
• Process mining assumes event logs where events have timestamps and refer to process instances

In the next post, we’ll try to go through Real-life Process Mining Session.

Thanks for reading!

Reference: Process Mining in Action Lars Reinkemeyer Editor Principles, Use Cases and Outlook