What happens when you put 2,000 people in the Arizona wilderness for 48 hours, ask them to run 120 miles as a team, and invite them to live in tents with bonfires and beer?

You get Ragnar Trail Relay McDowell Mountain—and this Halloween weekend, Heroic Arizona is diving in headfirst.

The Challenge

Our eight-person team, Team Antifragile, will be out there from Friday afternoon through Sunday, taking turns running three different trail courses through day and night. Eight people. 120 miles total. One unforgettable test of what we're made of.

If you've never experienced a Ragnar event, picture this: a temporary village complete with food trucks, campfires crackling under the stars, exhausted runners cheering each other on at 3 AM, and a community of people who've chosen to do something hard together.

It's messy. It's uncomfortable. It's exactly the kind of challenge that reveals who we are and who we're becoming.

The Opportunity (And the Question)

Here's where it gets interesting.

Ragnar invited us to partner with them by co-sponsoring the event's beer garden—a race tradition where runners celebrate their achievements and refuel between shifts. It's a fundraising opportunity that would put us in front of over 2,000 like-minded people who are literally living out the values we teach: pushing themselves, supporting their teammates, and choosing growth over comfort.

But there's an obvious tension here. At Heroic, we're all about optimal health. We don't promote alcohol—not because we judge anyone who drinks, but because it simply doesn't align with peak performance and wellbeing.

So what do we do with an opportunity that's perfectly aligned with our values in every way except one?

The Solution: Partnership Over Purity

We said yes. But we did it thoughtfully.

We've partnered with Rodney Smith and Grow Space Kitchen, a local startup focused on providing nutritious school lunches to kids who need them. All proceeds from the beer garden will support their school lunch program.

We're also partnering with The Shop Beer Co, a Tempe craft brewer who's created custom cans celebrating this collaboration—souvenir items for participants that mark this weekend's achievement.

Here's the setup: Two side-by-side tents at the race village.

Tent One (Grow Space Kitchen /  Beer Garden): Craft beer and non-alcoholic beverages, fundraising for children's nutrition.

Tent Two (Heroic Arizona): Our home base for connecting with runners, sharing our mission, and inviting people into the work we're doing.

Are we going to keep these completely separate? Of course not. We're going to celebrate every single person at that event—because that's who we are.

Why This Matters

Here's what we believe: Connection over separation. Showing up over staying pure. Meeting people where they are while inviting them toward something more.

These 2,000 runners? They're our people. They've chosen to do hard things. They're supporting each other through the night. They're proving what's possible when you commit fully to a goal.

Yes, some of them will celebrate with a beer. And yes, we'll be right there—supporting a cause we believe in while sharing a vision of what optimal living looks like.

How You Can Be Part of This

We need volunteers for both tents—and here's what's in it for you:

You'll get a special Team Antifragile shirt (check out the design below—it's fantastic).

You'll be part of an incredible community gathering with over 2,000 people who are choosing challenge over comfort.

You'll help support a school lunch program that's getting nutritious food to kids who need it.

You'll represent Heroic Arizona to a whole new audience of people who might be ready for what we offer.

Volunteer Shifts Needed:

• Friday, October 31st: 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM
• Saturday, November 1st: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
• Sunday, November 2nd: 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Whether you want to work the beer garden (supporting Grow Space Garden's cause), staff the Heroic Arizona tent (sharing our mission), or just show up to cheer on Team Antifragile—we'd love to have you.

The Bottom Line

This weekend isn't about alcohol. It's not even really about running.

It's about a community of people who understand that growth happens outside our comfort zones. It's about showing up, supporting each other, and proving what's possible when we commit.

And it's about Heroic Arizona being willing to step into new spaces, meet new people, and trust that our values are strong enough to stand on their own—even next to a beer tent.

Want to volunteer? Reply to this post or contact us at [contact information]. Let us know which shifts work for you and which tent you'd prefer.

Want to follow along? Watch for updates on [social media channels] throughout the weekend. We'll be sharing the highs, the lows, and everything in between as Team Antifragile takes on 120 miles together.

Let's see what we're made of.

In energy, work, and love,
The Heroic Arizona Team