More Than a Race: Spirit of CAN. at Ragnar Zion 2025

More Than a Race: Spirit of CAN. at Ragnar Zion 2025

Many months ago, we decided to get a group of us together to run Ragnar. We're a tight-knit group of friends who’ve shared plenty of adventure trips over the years—so signing up wasn’t the hard part. The best part, as always, was simply spending time together and helping each other through every step, mile, and moment of this wild race.

Ragnar is more than just a race—it's a movement. Their events are incredibly well-organized, filled with good vibes, and powered by a culture that celebrates team over time. From friendly staff and smooth logistics to impressively clean bathrooms (seriously!), Ragnar creates an experience that makes you want to come back… even after you’ve sworn you’ll never do it again.

The last time Spirit of CAN. fielded a Ragnar team was on Oahu—and that team took the overall win. It was a different group of people, but the same CAN. mindset carried through. Fast forward a few years: we’re a little older, a little slower, and fully focused—not on the podium, but on pushing our own limits. Ragnar’s motto is *“making running a team sport"—and nowhere is that more evident than at Ragnar Zion.

Set against the dramatic red rock backdrop of Southern Utah, Ragnar Zion Trail 2025 was no joke. The race features a rotating relay format, with each runner completing three loops: a 3.3-mile green, a 4.2-mile yellow, and a 7.6-mile red. The terrain? Rugged. The elevation? A lung-crushing 6,000+ feet. The climbs were brutal and relentless—especially on the red loop—and made even more grueling by the mix of sand, rock, and singletrack trail.

Oh, and did we mention it’s a 24-hour event? Runners are on and off the course day and night, lit only by headlamps, glowsticks, and grit. Sleep is optional. Support is essential. The trail doesn’t care if you’re running at noon or 3:00 a.m.—it demands everything you’ve got.

But that’s the beauty of Ragnar. You’re never really alone out there. Your team is always nearby—camping, cheering, recovering, or prepping for their next leg. The bond it builds is something special. We each had our own battles—tired legs, cold nights, dusty climbs—but we also had each other. And that made all the difference.

Our team was a wild, wonderful mix of people you’d want in your corner when things get tough: firefighters, physical therapists, a Marine, a retired cop, a pilot, and owner of Spirit of CAN.—an apparel brand about life, not lifestyle—who just turned 50 and decided everything had to be done at max effort—even if his heart rate of 193 didn’t exactly translate to speed.

Let’s start with Steve, our Marine and pilot, who naturally took the first leg. He flew—figuratively and literally—out of the gates and set a blistering pace that gave the rest of us something to chase (or at least try to).

Unfortunately, Captain Cisco from Kauai Fire/Rescue was injured during his first loop. Despite the pain, he gutted through his second leg—running, hopping, and somehow still making us laugh. The man who usually rescues people from cliffs and currents now needed rescuing from his refusal to let “can’t” win.

That’s where Angie stepped in—fittingly, since Cisco once stepped in for her when she was injured years ago. Angie, a former elite marathoner who once placed second at the Las Vegas Marathon and competed with the elite wave in Boston (she’s my wife, I could brag all day), quietly took on Cisco’s toughest 7-mile loop. That brought her total to 22 miles, including two pitch-black night runs. No complaints. No drama. Just relentless strength, grit, and the lifelong CAN. mindset she embodies.

Martine, a PT from Kauai, joined the race after months of interrupted training, but you’d never know it. We’re all convinced that had she taken up competitive sport earlier in life—and actually cared about dominating—she’d be an Olympian. Instead, she showed up ready to suffer, support, and cheer louder than anyone.

Ivana, our PTA from Las Vegas, was in just her second-ever race. But as a climber, rugged terrain is her normal. She crushed her loops like a seasoned pro and embodied the CAN. mindset: doing hard things with heart and humor.

Then there’s Melissa, the one responsible for this whole thing. She convinced us to sign up—and we love her for it. We also kind of hate her for it. But mostly, we’re grateful. Melissa helped organize the team, ran with joy and grit, and kept us laughing the whole way. (Her new nickname might be “Captain Peer Pressure.”)

Denise, recently retired from Metro Police, joined just one year after surviving a heart attack—and she brought the fire. A former collegiate national champion distance runner, Denise is hilarious, vocal, and a natural leader. Her energy lit up camp, and her strength on the trail reminded us all why she's one of the toughest competitors (and best teammates) out there.

And then there’s Jerry, also retired Metro Police, who served as our fearless clipboard-holding captain. An injury kept him from running, but his impact was huge: prepping meals, setting up tents (right next to the porta-potties—thanks for that), tracking runners through the night, and keeping us laughing even when sleep was a rumor. Did we mention his fifth wheel? It was the envy of base camp.

As for me—Andy, founder of Spirit of CAN.—I turned 50 right before the race and figured it was time to go all in. Every run was max effort. My heart rate monitor confirmed it (193 BPM), even if my speed didn’t. But I wouldn’t trade a second of it. This experience, this challenge, this team—it’s everything Spirit of CAN. is about.

For me, there’s nothing better than running for a team. I love the feeling of going all-out right from the start—diving deep into that anaerobic zone—and then just grinding through it, knowing I’m doing it for something bigger than myself. There’s something incredibly therapeutic about putting that kind of effort on the line for others. You walk away proud—not because it was easy, but because you gave something of yourself. You sacrificed comfort for connection. And that’s where the real fulfillment is.

Thanks to Patagonia’s group sale, we outfitted the team in Men’s Capilene® Cool Daily Shirts—arguably the best dry-fit shirts on the planet. It was an awesome opportunity to showcase the Spirit of CAN. brand on the trail, especially with our custom team design featuring our clipboard-wielding captain.

Ragnar Zion was an incredible event. The course was unforgiving—steep climbs, rocky descents, and high desert air that made every mile feel twice as long. Sleep was a fantasy. Muscles rebelled. But the scenery, the laughter, and the bond we built made every struggle worth it.

Fun fact: we later learned we would’ve won the Masters Division… if one of us wasn’t so youthful and fun. 😂 But honestly? We wouldn’t have changed a thing. This was the right team.

At some point during the race, each of us said, “Never again.”But give us a week… and we’ll probably be signed up for another.

Because that’s what the Spirit of CAN. is all about—doing hard things, together, not to prove anything to the world, but to remind ourselves and each other:We CAN.