I used to run. It’s been several years ago, but I would get up every morning and run between 5 and 7 miles, all before breakfast. I did this for quite some time. That being said, I’ve never been a runner. It was always difficult for me.
Here’s another thing about me. I used to go to Taco Bell, and I used to love it. Really. I enjoyed their food. A tostada. A Mexican pizza. A chalupa. Anything, really. But these days, I don’t eat much fast food at all. Hardly ever. And when I do it is not Taco Bell.
Which brings me to this. I was quite surprised to learn of the Taco Bell 50K Ultramarathon.
Oh sure, I’ve heard of some unusual races over the years. Those crazy ultra-competitions. Or other races where people run through mud or climb over obstacles. Sometimes there are even those themed events where people dress in ridiculous costumes as they slug off the miles.
But there’s one race in Denver, Colorado, that might just take home the taco. It’s called the International Taco Bell 50K Ultramarathon. It’s just plain crazy if you ask me.
This year, it happened on October 3, 2026. Runners gathered in Denver to participate in the ninth edition of this race.
The challenge? Run 50 kilometers (31.07 miles), stopping at ten Taco Bell restaurants along the way.
They don’t have to just stop at the restaurants. They have to buy a menu item and eat it at nine of those stops. And they can’t just nibble on a few tortilla chips. By the fourth stop, they must consume either a Chalupa Supreme or a Crunchwrap Supreme. By the eighth, they must eat a Burrito Supreme or Nachos BellGrande.
And they have only eleven hours to finish the entire race.
Oh, and here’s another rule. No Pepto-Bismol, Mylanta, Alka-Seltzer, or Pepcid allowed during the competition.
Crazy. First of all, just running 31 miles is madness to me, let alone eating Taco Bell all along the way.
The whole thing began in 2016 when two Denver runners, Dan Zolnikov and Mike Oliva, were out training. They ordinarily stopped at farmers’ markets for refreshments. But one day, a bathroom break at Taco Bell inspired a rather questionable idea. Why not run from one Taco Bell to another?
And so, an ultramarathon was born.
Over the years, the event has attracted hundreds of runners. In 2025, more than 740 started, but only 516 finished.
Interestingly, Taco Bell itself doesn’t sponsor the event.
But. Despite all the silliness, there’s a charitable purpose behind it. Organizers support Achilles International, an organization that helps people with disabilities participate in running.
So there it is. I thought you should know what some people are doing with their days.
And if you feel bad about eating that second donut this morning? Don’t. Just park a little further out when you go to the Walmart.
Same vibe, I think.
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“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.” — John Bingham
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“It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.” — Jimmy Dugan, A League of Their Own (1992)
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“It always seems impossible until it’s done.” — Nelson Mandela
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