One of the most unexpected and perhaps even puzzling events that took place across the DMV area in 2025 just may have been the inaugural Taco Bell 50K race!
The seemingly masochistic race led hundreds of participants across the greater D.C. area on a 31-mile route that featured stops at nine unique Taco Bell locations!
This year, the race is back for its second edition, and it seems like it’s going to be even bigger and better than last year!
When and where is the D.C. Taco Bell 50K taking place?
The 2026 D.C. Taco Bell 50K is scheduled for the morning of Friday, November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving!
Registered runners will meet at the Taco Bell Cantina on King Street in Alexandria at around 6:30 am in preparation for an 8 am start to the run.
Runners are expected to bring the following:
- Their first menu item, ready to eat at 8 am sharp, as soon as ‘On your mark. Get set. Eat!’ is shouted by the organizers.
- Four safety pins to hang their racing bib.
- A large ziplock bag (To carry the wrappers from the food items eaten at each of the nine Taco Bell stops along the route).
- Backup mobile charger (Plugs at Taco Bell locations may not be consistently available to charge your phone during stops, given the expected crowd).
- A reflective vest.
- A headlamp (if you will be finishing the race later than 5 pm)
The King Street Taco Bell Cantina location serves as both the starting and finishing line for the 50-kilometer (31-mile) route, which will also include stops at a handful of Taco Bell locations along the way.
In addition to the ultramarathon-like distance, participants will also need to eat something from each of the nine Taco Bell locations that have been built into the race’s route – there are a few required items that need to be eaten before the finish line (think Chalupa Supreme, Burrito Supreme, Crunchwrap Supreme, Nachos Bell Grande), but the true test of endurance is the race’s ‘no puking’ rule.
Be sure to keep all of your Taco Bell wrappers because at the end of the race, finishers will be verified and honored accordingly.
How to register to participate?
While completing this challenge is not for the faint of heart, it’s meant to be a fun experience for people who enjoy pushing themselves in wacky ways.
In other words, this event is not competitive or exclusive to experienced distance runners; it’s for people who don’t take themselves too seriously and are willing to take part in something goofy alongside strangers.
To register for the 2026 race, all you have to do is fill in the registration form listed on the event’s official website!
The basic form requires you to enter some general information about yourself for the race (name, age, contact information, etc) and also a few waivers, including assumption of risk, a release of liability, and acknowledgement of adhering to all posted traffic laws during the race.
According to the race’s website, there are already 433 people registered to attend, and hundreds more will likely register as the race date approaches!
