The World's Most Gastricly Challenging Race


 


On October 4th, 2025, the 8th edition of the International Taco Bell 50k Ultramarathon took place in Denver, Colorado.  Of more than 1500 registrants, approximately 750 starters toed the start line to attempt The World’s Most Gastricly Challenging Foot Race.

 

The origins of the race are shrouded in mystery, but it is said the founders were a Stoic Russian, a Short King from New York, and a Blind Changeling. The race has grown from 8 Denver runners and a dog to more than 750 runners, bikers and dogs from 40 US states, Puerto Rico and Canada. The Stoic Russian has named the race for all of the editions, which are as follows:


2018 (year 1): The Taco Bell 50k

2019 (year 2): The 2nd Annual Taco Bell 50k

2020 (year 3): Revenge of the Chalupa

2021 (year 4): Spinal Tap Edition

2022 (year 5): Rise of the Soft Taco (Diablo Deuce Edition – Saturday Taco Bell 50k in Denver, CO & Sunday Taco Bell 50k in Portland, OR)

2023 (year 6): The Pinto Bean Awakens

2024 (year 7): The Phantom Gordita

2025 (year 8): Attack of the Tostada

2026 (year 9): The Loco Strikes Back

 

The event is not a “race” per se, although some people have ran it very fast!. The course “Record Holder” is Sage Canady (HOKA sponsored ultrarunner) who blazed the course in 4 hours 28 minutes, although he almost DNF’d at the last Taco Bell with what appeared to be a “baby upchuck” which he was able to keep from leaving his lips…..YUCK! 2025 saw Alex Miller completed the course in 4 hours and 34 minutes. The real story and most celebrated of the race is the DFL (Dead F*ing Last), the last person to cross the finish line. The course cut-off is 11 hours, although it is routine for the race organizers to say out to welcome back and cheer on any participant who is able to complete the course. In 2025, there were about 8 people who completed the course between the 11-12 hour mark. These are the REAL HEROES & HEROINES of the event. They suffered the most, endured the most agony and battled their minds, bodies and spirits to return back, and become a SURVIVOR!

 

The oldest known finisher has been 78 years old, and the youngest known finisher has been 16. And, 1 dog has finished the race.

 

The four (4) values that embody what the event stands for are:

1.     SAFE – It will be a safe event for all participants. Participants are required to register online and provide emergency contact information. They are required to follow the event rules which include obeying all traffic signals as it is not a closed course. Participants are encouraged to employ a buddy system and NOT run alone; and, if they see a solitary runner pull them into a group and get them to the next Taco Bell. 

2.     FUN – Participants are encouraged to  dress up, make team shirts, wear taco hats, Taco Bell clothing, and be as creative as possible with their clothing. HOT SAUCE, a local Denver band and International Taco Bell 50k participants wrote and performed a song which has been deemed the Race’s Anthem (listen here: https://youtu.be/LB4Jq3gyVIU?si=9tV7KDG-LuL1xVOw ). Participants get to choose their own name and number on their race bib, and have the choice of completing 2 additional gastric challenges during the event – The Diablo or Baja Blast challenges. The race motto is “You are hungrier than you think you are! You can eat more than you think you can!”

3.     FREE – The event is FREE and for the first several years the food was free to participants. As the race has grown in popularity, participants are now required to purchase their own food, which can tally about $20 for the average participant. The Founders wanted to create an event that would have no fiscal barriers to participation, and it is believed to be The World’s Largest Free Ultramarathon.  The bibs are hand-made and the SURVIVOR medals are hand-made. In early editions of the race, SUVIVORS were awarded shirts, and hoodies as awards.

4.     FOSTER COMMUNITY – The event is intended to foster community through the sport of running. The event welcomes all participants regardless of gender, ethnicity, political affiliation, species, athletic ability and any other characteristic. The event is ALL-INCLUSIVE and rejects any and all types of non-inclusivity.

 

The charity partner of the race is the Denver Chapter of Achilles International, an organization that fosters community through sport and empowers disabled athletes to achieve their dreams. The 2025 International Taco Bell 50k raised nearly $8,000 for the organization. 100% of the funds go to race entry fees and equipment for the athletes.

 

A MOVEMENT! The organizers always had a dream of creating “a movement for runners”. Beyond a needed stop on the throne, the OG Denver International Taco Bell 50k event has inspired runners across the US to host their own Taco Bell running events. Distances have ranged from a 5 km to 50 km course. Known locations of “inspired events” include New Jersey, Oregon, Minnesota and DC.  2025 saw one runner seek galactic redemption after his DNF in the 2024 Phantom Gordita edition. Cullen Ross ran 104 miles, in 26 hours and 39 minutes, ate at 28 Taco Bell stops, consumed 6200 calories and spent about $80 to become the 1stand ONLY International Taco Bell 100 Mile SURVIVOR!

 

The stories of how people arrive at the start line of the International Taco Bell 50k in Denver, Colorado are some the best, and least known stories. They vary in intensity from two runners hanging out at a bar on Friday night, and challenging each other to run the race the next day to a daughter running the race in honor of her father who loved Taco Bell and passed away two weeks prior to the event. Runners finish with tears of joy or “the runs”, some with both. If you stand at the start and the finish line of this race, you will witness the best in humanity. You will witness an excited soul on fire. You will see smiles. You will see people helping one another. You will see courtesy and kindness. You will see the triumph of the human spirit. You will see people do something that some consider impossible. You will witness divinity and love.

 

As a co-founder and Race Organizer, I invite you to challenge yourself and hope to see you at a future edition of the International Taco Bell 50k in Denver, Colorado which is held on the 1st weekend in October to honor International Taco Day – October 4th. 

www.tacobell50k.com

 

View Media Coverage Here:

PBS Mini-Documentary: https://youtu.be/Pz4TyHWfEP4?si=3DxyGNpfSztrwLwn

TMZ Interview: https://www.tmz.com/watch/jason-romero-dan-zolnikov-taco-bell-marathon-10-03-2025/

Sam Reid Race Report: https://youtu.be/KXy7r9A8uEA

The Today Show: https://www.today.com/food/news/taco-bell-50k-ultramarathon-rcna235531

Outside Magazine: https://run.outsideonline.com/road/road-culture/the-taco-bell-50k-requires-strong-legs-and-a-stronger-stomach/

NY Post: https://nypost.com/2025/10/02/health/inside-the-taco-bell-ultramarathon-competitors-eat-9-times-while-running/

OFFICIAL Int’l TB50k Anthem: https://youtu.be/LB4Jq3gyVIU?si=9tV7KDG-LuL1xVOw


For more information:

www.tacobell50k.com

www.jasonromero.net


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