This is a LONG list of instructions, please read it all carefully!

This is the final instructions as of 11-28-25:

Here is the final runner logistics email instructions. Please read carefully.

Date: Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Location: Taco Bell Cantina, 417 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Weather: Temps expected to be 32 and rising to 44. There is very little chance of rain. https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/alexandria/22314/weather-forecast/331249
Website: Everything you need is on the website, please go through it all: https://tacobelldc50k.com/

Timeline of Activities:

6:30am: Registration opens. Please arrive early, so you can claim your bib (please remember to bring 4 safety pins for your bib). We plan to have a registration and finishers table set up outside of Taco Bell.

  • Remember to bring your first food item to the start line with you before 8:00am, but do not eat it until the run starts.

  • We have over 1,000 people registered for this event, that's about 975 more than they are used to seeing at this time. Please try to gather yourselves in a way that gives pedestrians access to pass on the sidewalk and enter the Taco Bell store. We hope and want to be welcomed back next year!

  • Bathrooms will be extremely limited. Please plan accordingly. This is a fatass.

8:00am: Run starts, on the command, "On your mark, get set, EAT", you then start your watches, start eating, and do not start running to location #2 until you have fully finished your first item. Don't forget to save the wrapper/receipt (and put it in your zip lock bag!)

12:30pm-7:00pm: Finish time, fiesta time!

  • When you have finished the run, you will have a nice sprint down Pitt St. and turn left onto King and the Taco Bell finish will await you. You will be happy and tired.

  • Do not stop your watch yet. You need to go inside, get your last item, and finish it, then stop your watch and your race will be over.

  • Come over to the finisher's table and record your name, bib #, and time and claim your finisher's item from us.

  • If you are not finished at 7:00pm, you can still finish the course, but we will likely be gone.

  • The person who finishes last, before the time cutoff of 7:00pm will receive the coveted DFL award.

  • We also have prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishers. Awards and bibs provided by Signs by Tomorrow. Thank you!

7:00pm: We will strike the finishers and time recording table at 7:00pm.

Key things to remember

Nutrition:

  • We strongly recommend you order 3 Taco Bell items in advance (from any Taco Bell store). Friday, if possible, and bring them with you to the start line.

  • Food items may be purchased at any Taco Bell location, either on the course or near your home.

  • You must consume one item, in full, per location before advancing to the next stop. The Taco Bell item must be eaten at Taco Bell and not while running between locations.

  • There are two required items. Please see the website for those 2 required items and when you must consume them by.

  • Feel free to customize any item to meet your preferred dietary needs/preferences.

  • Any food items, including side items, are allowed.

  • You are NOT required to eat a different item at each stop, though this would be a fun way for you to complete the challenge.

  • Drinks do not count as one of the nine required food options.

Navigation:

  • It is up to do you to navigate the course. You can use whatever route and tools you want to go from store 1 to store 9, but you must go in order. There is no right or wrong way to go, and most routes will be a little different.

  • GPX, Strava, and Google Maps links are available for your use on the webiste. Again, these are optional and not required routes.


Safety:

  • Obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals.

  • Be safe, all road crossings can be dangerous, so look both ways and only cross the street when things are perfectly clear.

  • Run on sidewalks and not in the street. The sidewalks will be busy with holiday traffic.

  • These are open roads, they will be busy with a ton of holiday weekend traffic.


Etiquette:

  • Please be polite and kind to the Taco Bell staff, they likely have never seen anything like what they are about to see on Saturday.

  • Please be polite towards all regular pedestrian traffic.

  • Please leave the Taco Bell locations and streets cleaner than when we arrived. Obviously, don't litter.

Gear list:

  • Phone with Taco Bell app and your navigation plan.

  • Taco Bell app, with your favorite food items (including the required ones) and all route locations saved within the app. This will make your life so much easier on Saturday.

  • Battery backup to charge phone and cable, odds are good your phone battery will die.

  • Zip lock bags, at least 3. A large on for your wrappers and receipts. And smaller ones for your phone, battery charger.

  • Safety pins for your bib, please bring 4, like you have for a normal race.

  • Reflective vest.

  • Headlamp, if you plan to finish after 5:00pm.

  • Cold weather clothing, if desired.


Media:

  • Please take lots of photos and videos and share them with us and tag us #tacobelldc50k & @tacobelldc50K and @mikewardian

  • We also expect to have local media coverage present for the event. They may ask to speak to you about the race or take your photo/video for use in their respective stories.


Top FAQs from you, the runners

  • QUESTION: Can I buy all my food items in advance or at different locations and carry them with me to avoid the possible delays?
    ANSWER: Yes, in theory, you can buy all of your food on Friday and carry it with you on Saturday (tupperware is recommended) but you must start eating, and fully consume one item, per location, in it's entirety, before running to the next location, for all 9 stops.

  • QUESTION: Can I customize the menu items to meet my dietary preferences?
    ANSWER: Yes, the Taco Bell menu can be easily customized for almost any dietary preference.

  • QUESTION: Can I start and finish eating my item outside of the Taco Bell location?
    ANSWER: Yes, but you cannnot advance to the next stop until you have fully consumed one item at each location.

  • QUESTION: Is there a Strava or GPX of the route?
    ANSWER: Yes, it is posted on the website https://tacobelldc50k.com/. Please note that these routes are provided as guides, many runners will use them, but not atll. You can are responsible to navigate the course, using any directions you want, but must visit all stores in order.

  • QUESTION: I didn't get a confirmation email am I still entered in the run?
    ANSWER: Yes, if you are reading this email, your entry is there, and we expect to see you on Saturday, no backing is allowed :)

  • QUESTION: What does by the 4th stop and by the 8th stop mean for required items.
    ANSWER: By the 4th stop (this means, at stop 1, 2, 3 or 4), all entrants must have consumed at least one (1) Chalupa Supreme or one Crunchwrap Supreme (dietary restrictions will be allowed within reason). By the 8th stop (this means, at stop 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8) all entrants must have consumed at least one (1) Burrito Supreme or one Nachos Bell Grande (dietary restrictions will be allowed within reason).

We remind you below of the disclaimers agreed to at registration.

  • Acknowledgment and Assumption of Risk: I acknowledge that my participation in the Taco Bell DC 50k involves inherent risks, including, but not limited to, physical injury, illness, death, property damage, and other dangers that may occur. I understand these risks, whether they are known or unknown, anticipated or unanticipated, and I voluntarily choose to participate in the event.

  • Waiver and Release of Liability: In consideration of being allowed to participate in Taco Bell DC 50k, I hereby release, discharge, and hold harmless the Taco Bell DC 50k organizers, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, agents, and any other associated parties (collectively, the "Released Parties") from any and all liabilities, claims, demands, or causes of action that I may hereafter have for injuries, damages, or losses arising out of or connected to my participation in the event, including, but not limited to, those caused by the negligence or fault of the Released Parties.

Volunteers:

  • We could sure use a little volunteer support at the start of the race and then again starting after 12:00pm on race day, if you know anyone who would be interested in hanging out with us, please email us at: tacobelldc50k@gmail.com

Reminder:

RUNNER'S INSTRUCTIONS

Join the fun

EMAIL US:

Phil Hargis and Mike Wardian

tacobelldc50k@gmail.com

© 2025. All rights reserved.

This event is not sponsored by or endorsed by Taco Bell Corp.