Bay Area’s 1st Ever Unofficial “Taco Bell Triathlon” is Here
We have no idea what to make of this, but it sounds like it could be a sh*t show (in a good way) – a triathlon where you eat Taco Bell along the way – starting at the world’s most beautiful Taco Bell in Pacifica.
If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your favorite fast food craving into an endurance event, your moment has arrived. Saturday, December 7, 2024, the Bay Area will witness what might just be the strangest (but tastiest) athletic endeavor of the year: the unofficial Taco Bell Triathlon.
It’s a race fueled by crunchwraps, cinnamon twists, and Baja Blasts, taking competitors on a journey from the beaches of Pacifica to San Francisco that stops at 6 different Taco Bells for fuel. And yes, we’re hoping each stop along the route has an open (and clean) bathroom—because Taco Bell giving you “the runs” is now taking on a whole new meaning.
The Course: Tacos, Tracks, and Triathlon Tales
The madness begins at the “world’s most scenic Taco Bell” in Pacifica, perched right on the beach with surfer to-go window and a wrap-around porch with views so good they might distract you from the task ahead. From there, participants will tackle a 1.5-km swim, a 40-km bike ride, and a 10-km run, stopping at five more Taco Bell locations along the way for what the organizers are calling “supreme aid stations.”
The Bay Area’s 1st Ever Unofficial “Taco Bell Triathalon”
Saturday, December 7, 2024 | 7a-2p <– NEW DATE DEC. 7 (original date of Nov. 23 postponed due to weather)
Starts at Taco Bell Cantina, 5200 Highway 1, Pacifica
Free, but $25 donations are appreciated – RSVP on Partiful1. We will be gathering at 7am at the Taco Bell in Pacifica. I’ll be wearing some Taco paraphernalia (of course) to be recognizable. We’ll do a brief round of intros, share contact/location information, and talk about safety and emergency concerns. I’ll have a Uhaul for bike storage and there will be a few folks watching our things during the race. Remember: this is supposed to be fun, we don’t want anyone getting hurt. It’s also going to be ridiculous and something you’ll tell people you did and they’ll go “WTF.”
2. Swimming will begin between 7:30am – 8:00am and will take about an hour. The water temperature in Pacifica is cold and the waves are often choppy. If the surf is really choppy and the weather/visibility bad, we will postpone the swim for safety reasons. This is going to be cold and challenging as a swim so if you’re not used to ocean swimming, please be careful. The biggest risk is hypothermia so please bring a wetsuit, towel and things to warm up post-swim. If you’re experienced and racing for time, it’ll be on your own clock. Besides that, we’ll attempt to stay in a group during the swim with folks on the land watching to ensure safety. We’ll have a lifeguard swimming with us (thanks Anthony)! The course is from the Taco Bell to the creek, across the bay to when you’re even with the Puerto27 restaurant (Crespi Drive), then back to the Bell.
3. We’ll warm up (I’m trying to grab some thermal blankets and other items to make sure we don’t freeze) and get some Taco Bell breakfast. The idea is to then hop on bikes between 9:00am – 9:30am to start biking to the first waypoint. I’ll have laminated printouts of directions so you don’t get lost and be pacing in the rear. Please bring high-vis waterproof/resistant clothing, lighting and whatever you need for flats, bike fixes, water bottles, etc. The first waypoint is the Taco Bell in Daly City (https://maps.app.goo.gl/sFGnfJkX8dwzMniR9) then the Taco Bell in Sunset (https://maps.app.goo.gl/8iJKkGqVD8fQwxsu9). We do 4 laps at the polo field then hop off the bikes in Inner Richmond (https://maps.app.goo.gl/JKt8okHwVBQ7HfhX7) for lunch from 11:30 – 12:30.
4. We’ll leave the bikes locked in the Uhaul there and run the 10km to the end via the Taco Bell in Little Saigon (https://maps.app.goo.gl/Hc5RKCZoS7nsF2KR9) then onwards to the Mission Bay Cantina (https://maps.app.goo.gl/VDivL2A6ZdAWfn9y5) for the finish line where the winner will be given the taco crown at 2pm (who are we kidding, if you made it to the end we’re all winners here). If you dropped your bike/gear off in Inner Richmond at the Uhaul, it’ll be driven to the Mission Bay Cantina for the end so you can bike home. Total distances – Swim: 1.5 km (0.9 miles) Bike: 40 km (24 miles) Run: 10 km (6 miles)
The route includes a detour through Golden Gate Park, where racers will take four laps around the Polo Fields track, presumably while clutching Doritos Locos Tacos. The journey ends at the Taco Bell Cantina in SoMa, where finishers can toast their triumph with margaritas or a boozy Baja Freeze. (yes! Taco Bell Cantinas sell beer and booze)
Sometimes I do ridiculous things with friends.
This weekend I’ll be doing a triathlon in SF purely powered by @tacobell 🧵
— Elliot Roth || SF (@ThatMrE) November 19, 2024
The Rules: Fuel Up with Fire Sauce
The only thing powering this race? Taco Bell. Whether you’re snacking on the underrated breakfast menu or refueling with bean burritos and chalupas, participants must consume their way through the course. It’s “pay what you can” to join, with a suggested donation of $25—and rumor has it there’s a t-shirt in it for anyone Venmo-ing the organizer.
We’re still trying to wrap our heads around the logistics (and praying for those poddy breaks), but here’s what we know: it’s all in good fun. Organizer Elliot Roth says the triathlon was inspired by late-night chats with friends and a viral tweet from another Taco Bell endurance challenge. It’s proof that sometimes the wildest ideas come from cravings—and maybe a little too much Fire Sauce.
If you’re up for the challenge, RSVP on Partiful, grab your racecourse map, and get ready for a supreme day.
Who’s ready to swim, bike, run, and munch?
