For the 30 days leading up to the L.A. Marathon on March 20, 2011, I ate only McDonald’s. How did I do? I finished in 28th place with a personal best time of 2:36:14 (5:57/mi). And most importantly, I raised over $40,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicago & Northwest Indiana.
The Rules
1. Can eat only McDonald’s for 30 days
2. Non-McDonald’s water, PowerGel, multivitamin and ibuprofen will be allowed (c’mon, I’m a runner)
3. Run lots of miles
4. Stay married
5. Have fun
6. Donate $1 for every McRunner Facebook fan through March 20th (up to $2,500) to the Ronald McDonald House Charities and raise an additional $2,500 via https://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/mcrunner/lamarathon
McTracker (Quick Summary of the Food)
McRibs: 0
Angus Burgers: 1
Filet-o-Fish: 3
Hotcakes: 97
Oatmeal: 24
Hamburgers: 23
Chicken Snack Wraps: 24
Chocolate Milk: 9
Fruit & Walnut Salads: 14
Cookies: 63.5
Buckets: 23
Total Visits: 99
Unique McD’s: 33
Miles Run: 349
Food Diary
March 20, 2011
Pre-race:
bagel with honey
bagel with 2 strawberry preserves
(yes, bagels were from McD’s…brought them from Chicago!)
March 19, 2011 (Day 30)
Morning:
4 hotcakes with syrup
fruit & yogurt parfait
small orange juice
white milk
Afternoon:
lunch #1:
grilled chicken snack wrap (chipotle)
fruit & walnut salad
1/2 of a medium coke – barely any ice, when i asked for extra ice
lunch #2:
grilled chicken sandwich with bbq – didn’t eat much of chicken
oatmeal
medium coke – ice better this time, because i did it!
Evening:
6 hotcakes with syrup
fruit & yogurt parfait
Snacks:
chocolate chip cookie
oatmeal cookie
March 18, 2011 (Day 29)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with strawberry preserves
3 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
fruit & yogurt parfait
small orange juice
Afternoon:
filet-o-fish
some bad fries
medium coke
Evening:
oatmeal
side salad with italian dressing
Snacks:
2 sugar cookies
2 chocolate chip cookies
small strawberry/banana smoothie
1/2 bagel with strawberry preserves
apple juice
March 17, 2011 (Day 28)
Morning:
5 hotcakes
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
fruit & yogurt parfait
orange juice
white milk
1/4 shamrock shake @ KTLA
Afternoon:
hamburger, no pickle
side salad with balsamic vinaigrette
1/2 medium french fries
bucket of coke
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich
fruit & walnut salad
Snacks:
small reeses mcflurry
March 16, 2011 (Day 27)
Morning:
chocolate milk (post-run)
4 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
small orange juice
Afternoon:
hamburger, no pickle
grilled chicken snack wrap (honey mustard)
fruit & walnut salad
1 chicken mcnugget (stolen from my kid)
bucket of coke
Evening:
2 grilled chicken snack wraps (chipotle)
oatmeal
Snacks:
2 chocolate chip cookies
March 15, 2011 (Day 26)
Morning:
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
bagel & egg sandwich
small orange juice
Afternoon:
2 hamburgers, no pickle
bucket of coke
small shamrock/chocolate shake!
Evening:
3-piece chicken selects with 3 honeys
oatmeal, plain
Snacks:
2 packs of granola
March 14, 2011 (Day 25)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with strawberry preserves
bagel & egg sandwich
fruit & yogurt parfait with 2 packs of granola
small orange juice
Afternoon:
grilled chicken snack wrap (chipotle)
side salad with italian dressing
bucket of coke
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich with bbq
small french fries
oatmeal, no brown sugar
Snacks:
2 chocolate chip cookies
white milk
March 13, 2011 (Day 24)
Morning:
1/2 blueberry muffin
3 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
fruit & yogurt parfait
small orange juice
Afternoon:
grilled chicken snack wrap (chipotle)
fruit & walnut salad
bucket of coke
chocolate chip cookie
Evening:
hamburger, no pickle
oatmeal
Snacks:
blueberry muffin
March 12, 2011 (Day 23)
Morning:
4 hotcakes with syrup
apple juice
Afternoon:
2 hamburgers, no pickle
fruit & walnut salad
Evening:
2 grilled chicken snack wraps (chipotle)
oatmeal
small strawberry/banana smoothie
chocolate chip cookie
oatmeal raisin cookie
Snacks:
3 packs of granola
chocolate chip cookie
white milk
March 11, 2011 (Day 22)
Morning:
2 hotcakes
oatmeal, no brown sugar
small hot chocolate (non-fat…mrs mcrunner ordered it)
Afternoon:
filet-o-fish
1/2 medium french fries
medium coke
fruit & walnut salad
hot fudge sundae
Evening:
oatmeal, no brown sugar
fruit & yogurt parfait
side salad with italian
Snacks:
chocolate chip cookie
oatmeal cookie
white milk
March 10, 2011 (Day 21)
Morning:
1/2 bagel, plain
3 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
fruit & yogurt parfait
small orange juice
Afternoon:
2 grilled chicken snack wrap (chipotle)
1/4 small french fries
bucket of coke
Evening:
dinner 1:
1/2 premium grilled chicken sandwich w/bbq
side salad with balsamic vinaigrette
dinner 2:
1/2 premium grilled chicken sandwich w/bbq (new sandwich, not the other half)
Snacks:
chocolate chip cookie
white milk
fruit & walnut salad
small strawberry/banana smoothie
March 9, 2011 (Day 20)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with grape jam (pre-run)
white milk
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
3 hotcakes with syrup
small orange juice
Afternoon:
filet-o-fish (delicious!)
1/4 medium french fries
side salad with balsamic vinaigrette
medium coke
2 oatmeal cookies
Evening:
5 hotcakes with syrup
chocolate milk
Snacks:
oatmeal
hot fudge sundae
March 8, 2011 (Day 19)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with honey (pre-run)
oatmeal, no brown sugar
3 hotcakes
fruit & yogurt parfait
small orange juice
Afternoon:
grilled chicken sandwich with bbq
side salad with balsamic vinaigrette
oatmeal raisin cookie
chocolate chip cookie
Evening:
2 hamburgers, no pickle
bucket of coke – not a very good one, low syrup
Snacks:
chocolate chip cookie
small strawberry/banana smoothie
3 packs of granola
March 7, 2011 (Day 18)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with grape jam (pre-run)
2 bagel & egg sandwiches
small strawberry/banana smoothie
Afternoon:
2 grilled chicken snack wraps (chipotle)
3/4 small french fries
bucket of coke
oatmeal cookie
chocolate chip cookie
Evening:
chicken sandwich with bbq
side salad with balsamic
Snacks:
chocolate chip cookie
white milk
March 6, 2011 (Day 17)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with grape jam (pre-run)
3 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
fruit & yogurt parfait
small orange juice
white milk
Afternoon:
note: this was kind of a late lunch/early dinner kind of meal
angus burger deluxe – delicious!
1/2 medium french fries
fruit & walnut salad
bucket of coke
Evening:
fruit & walnut salad
2 chocolate chip cookies
Snacks:
blueberry muffin
4 packs of granola (i have a stash from past fruit & yogurt parfaits!)
March 5, 2011 (Day 16)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with strawberry preserves
3 hotcakes with syrup (my daughter ate some)
oatmeal, no brown sugar
small orange juice
Afternoon:
grilled chicken snack wrap (chipotle)
1/4 small french fries
Evening:
3 hotcakes with syrup
fruit & yogurt parfait
hamburger
small strawberry/banana smoothie
Snacks:
chocolate mousse cake (yes, really! found @ clark & ontario st McD’s!)
2 cherry fruit bites
2 apple fruit bites
peanuts (from yesterday’s sundae)
March 4, 2011 (Day 15)
Morning:
3 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
fruit & yogurt parfait
small orange juice
Afternoon:
2 grilled chicken snack wraps (chipotle)
small french fries
bucket of coke
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich with honey mustard
side salad with italian dressing
Snacks:
hot fudge sundae
no cookies today — can you believe that?!
March 3, 2011 (Day 14)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with strawberry preserves (pre-run)
3 hotcakes with syrup
fruit & yogurt parfait
cinnamon melts
small orange juice
Afternoon:
hamburger no pickle
grilled chicken snack wrap (honey mustard)
side salad with italian dressing
bucket of coke
chocolate chip cookie
oatmeal cookie
Evening:
grilled chicken snack wrap (chipotle)
oatmeal
small strawberry/banana smoothie
Snacks:
chocolate chip cookie
March 2, 2011 (Day 13)
Morning:
3 hotcakes – NO syrup (believe that?!)
bagel & egg sandwich
small orange juice
small hot chocolate
Afternoon:
grilled chicken snack wrap (chipotle)
hamburger no pickle
1/2 small french fries
bucket of coke
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich – actually ate only 1/3 chicken on the entire bun – with honey
oatmeal, no brown sugar
apple juice
Snacks:
2 chocolate chip cookies
March 1, 2011 (Day 12)
Morning:
chocolate milk
egg mcmuffin (egg only)
oatmeal, no brown sugar
small orange juice
small hot chocolate
Afternoon:
2 grilled chicken snack wraps (chipotle)
strawberry section of a fruit & yogurt parfait
hot fudge sundae
bucket of coke
Evening:
hamburger no pickle
side salad with italian
chocolate chip cookie
Snacks:
oatmeal
2 chocolate chip cookies
1/2 bagel with strawberry preserves
February 28, 2011 (Day 11)
Morning:
bagel with strawberry preserves
fruit & walnut salad
Afternoon:
hamburger no pickle
2 chicken selects with honey
side salad with balsamic dressing
couple of french fries
Evening:
hamburger no pickle
side salad with balsamic dressing
1/2 small french fries
bucket of coke
Snacks:
2 oatmeal raisin cookies
chocolate chip cookie
grilled chicken snack wrap (chipotle)
hot fudge sundae
February 27, 2011 (Day 10)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with honey (pre-run)
3 hotcakes with syrup
bagel & egg sandwich
small orange juice
Afternoon:
grilled chicken snack wrap – chipotle
oatmeal
bucket of coke
1/3 small m&m mcflurry with a chocolate chip cookie in it (yum)
Evening:
2 hotcakes with syrup
chocolate chip cookie
white milk
Snacks:
blueberry muffin (yes, from McD’s!)
February 26, 2011 (Day 9)
Morning:
4 hotcakes with syrup
oatmeal
small orange juice
Afternoon:
chocolate milk (post-run)
2 grilled chicken snack wraps (honey mustard & chipotle)
1/2 small french fries
side salad with italian
chocolate chip cookie
bucket of coke
Evening:
fruit & yogurt parfait
2 hotcakes with syrup and strawberries (from parfait)
Snacks:
chocolate chip cookie
fruit & walnut salad
February 25, 2011 ( Day 8 )
Morning:
chocolate milk (post-run)
3 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin, no cheese, no bacon
Afternoon:
premium southwest salad with grilled chicken (first one ever!)
chicken mcnuggets (4-piece) with honey
bucket of coke
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich with honey mustard
Snacks:
2 chocolate chip cookies
fruit & walnut salad
hot fudge sundae
February 24, 2011 (Day 7)
Morning:
chocolate milk (post-run)
fruit & yogurt parfait
3 hotcakes with syrup & strawberries from the parfait (voila…strawberry hotcakes!)
small orange juice
Afternoon:
hamburger
chicken mcnuggets (6-piece) with honey
side salad with italian dressing
bucket of coke
chocolate chip cookie
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich with bbq sauce
small smoothie
Snacks:
2 chocolate chip cookies
February 23, 2011 (Day 6)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with honey (pre-run)
3 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin no bacon, no cheese
small orange juice
Afternoon:
hamburger
side salad with balsamic…oh wait no…italian dressing! (it was a crazy day)
fruit & walnut salad
bucket of coke
oatmeal cookie
chocolate chip cookie
Evening:
chocolate milk (post-run)
grilled chicken sandwich with honey mustard
oatmeal
Snacks:
small hot chocolate
apple juice
chocolate chip cookie
February 22, 2011 (Day 5)
Morning:
3 hotcakes with syrup
egg mcmuffin no bacon, no cheese
small hot chocolate
Afternoon:
burger, bucket, oatmeal — it’s that simple!
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich, no mayo added honey mustard
side salad with balsamic vinaigrette
apple juice
Snacks:
fruit & walnut salad
2 chocolate chip cookies
February 21, 2011 (Day 4)
Morning:
1/2 bagel, plain (pre-run)
3 hotcakes with syrup
oatmeal with brown sugar
medium hot chocolate, all-fat + whipped cream!
Afternoon:
2 hamburgers no pickle
side salad with balsamic vinaigrette
1/4 small french fries
chocolate chip cookie
bucket of coke
Evening:
#7 value meal, comprised of:
grilled chicken sandwich, no mayo added honey mustard – ate half the chicken
medium french fries – ate 17 fries
medium drink – i chose hi-c orange drink, bad choice – i drank half
oatmeal with brown sugar (yes, again)
Snacks:
3 chocolate chip cookies
1.5 oatmeal raisin cookies (sarah ate the other half)
small strawberry-banana smoothie
February 20, 2011 (Day 3)
Morning:
white milk (post-run)
egg mcmuffin no bacon, no cheese
3 hotcakes with syrup
fruit & yogurt parfait
small orange juice
Afternoon:
hamburger no pickle
side salad with balsamic vinaigrette
chocolate chip cookie
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich no mayo, added honey mustard
oatmeal WITH brown sugar
1/2 small french fries
Snacks:
chocolate chip cookie
fruit & walnut salad
2 apple juice boxes
February 19, 2011 (Day 2)
Morning:
chocolate milk (post-run)
egg mcmuffin sans bacon & cheese
2 hotcakes
small orange juice
Afternoon:
hamburger no pickle
side salad
low fat balsamic vinaigrette – 1/2 packet
bucket of coke with ice
chocolate chip cookie
oatmeal raisin cookie
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich no mayo, added bbq sauce
oatmeal no brown sugar (trial run – definitely keeping the brown sugar next time)
Snacks:
bagel with honey
oatmeal raisin cookie
hot fudge sundae
February 18, 2011 (Day 1)
Morning:
1/2 bagel with honey (pre-run)
3 hotcakes – used half the syrup
cinnamon melts
chocolate milk
Afternoon:
hamburger no pickle
side salad
low fat balsamic vinaigrette – 1/2 packet
small french fries – ate 1/4 with ketchup
bucket of coke with ice
Evening:
grilled chicken sandwich (ate only half the chicken) – scraped off mayo, added bbq sauce
couple of fries from my daughter’s happy meal
fruit & walnut salad
Snacks:
fruit & yogurt parfait
2 chocolate chip cookies
m&m mcflurry
Training Log
03/20/11
am run: Shakeout run (6 minute jog three hours before race).
am run: Honda L.A. Marathon – 2:36:14 (5:57/mi). 28th place overall. PB.
03/19/11
am run: 2mi on hotel treadmill – 4 striders outside.
03/18/11
am run: 2.5mi outside in Ventura – almost there!
03/17/11
am run: 4mi on hotel treadmill
03/16/11
am run: 3mi on treadmill, half asleep
pm run: 4mi outside at Disneyland!
03/15/11
am run: 2mi warm-up. 2x2mi at marathon pace – 5 seconds with 0.5mi jog in between. 0.5mi cooldown. 7mi total. one last workout!
03/14/11
pm run: 7mi on the treadmill at work…good times…
03/13/11
am run: 12mi great group run
03/12/11
am run: 7.5mi on treadmill…finished ‘Castaway’
pm run: quick 3mi on treadmill before dinner
03/11/11
am run: 4mi really easy on the treadmill
pm run: 6mi easy on treadmill, watched ‘Castaway’
03/10/11
am run: 16mi, last long run! great group run – miles flew by.
03/09/11
am run: 5mi on treadmill — rainy day here in Chicago
pm run: 4mi back on the treadmill, watching ‘American Greed’
03/08/11
am run: 10mi…easy run with some striders
03/07/11
am run: 3.5mi treadmill run @ home
pm run: 5.5mi on the treadmill right before the fitness center closed
03/06/11
am run: 17mi in libertyville. great group run. feeling a little tired, but got ‘er done
03/05/11
am run: 5mi treadmill run. started watching ‘Fat Head’ via hulu
pm run: 6.5mi on the treadmill again. looking forward to getting outside tomorrow
03/04/11
am run: 8.5mi run. nice leisurely rainy run with Big Z
pm run: 3mi run on the treadmill. friday night at the gym = boring!
03/03/11
am run: 13mi group run this morning.
03/02/11
am run: 7.5mi tempo run (12.5mi total) with dave & brad. wind made for a tough run.
pm run: quick 3mi on the treadmill.
03/01/11
am run: 9.5mi – legs starting to recover from sunday. nice group run on a chilly morning.
pm run: 3mi on treadmill. quick run before lunch. massage tonight.
02/28/11
am run: 6.5mi treadmill run. really feeling yesterday’s long run.
pm run: 5.5mi back on the treadmill. better than the morning!
02/27/11
am run: 20mi long run. easy pace. ran on snow for some of run which was tough on the legs. no carb run which made it even tougher. last long run in the books.
02/26/11
am run: easy 8mi on treadmill. legs feeling a bit better.
pm run: quick 6mi before heading off to family party.
02/25/11
am run: 5mi on treadmill. legs empty.
pm run: 8mi on treadmill. a run i’d rather forget.
02/24/11
am run: 14mi – great group run today. felt pretty good considering the workout yesterday.
02/23/11
am run: 11.5mi total. Quality today: 3mi,2mi,1mi with 2′jog between. Tough, but hit the paces.
pm run: 3mi on treadmill next to my #1 fan!
02/22/11
am run: 10mi treadmill run – 1:13 – feeling the miles.
pm run: quick 3.5mi treadmill run. massage post-run.
02/21/11
am run: 5.5mi recovery run, outside on slick roads!
pm run: 7mi recovery run, treadmill.
02/20/11
am run: 19mi on the treadmill (averaged 7:00 pace). started low 8′s and worked down to 6:40′s. 3 PowerGels + water.
02/19/11
am run: 7.5mi on the treadmill in 57min.
pm run: back on the treadmill for an easy 7mi.
02/18/11
am run: easy 11mi with group. started easy and worked down to 6:40′s at end. nice to see some new territory today.
pm run: easy 3.5mi on treadmill. day 1-in the books!
What the heck. You’ve got nothing to lose, and surviving 4 out of 5 rules is a piece of cake……but don’t tell my wife that either!
I admire you for surpassing so many of your personal goals and coming up with a creative way to McShake things up a bit.
I have a feeling that after 30 days of only McDonalds food, you may never eat there again. Good luck Joe!
McDonald’s for 30 days? Thanks, Joe, my stock has been climbing to no end! This is a challenge not only for you but for your body as well. Good luck in LA!
McDonalds for 30 days from 1 person is probably around $500 for the whole month. Nothing to get excited about
I think this is a very cool personal challenge. The fact that he’s done many marathons before and is now trying to see just how well he can do on a ‘sub-standard’ diet is interesting.
And let’s not forget the most important thing… the charity donation!
BEST OF LUCK!
Love your witty commentary, Joe. You should write a book. Good luck in the race!
Strongly support your endeavor …
Notice the glaring absence of the McRib in your preparation. I applaud your gusto in wanting to embark on a hajj to Germany to partake and am disappointed by Mrs. McRunner’s response.
Wonder if someone could FedEx a sandwich to you from Germany.
The McRib, though, has been sporadically sighted at establishments around the country; I could suggest the following: http://kleincast.com/maps/mcrib.php … you may need only drive to Detroit or Pennsylvania according to the map …
Hi! A friend of mine forwarded the MSNBC article to me because I too, am a Mc-Lover
I am currently working on running a marathon in each of the 50 states. I qualified for Boston last year and will be running it in 5 weeks! It’ll be my 14th marathon, I’m hoping for a PR in the 3:20′s. McDonald’s is a huuuuge staple of my training diet. I always get the same thing: one grilled chicken snack wrap with honey mustard, one crispy chicken snack wrap with ranch and either a small or medium fry depending on my hunger level. Too funny! Best of luck in LA next weekend!
What a cool idea. Thanks for sharing this with the world. I side with Mrs McRunner – I’m sure she’s made many sacrifices for the madness of marathon running, it must end with the McRib venture… now if it were the McLobster it would be a totally different story. Best of luck to you and yours!!
i love fast food, though i try not to eat it now that i really want to be a decent runner. so i find what you are doing very interesting! good luck. and….what will you eat after the McD part of the challenge is over? first meal?
Have you seen “Supersize Me”? Make sure you have at least the sliced apples…… Should be intersesting to follow!!
Great Challenge! McDonald’s has really changed their menu since the days of Big Mac or Hamburger. Looks like you have been choosing healthy and good recovery food.
I dare ya to do a Taco Bell challenge next!
omg gross! wouldn’t want to run behind that person haha!
McRunner, we are counting on you.
Go Joe! What a great idea and well-written blog. I’m a also a runner who eats like a normal person. Hasn’t affected my time (3:11 at age 40) or my cholesterol either. If we live in North America or even Europe, fast food is part of our culture and we should stop criminalizing it and learn to enjoy it responsibly. Like cars. I mean, life would be better/safer without cars, right? But we drive and most of us drive responsibly. My kids love running, soccer, karate, biking, they see their parents running, and if we want to eat at McDonald’s (or whatever/wherever) every now and then, or even once a week, it is not going to do us any damage. Have that burger and enjoy it. Get it with carrot sticks (available in Russian McDonald’s) instead of fries. You want the fries? Have them with a salad (easy on the dressing) instead of the burger…and so on. If the media and the state spent less time berating fast food and more time educating people about responsible choices (like Driver’s Ed but for lifestyle) we’d all be happier and healthier.
Good luck in LA, Joe!
I am coming a little late to hearing about this. But I think what you are doing is amazing. The Ronald McDonald House is an amazing Charity, and I am sure all those who have had to depend on them know and appreciate what you are doing.
im running LA too! can i buy you a burger and fries at the finish (mcD’s of course)? haha
Have you puked yet?? lol
I am a disabled gal now so i am watching you do what i would love to be able to do. In the past I have stayed at the ronald mcdonald house on various occassions to be near my daughter so if i wore a hat i would tip it off just for your courage. May God Bless you and be with you throughout your endeavors thanks again and many hugs and kisses your mcfreind
AMAZING! After watching “Supersize Me” I didn’t think this was possible, but you are obviously doing great!
If your body can handle, go for it. Such an amazing cause!! Go McRunner!
This is my kind of challenge. =D
Go HARD or Go HOME.
Best of Luck with the run today, Joe!!!
Mike, Maggie & Norah
Congrats Joe!
Next year … BURGER KING FOR 2 MONTHS?!?!
Yo Joe !
Our goal are almost the same..,
Unnecessary the best challenge, but combinate this two is fun.
An amator like you need to try and give his best.
Regarding that.. I’ts just a total respect.
Excuse me for my bad english, I’m just a french fan.
Since when do you have this idea ?
Try to keep your dreams real.. And go as far as you can.
Under that, you sponsorise Mc Do.. why not ..
Please ask them a free card to eat gratis always.
I think you do a hard work.. Good luck
Da french lover
As a vegetarian of a few years who believes in raw foods and thinks mcdonalds is destroying peoples health, i was amazed to hear about your success. You show the power of human beings and have helped me and likely others to question what they believed possible. That being said I don’t think you would have done as well consuming mcds red meat products and i believe if you maintained this diet your likely to break down, destroy your tendons muscles and even bones. Also i believe you could raise 29 million for the ronald house and ronalds products will still be causing way more damage and disease than theyd be helping cure. Still, i would be lying if i said i was not inspired in some strange way. Cheers mate.