Vancouver runner crushes super-sized McMarathon of 20+ McDonalds in single day
A Vancouver runner with a hunger to explore the city in a unique way has completed a super-sized run he calls an “Ultra McMarathon,” and he’s already thinking of going back for seconds.
Lawrence Nguyen, a self-described “former #1 running hater,” recently ran 55 km to visit over 20 McDonald’s locations around Vancouver.
According to the former Calgary resident, the best way to experience a city is through genuine exploration.
“The idea had been floating around in my head for a few weeks,” said Nguyen. “No ads, no TikToks, no Google Reviews telling you where to go. McDonald’s locations are scattered all over the city, and ‘McMarathon’ had a nice ring to it. It felt like the perfect excuse to explore off the seawall.
“Originally, I thought the route would be around 32 km, which matched my training plan at the time. But as I mapped it out the night before, I realized it was ultra territory. I wasn’t trained for the distance — but I was curious, and that was enough to give it a try.”
Lawrence Nguyen
Nguyen and his friend Steven ran to 21 McDonald’s locations in Vancouver a little over eight hours, covering a route that took them from Kitsilano to Kerrisdale, Marpole to Hastings-Sunrise, and back through Gastown and Downtown. Another friend, Tammie, joined in for a “Half Ultra McMarathon.”
“I ran past beautiful gardens and stunning mountain backdrops from every angle and even stumbled upon the Vaisakhi parade,” said Nguyen, who is the founder of non-profit and registered charity OneDonate. “It reminded me of how vibrant and diverse this city is.
“I also witnessed a lot of suffering in some places, and it would be disingenuous to ignore the very real intersectional health and housing crisis. Overall, I felt incredibly grateful to experience all this first-hand in a single day.”
Lawrence Nguyen
Nguyen fueled up with orders of small fries and orange juices and discovered plenty of promotional Minecraft material throughout the day.
He shared that he fancies the occasional 20-nugget meal (“That’s my go-to!”), that the nicest McDonald’s in Vancouver is the one by the PNE, and that free water usually correlates to a nice bathroom.
However, what got him hungry to hit the road again soon was the fact that he missed three McDonald’s locations during his Ultra McMarathon planning.
“I was thinking that was all of them because that’s what came up when I used ‘Search this Area’ on Google Maps. However, the kind folks online astutely pointed out that I had missed three of them.
“Guess I gotta do it again,” he added on Reddit. “I think the distance would be the same since the ones I missed were just off my path.”
Lawrence Nguyen
Many users online applauded Nguyen for completing his running challenge and suggested others for him to undertake.
“This is pretty amazing and hilarious,” said one commenter. “Bravo, sir.”
“Can’t tell if this is incredibly healthy or unhealthy,” added another. “Kudos though, this is McAwesome.”
“Next try every location of the Vancouver Public Library,” said another person. “I did that on a bike a few years ago. No food but the bathrooms are open to the public and water from the fountain is free.”
Nguyen has signed up to run two marathons this spring, in Vancouver and Calgary, and loves how many people enjoy staying active in the city.
“I like that Vancouverites make no excuses. Rain or shine, morning or night—someone is always out there running, biking, or walking. That energy is contagious.”