Food and Drink Runs Around the World

It’s marathon season around the world. Each weekend seems to reveal a new crop of very sweaty, healthy folk wondering if their knees will ever be the same again. And if you’re one of them — well done! 

But once you’ve done a few of these, surely you need a change of pace; a new incentive or a change of scenery, perhaps. Good news: I have just the suggestion for all you fit foodie travellers! Bake a tasty race into your future trips, combining local delicacies with your athletic endeavours, and see somewhere new along the way.

From ultramarathons involving tacos, to downing vintage wines in French vineyards on the trot, there’s something for every (slightly crazy) runner. Here are our top picks for food-and-drink-themed races around the world.

NYC Pizza Run, New York

“New York’s Sauciest Run” sounds a little messy to us, but in the best of ways. The 5k race involves three laps around a city park, with scoffing a slice of essential for passing “Go” each time around.

2025 saw the 15th edition of the race, which took place in Brooklyn’s Forte Green Park in September. The 2026 race hasn’t been announced just yet, but keep your eyes peeled for updates on the race Instagram page (or their website).

Treviso Tiramisu Run, Italy

In under half an hour by train from Venice, you can be in Treviso, the home of tiramisu. Each October, dessert makers and tasters from all over the world converge on Treviso to compete for the crown in the Tiramisu World Cup. And the cocoa-dusted icing on the cake is a sweet 10k.

You can work up a hunger running through the ancient canal-lined city, before settling into that creamy coffee hit when you’re done. Top it off with a spritz in a peaceful piazza, and it sounds like a pretty good weekend, if you ask me.

However, if you’re less into the race and more into the recipes, judging the World Cup may be more your speed. Applications haven’t opened yet, but you can subscribe to their newsletter to get updates.

Marathon du Médoc, France

This one is for all you long-distance runners who like to get a little silly (and a little squiffy). Touring the vineyards of southern France with 8,500 other runners, you’ll have to visit 23 stops along the 42.2 km course. Each stop is hosted by a different winery offering samples of their finest vintage, and if you’re lucky, maybe also a little hors d'oeuvre to line the stomach.

This might all sound a little highbrow, especially when you see oysters on the menu along the way. That illusion is quickly shattered when you realise that fancy dress is mandatory, and you only have 7 hours to complete the course. Easy for a seasoned marathon runner, perhaps, but how often have you done it on a stomach full of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild? 

Glasgow Bun Run, Scotland

A non-competitive half marathon combining tasty baked goods and a summer jaunt around Scotland’s best city (yes, I said it), the Glasgow Bun Run is making its debut in August 2026. 

The key here is fun and buns, with no prizes or racing element involved. It’s essentially an organised bakery crawl, where delicious treats from the city’s many independent bakeries are both your challenge and your reward. 

Fingers crossed the Scottish summer plays ball; otherwise, you could be in for some seriously soggy croissants.

Ciderthon, Henley-on-Thames, England

If you liked the sound of the Marathon du Medoc but wished it wasn’t wine, the Ciderthon might be for you. Don your fancy dress and weave your way through the English countryside via a series of cider sampling stations. Serious runners can opt for a half marathon, while fun runners can stick to an easier 5k.

While the runs are the main events here, it’s actually a whole summer weekend bash, with live music, an open-air cinema, camping, and a morning pilates session to loosen you up before your jog. Oh, and plenty of cider behind the bar.

Taco Bell 50K, Denver or D.C.

This one is exactly what the name makes it sound like: an ultramarathon combined with tacos. And not just any tacos; Taco Bell tacos.

Here’s the scoop: there are ten taco stops along the course, and all entrants must eat from at least 9 of them. Specific menu items are non-negotiables by certain stages of the race, and indigestion remedies are strictly forbidden. Ouch!

Anyone mad enough to take part has 11 hours to complete the challenge. If that sounds too easy, there are optional extra challenges involving the evocatively named Diablo sauce, or drinking a total of 2L of Baja Blast during the course without puking.

Personally, I’ll be skipping this one. But if it sounds up your street, you can choose from Denver or DC.

Beer Lovers Marathon, Liege, Belgium

Beer lovers, rejoice, for there is a race for you, too. Sixteen Belgian beers over the course of 42 kilometers, complete with DJs to keep the hype going at every stop. The beers on offer come from local craft brewers and big names like Chouffe alike.

Don’t worry, you can line your stomachs with the snacks at each checkpoint too, plus there’s a big ol’ pasta party in the evening to top up on carbs afterwards. And in case you’ve not had enough beer by that point, the Liège city tour the next day will see you off with breakfast and a beverage.

This year is the race’s 10th edition and will celebrate with a theme close to all our hearts — travel! So pack your favourite national dress and prepare to hit the trail. 

Krispy Kreme Challenge, Raleigh, North Carolina

Now to end with a spot of dessert. If running 5 miles in an hour sounds like a casual weekend warm-up, why not throw in the added challenge of shoving 12 Krispy Kreme donuts in your face at the halfway point? 

Personally, I can think of a few reasons why that sounds like a poor choice. But over 2600 brave runners took on the 2026 challenge in Raleigh, all in the name of raising cash for the local children’s hospital. 

The race has been going for 22 years already, and has contributed over $2.4 million dollars to the UNC Children’s Hospital funds. Sure, some of this year’s participants were bested by the dough along the way, but their valiant efforts still counted towards a $160k donation. On the downside, they’ll probably never be able to look at a donut the same way again.

Which of these races would you pick, readers? Tell us about your foodie race dreams (or nightmares) in the comments!