The Portillo’s Ultra: My 56-Mile, 10-Stop Vegetarian Fueling Plan

Six years ago, I ran for 49 miles and ate a meal at six different Olive Gardens in one day.

Ever since, I’ve had a lingering thought. It started as a joke, but the more I considered it, the more feasible it seemed. The question is simple: How many Portillo’s locations could I visit in a single day, fueled entirely by their menu?

The challenge became truly possible when Portillo’s announced it would serve breakfast from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM at select locations. This grants me four extra hours and some interesting menu options to start the day. The plan was born.

The Assumptions

During my Pasta Pass ultra, I averaged an 11:20/mile pace. For this attempt, I will use a conservative 12:00/mile pace (5 MPH).

I don’t expect to take much time at each location—just enough to use the bathroom, grab a single item, and maybe a drink. I’ll budget 20 minutes for every stop, using the Portillo’s app to have the food ready for pickup.

When?

The western suburbs have the best weather in early May and late September. The summer months could easily be too hot for a successful twelve-hour outdoor effort.

I learned from my Olive Garden run in Colorado that temperature swings are inevitable. It felt hot during the day, but once the sun went down, I grew cold. It’s difficult to avoid these swings, so the best strategy is to avoid extreme highs and lows.

One great date would be April 5th, which is “Portillo’s Day” in Chicago. However, that falls on a Sunday in 2026, and Portillo’s can be a zoo on weekends. A Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday would be preferable. Since Portillo’s was founded on April 9, 1963, a run on April 9th, 2026 (a Thursday) is a great option, but it’s still far away.

This gives us the best possible option: Dick Portillo’s birthday, September 16, 2025.

The Official 10-Stop Vegetarian Fueling Plan

This is the most critical part of the plan. For an endurance event of this length, nutrition isn’t just about eating—it’s about strategy. As a vegetarian, the goal is to get a steady stream of easily digestible carbohydrates and sodium while managing fat and protein to avoid extended bathroom visits. Every item on this list serves a specific purpose at a specific time.

A critical note for vegetarians: Per Portillo’s official information, “Our French fries and onion rings are cooked in a blend of vegetable oil and beef tallow.” While I personally find this acceptable for the challenge, strict vegetarians should be aware of this.

Challenge Parameters:

Start Time: 7:00 AM
Running Pace: 5 MPH (12 minutes per mile)
Time Per Stop: 20 minutes
Total Route Distance: ~56 miles

Stop 1: Niles (7:00 AM) – The Foundation

Location: 8832 W Dempster St
Distance Ran: 0 miles
Item: Pepper, Egg and Cheese Sandwich
Why: The perfect start. A balanced mix of carbs, fat, and protein for sustained energy, plus a crucial sodium preload for the long first leg.
Nutrition: 502 Cal, 36g Carbs, 21g Protein, 1914mg Sodium

Stop 2: Northlake (10:25 AM) – The Major Refuel

Location: 170 North Ave
Run Details: ~15.4 miles (185 minutes)
Run Info: I will be doing most of this on the Des Plaines River Trail. It adds a couple of miles to my journey but should be an enjoyable morning run.
Total Distance: 15.4 miles
Items: Small French Fries + Small Lemonade
Why: After the most brutal leg of the day, I’ll need an immediate and effective reward. The fries provide a potent combination of starch, salt, and calories. Paired with a lemonade for fast-acting liquid sugar, this is critical for recovery and refueling.
Nutrition (Total): 490 Cal, 82g Carbs, 3g Protein, 115mg Sodium

Stop 3: Elmhurst (11:30 AM) – Quick Sugar & Hydration

Location: 155 IL-83
Run Details: ~3.5 miles (45 minutes)
Run Info: This is all on streets, and I need to cross under I-294, which is a little sketchy, but it’s only a 5K.
Total Distance: 18.9 miles
Items: Fruit Cup + Orange Juice
Why: A smart one-two punch after a solid leg. The fruit provides whole-food carbs while the juice delivers pure, fast-acting liquid sugar to top off glycogen stores.
Nutrition (Total): 270 Cal, 62g Carbs, 4g Protein, 30mg Sodium

Stop 4: Villa Park (12:20 PM) – The Savory Bridge

Location: 635 1/2 North Ave
Run Details: ~2.3 miles (30 minutes)
Run Info: This is the shortest trip of the day. I plan on taking IL-83 to IL-64 and just getting it done quickly.
Total Distance: 21.2 miles
Item: Small Onion Rings
Why: After a couple of short, fast legs, these salty, crispy onion rings offer a satisfying and savory crunch. They provide easily digestible carbs and sodium to keep the momentum going.
Nutrition: 320 Cal, 59g Carbs, 6g Protein, 763mg Sodium

Stop 5: Addison (1:20 PM) – The Light Lunch

Location: 100 W Lake St
Run Details: ~2.4 miles (30 minutes)
Run Info: Another very short trip. I’ll take Addison Rd directly north.
Total Distance: 23.6 miles
Item: Plant-Based Garden Dog (with everything)
Why: Approaching midday, this is a perfect light lunch. The bun provides carbs, the dog gives plant-based protein, and the classic toppings deliver flavor and crucial salt.
Nutrition: 330 Cal, 44g Carbs, 11g Protein, 1412mg Sodium

Stop 6: Bloomingdale (3:25 PM) – The Marathon Milestone Meal

Location: 134 E Lake St
Run Details: ~8.5 miles (105 minutes)
Run Info: There is no direct path, so I will add a little distance to find some trail running and break up the monotony.
Total Distance: 32.1 miles
Item: Small Chocolate Cake Shake
Why: This is the ultimate milestone reward. After 26.2 miles, I’ve earned the legend itself. The Chocolate Cake Shake is an incredibly efficient delivery system for calories and simple carbohydrates. These liquid calories will be easier to digest when fatigued, providing a massive psychological and physiological boost to power through the toughest part of the day.
Nutrition: 850 Cal, 138g Carbs, 13g Protein, 738mg Sodium

Stop 7: Glendale Heights (4:40 PM) – The Carb Loaf

Location: 235 E North Ave
Run Details: ~4.5 miles (55 minutes)
Run Info: Four miles straight south on Bloomingdale Rd.
Total Distance: 36.6 miles
Item: Fresh Baked House Bread
Why: This is a strategic fuel-up. I’m about to face another monster leg to Downers Grove. This pure, simple, massive source of carbohydrates (99g!) and sodium is elite runner fuel for the huge effort ahead.
Nutrition: 480 Cal, 99g Carbs, 18g Protein, 1110mg Sodium

Stop 8: Downers Grove (6:30 PM) – The Recovery Shake

Location: 1500 Butterfield Rd
Run Details: ~7.2 miles (90 minutes)
Run Info: I’ll spend some time on the Great Western Trail before heading south on Finley Rd.
Total Distance: 43.8 miles
Item: Small Chocolate Shake
Why: Emerging from another grueling segment demands a massive, easy-to-digest energy infusion. This liquid calorie bomb is exactly that, providing a critical psychological and physiological boost when solid food seems tough.
Nutrition: 540 Cal, 102g Carbs, 13g Protein, 405mg Sodium

Stop 9: Naperville – Ogden Ave (8:20 PM) – Famous Finisher Fuel

Location: 950 E Ogden Ave
Run Details: ~7.4 miles (90 minutes)
Run Info: Unfortunately, I won’t be able to run through the Morton Arboretum as it will be too late in the day. I will stick to the lit streets.
Total Distance: 51.2 miles
Item: Slice of Portillo’s Famous Chocolate Cake
Why: The sun has set, and the end is in sight. This is the ultimate reward and final rocket fuel. Pure, delicious, high-energy motivation to carry me through the final leg to victory.
Nutrition: 720 Cal, 86g Carbs, 6g Protein, 780mg Sodium

Stop 10: Naperville – Jefferson Ave (9:30 PM) – The Proper Victory Meal

Location: 1992 W Jefferson Ave
Run Details: ~4.8 miles (60 minutes)
Run Info: I will work my way through downtown Naperville and my old stomping grounds.
Total Distance: ~56 miles
Item: Large Fries with a side of Regular Cheese Sauce
Why: I did it. 56 miles. 10 Portillo’s. A full 14.5 hours after I started. I’ve earned the perfect celebratory combination of carbs, fat, and sodium to kickstart recovery. No better way to end an epic day.
Nutrition (Total): 620 Cal, 70g Carbs, 7g Protein, 632mg Sodium

Nutritional Grand Totals

Total Distance: ~56 miles
Total Calories: ~4,992 kcal
Total Carbohydrates: ~778 g
Total Protein: ~102 g
Total Sodium: ~7,899 mg

While I will still be in a massive calorie deficit for the day, this is a phenomenal amount of fuel. I can obviously add items if I feel my energy drop, and I expect a few Coke Zeros will be thrown in. The plan now averages nearly 70 grams of carbs per hour of running—a truly elite level of fueling that should keep my energy stores from bottoming out. The massive sodium intake of almost 8,000 mg will be my greatest defense against muscle cramps.

I think I could do it…