Q&A: This Portlander ran 490 miles and won free Chipotle for a year for it

Published 11:00 am Friday, February 7, 2025

After about 490 miles, 80 hours and a month-long running competition, Luke Vaughn, a Portlander, was crowned with “local legend” status in the Chipotle x Strava: The City Challenge, earning him free food for a year.

Chipotle launched its first-ever international Strava, an app for tracking physical activity, segment challenge in January in 25 cities across North America and Europe. Cities were picked based on those who eats the most Chipotle.

Vaughn hadn’t learned of the challenge until Jan. 5, so he started with a setback.

Throughout the month, more than 800 runners, walkers, wheelchair users and others completed the Chipotle Portland Segment on Strava — spanning Northwest Overton Street, down 13th Avenue, to Lovejoy Street — logging a collective 1,190 miles.

Vaughn ran the 0.17-mile segment more than 1,440 times.

The “local legend” is given to the individual who completes the segment the most times. This won Vaughn the prize of free Chipotle for a year.

San Francisco took home the ultimate prize, completing a collective 1,950 miles, winning buy-one-get-one entrees for the entire city. Portland took third place.

The Portland Tribune talked to Vaughn and gained insights to how he did it and why:

How long did it take you to reach 490 miles?

Vaughn: I didn’t hear about the Chipotle challenge until Jan. 5th, so I was on it for 26 days with one day off. My total running time was a little under 80 hours. For the last couple weeks of the month, it was pretty common for me to do 1 1/2 to 2 hours in the morning and another 1 1/2 to 2 hours after work.

Why did you want to participate in the challenge? What was the goal/purpose? Simply to win free Chipotle?

Vaughn: I prefer running on trails, and over the winter it’s too dark to run in Forest Park before or after work, so I tend to lose motivation. This challenge ended up being exactly what I needed to get me out the door every day. I enjoy ridiculous challenges and am very competitive — or stubborn — so once I was in, I was all in.

How long have you been running? Are you a runner, or not at all?

Vaughn: I’ve been running pretty much my entire life. I joined cross country when I was 7 and basically never stopped running. I’ve run everything from track and cross country, to road marathons and trail ultramarathons. The longer the distance, the more I like it, which is why I was able to do well in this challenge.

How does it feel being crowned the local legend?

Vaughn: It’s a relief. During January I didn’t have time to do much of anything other than run, work, eat and sleep. It’ll be nice to recover and take care of the things I’ve been putting off, like cleaning my apartment, taking my car into the shop and getting a haircut. I’m glad my body (barely) held up for the whole month, and it’s nice to get some burritos for my efforts.

For more information on the challenge, visit citychallenge.chipotle.com.