McDonald’s is handing out free bottles of its pickle brine, called Pickle Boost, for the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 9 and Oct. 11. It’s free, it’s Chicago only, and it isn’t for sale.
McDonald’s has found a use for all that pickle juice. The chain is bottling its pickle brine as Pickle Boost and giving it away during Chicago Marathon weekend.
The company announced the stunt on Oct. 5, calling the brine “salty, athlete-ready.” It’s aimed at runners, but McDonald’s says spectators and pickle fans can grab some too.
There’s one big catch. You have to be in Chicago.
Where can you get McDonald’s Pickle Boost?
There are two chances, both in Chicago and both free while supplies last.
The Pickle Boost Preview runs Friday, Oct. 9, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Central at the Lakefront Trail, 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive. It’s timed for runners doing a shakeout jog before the race.
The Pickle Boost Pit Stops run on race day, Sunday, Oct. 11, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. at five McDonald’s restaurants:
2635 N. Clark St.
1563 N. Wells St.
600 N. Clark St.
203 N. LaSalle St.
207 E. 35th St.
At the Pit Stops, you can get two bottles each. McDonald’s hasn’t said how big the bottles are or how many it made. The label in McDonald’s photo calls it a “limited-edition pickle brine shot,” so think small.
Can you buy Pickle Boost at McDonald’s?
No. McDonald’s is only giving it away, and it hasn’t announced any plans to sell it. So there’s no large pickle juice in the drive-thru, at least for now.
If you’re outside Chicago, your best bet is the jar in your fridge.
Does pickle juice help with muscle cramps?
There’s some real science behind the idea, which is why some runners carry pickle juice on long runs.
In a 2010 study led by Kevin Miller of North Dakota State University, with researchers from Brigham Young University, mildly dehydrated men had a cramp triggered in a toe muscle. The ones who drank about 2.5 ounces of pickle juice saw their cramps end about 45 percent faster than when they drank nothing, and about 37 percent faster than with water.
Oddly, the juice didn’t change their blood electrolytes. Miller said the relief “likely represents a neurological phenomenon rather than a metabolic one.”
In plain English, the salty, sour taste may trigger a reflex that tells the cramping muscle to relax. The relief came too fast for the juice to have been absorbed.
That’s one small lab study, though. It doesn’t mean a bottle of brine will carry you through mile 22.
Why is McDonald’s doing this in Chicago?
McDonald’s is a Chicago company. It moved its headquarters to the city’s West Loop in 2018, so the home race is an easy fit.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is Sunday, Oct. 11. It’s one of the World Marathon Majors, the same club as Boston, New York and London, and it’s known for a flat, fast course.
McDonald’s leaned into the distance with its tagline for the campaign: “We’re going 26.2 for you.”
Is pickle juice a real sports drink?
It is now. Pickle brine has gone from a locker room trick to a full product category, with bottled pickle juice sold in grocery stores and sports shops.
McDonald’s version is made from the juice of the same pickles that go on its burgers. So in a way, you’ve been getting a little Pickle Boost on every cheeseburger for years.
If you’re running Sunday, good luck. If you’re cheering, grab two bottles anyway and hand one to a runner who looks like they need it.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
McDonald’s, Oct. 5, 2026: Pickle Boost dates, times, locations and two-bottle limit
QSR Magazine, Oct. 5, 2026: Pickle Boost event details, free while supplies last
Newswise, North Dakota State University release, June 15, 2010: pickle juice cramp study and Kevin Miller quote
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