Do you laugh and make fun of the people running to the lunch line? Well, it turns out they might be training for something much more important. They just might be trying to beat Mr. Scott in the Arcata Burrito League.
Organized by local runner Pete Ciotti, the Arcata burrito league is our local rendition of the global phenomenon. The goal is to be the athlete to run the most laps, or segments, around a specific area over a certain amount of time.
The prize for the male and female who complete the most laps is a year’s supply of free burritos, as well as free gear from the Jogg’n Shoppe, and a free race entry for the overall leader. Arcata’s league is sponsored by Backwood Burritos.
I heard about this event through a friend, went to participate and make my claim on burrito glory, and was surprised to see Arcata High’s very own Matthew Scott grinding out laps around the block. As I ran into him one night on the course, he admitted that his main motivation was the grand prize of a year’s worth of free burritos, but considering he was out there at five a.m. each morning, he must have been enjoying the process. While I didn’t have the time or the energy to get as many laps in as I hoped to, Mr. Scott has definitely left Arcata High’s mark on the burrito league.
The Burrito League originated in Tempe, Arizona, two years ago. It was an immediate hit, and there were 70 to 80 burrito leagues across the world within a few weeks, according to Ciotti.
Arcata’s course runs around the block by the Jogg’n Shoppe, down towards the 11th street bridge, right towards Adventures Edge, and another right, passing the Arcata Theatre Lounge and back to the Jogg’n Shoppe. This specific block was chosen because “you have to run around where the burrito place is,” Ciotti explained. Backwood Burrito sets up its stand at the Arcata Theatre Lounge, serving up breakfast burritos to fuel the morning runners.
As the competition wrapped up on January 31st, Jazz McGinnis was the overall winner, running 3098 laps, covering a total of 588 miles. Robert Yuwiler was the first male with 1799 laps, while Matthew Scott finished third overall, and the second male with 1773 laps. The final day was full of excitement as “over 50 runners ran over 1000 miles,” Ciotti said, and the battle for the male champion was decided as Yuwiler outlasted Scott on the final day, putting up 60 miles to Scott’s 50 to take the crown.
Next year it is “100% coming back,” Ciotti said. But if you can’t wait that long, Ciotti teased an upcoming bagel run, from the “Arcata Los Bagels, to the Eureka Los Bagels, to the Los Bagels at Cal Poly Humboldt.” This will be a much longer and less accessible route than the burrito league, but a great challenge for the true bagel and distance running fans.
