McDonald’s has turned its pickle brine into a bottled drink called Pickle Boost, an on-the-go, athlete-ready option that runners in Chicago will get to try first.
It arrives just ahead of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon on October 11, the race’s 48th year.
Plenty of runners already swear by pickle juice for its high sodium content and potential to ease cramps. Some research points to a rapid nerve-reflex effect from the vinegar rather than the electrolytes themselves, however.
Nevertheless, a tiny bottle is a lot easier to get down mid-race than a 20-ounce Gatorade, an advantage McDonald’s is banking on as it gives the drink away on two occasions.
The first chance is Friday, October 9, on the Lakefront Trail at 2401 N. Lake Shore Drive, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. CDT, for anyone out on one last run before the big day.
Then, on race day, five Chicago restaurants will hand out two free 2-ounce bottles to anyone who asks, runner or not, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The stops are 2635 N. Clark St., 1563 N. Wells St., 600 N. Clark St., 203 N. LaSalle St., and 207 E. 35th St.
So far, the company has given no indication that the drink will be offered elsewhere.
Of course, this isn’t the first time fast-food chains have leaned heavily into the pickle craze. Late last year, McDonald’s introduced Dill Pickle “Grinch Salt” McShaker Fries as part of a festive, limited-time Grinch Meal. KFC also got in on the briny action earlier this year in the UK, unveiling a viral, one-of-a-kind pickle-filled puffer jacket, complete with a built-in straw for sipping juice to promote its Pickle Mania menu.
Sources: PR Newswire, Ovid, Allrecipes