Tempe runners are running a short stretch of Mill Avenue over and over — to win free burritos

Runners in Tempe are using a fitness app to launch a competition for a year’s supply of burritos.

The Burrito League is a month-long running competition to win a year’s supply of burritos, as well as other prizes such as free race entrees and running shoes.

Since early January, participants have used Strava, a fitness and social media app, to track the number of times they run a specific route in Tempe.

In Tempe, the route is a quarter-mile stretch of Mill Avenue, between University Avenue and 10th Street. Running this route once is considered a segment.

The runner who completes the most segments wins.

The Burrito League is modeled after a similar challenge run in select cities by Chipotle in 2024 and 2025.

Burrito League chapters have popped up around the world, but it started in Tempe.

Every chapter will have their own winner, and the prizes vary depending on the location.

In 2025, Tempe businessman and runner Jamil Coury won the Strava Chipotle City Challenge. When the 2026 competition was never announced, Coury and other runners decided to organize their own in Tempe along the same route.

“People are running their first marathon or their first ultramarathon at Burrito League on a short stretch of sidewalk in their town,” Coury said. “There's no entry fee.”

Coury says there are thousands competing to see who can run the segment the most times by the end of January.

TJ Harms-Synkiew traveled from Las Vegas to participate in Tempe’s league. He’s been running the same segment about 100 times a day.

“I knew a handful of people are gonna be here, so I thought it'd be fun to hang out,” Harms-Synkiew said.

Harms-Synkiew, who is on the leaderboard, said the Tempe chapter is the most competitive.

Coury says an anonymous donor has provided funding for the winner to buy a year's supply of burritos from a location of their choosing.

“Just the name and the concept sounds pretty ridiculous,” Coury said. “But if you get the chance to check out one in your local town, like I guarantee you that it will be a rewarding experience, and you'll get more out of it than you think.”