Woman Trains For Marathon on McDonald’s-Only Diet

McDonald’s doesn’t make many people think of a healthy lifestyle, but that isn’t stopping one woman from using french fries as fuel as she trains to run a marathon.

Emily Strunk-Helm, a 36-year-old woman from Arizona, is in the middle of an all-McDonald’s training schedule that will culminate in a 26.2 mile run in October. Strunk-Helm started her Mcdonald’s-only diet on September 8th, and will eat nothing but Big Macs, McChickens, and McNuggets for 31 days. She will run the Long Beach Marathon on October 9th.

Strunk-Helm writes on her site, Mcrunnerette.com:

“I will be eating a variety of items at McDonald’s, especially my favorites — Cheeseburgers, Chicken Nuggets and French Fries. While training and raising money for a great cause, I also want to encourage people to get moving and be active.”

Strunk-Helm is hoping that her unusual training method will inspire people to donate to the Ronald McDonald house. Strunk-Helm hopes to raise at least $10,000. According to Shine, she has already raised more than $2000. (You can donate here.)

Strunk-Helm isn’t the only person to run a marathon fueled by McDonald’s. Joe D’Amico, who earned the nickname the McRunner, finished the Los Angeles Marathon in 28th place after eating McDonald’s for 30-days.

Despite her daily exercise, the McRunnerette knows that 30-days of fatty foods may not be the best for her health. She says that she will have a doctor monitor her progress throughout her training and after she finishes the marathon.

What do you think about Emily Strunk-Helm’s quest? Is she encouraging people to be more active? Or is she downplaying the negative effects of eating nothing but McDonald’s?