He Shattered a 13-Year-Old World Record—After Eating a Massive McDonald's Meal

Most runners have a pre-race meal they rely on and trust. A bagel. Oatmeal. A trusty banana perhaps.For Ja’Kobe Tharp, the rulebook goes out the window with a very large order from none other than McDonald’s.Before breaking Aries Merritt’s 13-year-old world record in the 110-meter hurdles at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 10, the Auburn hurdler ate two cheeseburgers, a large fry, and 10 Chicken McNuggets. Three hours later, he ran 12.75 at Hayward Field.Some would call that a reckless nutrition decision, while others might say it’s his body, his choice. But based on the result, it seems someone running for less than 13 seconds can get away with it.For Tharp, it’s never been a random indulgence so much as it’s been more of a go-to meal routine. According to Auburn University, Tharp started eating the same McDonald’s order before races in high school, including before he won a Tennessee state hurdles title. He’s kept it going since.Courtesy Auburn UniversityJa’Kobe Tharp’s McDonald’s order is two cheeseburgers, a large fry, and 10 Chicken McNuggets.“Every time,” Tharp said during an interview with his school. “Every time I run, no matter where it is. Coach Ken told me that I'm going to change my diet soon. But I mean, hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.”At the moment, it’d be extremely hard to argue with the results. Tharp ran a world-record 12.75 in the NCAA semifinals, then won the NCAA title two days later in 12.90. And in Budapest this month, he won the 110-meter hurdles at the István Gyulai Memorial in 12.85, another absurdly fast run in what has quickly become a very serious summer for the 20-year-old.Auburn also asked Brooks Mobley, an assistant clinical professor in the School of Kinesiology, to weigh in on what is happening here. His answer, as you might expect, wasn’t exactly an endorsement for the rest of us to hit the drive-thru before a long run.“If a marathon runner were to eat this meal, they're probably going to be having some gastrointestinal distress,” Mobley said. “But a race that's just 13 seconds is really just activating the ATP phosphocreatine system, with a little bit of anaerobic glycolysis.”It’s because the difference lies in the actual event itself. A 110-meter hurdles race is over almost immediately, relying heavily on the body’s quick energy systems. Mobley said there may be “some slight carb-loading going on,” but the bigger piece is probably a mental game.“I think the psychological component may be the most important thing happening,” Mobley said. “Every athlete has their own thing like that. ‘Hey, I’m eating this meal, this is what I do.’ I think consistency along those lines can help you avoid decision fatigue and really reduce pre-race anxiety, which is good.”Runners of any distance can certainly understand that, since race rituals aren’t always the most logical. Sometimes it’s a song order on a playlist or a superstition only you’d understand—or, apparently, a full McDonald’s order before the fastest 110-meter hurdles race ever run.The science can always debate the meal, but it seems the clock is making a pretty strong case for the fast-food ritual.Sean Abrams was the Senior Editor, Growth and Engagement at Men’s Health. He’s a former hip hop dancer who likes long walks on the beach and large glasses of tequila. You can find his previous work at Maxim, Elite Daily, and AskMen.