About the Taco 5K™

Our Mission – Walk. Eat. Fiesta.

The Taco 5K™ was created to celebrate community, local business, and the simple joy of tacos.
We wanted to break the mold of typical 5Ks — something less about speed and more about shared experience.

We’re started in Encinitas, but that was just the beginning. The goal? Bring the Taco 5K™ to cities across the country, one taco at a time.

People gathered at the finish line of a race event called "The Taco 5K" on a beach, some wearing participant medals and event T-shirts, with a Caribbean landscape in the background.

Meet Mike Daynes — The Man Behind The Taco 5K™

Part foodie, part adventurer, and full-time community-builder, Mike Daynes turned a simple idea into a movement.

A man with glasses, wearing a black and red cap, a red shirt, and a medal around his neck, holding a microphone and reading from a notebook at an outdoor event with palm trees and people in the background.

“I’ve always believed that life’s best memories come from trying new things with good people. A few years ago, my friends and I couldn’t decide which taco shop was best, so we started visiting several in one day — one taco per stop, lots of laughter, and plenty of debate over whose salsa reigned supreme. It reminded me of my 2022 challenge, when I surfed every surf break in San Diego County — 116 surf spots in 79 days — just to experience it all.

The Taco 5K™ is that same spirit on a bigger scale: a fun, community-driven event that brings people together to explore, taste, and celebrate the amazing local taco scene. I’ve spent my career organizing large-scale live events around the world, but this one’s close to home — it’s my way of giving back, one taco at a time.”

— Mike Daynes, Founder of The Taco 5K™