McDonald's Is Giving Away Free Pickle Juice in Chicago for Marathon Weekend: How to Get Pickle Boost

If free food is your love language, lace up: the fast food giant McDonald's has bottled its own pickle brine — yes, really — and it's handing out free Pickle Boost pickle juice in Chicago this marathon weekend. The limited-edition drink is timed to the 48th Bank of America Chicago Marathon, when cramps are every runner's nightmare. And it's one of the funkiest freebies of October 2026.

Image via Fox News

Whether you're running 26.2 miles or just cheering from the sidelines, here's everything to know about scoring a bottle.

What is Pickle Boost?

Pickle Boost is a tiny 2-ounce bottle of McDonald's pickle brine, made from the same brine supplied by the chain's longtime pickle partner, Mr. Chips, Inc. The giveaway was announced October 5–6 as a marathon-weekend exclusive — and Chicago is the only city getting it. No national rollout has been announced.

Where and when to grab it

The Friday preview is already history: on Oct 9, the Lakefront Trail stop at 2401 N. Lake Shore Dr. handed out bottles from 7am to 1pm CT. Sunday is the big day. On race day — Sunday, October 11, 2026 — five Chicago McDonald's restaurants will double as “Pickle Boost Pit Stops,” serving free bottles from 7am to 3pm CT. The deal: two bottles per person, free, while supplies last. And here's the best part — you don't have to be a runner. Runners and spectators are both welcome. The five pit stops, each on or near the marathon course: 2635 N Clark St; 1563 N Wells St; 600 N Clark St; 203 N LaSalle St; and 207 E 35th St.

Why pickle juice works for cramps

Athletes have sworn by pickle juice for years — sideline staffs keep it on hand for muscle cramps. A 2010 study found that about a third of a cup of pickle brine relieved cramps faster than plain water. The twist? Some researchers credit the effect not to the electrolytes, but to a nerve reflex triggered by the vinegar that tells a cramping muscle to stand down.

One weekend, one city, and a whole lot of brine. If you're in Chicago on Sunday, swing by a pit stop and grab your free Pickle Boost — your calves may thank you by mile 20.

97.1 FM WDRV The Drive What's That Noise Contest

 

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

Chicago's Radio Contest With a Growing Cash Prize

Chicago's classic rock station 97.1 The Drive (WDRV) is running a What's That Noise contest on the Sherman & Tingles morning show — and the cash jackpot keeps climbing every time a caller gets it wrong. The game plays twice each weekday morning, at 6:45 AM and 8:45 AM Central. When you hear the mystery sound (the "Sounder"), be the designated caller at 312-642-9378. The DJ replays the sound for you, and if you name it correctly, you take home the jackpot.

Are you keeping up with the guess list?

How the Jackpot Grows

The jackpot starts at $100 — and here's the fun part: every wrong guess adds $25 to the pot for the next round. Once somebody nails it, the jackpot resets to $100 and a brand-new sound goes into play. One warning from the official rules: your guess has to match the station's answer exactly. Close doesn't count — the rules even give the example that a near-miss answer won't win while the precise one will. You get one guess per caller per round, but there's no limit on how many times you can call in or how many times you can win.

Who Can Play

You need to be 18 or older and live in the Chicago area: Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, or Will counties in Illinois; Kenosha County in Wisconsin; or Lake and Porter counties in Indiana. If you've won $599 or less from WDRV in the last 30 days, or $600 or more in the last 60 days, you're sitting this one out. The contest has been running since January 2025 and, per the station's rules, continues until a to-be-announced date in 2026 — so check 97.1 The Drive for the current jackpot before you call. This October 2026 contest is a classic listen-to-win setup, and the growing pot makes every wrong guess good news for the next caller.

NFL: Did the Green Bay Packers Beat Chicago Bears with a Fluke Play?

Jarrett Boykin during fluke play

Jarrett Boykin runs football into endzone uncontested

NFL referees rule the fluke play a fair touchdown

Jarrett Boykin made an easy play on NFL Sunday for the Green Bay Packers, helping his team advance to win the NFC North division title on December 29, 2013.

What Happened in the Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears NFL game?

On a 1^st and 10 play, Julius Peppers of the Chicago Bears tipped opposing quarterback Aaron Rodgers throw and the ball “flopped” onto the ground. The players on the field essentially stopped playing, assuming that the play was dead. However, the referees did not blow the whistle. The players on the Green Bay bench were shouting at Jarrett Boykin to pick up the ball and run it into the end zone. After seconds of standing around, Jarrett Boykin did just that, and the NFL referees ruled it a fair touchdown. Jarrett Boykin was not even contested on the play, and it may be one of the easiest touchdowns in his career.

Was this a ‘Fluke’ Play or a Bad Call from the NFL Referees?

I would not consider this a fluke play. A fluke play would be something unintentional that happened in a team’s favor. In this particular play, the referees intentionally did not rule the play dead. It certainly was to Green Bay’s advantage that the Chicago Bears stopped playing, but the team with the faster sports IQ collectively realized that the play was still live. I would not call this a fluke play.

Sports analysts agree that the NFL referees made the right call on this play, allowing the ball to stay “live” on a sack fumble play.

Ultimately the game was won for the Green Bay Packers after quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown on a 48-yard pass to Randall Cobb. This all happened with about 38 seconds left in the game.

The Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears 33 – 28.

Chicago Bears player Julius Peppers not happy with outcome of the play

Quotes from Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers said this about the game: “We’re in it, that’s the most important thing…we’re just going to enjoy this week. This is a special moment. Nothing like a road victory, and especially on this stage right here.”

He also said: “There were a lot of opportunities for us to give up, and we kept believing in each other…I’m proud of these guys and thankful for the opportunity.”

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers on His Sexuality

Rumors have been swirling in the media about Aaron Rodgers sexuality:

Is Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gay?

On the Jason Wilde radio show "Tuesdays With Aaron," Aaron wanted to squash any rumors that have been swirling about his sexuality. He said, "I'm just going to say I'm not gay...I really, really like women. That's all I can say about that."

Next game: The Green Bay Packers will play the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the playoffs as a No. 4 seed. This will be televised at 4:40 ET Sunday on Fox.