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Run To Eat: National Pizza Day

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Say what you want about not out running a bad diet, for a slice of pizza I’ll do my best!

We are definitely not foodies in this house. I’m fine with almond butter off the spoon, steamed broccoli, basic grilled chicken and David can’t tell the difference between a frozen burrito and a gourmet one…but when you start talking pizza, we’re ready to take things to the next level.pizza quoteIf I were trapped on a deserted island with only 1 food forever…pizza.
If I could make any food calorie free…pizza.
If I am dreaming of food during a run…pizza.

And I am not alone! It’s one of America’s favorite foods. American’s eat roughly 350 slices of pizza per second!!!

I really can’t even quite imagine what that looks like, but apparently it’s 100 acres worth of pizza.

Miles Per Pizza Slice

In honor of National Pizza Day on February 9th, I thought I’d have a little fun with just how many miles we need to run to enjoy some of our most prized slices.

This is not to say you can’t enjoy your food without “earning it” so please don’t email me with all that jazz. Eat your pizza any time you want, I just think mine tastes better related to a run…in fact, it’s my favorite dinner the night before long runs! national pizza day

National Pizza Day is observed annually on February 9th, how will you be celebrating this most wonderful of national days? Will it be thin crust, Chicago-style, deep dish? Dairy free, gluten free, vegan, veggie, meaty to the max?

Is pizza bad the night before a race?

There are many very healthy runners I know who, when it comes to what to eat the night before a long run, like to have pizza.

Is Pizza Carbo Loading?

But is pizza carbo loading? Not exactly.

Instead, I’d say for many runners it’s a comfort food, which leads to feeling relaxed the night before a big run. You are certainly getting a solid amount of carbohydrates from a thicker crust pizza, along with protein, so why not.

It turns out having “Pizza Friday” might be a super smart way to keep your indulgence in check  – Jane Ogden, Professor in Health Psychology at the University of Surrey, “If we use food as an occasional reward then the value of the food is increased but it becomes associated with a specific event which is rare and infrequent. This ties the food to a place and time which keeps it limited. So chips on a Friday or cake after the Sunday meal.

Now if it just isn’t pizza for you without a cold beer (personally I’d rather have another slice) then Kelly has you covered with this handy little chart. pizza and beer

Now because I’m doing to get a bunch of “you shouldn’t promote trying to out run a bad diet” comments, let me be clear…I’m still trying. No really, I eat a boatload of fruits and veggies, so I don’t feel bad about a weekly slice of pizza and a daily cookie!

AND a study from Cornell University Food and Brand Lab, shows that our obesity epidemic isn’t tied so much to what we eat, as HOW much we eat.

Man, I’m just convincing myself more and more that I am in the right to run to eat. Not that you can’t find a study to support just about anything you’d like to believe.

Why it’s ok to run for food

In fact, I’m going to defend my position that it’s just fine to enjoy running for your food.

  • It tastes glorious after a workout
  • You’re non-sweaty friends are jealous you can “eat whatever you want”
  • You can still load a pizza with veggies
  • Life is short
  • No one meal makes you fat
  • Good food, bad food mentality is stressful and that makes you fat
  • Technically this is probably a Paleo diet because it’s based on ancestors right? Well they ran to catch their food :)

As with all things in life, there is of course a tipping point where you’re running for food is either unsustainable or just unhealthy.

But I think everyone around here gets that I’m promoting a lifestyle of EAT YOUR VEGGIES and don’t stress too much about the rest of your food.

hilarious things runners think. click for more

More Fun Pizza Facts

And because I can’t just leave you with calorie facts, I mean we’re here to enjoy food, a few more fun National Pizza Day Facts:

  • Pepperoni is the most popular pizza at 36% of all pies ordered.
  • Over 3 billion pizzas are sold in the USA each year.
  • Add another 1 billion on frozen pizzas
  • 17% of all US Restaurants are pizzerias.
  • Antica Pizzeria, the first Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738.
  • Gennaro Lombardi, the first Pizzeria in the United States, opened in 1895 in New York City.
  • Americans consume on average 23 pounds of pizza per person each year.

Healthy Pizza Options

All right if you’ve looked at the mileage above and decided you need to reconsider a few of your toppings, I have good news. There are a bazillion healthy versions out there and I’m happily trying to test as many of them as possible to ensure they are truly worth eating.

My personal method… 1 slice of what I love (weekly) alongside tons of veggies. Beyond that I go in for these healthy options, some of which are insanely creative!! No reason, healthy has to be boring.broccoli pizza

  • Mexican Pizza
  • Vegan Hawaiian Pizza
  • Dairy Free Mushroom Pesto Pizza
  • Kara Goucher’s Long Run Pizza
  • Tator Tot Hot Dish Pizza
  • Strawberry Brussel Sprouts Flatbread pizza

What’s your favorite topping??

Other ways to connect with Amanda
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Another fun day Thinking Out Loud.

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Posted by amanda Categories: Clean Eating, Funny Running

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sarah says

    February 8, 2018 at 11:58 am

    I think tomorrow nights dinner plans just changed…. how can we not have pizza?! Loved reading the facts, some not so much as I like to enjoy my pizza and not think about calories. ;)
    Thank you for including my crazy Tator Tot Hotdish Pizza, because sometimes you need carbs on carbs! It was a “once in a lifetime” kind of thing with the Super Bowl being here that I just had to do. Thankfully it’s very filling and hard to eat more than a slice.

    • amanda says

      February 9, 2018 at 9:25 am

      I thought that pizza was so fun!!! I love all your ideas.

  2. Caitlin Edwards says

    February 8, 2018 at 3:45 pm

    Yes yes yes! I love pizza! Sometimes my running motivation is for the indulgent food I want to eat!

    http://Www.themilestraveled.com

  3. Kirsten says

    February 9, 2018 at 6:34 am

    Awesome pizza blog! Thanks!

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Amanda Brooks : Run Coach
KEEP GOING. You never know when your moment will c KEEP GOING. You never know when your moment will come. You have to keep showing up when it’s hard when it’s frustrating and even when it doesn’t go as it should. 

⭐️Shalane was a professional athlete by 2004 and didn’t win NYC until 2017.

🏃‍♀️Des Linden took second in the 2011 Boston Marathon. It was 7 YEARS of training before she took first.

👏I have many friends who needed 8+ marathons to get their BQ.

👍Serena Williams has had loses that the press would consider catastrophic and she admits to hating them, but using them to find more strength.

🤔Walt Disney was fired for lack of imagination! But he kept going.

The list is long of those who didn’t succeed on the first attempt. The thing they all have in common is continuing on, adjusting the plan, staying focused on the goal.

SUNDAY RUNDAY MOTIVATION!! Share with a friend and I’d love to hear what keeps you going after a bad race.
ANKLE AND FOOT STRENGTH - A lot of questions latel ANKLE AND FOOT STRENGTH - A lot of questions lately about shin splints and while they’re commonly the result of adding too much distance or speed too soon...
🏃‍♀️you can also work on strength, mobility and running technique.

Let’s start with some strength pieces!

⭐️ Plus, these movements are stellar for anyone with ankle pain or needing more lower body strength to hit the trails.⭐️

👇👇
10-12 reps x 2 a day
1️⃣Banded rotation - hitting the peroneal muscles that run along the outside of your lower leg these control ankle movement and foot strength. Better ankles, better stability, less shin pain.

2️⃣Banded turn outs - helping with muscles that control the arch of your foot and prevents knee, ankle and foot from dropping in if the arch isn’t staying strong with each step.

3️⃣Toe raises - we’re really hitting the front of the shins with this. Make it easier with legs closer to wall.

4️⃣Calf raise with ball - calf strength and arch strength happening with the use of the ball, which can again prevent the foot falling inward. Also strong calves absorb impact and spread lower leg load.

5️⃣Foam roll along outside of shin and calves to release tightness from overworked muscles.
///
Have you ever dealt with shin splints or ankle injuries??
EMBRACING A PAUSE🤢🤢 - It’s been a decade s EMBRACING A PAUSE🤢🤢 - It’s been a decade since I’ve been can’t move from the couch sick. I don’t recommend this stomach bug.
|||
In truth, I’ve been thinking I needed to hit pause for a few weeks.

💼 I’m so excited about what’s happening in my business, I’ve been hard charging for the last year.

🏃‍♀️I’m finally enjoying adding in hills and speed and strength, but could tell I needed a big down week... I just didn’t want to.

🥾On vacation or with fam, I’m always sneaking in work and again that’s not entirely bad because I love it.
|||
BUT LIKE AND INJURY, sickness is a reminder to appreciate our health.

🟧I’m not trying to make up the missed workouts.
🟩I’m not guilt tripping over eating Cinnamon Toast Crunch because it was all that would stay down after 30 hours.
🟦I’m not feeling bad for moving a lot of meetings and not responding to nearly any messages.

What reminds you to step back and press pause??

📸from our great trip a few years ago. Those long vacations are my best way of letting go.

#iamwellandgood #loveyourbody #solopreneurlife
Can we talk about runners and gut health for a sec Can we talk about runners and gut health for a second? And then you'll understand why I love @previnex so much.
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DID YOU KNOW: There are 500 species and three pounds of bacteria in our gut! 😱😱It’s a living and breathing factory that:

🔵impacts your energy levels and can be reason for joint pain
🟣impacts your mood and focus
🟡can cause runners trots and nausea when micro biome is off
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//
Most of the year I’m up by 5, which often leads to “when do you go to bed?!?!” 
Early 😂.
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The habit stuck, so now I’m up early and lifting it not heading out immediately in the snow.
//
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