Author Archives: John E.

Nomad Pizza: Newcomer Makes the Best Neapolitan-Style Pies

A little more than a year ago, the second Night Market was held in a parking lot in University City.  No different than the other editions of Night Market, there were long lines at several trucks and carts.  Few lines were longer than the one at Nomad Pizza, which was making its Philly debut through its pizza truck.

There was certainly great anticipation for Nomad, which originated and built its reputation in Hopewell, New Jersey.  The truck, a restored 1949 REO Speedwagon with a built-in wood-fired brick oven, kept firing up Neapolitan-style pizzas for the masses, who eagerly gobbled them up.  Earlier this year, Nomad opened up its brick and mortar location at 6th and Bainbridge, though its pizza truck still makes appearances at events around town.  In either the restaurant or the store, prepare to be blown away by superb pizza.

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Running While High: The Altitude Effect

Last week, I spent time in surrounding Salt Lake City, Utah area.  In addition to taking in the many beautiful sights, drinking low alcohol beer (only 4.0 percent or lower beer is sold at grocery stores) and enjoying the respite from 95 degree Philly temperatures, I also did get a chance to do some running.

Running in most areas of Utah, of course, is much different than running here in Philly.  In addition to gorgeous mountain and lake scenery, Utah is at a substantially higher elevation than our sea level city.  Eden, where I did most of my running is at an altitude of approximately 5,200 feet, with many hills along the way.  So what’s it like to run at altitude for a week?  Quite an adjustment and challenging but also possibly rewarding.

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Running for the Homeless: Back on My Feet 20in24 Challenge

On the weekend of July 14-15, Back on My Feet holds its 5th annual Stroehmann 20in24 Challenge on the Kelly Drive Schuylkill River loop.  It’s easily one of the city’s bigger summer running events each year.

For those who aren’t aware, BoMF is an organization founded here in Philly that helps the homeless achieve independence and self-sufficiency through running.  Through the discipline, dedication and confidence developed from running and training for races with volunteers, countless members have changed their lives and created new opportunities for themselves.     

The Challenge actually consists of several events, but the primary ones are the Relay Challenge and the Lone Ranger Ultra Marathon.  The Relay Challenge consists of relay teams of five sending members to run one lap at a time on the 8.4 mile loop.  Teams can have their members do one (Bronze Challenge), two (Silver), three (Gold) or four (Platinum) laps each in the 24 hour time period.  The Lone Ranger is a tough endurance test, as individual competitors see how many laps they can do in 24 hours.

20in24 traditionally features some very impressive individual and team performances.  Last year, the Lone Ranger winner finished 145 miles (over 6 miles per hour).  For the Platinum Challenge, the lead team finished its 20 total laps (over 169 miles)  in 18 hours and 48 minutes.

It’ll be my first appearance in the event, as my squad fundraises for BoMF and competes in the Gold Challenge (three laps each, fifteen laps total).  The big adjustments won’t be the distance (slightly over 25.2 miles total per runner) as much as the conditions (running at different temperatures and times of the day and night) and re-starting to run after sitting and waiting for about five hours between your individual laps.  Regardless, it’s a worthy challenge and a very good cause to support.