One of the best things about going on vacation is that you get to experience new restaurants, and in particular, get to sample different pizza places all over. Due to one too many wrong turns on the complicated streets of North Carolina, I found myself running late as I headed towards the airport in Fletcher. But I still had seventy-five minutes until my flight departed, which should have been more than enough time to find a local pizza place, order a ‘za, and catch my flight home. Of course, I forgot that since it was a Nascar Sunday in the South, my options would be extremely limited.

As luck would have it, I found a pizzeria a mile down the road from the airport. But with the place named Acropolis Pizza, my hopes weren’t that high. Who names a pizza place with a Greek sounding name??? So I hesitantly walked in, and I immediately saw a running photograph on the wall. Of course, any time I see anything related to running, I immediately take a closer look. Well, it turns out that the chef at Acropolis won the master’s race at last year’s Asheville Half Marathon! This immediately put my mind at ease. Runners are notoriously picky eaters, and most don’t settle for second-tier food. And if the chef of a restaurant is a runner himself, well, you know the pizza has to be good!

And good it was! While everyone else dined on crackers and chips on the airplane ride home, I had a yummy pizza with loads of pineapple on it! What could be better than that? Who needs airplane food when you can have pizza made by a fellow runner….