Pizza slice pace

Here is how long one slice keeps you going at your own pace.

Your details

Running pace
Hill
Slices in the pizza
Weight of the whole pizza
Your weight

One slice at 6:00 per km

8:15

1.38 km of running a slice

  • A slice102 kcal
  • Running effort10.5 METs at 10.0 km/h
  • The whole pizza1 h 6 min
  • Per kilometre74 kcal of pizza

Effort comes from the ACSM running equation, personalised for your resting rate. Faster running uses more energy a minute but about the same per kilometre, so pace changes the time, not much else. Food is fuel and pleasure, not something to earn or pay back. This is a curiosity, not a plan: your body uses energy all day, even asleep.

If food, weight or exercise feel like a worry, your GP can help, and Beat (beateatingdisorders.org.uk, 0808 801 0677) offers free support.

The working

6:00 per km, flat, 73 kg

At 10 km/h the ACSM equation gives VO2 = 0.2 x 166.7 + 3.5 = 36.8 ml/kg/min, or 10.5 METs. A slice of an 8 slice, 300 g pizza is 102 kcal, which you use in 8 min 15 s, about 1.38 km. The whole pizza lasts 1 h 6 min.

Running energy

Roughly 1 kcal per kg per km

Running costs about the same energy per kilometre at any pace, so speed changes the time, not the distance. Hills change both: every 1% of incline adds noticeably to the effort.

Fuel for long runs

What runners actually need

  • Carbohydrate before long runs helps; pizza is not the worst choice
  • Over 90 minutes, take on carbs during the run
  • Refuel and rehydrate afterwards

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

  • Fuel your raceSee the long run fuel page for real planning.
  • Know your pizzaCheck the label for your own.
  • Replace a dietitianAsk a sports dietitian for a fuelling plan.

Questions

Common questions

How many calories does running use?

Roughly 1 kcal per kg of body weight per km, so about 70 to 80 kcal a km for most adults.

How far could I run on a pizza?

A 300 g cheese and tomato pizza is about 816 kcal, roughly 11 km of running for someone of 73 kg.

Is pizza good before a run?

A few hours before, it can be fine for some people; high fat foods sit heavily, so test it in training.

Does running faster burn more per km?

Only slightly. Faster running uses more a minute but covers more ground.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Food, weight and worry

If food, weight or exercise feel like a worry, talk to your GP. Beat offers free, confidential support on 0808 801 0677.

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