The definitive ranking of post-run brunch items

This list is highly scientific and not at all biased

Brittany Hambleton March 19, 2021

It’s been an entire year since we’ve been able to eat ourselves into a food coma after a Sunday long run surrounded by our equally tired and ravenous running buddies, and it’s got us dreaming of the day when we can get elbow deep in some scrambled eggs and hashbrowns with our pals once again. Until then, we’ve put together this not-at-all biased ranking of the best post-run brunch foods, so when that day finally comes, you’ll be ready for it. You can thank us later.

Cereal

OK, it’s not that we hate cereal, but bringing a box of lucky charms to brunch is the equivalent of offering to bring the cutlery to a potluck. Cereal makes a great quick snack or an easy-to-prepare breakfast for rushed weekday mornings, but in our highly professional opinions, it doesn’t have a place on the brunch table.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is nutritious and filling, and can be very tasty if you dress it up a little, but let’s be honest, it’s not brunch quality, either. It’s basically cereal’s hippie cousin who makes their own clothes out of hemp and spends their holidays at yoga retreats, and while those things are great in the right setting, brunch is meant to be a party, so save the oatmeal for your pre-race meal.

Toast and bagels

Toast and bagels are like the opening act at a concert — they’re not what you came for, but they’ll take the edge off while you wait for the main event. Of course, they also make a great accompaniment to the main course, and what better way to shovel creamy scrambled eggs into your mouth than on top of a hot, buttered piece of toast?

Quiche

Quiche is the quiet one at the party, who never draws attention to themselves but when you give them a chance, you find out that they’re actually pretty cool (or in this case, pretty delicious). Are you going to brunch specifically for quiche? No. But that buttery, flaky crust will definitely have you going back for seconds.

Bacon, eggs and hashbrowns

We put these three together because they are such a classic combo that we wouldn’t dream of serving them separately. There is no brunch without eggs, no eggs without bacon, and when it comes to hashbrowns, there is only one rule: always make more than you need. You can never overestimate a group of runners‘ ability to gulp down copious amounts of crispy fried potatoes.

French toast

Now we’re getting to the good stuff. French toast isn’t always on the brunch table (let’s face it — how often does a runner have leftover bread lying around?#carblover), but when it is, you know today is going to be special. Covered in fruit and drowned in maple syrup, there’s no better way to replenish those glycogen stores than with a good ol’ fashioned sugar rush.

Pancakes

Remember what we said about runners loving carbs? A fat stack of fluffy pancakes is a surefire way to please every runner at the table. Pancakes are also great because of their versatility, and while you could stop at the classics like blueberry or chocolate chip, why not get creative and throw some stewed apples or caramelized bananas on there? This is, after all, Sunday brunch — we know you cleared your whole day for this event.

Waffles

Waffles beat out pancakes for two reasons. One: pockets of maple syrup. Two: you can easily make them savoury or sweet. Top them with berries and whipped cream and you’ve basically got dessert for breakfast, or pair them with fried chicken and a drizzle of maple syrup and you’ve got the sweet/salty combination of your dreams. Plus, the chicken offers a little protein to refuel you after a long run, and while brunch is supposed to be fun, we still do care about recovery.

Eggs benedict

Finally, we give you the ultimate post-long run brunch item: the eggs benny. It’s got everything — protein-packed eggs, a carb-y English muffin and a rich hollandaise sauce to treat yourself after logging all those miles. Of course, the fun doesn’t stop there — add some spinach for eggs florentine, or smoked salmon and avocado if you’re feeling fancy, just don’t forget one thing: no eggs benedict is complete without a side of hashbrowns, so don’t leave them out.