Fast food get a bad reputation because it is high in fat and sugar, and it has a high calorie level. There are elite runners who would use it to fuel their running performance. A great example would be Joe D'Amico who earned the names "McRunner" and "drive-thru runner". Joe ate only McDonald's 30 days leading up to his marathon, and got a personal best of 2:36:14 at the Los Angeles Marathon on Sunday. Does this mean "fast food" can help us run faster?
It seems like there at least some athletes that can get away with eating fast food. It is probably because their training regime is way intense than ours, or that they have genetics that allows them to include fast food into their diet.
The saying that "we're probably better off eating the cleanest diet, so we can get good results in our running performance" is easier said than done. I must commend those athletes who can eat by the book. I am guilty of eating fast food to refuel my runs.
My philosophy is that for us, non-professional or elite runner, we need to include cheat meals. Cheat meals not only reward yourself after a tough workout, and after eating clean for the better part of your week. There are evidences that cheat meals can "reset hormones responsible for metabolism and insulin regulation, replenish glycogen for increased energy, and keep calorie-burning high".
In my opinion, we must include some cheat meals, but continue eating clean meals that provide us energy for our next workout (like the one listed on the recent Runner's World food pyramid):
Don't feel guilty of eating fast food, we are only human...
