Meet Speedy Spud Marabeth

Marabeth H. is one of 26 Speedy Spuds who will run the 2026 Pittsburgh Marathon dressed in a potato costume.

I live in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. My husband was in the military, so we’ve moved around quite a bit over the past15 years, which meant I was always discovering new trails to run. I’m a pastry chef and also a direct care provider for my special needs brother. A few things I love: running, potatoes, dogs, Star Wars, and plants. I was homeschooled growing up, and every morning at 5:30 my family would run three miles together—I thought that was normal until college! At first I ran fast just to get it over with, but eventually I realized I actually loved running and was pretty good at it. Now it’s a huge part of my life, and I especially love being able to encourage other runners and be a role model for my nieces.​

What race are you running?

Half Marathon

Why are potatoes your go-to fuel?​

I’ve loved potatoes since I was a kid. They’re one of my favorite pre-run foods because they fuel me well and are easy on my stomach—unlike gels, which I’m pretty sure are made from the devil’s snot. I also love how versatile potatoes are: crunchy, soft, or anything in between.​

Favorite potato dish: ​

French onion & truffle Gruyère puréed potatoes. I purée the potatoes until silky but leave small chunks of cheese for texture—it’s heavenly.​

Why did you enter the Speedy Spud contest?​

I saw Speedy Spud on a Strava challenge a few months ago and immediately knew these were my people. A community that loves running and potatoes? It felt like a lifelong dream.​

How are you prepping for the race?​

By eating plenty of potatoes—boil ’em, mash ’em, put ’em in stew! I’ve been gradually increasing my mileage over the past year while focusing on staying injury-free. My current training formula: stretching plus mashed potatoes equals a great run.

Meet the other Speedy Spuds​