Meet Speedy Spud Marcus

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

Hi! I’m 27 and currently live in College Park, MD, though I’m originally from the small town of West Alexander in Southwestern Pennsylvania. I’m a civil engineer working in Washington, DC and a graduate of West Virginia University. I’ve been involved in athletics since childhood and ran track & field in high school. Running has always been a big part of my life, and my family—especially my brother and brother-in-law, both Ironman finishers—inspired me to complete my first full Ironman in Maryland last year​

What race are you running?

Full Marathon

Why are potatoes your go-to fuel?​

Training requires a lot of carbs, and eating gel after gel gets boring. Potatoes are the opposite—you can prepare them so many different ways and never get tired of them, making them a great real-food fuel option.​

Favorite potato dish: ​

Tots are a personal favorite, especially stuffed into a breakfast burrito. But I’d be betraying my family roots if I didn’t also give a shoutout to pierogies, which are in a league of their own.​

Why did you enter the Speedy Spud contest?​

I loved the creativity of the contest and the chance to do something unique—like eating a different potato-based food every mile. Potatoes deserve their moment to shine, and this felt like the perfect way to celebrate them.​

How are you prepping for the race?​

I’m training on the many beautiful trails around College Park and the greater DC area while also preparing my stomach for the potato-fueled carb load on race day. And a big shoutout to my girlfriend (my “spud bud”) Abby, who’s my biggest supporter in all these adventures.

Meet the other Speedy Spuds​