Meet the woman running in the Salt Lake City Marathon dressed as a potato

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — After a nationwide search, the second ever “Speedy Spud” will race in the Salt Lake City Marathon dressed in a potato costume.

Ainsley Chapman, an athlete and full-time engineer, was recently chosen to represent potato farmers across the U.S.

“Potatoes are an American classic. I have been eating them for as long as I have been living. But specifically associated with running, I make it a priority to get potatoes in because they are very nutrient-dense,” Chapman told ABC4.com.

Ainsley Chapman is being sponsored for her half marathon by Potatoes USA on behalf of potato farmers nationwide. (Courtesy: Potatoes USA)

The initiative started in 2024 with the intention to promote potato farming across the country. Potatoes USA, a potato marketing and research organization based in Denver, started teaming up with athletes from around the country to promote the vegetable.

Chapman said she first started running in college — and is now a busy potato. When she’s not working full-time as an engineer or studying for her master’s degree, Chapman is training for her upcoming half marathon and making efficient, delicious meals to fuel her busy lifestyle.

“It’s been really fun to tell my friends about Speedy Spud and incorporate more potatoes into their routines,” Chapman told ABC4.com.

The Salt Lake City Marathon will wind through the city on Saturday, Apr. 26 at 7 a.m. The race will begin at the University of Utah and finish at Washington Square Park.

And if you are at the marathon this weekend, you will find Chapman running in her potato costume.

Maclane Westbrook contributed to this article.