The Great Perthshire Tattie Run

Running with a 20kg sack of spuds on your back? Sounds crazy, is crazy! And that’s why we’re all over it!

Welcome to the ridiculously popular Great Perthshire Tattie Run returning to the Fair City for its second year as part of Perth’s forthcoming Super Saturday, August 10, 2019.

In a race like no other, competitors can get ready to Smash it during a one mile course in the city streets with men carrying 20kg of tatties and women with 10kg. Holy French fry!

The Tattie Run will be followed by an adults relay race for teams of four with kids and young people getting in on the action with the ‘Spud & Spoon’ races to close the event.

Running with a 20kg sack of spuds on your back? Sounds crazy, is crazy! And that’s why we’re all over it!All participants receive a medal and better still, they get to keep their tatties with any remaining potatoes donated to local lunch clubs and foodbanks. Mash it like it’s hot!

Local PT, Steve Bonthrone, took part last year, and has signed up to do it all again this year.  We caught up with him to find out more.

"The Great Perthshire Tattie Race, a race where you have to run 4laps around the City Hall and St Johns Kirk carrying a 20kg sack of tatties that you get to keep afterwards. I thought “What a sMASHing idea”.

"I’ve done events with more than one run on the same day or weekend but this was a new challenge for me.

"It was really good fun! Entry was free, there was a kids spud n spoon race, a women’s race then the men’s race. I’ve run plenty of races but never having to carry a sack of tatties! The thought of doing something fun and different was aPEELing

"There were a lot of familiar faces from parkrun, lots of families down taking part in each of the events and everyone got a medal along with their sack of tatties to take home.

"I underestimated how challenging would be, went off too fast and realised that was a HALF-BAKED idea. It was 4 laps, which roughly made up a mile, so I eased off into a jogging pace. As the laps went on, it got really warm and in fact, I’d say it was ROASTING!

"I had so much fun that I’ve signed up to do it again this year and highly recommend it. It’s not CHIP-timed, it’s a fun run. The tatties are amazing too so what’s not to like?"

More than 190 potato-crazed runners will join Steve for this year’s event, which means numbers have already surpassed last year’s total - but there’s still time to get your name down. Competitors can enter for free online and there will be a late entry desk open from 11am on the day, situated in King Edward Street.

The Great Perthshire Tattie Run has a number of races to suit all ages and level of fitness. (Race timings are approximate)

• Individual Run – 2.20pm
• Junior Run – 2.40pm
• Spud & Spoon Run – 2.55pm
• Special Wheelchair Relay Race – 2.55pm
• Tattie Rely Race – 3.30pm