The participation record for the South Tyrolean Potato Run is under threat again this year. © Sportissimus

The Potato Run continues to thrill the masses

The South Tyrolean Potato Run isn't for exactly 50 days, on Saturday, August 29th. And yet, demand for the 17,7-kilometer race, which is very flat with only 60 meters of elevation gain and runs from Bruneck to Sand in Taufers, is already huge a month and a half before the big event.

July 09, 2026

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The organizers confirm this. "We already have very good registration numbers, at around 580. Last year at this point, we had over 200 fewer registered participants than we do this year," says a delighted Rudi Stolzlechner, head of the organizing committee from the Pustertal Running Club, which organizes the Potato Run together with SSV Taufers. And this is despite the fact that the organizers already achieved a participation record in 2025 with a total of 1100 starters – including the children's race.

This year's event is in serious jeopardy: "Anyone still interested in registering for the Potato Run should hurry. We've set a limit of 1000 runners, plus 300 children for the kids' race," explains Stolzlechner, adding, "We'll probably reach this limit before the registration deadline of August 23rd." The organizers are also noticing a trend reversal: More and more amateur runners are signing up for the Potato Run, with the new corporate team competition and the relay race proving particularly popular. This development is, of course, very welcome news for the organizers.

Meanwhile, Stolzlechner & Co. are fully focused on preparations for what is almost certainly a sold-out Potato Run, which, like last year, is the fifth stage of the South Tyrolean Top7 series. A special feature of this South Tyrolean running classic in late summer is undoubtedly the finisher medal initiative launched last year. This year sees the addition of the second part of the five-part collection. While the 2025 finisher medal depicted Bruneck Castle, this year it features Kehlburg Castle in Gais. "We're getting closer and closer to Taufers Castle, just like the runners during the Potato Run," Stolzlechner beams.