Last Saturday, April Hamlin of Elkmont, Alabama, let her hound dog Ludivine out in the backyard. Ludivine snuck out of the yard and wandered around, which is not out of characters for her. She walked about a quarter-mile away where the Trackless Train Trek Half Marathon was about to begin and was petted by some of the runners, including Tim Horvath. When they took off, Ludivine ran with them. And she continued for the entire 13 miles! Ludivine stayed within sight of Horvath through most of the race.
“One time she went over and met another dog next to the course,” Horvath said. “Later on, she went into a field with some mules and cows. Then she’d come back and run around our legs. I wondered if she was going to get tired or go back to wherever her home was.”
But Ludivine kept running despite her distractions and eventually finished just behind Horvath who ran 1:32 for sixth place. Once Ludivine crossed the line, she slowed to a walk. Volunteers, apparently in awe of the spectacle, put a medal around her neck and started taking photos, Horvath said.
Race officials were delighted with Ludivine’s accomplishment. Friends called Hamlin to congratulate her, which was a surprise. Hamlin didn’t even realize Ludivine was gone from the backyard! Read the whole story of Ludivine the marathon dog at Runner’s World. -via Metafilter
(Image credit: WeRunHuntsville/Gregg Gelmis)