Dog in Alabama runs marathon (without the knowledge of her owner) and finishes sixth!

[kpete]

Dog in Alabama runs marathon (without the knowledge of her owner) and finishes sixth:

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Hound Bandits Half Marathon in Alabama The canine ran the entire 13.1-mile distance, much to the surprise of her owner.


Early Saturday morning, Ludivine, a 2½-year-old hound dog, was let out of the house in Elkmont, Alabama, to do her business. Prone to roaming around town at will, Ludivine snuck out of the backyard and made her way to the starting area of the inaugural Trackless Train Trek Half Marathon about a quarter mile away.

Ludivine proceeded to mingle with the runners, run the entire 13.1-mile course, cross the finish line in an unofficial 1:32:56, and have a medal draped over her floppy brown ears—all without her owner, April Hamlin, realizing she had wandered off in the first place. The incident was first reported in Canadian Running Magazine.

“All I did was open the door, and she ran the race on her own accord,” Hamlin, 43, told Runner’s World, saying she received texts with photos of Ludivine from friends who were volunteering at the finish. “My first reaction was that I was embarrassed and worried that she had possibly gotten in the way of the other runners.”

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http://www.runnersworld.com/running-with-dogs/hound-bandits-half-marathon-in-alabama?cid=soc_Runner%27s+World+-+RunnersWorld_FBPAGE_Runner%E2%80%99s+World__News

[Tom_Foolery]

1. What a champ!

I love the look on her face:

[Android3.14]

2. Dogs are so fun, and they make friends easily.

I wouldn't mind being a dog.

[Solly Mack]

3. She took detours to visit cows and other dogs, then got back on track. That's just awesome!

I'm so glad everyone was nice to her, and helped keep a watch over her while the race was going.

[LiberalArkie]

4. Thanks.

[phantom power]

5. Could have won, if she had a mind to

[roguevalley]

6. if you don't know the nobility of the dog and don't understand the bond between

man and dog which is a sacred thing, look at picture 2. My niece has them and they're awesome dogs. Boone is a hoot and a drooler but they are the bomb diggity. Make sure if you get one to run them until they drop or you'll have behavior problems. They get on a scent and follow it forever as well. Hounds are like that. I've had hounds for 60 years and they are the best.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

14. Anatole France — ‘Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened.’

dogs are good

[roguevalley]

15. I love that. thank you.

[OnyxCollie]

7. 13.1 miles in an hour and a half is pretty fast.

She deserves a medal for that.

[valerief]

8. I know what was going on in Ludivine's mind as she ran.

"Hey! What's going on? Where's everyone running to? Is it food? Yum! I hope it's food. You'll let me have some, too, won't you? I can't wait to get the food. Yum, yum."

[SoapBox]

10. Or...

Blah, blah, blah Ginger! Blah, blah, Ginger!

Substitute Ludivine for Ginger...for those that remember and get the joke (hint, Gary Larson.)

[whopis01]

19. One of my favorites. n/t

[SoapBox]

9. What a great story!

Yup!

Loves me the doggies...people, not so much.

[awoke_in_2003]

11. That second pic

"Hey, where are you all going."

On edit: changed first to second

[stonecutter357]

12. My Wife is from Elkmont, Alabama.

[barbtries]

13. that's so cute

making me laugh out loud

[Jim Lane]

16. I like how the dog's human refers to "the other runners."

Some of the runners registered and were issued numbers, some (or, at least, one) didn't and weren't -- but, hey, they're all running the same race.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

17. Oh wow! I freakin' love this story! Fun doggie! nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

18. Good doggie

[Ino]

20. She probably ran a WHOLE marathon with all her detours!

Reminds me of this other dog marathoner…

[MineralMan]

21. What doing? Where going? I come, too.

Dogs. Gotta love 'em.