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Dog goes out to pee but ends up running half-marathon

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A dog placed seventh in a half-marathon after she entered a race when her owner let her out of the house to pee.

Luidivine, a 2 1/2-year-old bloodhound named after a character from Ridley Scott's romantic comedy A Good Year, sneaked away to join the Elkmont's Trainless Train Trek Half Marathon in Alabama on the morning of Jan 16.

The accidental canine runner began the 21km race with 165 others who completed the race and clocked 1hr 32min 56sec to take an unofficial seventh spot.

 

 

 

Speaking to Canadian Runner, Luidivine's owner April Hamlin, who learnt about her pooch's participation through text messages and pictures from her friends volunteering at the race, said: "All I did was open the door, and she ran the race on her own accord.

"My first reaction was that I was embarrassed and worried that she had possibly gotten in the way of the other runners.

"She’s laid-back and friendly, so I can’t believe she ran the whole half marathon because she’s actually really lazy."

Despite Ms Hamlin's fears, Luidivine's fellow racers took no issue with the hound, who enjoys strolling around town on her own.

Mr Tim Horvath, who was with Luidivine for most of the race, said: "I saw her for the first time in the parking lot before the race.

"She came bouncing up, and I patted her on the head. I saw her collar, so I just figured she was somebody’s dog.

"Elkmont is a small town where everyone knows everybody, so it didn’t strike me as unusual."

 

 

 

While her timing was impressive for her first race, Luidivine could have done even better – if she didn't let herself get distracted.

Runners said the dog went to investigate a dead rabbit during the race as well.

Participant Jim Clemens, who finished fourth, said: "Every time I thought she had dropped off to go back home, I would hear her coming back up to me, and she would race past me up to the two leaders.

"She would run off to romp through streams and into yards to sniff around for a while."

 

 

 

Source: Runner's World and Canadian Running via Metro

UncategorisedsportsHALF-MARATHONalabamaunited statesanimalsBloodhoundbizarre