Ludivine, a two-year-old bloodhound, had other plans when her owner, April Hamlin, let her out of the house to relieve herself in Elkmont, Alabama. Instead of taking a walk around the neighborhood, she decided to join, without registering or any prior training, a half marathon taking place that same day.
The dog ran the 21 kilometers alongside the runners, detoured to explore the area, stopped to sniff a deer carcass, and even took a moment to play with other animals. And yet, she returned to the race and crossed the finish line in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 56 seconds.
The result? Seventh place among 165 participants.
Ludivine didn’t have a race bib, didn’t have a trainer, and apparently didn’t even know she was competing. She just went out for a walk and ended up proving that, when it comes to running, some dogs don’t need a training plan. Just a desire to go for a walk.