It was a regular Saturday for the dog named Ludivine (pronounced as loo-duh-veen). April, her mother, let her out for her morning routine which included sniffing things outdoors and then peeing and pooping.
But that day, something extraordinary happened that no one really expected. The bloodhound escaped the yard and found herself at the half-marathon starting line which was in the area where she lived.
When the starting gun sounded to mark the start of the race, Lu immediately joined the other runners and joined the event. Other than some sniffing around, Lu stayed with the leaders of the group and, remarkably, finished seventh as the first female to cross the finish line. It was totally unintentional but it seemed like Lu made it and even placed a good rank.
Lu ran 13.1 miles in 1:32:56 without rigorous training or preparation, which is a respectable time. I think even you would not be able to beat that time. And because Lu made it to the finish line, the organizers of the race awarded Lu with a finisher’s medal. Now that is surely a very good thing to see – a dog with a medal from a marathon!
Lu has become somewhat of a local celebrity after her great race. After that, she started to participate in more charity races and even had appearances as a local celebrity. In her honor, the first half-marathon she completed has been called The Hound Dog Half Marathon. Now that’s how you accidentally make a name for yourself!
However, Lu will no longer be able to escape her home since her family has already had her microchipped and they also installed invisible fencing on their 40-acre property. This would ensure that Lu does not go out on her own again, escape their home, and unintentionally join races.
Don’t you worry, though. Lu is fine and her family continues to dote on her.
When you let your dog out for a minute and she decides to complete the Elkmont, Alabama Half-Marathon…#elkmontlu pic.twitter.com/QimK53hgOS
— April Hamlin (@hamlin_april) January 21, 2016
Source: Ludivine Hamlin
