Ludivine the Dog Wins Hearts by Joining a Half Marathon—And Even Gets a Medal!
In an adorable and unexpected twist, a dog named Ludivine stole the show at the Elkmont Trackless Train Half Marathon in Canada. What started as a simple bathroom break turned into a race for glory.
Ludivine, a charming police dog, managed to slip under the park gate and join the runners at the starting line. Despite her unplanned participation, Ludivine finished the race in eighth place—an impressive feat, especially considering she paused at the two-mile mark to sniff a dead rabbit!
Throughout the race, Ludivine wandered off several times, as if ready to play with a herd of cows nearby. Nevertheless, she completed the course in just over an hour and a half, all while having plenty of fun along the way.
Photos of Ludivine’s impromptu race were shared on the official Elkmont Half Marathon Facebook page, capturing the hearts of people worldwide. For her effort, Ludivine was even awarded a medal at the finish line.
Her owner, April Hamlin, 41, was thrilled yet surprised by Ludivine’s performance. “All I did was open the door, and she ran the race on her own!” Hamlin told Runner’s World. “At first, I was embarrassed and worried she might have disturbed the other runners, but she did great.”
Hamlin added, “Ludivine is such a laid-back, friendly dog. I’m amazed she completed the half marathon because she’s usually very lazy!”
Jim Clemens, who finished fourth in the marathon, shared his experience running with Ludivine: “Every time I thought she was going home, she’d come back. She’d run ahead, play in streams, and then catch up with the leaders.”
Congratulations to Ludivine, the lovable dog who ran a half marathon and earned her well-deserved medal!
Watch the heartwarming video of Ludivine’s adventure below: