Bloodhound Sneaks Out of Yard to Run Half Marathon and Finishes 7th

Despite this she always managed to remember what her main priority was and would get back to the task at hand. The dog, who is prone to leaving the confines of the garden and taking a wander through town, snuck out of the garden and joined the race course.

But that’s precisely what happened during the Elkmont Half Marathon in Alabama. Ludivine ran the entire 13.1 mile race and placed seventh.

At the time, the dog’s owner didn’t have the slightest idea of her pup’s profound achievements.

As Ludivine’s accomplishment began to go viral, race organisers noted on Facebook that the dog was helping put the inaugural race “on the map”.

We’d like to think she was just saving up her energy to kick some tail in her first half marathon. I saw her collar, so I just figured she was somebody’s dog.

Another runner, Jim Clemens, watched her leave the road – he thought to go home – then come back and keep running.

“(Ludivane) started fast, in second place at the 0.5-mile (mark)”, race witness Gregg Gelmis wrote online.

According to other runners, Ludivine was prone to distraction and often wandered off course to investigate other houses and at one stage a dead rabbit. Runners say Ludivine did well, keeping up with the leaders when she wasn’t romping around fields populated by mules and cows. Hamlin said race organizers told her Ludivine was quite an inspiration for race participants.

Not only did this good dog run the race, but she occasionally left the track to sniff for things or run through streams.

Ludivine may very well have earned a place in Elkmont history.