Adorable surprise racer finishes at the Elkmont Half-Marathon in Alabama

The Elkmont Half-Marathon (Trackless Train Trek) in Elkmont, Ala. had a celebrity finisher over the weekend finishing in the top-10 (unofficially) and in a time just over 1:30 for the half-marathon.

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Ludivine, a hound, ran the half-marathon in 1:32:56 finishing seventh. She ran the entire race off-leash managing to find her way to the start line after being let out to do her business.

“Our little town of 500 is getting a kick out of the story going international,” laughed race director Gretta Armstrong after Canadian Running first reported the story.

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Ludivine is owned by April Hamlin and was named after a French character in the Russell Crowe movie A Good Year. She’s a two-and-a-half year-old bloodhound. Ludivine made such an impact that the race has been renamed to Elkmont’s Hound Dog Half, which will be held on Jan. 21, 2017.

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We’re just hoping that each restroom along the course was accompanied by a healthy patch of grass or a fire hydrant for the sake of the canine.

The Elkmont Half-Marathon (Trackless Train Trek) had 165 finishers (plus Ludivine) with proceeds of the race going to the cross-country and track and field teams at nearby Elkmont High School to help purchase training equipment and cover race entry fees for students.

Editor’s note: Ludivine was mistakenly referenced as “Ludivane” in a previous edition of this story. It’s been updated to reflect her proper name. We have also been sent more photos by the race director (see below).

Update: Amazingly, there was another historic result at the inaugural Elkmont Half-Marathon. Grattan O’Neill set a single-age world record running 1:38:22. He set an eight-year-old age group record, according to ARRS. Full story on Grattan.

H/t: Beck256 via Reddit, Gretta Armstrong (race director).