Dog accidentally runs a half marathon — and places 7th

An unlikely champion. — (Image credit: Facebook.com/Elkmont-Half-Marathon-The-Trackless-Train-Trek)

When Ludivine, a 2-year-old bloodhound from Elkmont, Alabama, headed out the door one Saturday morning, her owner April Hamlin figured she was just going for a walk. Instead, Ludivine ended up running an entire half marathon.

"My first reaction was that I was embarrassed and worried that she had possibly gotten in the way of the other runners," Hamlin said. "All I did was open the door, and she ran the race on her own accord."

But Hamlin didn't have anything to be embarrassed about. Even without any training, Ludivine finished the 13.1-mile Trackless Train Trek Half Marathon in an impressive overall time of 1:32:56 and placed 7th, despite the occasional veer off the course to sniff around. She even earned a medal.