A marathon runner ended up winning a different prize after she spotted a lost puppy midway through a race.
Runner Khemjira Klongsanun was participating in the Chombueng marathon in Ratchaburi, Western Thailand, when she saw runners dodging a puppy seven miles into the race. Noticing that there were no houses, people or other dogs in the vicinity she decided to stop and check on the puppy. The puppy, a bangkaew (Thai wolf dog) was trembling and alone, but she managed to coax him over to her.
Concerned for his safety, and realizing he was lost or abandoned, Khemjira picked up the pup and continued on the race, running 19 miles with the puppy in her arms.
Another marathoner caught sight of her running with the puppy and filmed her running with the pup.
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“It seemed to me that this little guy was lost. There were no houses, no other dogs, or no people around. So, I picked up the puppy, if only to take him out of the unsafe environment,” Khemjira told the press afterwards.
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She said that rescuing the puppy took extra effort: “Running almost 20 miles carrying dog was truly a challenge. It was two times tiring than a normal marathon but I did it anyway just because he is adorable.”
She put out word to try and see if the pup was indeed lost, but no one stepped forward so she decided to adopt the puppy herself. She named him “Chombeueng” after the name of the marathon and he’s joined her two other dogs at her home.
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