Dogging runners' footsteps, bloodhound finishes 7th in Alabama half-marathon - Day media

Ludivine finished seventh out of 165 runners in just under an hour and a half. Although not counted as an official participant in the race, the athletic dog was presented with a well-earned medal.

Story highlights

• Bloodhound gets away from her owner and runs with the racers for the entire 13.1 miles
• Ludivine was awarded a medal, although she hadn't signed up as official participant

Runners in Alabama may have bitten off more competition than they anticipated in a race earlier this month.

A dog finished in the top ten in the Elkmont Half Marathon -- The Trackless Train Trek on January 16 and has become quite the Internet sensation.

Ludivine, a bloodhound, got away from her owner at the start of the race and ended up running the entire 13.1 miles.

She competed without human or leash. "Her owner doesn't even run! That's what makes the story even better," race director Gretta Armstrong told CNN.