Marathoner Adopts Lost Puppy After Running With Him in Arms for 19 Miles

After carrying a lost puppy in her arms for 19 miles, a marathoner decided she’d keep him for an even longer journey: life.

While running the Chombueng Marathon in Ratchaburi in western Thailand, Khemjira Klongsanun spotted the little dog when she was about seven miles into the race and saw other runners side-stepping something in the road.

Klongsanun, 43, stopped and picked up the abandoned dog and ended up carrying him in her arms for the remainder of the long-distance race.

“’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,” Klongsanun said. “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.

Khemjira Klongsanun was running a marathon in Thailand when she saw an abandoned puppy on the road. Other runners didn't care.

She bent down, picked him up, and carried him. The whole race. All 19 miles. At the end, he fell asleep on her kit.

Then she adopted him. pic.twitter.com/GDdtOrsdOM

— Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila) January 31, 2019

At the end of the run, the dog fell asleep on Klongsanun’s racing gear and she made the decision to adopt him so he can live with her and her two other dogs.

After adopting the pup, Klongsanun named him Chombueng in recognition of the marathon that brought them together.

“It took a lot of time to take the new dog for checkups, vaccinations, and treatments but I’m glad to save him and willing to have him with other dog members in the family,” Klongsanun said. “It might take a while for him to adapt himself. But Chombueng is a very smart boy. I’m sure he is going to be happy living with us.”