Escaped Goat Runs Half Marathon, Earns Medal

On Sept. 29, the Canadian town of Conception Bay South held its inaugural half marathon, complete with a special participant: A goat named Joshua.

Around 9:30 a.m. local time, Joshua's owner Heidi Taylor was preparing to drive to the pumpkin patch where Joshua lives to feed him, she told The Washington Post. A half hour earlier, when racers started passing the pumpkin patch, Joshua decided to join the runners himself. Taylor's fiancé saw neighbors on Facebook posting photos of Joshua passing a crosswalk, though the goat appeared to be following the other runners and staying on the course with the help of crossing guards who stopped traffic and tried directing him. 

With the help of neighbors on Facebook, they were able to track down the 10-year-old goat a few miles away. Since he'd already run three miles of the half marathon, Taylor drove him close to the finish line where he finished out the race. Like every other runner, he got a medal. 

The goat is "relatively well-known" in town, according to Conception Bay South's mayor Darrin Bent. "But he’s hit a new height of fame."

According to Taylor, Joshua loves following people and taking short walks when he's near his pumpkin patch. So when he saw a bunch of people running in one direction, he couldn't help himself, and managed to break free of his metal collar. "He loves excitement," Taylor said. 

It remains to be seen if Joshua starts training to set a new personal record next year.