Euronews
By Chris Harris
A dog has become the first canine to cross the finishing line at one of the world’s toughest ultra marathons.
The hound, nicknamed Cactus, wandered onto the course on day two of the Marathon des Sables in Morocco.
He began following competitors in the 251-kilometre, six-day endurance race in the sweltering Sahara Desert.
‘Cactus’ finished the second stage, then the third and fourth. Organisers tweeted on Friday to say he had crossed the finishing line.
MARATHON DES SABLES
✔@marathonDsables
Cactus the finisher
He made it! He’s the first dog to run the MDS
He did great on today’s 42 km stage
Who’s a good boy?#MDS2019 #MARATHONDESSABLES #CactusTheMdsDog
Susie Chan@Susie__ChanI’m at the finish line of the @marathonDsables AND THE DOG FINISHED!! GO CACTUS!!#CactusTheMdsDog @runnersworlduk #mdsmedia2019 #mds3019
Owner Karen Hadfield took to social media to say that he is a nomad dog and regularly runs 40-km a day in the area.
MARATHON DES SABLES
✔@marathonDsables
Cactus the MDS dog
A dog who started to follow runners during the second stage of the race. After finishing it, he took the start of the third and the fourth finishing them all.
He has run more than 120 km and is in good shape!
Is treated as a prince here at the camp#MDS
Brandon@b3108Everyone — his owner has posted on MDS’ FB page: pic.twitter.com/unJIzhLO1B
MARATHON DES SABLES
✔@marathonDsables
Good bye Cactus
See you soon in the desert#MDS2019 #MARATHONDESSABLES #CactusTheMdsDog
