A stray dog left runners in stitches after the pooch gate-crashed their stretching session.
Footage showed the athletes limbering up in a circle when the street dog suddenly trotted into the middle.
It drew roars of laughter as it began mimicking the runners’ moves, before wandering over for a pat amid cheers, whoops and applause.
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The warm-up in Cataguases, in Brazil’s south-eastern Minas Gerais state, was led by Kenyan marathon runner, Wilson Maina.
The 32-year-old athlete told local media: “When I was doing the stretches, the dog suddenly showed up and started stretching with us.
“It was the best moment – everyone was happy and burst out laughing.
“It had never happened before, people were amazed.
“They joked that even dogs can’t resist my training.”
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Wilson, who won the 2025 São Paulo International Half Marathon, was in Cataguases – his agent Léo Maciel’s hometown – for a short break, as reported by What’s The Jam.
Léo told local media: “There are several running groups there, and a friend invited me to give a talk before their training session.
“Wilson wasn’t going to run because he had a minor injury, but he agreed to lead the warm-up and stretching. That’s when the dog appeared and copied everything.”
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After stealing the spotlight, the mutt eventually wandered off from the square.
Wilson, who lives in Pouso Alegre, will return to Cataguases to compete in a 6K race on 7 September.
He said: “People said the dog doesn’t often show up in the square and usually hangs around the surrounding area.”
