I collected followers one by one until there were only a few runners ahead to chase. Then there were none at all. That happens sometimes – not because they are all behind you, but with so many to chase, some are bound to get away.
When there weren't runners around to admire how easily I passed them, there were cows to show off to. They pretended not to be impressed, but they all came to the fence to watch me anyway.
When there weren't cows, I started to notice that it was getting warm. My tongue drooped as my paws got heavier. Just when I thought my paws might get too heavy to lift and a cow might catch me walking, I heard music and saw a shelter up ahead. Runners and not-runners were wandering around, browsing the picnic tables and handing out cups.
"Look, Mom! Oscar fans!" I picked up the pace to meet them sooner. I bet they couldn't wait for me to get there.
As we came closer, Mom's keen sense of sight picked up something my dog-eyes couldn't detect.
"Oh brother," she said from behind me in a voice like an eye roll. My collar dug into my throat as she reeled me in a little closer.
"What? Whose brother?" I asked.
When I looked back at Mom's face, her bottom teeth were bared and her eyes were fixed on the crowd gathered around the picnic table ahead.