During the T’Railway Trek Half Marathon in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland, Canada, an unexpected participant stole the show. Joshua… the goat… made an impromptu appearance during the race, and after crossing the finish line, he left with a medal and plenty of fans.
During the event, Joshua broke free from his collar and joined the runners, keeping pace for about five kilometers before being brought home by his owners. Heidi Taylor, co-owner of Taylor’s Pumpkin Patch, where Joshua lives, learned of his adventure when she saw photos of him running with participants on social media.
“We take Joshua for walks; he listens very well and will follow you,” Taylor said. “So when he’s seeing all the people running, he must have thought: ‘I’m going to go too.‘”
Taylor and her fiancé quickly set off to find Joshua after seeing the pictures online, bringing a collar, leash, and his favorite snack — Cheezies. By then, Joshua had already become a fan favorite on the course, sticking with the runners and even leading the pack at one point.
After catching up to Joshua, Taylor brought him to the finish line, where he was awarded a medal for his efforts. Jeanine Scott, a race volunteer, decided to give Joshua a medal, saying, “It’s not every day you see a goat cross the finish line of a half marathon.”
Joshua’s love of being around people didn’t come as a surprise to Taylor. At the pumpkin patch, he’s known for interacting with visitors, often sneaking treats and affection from guests. Taylor said that even after the farm closes to the public in October, they encourage families to come back to visit Joshua because he’s such a hit with kids.
The town of Conception Bay South shared the story on social media, calling it an “un-baa-lievable” moment. The post quickly gathered attention, with many people commenting about how fun it would be to run with a goat. One commenter summed it up: “Well deserved medal for the GOAT!”
