Whether you compete for your health or to raise attention for a cause, races can be an inspiring event that gives you a goal to pursue. That is not just true for humans, it turns out, but for ducks, too.
At the Long Island Marathon Weekend, an unlikely contender lined up at the starting line with the rest of the runners. His name was Wrinkle the Duck, and he came prepared with his adorable red shoes.
As the race began, Wrinkle took off, keeping pace with his attentive mom. Even though the duck loved running beside his mom, he made sure to stay hydrated, too.
After a few minutes of running, Wrinkle would slow down, and his mom would give him a drink from his cup. But he would not stop for long. Once he was hydrated, Wrinkle would take off again.
As Wrinkle neared the finish line, people gathered along the sides, cheering for him to cross and complete the race. Wrinkle became nervous about all the attention, but after some encouragement from his dad, Wrinkle waddled across the finish.
The crowd erupted into applause, while an incredulous announcer said, “I watched a duck run the race and cross the finish line.” For his effort, this pioneering duck received a medal.
He also got to take promotional photos and even wore a duck-sized T-shirt just for him. But for Wrinkle, he was still more interested in his water than in fame. Sometimes it is more about the journey than the destination, after all.
