By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
* Photo gallery – More than 600 pics!
MANGUM — About 40 runners became new members of the Mangum Track Club after completing the 15-mile “shirt run” from Mangum to a point near Ellerbe.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Charles Johnson runs with Mangum, a beagle rescued near the finish line of the Mangum Track Club’s 15-mile initiation run in May. Mangum appeared to have been abandoned. Charles and Veronica Johnson, of Fayetteville, made room for him in their home.
That included Mangum himself. Mangum is a young beagle found at the end of the shirt run on May 17 that starts near North Carolina Route 109 and Grassy Island Road. The run continues along Grassy Island Road for approximately 12 miles before turning left onto Holly Grove Church Road.
At the end of that road is a dog pen that hunters use to contain their dogs. But on May 17, a young beagle — flea-infested and underfed — was on the wrong side of the pen. Charles and Veronica Johnson, of Fayetteville, coaxed the dog to them. They took him home, nurtured him.
And on Saturday, the dog named Mangum completed the 15-mile jaunt on country roads. Like any good beagle, he stopped to sniff than maintain a steady pace. But Charles Johnson managed the stop-and-go approach just fine.
Going into Saturday, MTC’s membership roster included 688 humans from eight countries and 17 states, plus 24 dogs.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
Runners who completed the Mangum Track Club’s 15-mile run Saturday in Richmond County were able to join the club.
Submitted photo
The beagle now known as Mangum was found, along with one other puppy, malnourished and in need of some TLC. The Johnsons stepped up to the challenge with the help of donations from fellow MTC members.
Kevin Spradlin | PeeDeePost.com
The first of a few climbs along the MTC 15-mile shirt run.
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