A marathon runner in Thailand found a lost puppy mid-way through her race then carried him 19 miles to the finish line before adopting him.

Khemjira Klongsanun, 43, noticed the other athletes dodging the bedraggled pooch seven miles into the marathon in Ratchaburi, western Thailand, last Sunday (January 20).

But the fitness fanatic slowed down her own progress to kneel by the roadside and gently coax the trembling little bangkaew, or Thai wolf dog, over to her.

With no houses or crowds nearby, she realized that the puppy was lost or had been abandoned and feared he would struggle to survive in the wilderness.

Khemjira, in a show of compassion, then picked up and cradled the dog, using her own towel to shield it from the blistering sun, before continuing the race.

Incredibly, she ran with it under her arm for a further 19 miles and crossed the finish line holding the puppy.

The shop owner has now adopted the puppy, believe to be just a couple of months old, and named him ''Chombueng'' after the name of the marathon.

Khemjira said: ''It seemed to me that this little guy was lost. There were no houses, no other dogs, or no people around. So, I picked up the puppy, if only to take him out of the unsafe environment.''