If you’ve ever run a marathon, you know the mental battle is just as real as the physical one. Between the leg cramps, fading energy, and the quiet urge to Uber home around mile 18, it takes more than grit to keep going. That’s why the sideline crowd matters almost as much as the finish line. A short video from this year’s Cleveland Marathon captured a Golden Retriever standing on the sidelines with punny signs and a natural gift for lifting spirits.
Golden Retriever is the ‘vibes guy’ at marathon in video
Ike, a Golden Retriever from Cleveland, has earned the title of the “vibes guy” thanks to his heart-melting appearance at the Cleveland Marathon. His owner captured the moment on video and shared it on Instagram, where Ike quickly became a crowd favorite. Decked out in handmade signs slung around his neck, the pup stood along the race route offering words of encouragement to the passing runners. One of his signs read, “You’re my favorite runner,” while another cheeky one said, “Run if you think I’m cute.”
Ike wasn’t just there for strangers; he had a personal stake in the event, too. Another sign read, “Go Aunt Clare,” showing he was there to cheer on his human family as well. As the video cuts through various scenes, viewers also see Ike flopping down on the ground and rolling onto his back, seemingly inviting runners to stop for a quick pat. Though most runners powered through, the sight of the Golden Retriever soaking in the race day energy clearly gave them — and now millions of viewers — a boost.
Unsurprisingly, the video has gone viral, racking up views and positive comments from users who found comfort, humor, and joy in Ike’s race-day performance. “He could sit on the sidelines in the race of my life and I’d still stop to hug him,” one person commented. Another simply wrote, “The rolling,” referring to Ike’s belly-flop moment. And of course, one viewer aptly said, “And the vibes were golden!”
With those signs and that face, Ike probably convinced a few runners to keep going out of guilt alone.
