Dion writes in a way that made me feel like I was running alongside him and Gobi through the rough terrain - thankfully without the physical effects of running a marathon myself! It meant the book transformed from so-so story about a runner, to can't-put-down story about a runner with an amazing little dog. The laughs and smiles began the moment Gobi appeared in the book - around page 40. I'm not usually a fan of such flashbacks, but Dion does this in a way that maintains the natural flow of the book.

It seems I was drawn to Gobi in much the same way author, Dion Leonard, was drawn to becoming her owner!ĭion uses a combination of flashbacks to childhood and earlier life, while also following the ultra-marathon race which changed his life due to meeting Gobi. Dion, with the help of strangers and a viral outpouring of assistance on the internet, set out to track her down, and reunite forever with the amazing animal that changed his life and proved to him and the world that miracles are possible.Ĭonfession: I couldn’t say no to the cute little face staring at me from the front cover. However, before he could take her home, Gobi went missing in the sprawling Chinese city where she was being kept. He found himself letting Gobi sleep in his tent at night, giving her food and water out of his own limited supply, and carrying her across numerous rivers, even when he knew it would mean putting him behind in the race, or worse, prevent him from finishing at all.Īlthough Dion did not cross the finish line first, he felt he had won something even greater – a new outlook on life and a new friend that he planned on bringing home as soon as arrangements were made. Whereas in the past these races were all about winning and being the best, his goal now was to make sure he and Gobi’s friendship continued well after the finish line. The lovable pup, who would later earn the name Gobi, proved that what she lacked in size, she more than made up for in heart, as she went step for step with Dion over the Tian Shan Mountains, across massive sand dunes, through yurt villages and the black sands of the Gobi Desert, keeping pace with him for 77 miles.Īs Dion witnessed the incredible determination and heart of this small animal, he found his own heart undergoing a change as well.

A man, a dog, and the lengths to which love will go to sacrifice for its companion.įinding Gobi is the miraculous tale of Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner who crosses paths with a stray dog while competing in a 155-mile race through the Gobi Desert in China.

Finding Gobi by Dion Leonard