Finding Gobi Book Review

Picture the scene: ultrarunner Dion Leonard is competing in a multi-stage ultra across the Gobi Desert in remote Mongolia, where a stray dog takes an unusual interest in him. Not just for a few minutes, or even for one whole stage of the race, but for days and nights, the dog ran with him for miles during the days, and slept by his side at night.

The race ended, and Dion had to return home to Scotland. But he vowed to bring little Gobi back to a forever-home. However, getting her back was not an easy task, especially when she went missing...

Background

I’d followed Dion and Gobi’s story on social media and had been gutted for him when his little pal went missing while he was making arrangements for her to be brought home. What I didn’t know was the other half of the story - how exactly did Dion find Gobi and what did he go through for the love of a stray dog?

When I heard that Dion had written a book about Finding Gobi, I couldn’t wait to read it. What’s not to love - a true story by a fellow trail runner about racing, exploring new places and cultures - and rescuing a cute and loyal pup from the streets of China? I kept thinking “wow, this will make a good film” - and the good news is, the film rights have been bought so this could become a reality.

Finding Gobi story

In the book, Dion also gives background on his upbringing and how he (and his wife, Lucja) got into running. It’s similar to ours in a way, and that in itself is interesting. It started with a bet to run a half-marathon, and ended with losing a load of weight, both Dion and Lucja getting super-fit, and discovering a passion for running multi-stage ultras. I love how they chose their first multi-stage race. Opening the ‘Book of Endurance Challenges’ on a random page and signing up for the event the page features - the Kalahari Desert Challenge. Track forward several years, and Dion is racing across the Gobi Desert, and he is there to win!

A reminder that running changes lives

It’s important for all new runners (or people yet to take up running) to remember that there are many successful runners who have only been doing it a few years.

Running has the power to change your life in so many ways, and Dion’s story is a great example of that - who would have known that taking up running for a bet would have led to this adventure and bonding so closely with a stray Chinese dog?

The book is also another important reminder of the role that running and pushing your limits with such challenges can have on your mental wellbeing. Dion, someone who had a tough and violent upbringing as a child and left home at an early age, talks candidly in the book about his background and the impact it has had on him growing up and as an adult. His experiences bringing Gobi home have given him a different perspective and changed his outlook and mindset in ways he would never have thought possible.

I don’t want to give too much of the story away in this review, I want you to go and read it yourselves. Sufficed to say, it includes, in common with all great stories, a rollercoaster of highs and lows, challenges and successes, and, like all my favourite stories, a happy ending as Dion managed to finally bring Gobi back home on New Years’ 2017.

In summary

If you’re a fan of biographical and true stories, then this is for you.

Runners and non-runners, and even those who aren’t the biggest fan of animals, I challenge you to read this book and not be touched by the story (and even possibly shed a little tear as a result).

Plus, if you have a younger reader in your family, a young readers and kids version of the book has just been released. What better story to read to a little one at bedtime than a true one about love, overcoming huge challenges and finding new adventures?

Bring Gobi home - buy your copy of the book

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Visit the links below to buy the books from Amazon:

• Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart
• Finding Gobi: Young Reader's Edition: The True Story of One Little Dog's Big Journey

More trail running books

Read more

• The Best Running Books for Adventure Lovers

We are excited to be able to share our Runner Interview with Dion Leonard on the blog. It's one of my favourites so far (and that's saying a lot, as I've loved all of them), click here to have a read: Trail Runner Interview with Dion Leonard

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