Sometimes victory doesn’t mean crossing the finish line first. Just ask ultra-marathoner Dion Leonard, who went to the Gobi Desert in 2016 to run in the 6-day, 155-mile race. He finished second among the world’s elite runners, but he’s still enjoying life’s victory lap, thanks to lessons he continues to learn from a scrappy stray dog that he would later name Gobi. Gobi first joined Leonard during the second stage of the ultra-marathon, running alongside him through various stages of the race, and even joined him in his tent at night. At one point, Leonard had to choose between continuing to lead the race or helping Gobi cross a challenging water barrier, which she was afraid to enter alone. He chose to help the pup, a decision that cemented their special bond. After the race, Leonard decided to bring Gobi home to Scotland, but while in quarantine awaiting clearance to travel, Gobi went missing. After a concerted effort and the help of many volunteers, Gobi was finally found. Leonard then had to set up a crowd funding campaign to raise £5,000 ($6,761) to bring Gobi back to Edinburgh. The campaign ultimately raised over £38,000 ($51,387). Leonard and his wife Lucja committed to donating the extra funds to welfare organizations that care for stray dogs. Leonard, who authored a memoir — Finding Gobi: A Little Dog with a Very Big Heart — said he learned three lessons from the experience: (1) never give up on your dreams, (2) accept help from others, and (3) never underestimate paw power. “I think all dogs are angels in disguise, but Gobi has a special way to bond and to connect with people. She really made me a happier person and changed my life for the better,” said Leonard.
