Finding Gobi

Finding Gobi
Dion Leonard

THE SUNDAY TIMES NO.2 BESTSELLERLike A Streecat Named Bob before it, Finding Gobi is a truly heart-warming story for animal lovers worldwide…In 2016, Dion Leonard, a seasoned ultramarathon runner, unexpectedly stumbled across a little stray dog while competing in a gruelling 155 mile race across the Gobi Desert. The lovable pup, who earned 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 treacherous Tian Shan Mountains, managing to keep pace with him for nearly 80 miles.As Dion witnessed the incredible determination of this small animal, he felt something change within himself. In the past he had always focused on winning and being the best, but his goal now was simply to make sure that his new friend was safe, nourished and hydrated. Although Dion did not finish first, he felt he had won something far greater and promised to bring Gobi back to the UK for good to become a new addition to his family. This was the start of a journey neither of them would ever forget with a roller coaster ride of drama, grief, heartbreak, joy and love that changed their lives forever.Finding Gobi is the ultimate story of hope, of resilience and of friendship, proving once again, that dogs really are ‘man’s best friend.’

Copyright (#ulink_c19c9ea2-7064-51ff-be28-e2f9be876e4c)

This is a work of nonfiction. The events and experiences detailed herein are all true and have been faithfully rendered as remembered by the author, to the best of his ability, or as they were told to the author by people who were present. Others have read the manuscript and confirmed its rendering of events. However, in certain instances names of individuals have been changed.

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First published in the UK by HarperCollinsPublishers 2017

FIRST EDITION

© Dion Leonard 2017

Cover design © HarperCollinsPublishers 2018

Cover photograph © Jasper John

All photographs used with permission. Photographs from the 2013 and 2014 Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon are courtesy of KAEM; photographer Hermien Webb.

A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

Dion Leonard asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work

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Source ISBN: 9780008227951

Ebook Edition © June 2017 ISBN: 9780008227975

Version 2018-06-27

Dedication (#ulink_513c0cb4-8fe7-5628-a07c-e4d458cf6211)

For my wife, Lucja.

Without your endless support, dedication, and

love, this never would have been possible.

Contents

Cover (#u0263a93c-e9c2-5f3d-8683-23b661100952)

Title Page (#u19cb1014-4e66-5727-94a4-27c08892c162)

Copyright (#ulink_05d4428c-6618-53f3-b740-a9602ac03b8b)

Dedication (#ulink_02116b7f-8e2c-5270-83c9-e84f48bd6b1b)

Prologue (#ulink_5ab4fc50-3b0f-58c3-9b05-edd124ec4229)

Part 1 (#ulink_1745a924-04b0-5ee9-a2bc-6e1bbcd76fd8)

Chapter 1 (#ulink_8d4864c1-81ab-5a29-97bf-aab964ca3b20)

Chapter 2 (#ulink_ae885d5e-f897-5b91-a731-8b633a9092bd)

Chapter 3 (#ulink_30c20fd2-4d48-5703-b4d6-9290e833a1bb)

Chapter 4 (#ulink_68313665-f776-51c8-a063-a926ca8c3a58)

Part 2 (#ulink_da952f64-ebb7-5827-a91c-a3edb8315954)

Chapter 5 (#ulink_18a0434c-ee46-5b19-8e57-191053b48bb9)

Chapter 6 (#ulink_7381fc76-16ec-5ac6-b8bb-07a8550030cd)

Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)

Part 3 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)

Part 4 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)