Oct 8, 2026 · 30 min
A stray dog changes an ultramarathon runner’s life
Gobi | From This Is Love
The story tests what commitment means when bringing an unexpected companion home requires persistence long after the race ends.
- 1Dion Leonard’s bond with Gobi begins when the stray dog follows him through a 25-mile ultramarathon stage.
- 2After Gobi disappears, Leonard returns to China and mobilizes local residents, friends, and race acquaintances to search for her.
- 3Their reunion leads to surgery, testing, quarantine, and a prolonged recovery before Gobi can eventually reach Scotland.
Don't miss
After Gobi goes missing, a blurry photograph leads Dion Leonard to her, and the two recognize each other immediately.
The brief
During an ultramarathon across China’s Gobi Desert, Dion Leonard notices a stray dog following him; she completes a 25-mile stage and becomes his unexpected companion.
When Gobi follows Leonard through a dangerous river crossing, he turns back to rescue her, sacrificing race time as their bond overtakes the competition.
After they win a stage, Leonard arranges care and begins navigating quarantine, medical, and transportation requirements to bring Gobi to Scotland.
Gobi disappears in a city of millions, sending Leonard back to China, where residents, friends, and race acquaintances help pursue false leads and distribute posters.
A blurry photograph finally leads to Gobi; their immediate recognition is followed by surgery, rabies testing, quarantine, and a long recovery before life together can begin.
