GOBI AND COCKLES

Don't know about you but today's headlines have put a chill in the cockles of my heart. The division, the anger, the meanness and the violence had really turned down my internal thermostat. Then I found something that warmed those cockles right up once more.

It was a heartwarming news story about an ultramarathoner who had his own cockles warmed and life changed.

An ultramarathoner is one who often runs roughly 150 miles in back to back stages through some of the roughest terrain in the world. Kind of makes regular marathons look tame. Not only the distance is daunting but the temperatures can be wet and cold or scalding hot along with challenging terrain. It takes a special breed to do this.  Dion Leonard was such a man.

Dion ran not just to finish and say he did it, he ran to win. This was serious business for him.  He was married to a long distance runner also who not only understood but she had turned him on to the sport.

In 2016 he signed up to run the 7 day Gobi Desert race in China. On the second day of the race, a very small stray dog ignored all the other runners and  attached her self to Dion.  He did nothing to encourage her for while he loved dogs, this little creature was filthy and stinky. He wouldn't even touch her for fear she carried disease. Ignored, she still ran doggedly at his heals that day.

Coming down from the hills towards the desert floor, he had to cross a shallow river. Not hesitating he plunged in only to hear plaintiff screaming from the little dog who was afraid to try the crossing but desperate not to be left behind. Against his better judgment, he went back and carried her across. The bond was formed.

That little dog ran 77 of the 150 miles with him and was only put in a car during the last stages due to the 125 degree heat. Also since Dion ran fast and finished second overall, she really had to scoot on her stubby little legs covering those 77 miles.

Why did she pick him and why such total devotion and loyalty?  Dion wrote a book about the experience, "Finding Gobi" , that I just finished and actually paid full price for. Usually I prefer free books and three bucks is usually my top dollar limit but I sprung for the $9.99 Kindle price without hesitation. I needed to know more.

Dion knew he had to take Gobi home with him to Scotland but the process was brutal. The red tape from both countries, a language barrier and then the devastating loss of Gobi when she disappeared from the couple watching her while he was making arrangements. Her being lost in a Chinese city of 3.5 million made it all seem impossible. However, I promised you warm cockles so there was a happy ending.

Dion's life has been greatly affected by this little dog. He carried a lot of the hurt and distrust from his early years.  Gobi and the many people she inspired softened or removed that distrust.

Gobi's tale introduced him to some amazingly kind and caring people who eagerly jumped in to help a total stranger and his small dog financially, emotionally and physically. Reading that was just what these ole cockles needed in our tense world.

The sweet article about Gobi  you can find at this site along with some adorable pictures.

Hope this story lights a warm glow in your cockles.


The difference between friends and pets is that friends we allow into our company, pets we allow into our solitude. --Robert Brault