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Dion Leonard's life changed forever when a small dog joined him for 80 miles of a grueling 155-mile ultra-marathon across the Gobi Desert in China. Their story of connection, separation, and eventual reunion became a New York Times bestseller, but behind this heartwarming tale lies an equally powerful journey of personal healing.

Before becoming a world-class endurance athlete, Dion was a pack-a-day smoker who couldn't run around the block. His transformation began with a drunken bet about a half marathon, fueled by the same determination that would later help him complete some of the world's most challenging races, including the Triple Crown of 200s and Badwater 135.

Throughout our conversation, Dion speaks candidly about using ultra running as a mechanism to process his difficult childhood. Running became a space where anger could transform into achievement, where painful memories could be worked through with each mile. For years, he approached races with a punishing intensity, finding release at finish lines rather than enjoyment in the journey.

The most profound shift came when Dion faced a pivotal choice during that fateful race in China – continue pursuing the lead or turn back to help a small stray dog cross a water obstacle. His decision to choose connection over competition opened an unexpected chapter that would test his resilience in new ways, especially during the six-week search for Gobi after she went missing in a city of 3.5 million people.

Whether you're drawn to stories of human-animal bonds, fascinated by endurance sports, or seeking inspiration for your own healing journey, Dion's experiences remind us that transformation often begins with a single step – or as he would say in his distinctly Australian way, simply "having a go."