NWS: The Longest Race of All

Runners, dog lovers, truly anyone who loves a miraculous story, are invited to hear ultra-marathon runners Dion and Lucja Leonard talk about the New York Times bestseller Finding Gobi. It’s an amazing account of how Dion crossed paths with a small, stray dog during a 155-mile race across the Gobi Desert in China. The lovable pup, who would later earn the name Gobi, went step for step with Dion over the Tian Shan Mountains and across massive dunes, keeping pace with her new friend for 77 miles.

As Dion witnessed the incredible determination and heart of the tiny dog, he found a sea change in his own heart, which had been repeatedly broken during a rough childhood. By the end of the race, he decided to bring Gobi home to Scotland to live with him and his wife, Lucja, who also competes in ultra-marathon races.

The only problem: Dion had entrusted someone to take care of Gobi in China while he organized the required medical tests and a quarantine to fly the dog home to Scotland. Gobi had inexplicably vanished in Urumqi, a sprawling Chinese city of three million people. What happens next is so unbelievable you truly couldn’t make it up — a twist that captured the world’s attention as the story exploded across international media and became a global sensation. Come along to hear how this extraordinary true story unfolds.

Dion Leonard is an endurance athlete and ultramarathon runner, motivational speaker, and co-author of Finding Gobi. He grew up in Queensland, Australia, before moving to Scotland. He began running in 2013 and quickly moved up to some of the world’s most extreme and demanding ultramarathon races. He has achieved numerous top ten finishes and has won races such as the 250 km Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon & the Delirious West 200. In 2019, he became the first male to complete the Grand Slam of 100s and the Leadman series in a single year.

Lucja Leonard is Dutch-born and a renowned Aussie-British ultra-runner, speaker, coach, and adventurer known for completing grueling multi-day and 200+ mile nonstop races like the Bigfoot 200 and Moab 240. She didn’t start out as a runner — after being overweight and unhappy in her early 20s, she began running to improve her health and completed her first marathon in Amsterdam in 2010. As an online coach for distances from 50k to 200+ miles, she specializes in pushing personal boundaries with advice to incorporate strength, mobility, and nutrition into training plans.

Craig Borlase, co-author of Finding Gobi, won’t be at the event, but here’s a little about him. He is an award-winning, New York Times, Sunday Times, and international bestselling ghostwriter, collaborating with others to create dramatic engaging memoirs. He has written with a wide range range of authors, from global celebrities to refugees and business leaders.

Event Details
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. ET with live music. Programming begins at 7:00 p.m.

Ticket Information

Individual Ticket (no book): $20
Admits one person to the live event. Tickets are general admission.

Ticket + Book Pickup: $38
Admits one person to our in-person event and comes with one signed copy of Finding Gobi (retail value $20). Please note: signed books are only available at the in-person event. Books can be shipped for an additional $8. Make sure to select the book shipped ticket option.

Ticket + Book Shipped: $46
Admits one person to our in-person event and comes with one signed copy of Finding Gobi (retail value $20) shipped. Please note: signed books are only available at the in-person event.

Student/Educator Tickets: $10
With a valid school ID. Admits one person to the live event. Book not included.

About Our Book Sales

One of the most exciting parts of attending our events is getting a signed copy of the author’s latest book along with the chance to meet the writer and have them personalize it after the show.

Each sale benefits our local partner Horizon Books in downtown Traverse City, Michigan. The optional bundled price of National Writers Series books is always 10 percent below retail, so you also get a great deal.

We think a new book is one of the greatest joys of life, and we thank you for helping us make Traverse City one of the premiere destinations for authors through our book sales.

Virtual Tickets

Can’t make it to the in-person event? Enjoy the event live or on-demand from home!

Each Virtual Ticket includes access to a private YouTube link beginning at 6:50 p.m. The show is easy to access and only requires you to link on a link to view. Virtual attendees may participate in the Q&A via moderated chat. You must be logged into YouTube via a Google account to chat, or email questions to marketing@nwstc.org.

You may also purchase the featured book for an additional fee. Horizon Books will ship anywhere in the continental U.S., with shipping costs applied at checkout. Signed books are not available for virtual ticket holders.

Group Tickets
For discounted rates on groups of 20 or more, please contact: hanna@nwstc.org