Dick Beardsley

Dick Beardsley is referred to as a running legend in the United States.  

But perhaps the most amazing thing about him is his climb back to health after becoming addicted to pain medication for more than four years.  Dick is best known for his incredible race in the 1982 Boston Marathon.  That race, on a very hot day, was dubbed the "Duel in the Sun" as he battled world record holder Alberto Salazar down to the finish line.  Both broke the American record:  Salazar won in a record time of 2:08:51, Beardsley’s time was 2:08:53!  He was at the height of his professional running career.       

Then tragedy struck in November 1989.  While using an auger to lift corn into a bin on his Minnesota farm, Dick became entangled in the machine; it began to literally tear him apart.  Not expected to live or walk—much less ever run again—he managed to survive.  But that was just the first of a series of events that would forever change his life. 

During the next few years, Dick was involved in a severe car accident, later he was hit by a truck while running, later still, he rolled his vehicle in a snowstorm, and finally while hiking one day, the ground gave out and he fell off a cliff!  Each time he ended up in the hospital and had multiple surgeries to try and put him back together.

Due to all the large amount of pain medication he was taking, he became addicted—and that's when his life really started to spiral out of control.  It has been a long road back, but Dick has been celebrating every day of his sobriety since February 12, 1997.  

Building on that success, he has been sharing his amazing story with corporations and associations around the world.  

He is a competitive Masters runner, who completes marathons across the world in less than three hours!

In 2002, he authored a book called "Staying the Course:  A Runner’s Toughest Race".

The Dick Beardsley Foundation was recently established to help individuals who cannot afford treatment for chemical dependency.  The work of the Foundation allows Dick to travel around the country, talking to children about positive, active lifestyles, and being chemically free. 

SOME OF DICK BEARDSLEY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Winner of Grandma’s Marathon (Duluth, Minnesota) 1981 and 1982
• Holds the course record at Grandma’s (2:09:37) set in 1981
• Winner (2:11:48) of the London Marathon, 1981
• Second place finish (2:08:53) Boston Marathon, 1982 (“Duel in the Sun”)
• Winner and course record holder (2:16:20) Napa Valley Marathon, 1987
• Guinness Book of World Records – Only man to run 13 consecutive personal bests in the marathon
• Road Runners Club of America Hall of Fame, inducted 1989
• “Comeback Runner of the Year” - Runner’s World Magazine, 1990
• 25th Anniversary “Profile in Courage” Award – Runner’s World Magazine, 1991
• “Best Speaker Award” Minnesota Meeting and Events Association
• Member, Team New Balance
• 2006 and 2007 RRCA National Masters Marathon Champion

TESTIMONIALS

“Dick Beardsley’s moving stories of his drive to become a world-class runner to his battle with Alberto Salazar in 1983 to his epic struggle to overcome drug addiction are almost beyond belief. You think to yourself “It’s a wonder he’s still alive.”  But then you’re so thankful he is because his message -- delivered in his down-to-earth, easy-going style -- is heartfelt, pure and, above all, incredibly inspiring.”  Drew Gruenburg, Chief Operating Officer, Society of American Florists

"I have heard Bill Clinton, Lance Armstrong, and even the Dalai Lama speak. None of them meant as much to me as hearing Dick speak." Stewart Weepers, New Balance

"I have to believe that Dick's struggles and difficulties were a gift given to him so that he could reach out and touch others who need him. His speaking ability is astounding.  Janie E. Black, M.Ed., M.A., Clinical Psychology Doctoral Student, Fielding Graduate University 

"Dick has an amazing ability to reach each and every person in his audience, each and every person walks out of his talk inspired to be great. His honesty and simple humanness makes him one of the greatest”  Cary Lisota, Chicago Tri Club Committee