Dick Beardsley is referred to as a “running legend” in the United States. 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. (For more of Dick’s running achievements, see a partial list below, or go to:  http://www.dickbeardsley.com).  

Perhaps the most amazing thing about him is his climb back to health after becoming addicted to pain medication for more than eight years.  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 and it began to literally tear him apart.  Not expected to live or walk—much less ever run again—he managed to survive.

That was just the first of a series of events that would forever change his life.  During the next few years, Dick was involved a severe car accident, was hit by a truck while running, 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 today Dick has 11 years of sobriety and has completely turned his life around.

Dick loves running now more than ever.  He is a competitive Masters runner (age 51), who completes marathons across the U.S. in less than three hours!

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

Dick is a captivating motivational and inspirational speaker who visits schools, corporations, and races in cities around the world.

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.  For more information, go to:  http://www.dickbeardsleyfoundation.com  

Some of Dick Beardsley’s accomplishments: 

• Winner of Grandma’s Marathon (Duluth, Minnesota) 1981 and 1982

• Still holds the course record at Grandma’s (2:09:37) set in 1982

• 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

• Fifth-fastest male marathoner in the US

• Member, Team New Balance

• 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

• 25^th Anniversary “Profile in Courage” Award – Runner’s World Magazine, 1991

• “Best Speaker Award” Minnesota Meeting and Events Association

•  President, Dick Beardsley Running Company