Dick Beardsley
Encyclopedia
Dick Beardsley is an American long-distance runner best known for his close finish with Alberto Salazar
in the 1982 Boston Marathon
.
in Hurley, Wisconsin
. In subsequent marathons, he steadily lowered his times: 2:33:22, 2:33:06, and 2:31:50. Beardsley is the only man to have ever run 13 consecutive personal bests in the marathon, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the feat.
His finish time of 2:09:37 at the 1981 Grandma's Marathon
was still the course record as of 2007. Beardsley placed second (2:08:53) on the heels of Alberto Salazar
in the 1982 Boston Marathon
, breaking the Boston Marathon course record and the American record.
In 2003 he started the Dick Beardsley Marathon Running Camp, which is held each September at Rainbow Resort in Waubun, Minnesota
.
Beardsley is one of the subjects of the book Duel in the Sun, published in 2006 by John Brant
. His memoir
, Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race, was co-authored by Maureen Anderson and published in 2002 by the University of Minnesota Press
.
In 2010, Beardsley was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.
After each of his injuries, Beardsley was prescribed medication for the pain. Over four years, he developed an addiction to the medication. He was arrested September 30, 1996, for forging prescriptions and sentenced to five years' probation and 460 hours of community service. Beardsley spent nine days in a psychiatric unit
where he was prescribed methadone
. He was released for outpatient treatment, returned to inpatient treatment where he quit methadone, and again began outpatient treatment. His first day of chemical-free sobriety was February 12, 1997.
Beardsley started the Dick Beardsley Foundation in October 2007 to provide assistance to individuals suffering from chemical dependency who are unable to pay for a 12-step treatment program. The foundation's goals are to educate the general public about chemical dependency. It allows Beardsley to speak about his own experience in overcoming addiction.
In August 2010, it was reported that Beardsley and his wife had filed for bankruptcy
. Beardsley's wife said that they filed to consolidate IRS debt.
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
in the 1982 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
.
Running career
Beardsley ran his first marathon in 2:47:14 at the 1977 Paavo Nurmi MarathonPaavo Nurmi Marathon
The Paavo Nurmi Marathon is an annual road race held each August in Iron County, Wisconsin, in the United States. The course begins in the town of Upson and continues along Highway 77 through the communities of Iron Belt, Pence and Montreal. Near Carey, the race turns down County Highway C, clips...
in Hurley, Wisconsin
Hurley, Wisconsin
Hurley is a city in and the county seat of Iron County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,818 at the 2000 census. It is directly across the Montreal River from Ironwood, Michigan.-History:...
. In subsequent marathons, he steadily lowered his times: 2:33:22, 2:33:06, and 2:31:50. Beardsley is the only man to have ever run 13 consecutive personal bests in the marathon, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records for the feat.
His finish time of 2:09:37 at the 1981 Grandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon
Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth...
was still the course record as of 2007. Beardsley placed second (2:08:53) on the heels of Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar
Alberto Salazar is an American marathon runner of the 1980s. Born in Cuba, Salazar emigrated to the United States with his family. They ultimately moved to Wayland, Massachusetts, where Salazar competed in track and field in high school...
in the 1982 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon
The Boston Marathon is an annual marathon hosted by the U.S. city of Boston, Massachusetts, on Patriots' Day, the third Monday of April. Begun in 1897 and inspired by the success of the first modern-day marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics, the Boston Marathon is the world's oldest...
, breaking the Boston Marathon course record and the American record.
In 2003 he started the Dick Beardsley Marathon Running Camp, which is held each September at Rainbow Resort in Waubun, Minnesota
Waubun, Minnesota
Waubun is a city in Mahnomen County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 400 at the 2010 census.U.S. Route 59 and Minnesota State Highway 113 are two of the main routes in the community.-Geography:...
.
Beardsley is one of the subjects of the book Duel in the Sun, published in 2006 by John Brant
John Brant
John Brant may refer to:*John Brant , son of Joseph Brant*John Brant , writes on the subject of software architecture* John Brant , author of Duel in the Sun*Jon Brant , bass player...
. His memoir
Memoir
A memoir , is a literary genre, forming a subclass of autobiography – although the terms 'memoir' and 'autobiography' are almost interchangeable. Memoir is autobiographical writing, but not all autobiographical writing follows the criteria for memoir set out below...
, Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race, was co-authored by Maureen Anderson and published in 2002 by the University of Minnesota Press
University of Minnesota Press
The University of Minnesota Press is a university press that is part of the University of Minnesota.Founded in 1925, the University of Minnesota Press is best known for its books in social and cultural thought, critical theory, race and ethnic studies, urbanism, feminist criticism, and media...
.
In 2010, Beardsley was inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame.
| Representing the | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | London Marathon London Marathon The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,... |
London, United Kingdom | 1st | 2:11:48 |
| Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth... |
Duluth, United States Duluth, Minnesota Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,... |
1st | 2:09:37 | |
| 1982 | Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon Grandma's Marathon is an annual road race held each June in Duluth, Minnesota, in the United States. The course runs point-to-point from the town of Two Harbors on Scenic Route 61 and continues along Lake Superior into the city of Duluth... |
Duluth, United States Duluth, Minnesota Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,... |
1st | 2:14:50 |
Drug addiction
In November 1989, Beardsley nearly died in a farm mishap; he required five months to recuperate. Between July 1992 and February 1993, he was involved in three serious automobile accidents, each requiring hospitalization for back and neck injuries. While on a hike, he was hurt after falling down an embankment when the path collapsed. He underwent three back operations in 1994 and knee surgery in 1995.After each of his injuries, Beardsley was prescribed medication for the pain. Over four years, he developed an addiction to the medication. He was arrested September 30, 1996, for forging prescriptions and sentenced to five years' probation and 460 hours of community service. Beardsley spent nine days in a psychiatric unit
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
where he was prescribed methadone
Methadone
Methadone is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients with opioid dependency. It was developed in Germany in 1937...
. He was released for outpatient treatment, returned to inpatient treatment where he quit methadone, and again began outpatient treatment. His first day of chemical-free sobriety was February 12, 1997.
Beardsley started the Dick Beardsley Foundation in October 2007 to provide assistance to individuals suffering from chemical dependency who are unable to pay for a 12-step treatment program. The foundation's goals are to educate the general public about chemical dependency. It allows Beardsley to speak about his own experience in overcoming addiction.
Personal life
Beardsley married Mary in 1979. They have one son, Andrew. They later divorced and Beardsley moved to Austin, Texas in 2007 and has remarried.In August 2010, it was reported that Beardsley and his wife had filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
. Beardsley's wife said that they filed to consolidate IRS debt.
External links
- Dick Beardsley website
- Dick Beardsley Foundation
- Dick Beardsley Half Marathon & 5k Run/Walk (Detroit Lakes, Minnesota)