With the Boston Marathon quickly approaching, I wanted to spend some time to write about Dick Beardsley. When people talk about the history of this fabled race names like Bill Rodgers, Joan Benoit, Katherine Switzer, John A Kelley, John J Kelley, Catherine Ndereba and Alberto Salazar. All of those people won Boston. Beardsley is probably the most famous runner-up in Boston Marathon history, but that does not make him any less a champion than those I just mentioned.
The year was 1982. Alberto Salazar was the overwhelming favorite. No one could have imagined in the heat of that day a young man from Minnesota named Dick Beardsley would step up and challenge the great Salazar. The last several miles of the race were a back and forth between the two men.
http://bostonmarathon.runnersworld.com/2012/03/watch-footage-from-the-1982-duel-in-the-sun.html
If you watch the end of this race, you will see a back and forth that typically doesn't happen in a marathon. Neither man could shake the other. As the end came Salazar had a touch more kick. Both men dueled until the end, and both men finished in under 2:09. In interviews since then Beardsley expressed surprise that both finished in such an amazing time.
What makes Beardsley so unique is not just the race, but what happened in the aftermath of that race. Farm accidents which badly damaged his body, also led to an addiction to pain medication. Beardsley has written of the horrors of his addiction in his memoir, "Staying the Course." His years dealing with overcoming this addiction are harrowing to say the least.
In time though Beardsley emerged a stronger person, and has created the Dick Beardsley Foundation which helps those who battle substance abuse. He tours the country speaking to groups, and as he does, he inspires. He does not wallow in what happened. He does not paint himself as a loser. In fact, he is the very opposite of loser. His achievements in running and in life have made him a winner in my book.
A few years ago, when I worked in Chicago, the owner of my store called me one day to ask what I was doing that evening. I had no plans. The question came, "How would you like to have dinner with Dick Beardsley?" Beardsley was on a tour for New Balance, and was speaking to a group at the store. I jumped at the chance.
The talk started with a review of the video of the 1982 Boston Marathon. Beardsley stood next to me, and as the video played, and the part where the police officer appears to get in his way, I turned to Dick and said what I imagine many others have said, "I bet you got mad at that cop." He grinned, and didn't say anything. He actually saved his comments for the talk. He never blamed the officer for appearing the get in his way towards the end. Beardsley understood that winning the race was part up to him, and part up to fate. There is no Monday Morning Quarterbacking with this guy.
The dinner was very nice. I got to sit across from Dick, and there was a round of polite discussion. I was nervous. I finally got the courage to ask him a question. I asked, "During the entire back and forth, what did you and Salazar talk about?" He smiled and told me with Salazar there wasn't any talking. He was a quiet runner.
I left that dinner thinking what a special man Dick Beardsley is, and what an honor I just had. He is a class act, and he is one of my role models.
Beardsley tours the country talking, with his lovely wife Jill, they both work hard on his foundation, which helps so many.
http://dickbeardsleyfoundation.org/
In a world where winners of sport are celebrated, it's good to know that in the end nice guys finish first. Dick Beardsley finishes first every time with me.
Charlie
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