Faith @ Work – Running legend, Author, Motivational Speaker and Christian

Dick Beardsley is referred to as a running legend in the United States and 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, finishing 1.6 seconds later, placing second. He was at the height of his professional running career.

In November of 1989, tragedy struck Dick’s life when he became entangled in an auger on his farm and 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 and difficult road back, but Dick has been celebrating every day of his sobriety since February 12, 1997.

Since that fateful time in 1996, Dick has turned his life around. He managed to restart his running program. In March 2004, Dick ran a 2:43:58 at Napa, his best time since before his farm accident. Since that race in 2004, Dick has run many more marathons, all sub 2:50. Dick is also a member of Team New Balance.

Today, Dick and his wife, Jill, are the Innkeepers and owners of the beautiful Lake Bemidji Bed and Breakfast. Dick, when not traveling to give a motivational talk, in addition to operating the inn, you can find him running or fishing. Dick has a bestselling autobiography entitled “Staying the Course: A Runner’s Toughest Race.”

Tickets are $10 per person and can be purchased at the door.