Staying The Course: A Runner's Toughest Race [Paperback]

Dick Beardsley (Author), Maureen Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 19, 2004

For a moment Dick Beardsley became the most famous runner in the world by losing a race. In the 1982 Boston Marathon, Beardsley, foiled by a motorcycle that cut him off, finished two seconds behind Alberto Salazar in one of the most memorable contests in marathon history. Staying the Course recounts that race and the difficult years that followed, including his recovery from a near-fatal farm accident, his subsequent addiction to painkillers, and a public arrest for forging prescriptions. His story of overcoming obstacles speaks to anyone who loves competition, who has survived catastrophe, or who has pursued a seemingly impossible goal.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There are faster and more decorated runners than Dick Beardsley, but probably none with a more compelling life story. You'll want to read this book in one big gulp, then return again and again for inspiration both on and off the roads." -New York Runner

"In the long run, Beardsley's book is a winner." -Pioneer Press

Book Description

For a moment Dick Beardsley became the most famous runner in the world by losing a race. In the 1982 Boston Marathon, Beardsley, foiled by a motorcycle that cut him off, finished two seconds behind Alberto Salazar in one of the most memorable contests in marathon history. Staying the Course recounts that race and the difficult years that followed, including his recovery from a near-fatal farm accident, his subsequent addiction to painkillers, and a public arrest for forging prescriptions. His story of overcoming obstacles speaks to anyone who loves competition, who has survived catastrophe, or who has pursued a seemingly impossible goal.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Univ Of Minnesota Press; 1 edition (July 19, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816637598
• ISBN-13: 978-0816637591
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #48,670 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #30 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Other Team Sports > Track & Field

More About the Author

Dick Beardsley is a motivational/inspirational speaker and is a best selling author and champion - in running and in life. www.dickbeardsley.com

Although his competitive running career as an elite athlete ended in 1988, Dick is the 3rd fastest American born runner and he still has the 5th fastest U.S. men's marathon time in history. Best known for his 1982 Boston Marathon "Duel in the Sun" with Alberto Salazar, Dick is also a two-time Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier. He is a two-time winner and course record holder of the Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, Minnesota and has won the London and Napa Valley marathons.

But Dick is more than a running champion. He is a fighter. After a series of near-fatal accidents and a journey of self-discovery, Dick has turned his life around. Today, Dick, with two knee replacements is enjoying his running more than ever.

Dick's Accomplishments

Inducted into the National Distance Running Hall of Fame - 2010
2009 The Running Event Hall of Fame & Lifetime Achievement Award Winner.
Two-time champion, 1981 & 1982 - Grandma's Marathon
Course record holder (2:09:37) - 1981 Grandma's Marathon
Champion and course record holder (2:16:20) - 1987 Napa Valley Marathon
1981 London Marathon champion (2:11:48)
Second-place finish - "The Duel in the Sun" - Boston 1982 - (2:08:53)
Fifth-fastest US male marathoner
Two-time Olympic Trials Marathon qualifier - 1980 & 1988
Minnesota Meeting & Events Assoc. "Best Speaker Award"
Guinness Book of World Records - Only man to have ever run 13 consecutive personal bests in the marathon
Robert E. DeCelle Award for US Outstanding Distance Runner - 1982
Road Runners Club of America Hall of Fame - inducted 1989
Runner's World Magazine "Comeback Runner of the Year" - 1990
Runner's World Magazine 25th Anniversary "Profile in Courage" Award - 1991
National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame inducted 1989
Member, Team New Balance
Expert coach for Chicago's Joints in Motion Team of the Arthritis Foundation
Minnesota Track and Field Hall of Fame - 2001
2006 and 2007 RRCA National Masters Marathon Champion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take a chance on this book. You won't regret it., April 18, 2002

By 

Cinemaphile (Boston, MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race (Hardcover)

I sat down last night and picked up this book thinking I was going to read a few pages and go to bed. I ended up reading the entire thing.

I picked up my copy at the Boston Marathon Expo this year (my first marathon). Dick Beardsley was there and signing copies including mine. He didn't just sign it, but he wrote a personal message in every single one. Took the time to talk to everyone, asked me about my marathon coming up, etc. For several minutes.

So I figured, "OK, he's a nice guy but his book is probably not going to be memorable." But it was. The man thoroughly loved running from the beginning like few people ever do. It fires you up to hear him talk about it. Yes he was talented, but he did an amazing amount of work because he just plain loved it. He simply trained himself to world class level.

My favorite part was how he got shoe company sponsorship. At the time (around 1980) he was not much of a marathoner compared to the talent this country had (back then he'd "only" done 2:20 - fantastic by my standards but not by theirs, I guess). Still, he simply made his way into a shoe convention that was closed to the public and talked to shoe company reps (giving them his resume) until one of them (New Balance) took a chance to him. And when other companies tried to buy him off after he started doing well, he stayed loyal. Just a straight shooter.

I was there (in Wellesley Hills) for his famous "Duel in the Sun" with Salazar. His description of the race is worth the price alone. At the time he'd done 2:09 but most people didn't know who he was. We all knew about Alberto Salazar and Bill Rodgers, but "Beardsley?" Who was that? Yet here he was, this unknown, taking it right to the best marathoner in the world for the entire race. Never giving an inch. What an epic race.

Finally, he holds nothing back when talking about his subsequent problems with injuries, accidents, and addiction. Throughout it all, he's just the same guy. Straightforward, incredibly nice and a huge running fan.

Look, clearly this isn't Shakespeare. I give it 5 stars not because it's Pulitzer material but because it is well written and it grabs you. Yes, I bought it because I like running books, but it's more than that. It's part running book, part through-hell-and-back book. It's a straight ahead story of a genuine guy who made amazing achievements and came through astoundingly hard times. He doesn't brag or hide his mistakes or faults. He just tells you what happened and what he was thinking and you keep turning the pages.

I'm normally somewhat cynical, but you can't be about Dick Beardsley. You just like him too much and want him to succeed. After reading this, I was so fired up to train for my next marathon, I couldn't believe it. And this at was 2:00 A.M. two days after Boston when my legs were dead.

Incidentally, Beardsley ran Boston "easily" this year, just for fun and only finished a couple of minutes behind me!

-Joe O'Leary

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration at any level., August 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race (Hardcover)

This is a book for any running aficionado (especially the veterans), who has gone out there and run distance. It's also a great story and inspiration for anybody who has run a marathon and in particular Boston. The mass start in Hopkinton, the crowds, the cheers at Wellesley, Heartbreak Hill in Newtown, coming through the Fenway, and on to the finish at the Boston Public Library. The 1982 race was perhaps the best one ever run and Beardley took us back there in the first person. Beardley takes any runner to the soul of this sometimes underappreciated sport. Spectacular!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Something is Missing, August 16, 2002

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race (Hardcover)

This story of a great runner who had to face many of life's adversities left me wanting. From the start I had the feeling many parts of his life were being glossed over (What did it feel like to grow up in that house? Why did he quit college? How did he meet his wife?). The racing and training sequences were great. The section on his Boston Marathon was outstanding. When his injuries force him to give up running the narative gets choppy again and seems to lack insight. The farm accident was interesting, enlightening and horrifying. Much more could have been done with his descent into the world of drug addiction and the pain it caused his family (it may have been me but I never got a feel for his wife and son ). I did enjoy this book . Dik Beardsley seems like a great guy. It is an extremely fast read but it left me feeling it could have been much better.