Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Dick Beardsley (Author), Maureen Anderson (Author)

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

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Description
For a brief moment in the early '80s Dick Beardsley became the most famous runner in the world-by losing a race. In the 1982 Boston Marathon, Beardsley finished two seconds behind Alberto Salazar in a contest often called one of the most memorable in marathon history, foiled by a motorcycle that cut him off near the end. It was the closest finish ever at the world's premier marathon, and both runners broke the course and the American records.

Staying the Course recounts the stunning race that made him a celebrity and the difficult years that followed, including his recovery from a near-fatal farm accident, his subsequent addiction to painkillers, and a very public arrest for forging prescriptions. His story of overcoming extreme obstacles speaks to anyone who loves competition, who has survived catastrophe, or who has pursued a seemingly impossible goal. Honest and engaging, Beardsley recalls his rise from Minnesota small-town kid and mediocre runner to celebrated athlete. He gives an exhilarating description of the Boston race and its unexpected obstacles: he was accosted by a fan, sideswiped by a bus, hobbled by a charley horse, and derailed by a motorcycle cop. He also writes with great candor of his retirement from marathoning to run a dairy farm, the accidents that followed, his addiction, the humiliation of his arrest, and his struggle to sobriety.

Never self-pitying, Staying the Course is inspirational, demonstrating just how much can be endured no matter how long and arduous the race-and the value of what is learned along the way.

Dick Beardsley is a professional speaker, fishing guide, and radio announcer. He broke numerous marathon records, and still holds the records for Grandma's marathon in Duluth and the Napa Valley Marathon.

Maureen Anderson is a writer and award-winning radio journalist.

See all Editorial Reviews

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Product Details Hardcover: 203 pages Publisher: University of Minnesota Press; illustrated edition edition (January 2002) Language: English ISBN-10: 081663758X ISBN-13: 978-0816637584 Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,026,701 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	75% buy the item featured on this page: Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race 4.8 out of 5 stars (14)
	10% buy Duel in the Sun: The Story of Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America's Greatest Marathon 3.5 out of 5 stars (6) $10.85
	7% buy Once a Runner: A Novel 4.5 out of 5 stars (163) $16.32
	5% buy Duel in the Sun: Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America's Greatest Marathon 4.5 out of 5 stars (20) $18.36

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews 5 star:  (12) 4 star:  (1) 3 star:  (1) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.8 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 8 of 8 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 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 3 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiration at any level., August 17, 2002 By A Customer 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! 1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Something is Missing, August 16, 2002 By A Customer 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.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read! I met Dick at the Fargo Marathon Expo a couple of weeks ago. At the time I didn't really know who he was except for a famous marathoner who's running career was way before my... Read more Published 1 month ago by J. T. Johnson 5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars as a running/marathon book Yessiree, I give it 5 stars as a running book. I was finding I was docking some books and CDs; because I approached it like, is it perfect enough to get the highest rating like a... Read more Published on February 12, 2007 by Tom Plum 5.0 out of 5 stars Motivational I have heard Dick Beardsley speak and he is awesome. I purchased his book to give for gifts at Christmas time. Read more Published on January 23, 2007 by KellyJBail 5.0 out of 5 stars Dick Beardsley's book My husband is a marathon runner & enjoys reading. We have met Dick Bearsley when we ran the Detroit Lakes Half marathon. My husband really enjoyed this book. Read more Published on January 9, 2007 by Kathleen J. Milbeck 5.0 out of 5 stars Dick Beardsley Fans Very well written book! It shows the high and low of Dick Beardsley's running career and life. It is a very quick read, with no slow sections. Read more Published on November 6, 2006 by Jonathan Freeman 4.0 out of 5 stars Run Tall and Stay Strong This book is about the life of a runner named Dick Beardsley. It talks about his life goals in running and how he got into a bad habbit of using pain killers. Read more Published on March 29, 2004 by andrew low 5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read! I started running ~ 2 yrs ago. My wife got me the book, but I hadn't heard of Dick so the book sat. Read more Published on April 28, 2003 by Rex Uzelac 5.0 out of 5 stars Dick Beardsley relates to the common runner. I'm fortunate enough to be a Minnesota runner who has followed Dick's life since he first started well after college. How he got there was fascinating to me. Read more Published on August 5, 2002 by Joel Rovang 5.0 out of 5 stars Perseverance pays off Dick Beardsley appeared at the Grandma's Marathon in June 2002 where I heard him speak. He was so inspiring, I decided to buy his book. Read more Published on July 4, 2002 by J. Volkman 5.0 out of 5 stars Great story My marathon days were in the years when Dick was one of the best, so I remember many of the races described. Read more Published on June 15, 2002 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 203 pages
• Publisher: University of Minnesota Press; illustrated edition edition (January 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081663758X
• ISBN-13: 978-0816637584
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,026,701 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 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

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

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

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

By A Customer

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.