Running Career
Beardsley ran his first marathon in 2:47:14 at the 1977 Paavo Nurmi 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 is still the course record. 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.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Representing the United States | ||||
| 1981 | London Marathon | London, United Kingdom | 1st | 2:11:48 |
| Grandma's Marathon | Duluth, United States | 1st | 2:09:37 | |
| 1982 | Grandma's Marathon | Duluth, United States | 1st | 2:14:50 |
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