Dick Beardsley

Dick Beardsley is one of the world’s most extraordinary, well respected, and compelling motivational / inspirational keynote speakers. Beardsley's inspirational international best selling autobiography Staying the Course, A Runners Toughest Race and the subject of the best selling book Duel in the Sun: The Story of Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America's Greatest Marathon.

Beardsley has been the keynote speaker at Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations, conferences, conventions, corporate events, fundraisers, galas, sporting events, prisons, schools and drug treatment centers, to name a few. Anywhere motivation, inspiration and hope is needed. Beardsley has spoken to countless number of groups all over the world, ranging in size from 5 people to 15,000 people.

He has a gift of making people laugh, cry and most importantly, think and appreciate life to the fullest, despite any ups and downs that may come along. Your clients will be walked through his exciting highs and his dark valley of despair and through the anguish to that great light of hope and redemption. Beardsley's talks are directly from his heart and are highly inspirational.

One of Beardsley’s greatest strengths is his ability to look on the positive side of life. It has allowed him to overcome multitudes of personal tragedy and helped him become the person he is today. Beardsley is a great source of inspiration to all of those who hear him speak.

With perseverance and courage, your clients will know they can take the next step when they don’t think that they can or have it in them. They will leave with the ability to believe in themselves and embrace life’s challenges, not matter how daunting. They will leave inspired and full of hope. He will bring your listeners to laughter, tears, the pinnacle, the bottom, and back up again. Beardsley can communicate to your audience on what it takes to become world class.

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

After retiring from running, Beardsley had a series of near fatal accidents that left him addicted to pain killers. His story of overcoming extreme obstacles speaks to anyone who loves competition, who has survived catastrophe, or who has pursued a seemingly impossible goal.

In October of 2015, Beardsley's beloved 31-year-old son Andrew, a veteran of the war in Iraq, died by suicide, another heart-wrenching blow that challenged Beardsley in a deeply personal way. This tragic loss has once again forced Beardsley to call on his inner strength and faith and continue his positive path through his life. Of all the difficulties in life, Beardsley admits this loss has, by far, been the most difficult to overcome.

Beardsley will share his life with you. You will leave his talk knowing that anything is possible, despite any roadblocks or doubts. With perseverance and courage, you will know that you can take the next step when you don’t think that you can or have it in you. You will leave with the ability to believe in yourself. You will leave with hope.

The story of Beardsley's running career alone is the stuff of legends, but it is the story that comes after that draws people in and keeps them listening. Beardsley is a true survivor. Having looked death in the eye numerous times, Beardsley's life is a story of hope and redemption.