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Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race Hardcover – January 1, 2002

by Dick Beardsley (Author), Maureen Anderson (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 34 ratings
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The controversial career of marathon runner Dick Beardsley is featured in this look inside the head of a distance runner as it describes his difficult life, what life is like as a celebrated athlete, and many struggles to overcome obtacles ranging from anear-fatal farm accident to recovery from an addiction to painkillers.
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  1. Print length
    203 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Univ of Minnesota Pr
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2002
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    081663758X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0816637584
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Univ of Minnesota Pr (January 1, 2002)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 203 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 081663758X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0816637584
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 34 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Dick Beardsley

    Dick Beardsley

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    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

    See more on the author's page
  2. Maureen Anderson

    Maureen Anderson

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    Maureen Anderson is the host of the nationally-syndicated radio talk show, Doing What Works, that helps you fix what you don't like about your life. She is also the author of The Career Clinic: Eight Simple Rules for Finding Work You Love (AMACOM, 2009). She is the co-author, with Dick Beardsley, of Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race (University of Minnesota Press, 2002). And she won a 2006 Minnesota Book Award for Left for Dead: A Second Life after Vietnam, with Jon Hovde (Minnesota, 2005).

    You can sign up for Maureen's blog at MaureenAnderson.com and follow her on Twitter @DoingWhatWorks.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
34 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Will R.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting Read For Any Road Racers
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
I met Dick Beardsley a few months ago at the Gate River Run national 15K championship in Jacksonville. He was signing posters at a running club booth. Although I've been running for 45 years, I'd never heard of Dick. Anyway, he's a really nice guy and he was kind enough to sign a poster for me. Under his name he wrote "2:08:53 Boston '82." Having run a few marathons, I immediately recognized his time as putting him in the elite category. Wanting to know more about Dick, I Googled him. I learned the poster depicted Dick's epic duel with Alberto Salazar in the 1982 Boston Marathon. Dick, a relatively unknown, lead most of the latter part of the race and was barely out sprinted by then number one ranked Salazar at the very end. An entire chapter of the book is devoted to Dick's perspective of the race, and it is riveting. What I really like about the book is it chronicles Dick's humble beginnings as an unremarkable high school cross country runner through his arrival as an elite marathoner based both on the encouragement of his high school coach who told him could be as great as he wanted to be, and good, old-fashioned hard work in the form of 125+ mile/ week training. Before setting the course and American record at the 1982 Boston Marathon, Dick's work ethic and sheer joy of running established him as the only person to have ever run 13 consecutive personal bests in the marathon, a Guinness Book of World Records accomplishment that stands to this day. And perhaps most remarkably, despite numerous injuries, a bad back and knee replacements, Dick ran the Gate River Run this year for fun at age 63 with a very respectable time, not that he has anything to prove after his remarkable career as an elite runner. Dick now runs a bed and breakfast and a fishing guide service on Lake Bemidji in Minnesota. How fun would it be to sit around the Inn or be on a boat with Dick to talk about his running exploits first hand?!
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Andre P Richison
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read on a fantastic runner from America!
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2023
Verified Purchase
Great read! Easy and flowing, very motivating story about Dick Beardsley. Any coach out there would love this read. Is fascinating. Share with your runners. Tells the story of another early runner when America had its running boom. So informative. I am now almost sixty so I remember the runners in this book. Get this book and include in your running library, a must read.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Read!
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2009
Verified Purchase
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 time. After the Marathon I came home and looked him up and within minutes, I ordered this book. When it came I sat down and read it in one sitting. It kept me on the edge of my seat for every page! What an amazing athlete and an even greater person! This is an amazing story that every runner (or any athlete for that matter) should read. After his numerous horrific accidents, endless injuries, and countless surgeries this man still chooses to do what he loves: run. It is truly an inspiring story. I wish I would have read this before I met Dick but I look forward to seeing him again and having my copy signed at The Dick Beardsley Half Marathon this Fall.
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3boys
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for anyone; athletes or couch potatoes!
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2016
Verified Purchase
Our local (Minnesota) news station did a story on Dick Beardsley and since I have a son that runs cross-country races I thought I would get this book for him. My son does enjoy reading, but was a little reluctant to read another "running" book; fortunately he figured he'd start reading it a little bit. Turns out he couldn't put it down and read the entire book in one day.
It's not just about running, it's a great book for anyone about overcoming obstacles.
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Velma Matuszewski
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for runners
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2017
Verified Purchase
An interesting read for runners, especially those who remember the "duel in the sun" at the 1982 Boston Marathon, and for people dealing with addiction.
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donna carter
5.0 out of 5 stars Staing the Course exceptional read
Reviewed in the United States on December 18, 2013
Verified Purchase
I had the wonderful opportunity to actually meet Dick Beardsley in person at a race in Springfield, Mo. and hear him talk and was so fascinated and entertained by his enthusiasm and accomplishments, I couldn't wait to read more about him. I throughly enjoyed the book and appreciate being able to get the copy through Amazon.
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Kevin Q
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Motivating!!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2013
Verified Purchase
Wonderful story told in a humble and motivating way! He overcame many challenges - leaves the reader thinking..."and all I have to do is to get off the couch".
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Jonathan Freeman
5.0 out of 5 stars Dick Beardsley Fans
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2006
Verified Purchase
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. It might be the best book about running that I have read.
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Top reviews from other countries

craig mcburney
5.0 out of 5 stars Compulsive Read! Page Turner.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 14, 2014
Verified Purchase
Dick Beardsley is probably only known in the UK for his London Marathon win. However there is such a lot more to this man and the book. A super talented and determined runner, but hugely flawed both as a man and a runner. A very selfish man (Which is probably what you need to be in order to be a world class athlete), but this spectacularly backfires later in life. His recall of the "Race in the sun" at Boston in 82 against Salazar is brilliant you feel like you are there. So much so that I had to go on YouTube and watch it straight after reading that chapter.
Record breaking runs, loyalty, family, an unbelievable capacity to train and race marathons,drug addiction and unbelievable bad luck with farm and motor accidents. This book has it all, but most of all Dickie comes across as a genuine likeable human being who always made time for everyone. I loved this book I read it over 3 days. If you have any interest at all in running this is the book that you must read this year. Craig McB
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