Dick Beardsley at Rhode Runners Inc.
Marathoning is rich with stirring and uplifting stories, starting when Pheidippides ran from the plains of Marathon to Sparta to ask for help against the Persians. No story is more inspiring than that of Dick Beardsley, who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the greatest marathoners in the world, only to be brought down by a series of freak farming and auto accidents, with doctors predicting that he would spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Gradually becoming severely addicted to painkillers, the man who dueled Alberto Salazar in the intense heat of the 1982 Boston Marathon, now famously called “The Duel in the Sun”, and turned his life around, directing to his recovery the same focus and determination that had made him a world-class athlete.
Dick has two appearances scheduled at Rhode Runner in Providence next month. He will be at the store on Thursday, May 15 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm to meet visitors and sign posters (provided at n/c) & books (“ Staying the Course – A Runners Toughest Race ” and “ Duel in the Sun, The Story of Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley & America’s Greatest Marathon ” will be available for sale). Dick will then tell his inspirational story to the general public from 7:00pm – 8:30pm, followed by another poster & book signing. He will be at the store again on Friday, May 16 for “Lunch with Dick” from 11:30am – 1:30pm for another poster & book signing. Snacks and beverages will be provided before his Thursday evening talk and for Friday’s lunch.
Dick’s story is comic, tragic and most of all inspiring – and he will share it that Thursday evening on May 15 at the store. A 10 minute video of the last miles of the 1982 Boston Marathon will be shown, and Dick will then tell his compelling story for an hour. Rhode Runner is located on 657 North Main Street in Providence, RI. Dick’s talk is open to the general public but space is limited to 150 people so please be sure to sign up via Eventbrite, send your RSVP to Eric Lonergan at [email protected] or call the store at 401-831-6346 to reserve a seat.
Now in his 17th year of sobriety, Dick is a nationally renowned motivational speaker who travels the world sharing his story. He and his wife Jill recently formed The Dick Beardsley Foundation with the mission to educate others about chemical dependency as well as provide grants to those who need help in seeking treatment. His appearances are sponsored by New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. and Rhode Runner.
