BEARDSLEY APPEARS AT EUGENE running company july 2
Marathoning Legend, Dick Beardsley, appearing at the Eugene Running Company
on Sunday, July 2 at 11am
One of the greatest marathon runners in American history, Dick Beardsley, is appearing at
the Eugene Running Company on Sunday, July 2 at 11am. He’ll be speaking to Joe Henderson’s Marathon Team as they prepare for the Portland Marathon. The event is free of charge and open
to the public. Join us for some inspiration before you run the Butte to Butte! Raffle prizes courtesy of New Balance, Marathon and Beyond magazine and the Eugene Running Company.
One of the most memorable duels in the history of the Boston Marathon was waged on a sun-scorched afternoon in 1982. Eugene, Oregon’s Alberto Salazar and Minnesota dairy farmer
Dick Beardsley fought one another over the nine-mile stretch from the Newton hills to the finish. Beardsley did the front running, with Salazar tucked in behind on their record pace. With less than one mile remaining, Salazar moved to the front. A sprint finish ensued, and Salazar emerged victorious in 2:08:52, with Beardsley just two seconds back (2:08:54), marking the first time two runners had broken 2:09:00 in the same race.
Following his talk, Dick will be autographing his book Staying the Course: A Runner’s
Toughest Race. This inspirational autobiography recounts the stunning race in Boston that made
Dick a celebrity and the difficult years that followed. It’s a story of overcoming extreme obstacles
and speaks to anyone who loves competition, who has survived catastrophe, or who has
pursued a seemingly impossible goal.
About Dick Beardsley
• 1981 London Marathon champion
• Two-time champion, 1981 & 1982 – Grandma’s Marathon
• Course record holder (2:09:37) – 1981 Grandma’s Marathon
• Champion and course record holder – 1987 Napa Valley Marathon
• Second-place in a painfully close and thrilling race – “The Duel in the Sun” – Boston 1982
• Fourth-fastest male in US men’s marathon history – 2:08:54
Words of Praise for Dick Beardsley
“I’ve heard all the speakers on the running circuit. None has a better story to tell, or tells it better,
than Dick Beardsley.” – Joe Henderson, “On the Road” columnist, Marathon & Beyond magazine
“I came to your running camp to become a better runner and left a better person.”
– Pat Loebach, 2003 Dick Beardsley Marathon Running Camp participant
“Dick’s enthusiasm and passion for long-distance running is incredibly inspiring. He truly knows
how to impact the audience with his message.” – Scott Keenan, Grandma’s Marathon race director