Race recap + women's race coverage (.pdf) - Runner's World

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DickBeardsley He moy be the only Americon with a real shot at Sqlazor's world marathon record By Matthew Doyle and Ann Schimpf A frtelul incident occurred st the lsst turn into the Prudential Center, 3(Xl ysrds from the finish. Rounding the corner, Bcerdsley-who hsd fgllen behind, then csught up agein in the lsst mile-was Just r stJde beck and prcprring for the finel sprint Ehen e motorcycle cop eccidently cut in front of nim rnd broke his stride. Unibl€ to rscoup, be crosscd the line t*'o seconds behind Sslczgr' It was the frstest rnd closest finisb in Boston Mrnthon hbtor!. Photo b;- Jama Denham I6 (37 ln my mind, I won Boston," said Dick Beardsley. "If you have a race that close, I don't think anybody is the loser. Sure, I was awarded second place, but I think I ran just as good a race as Salazar. In fact, I think I ran maybe a better race. " Alberto Salazar won the 86th Boston Marathon in a record setting 2:08:51. Two seconds behind, also under the old record, was 26-year-old Dick Beardsley of Rush City, Minnesota. To support his claim that he "maybe ran a better race," Beardsley cites several external factors that affected the outcome. After bumping into a bus in the last mile, he lost the lead he had held from the 2l mile mark. Heading into the final minute or so of the race, Beardsley found himself behind a phalanx of motorcycle patrolmen protecting Salazar. "The exhaust was incredible," he said. "As I needed to make a turn, a motorcycle got in my way. That cost me my concentration. When Salazar put on a little kick, I wasn't able to come up with a response. Maybe next time." Second place. It has been Beardsley's regular fate since his sudden appearance in the ranks of top marathoners just over a year ago. "I run a 2:08:53, and finish second," Dick said. "That freaks me out. Every race I'm going to, I want to win. I hope I don't have people thinking I'm always the bridesmaid." His list of achievements in l98l is impressive. o In January, he finished second to Bill Rodgers in the Houston Marathon with a time of 2:12:49. o Three weeks later he took third in the Beppu Marathon in Japan, in 2:12:41. o On March 20th he tied for first in the London Marathon in 2: I l:48. o He won Grandma's Marathon in Duluth Minnesota with what was then the second fastest time ever bY an American-2:09:34. o In July he placed second to Bill Rodgers in the Stockholm Marathon. The l98l Grandma's was the scene of Beardsley's biggest victory. There he ran out from under the shadow of Garry Bjorklund, long the Midwest's premier marathoner. He beat Bjorklund by a full two minutes. Unfortunately, Beardsley's stellar time at Grandma's was discounted by some who were not familiar with the course. Rumors circulated that the course was short or downhill. "If anything, it was a little long," laughs Beardsley, only partly in jest. "It's not downhill, that's for sure. I Running Times, July 1982
Beardsley msde a world class debut in the Grandma's Marathon when he flsshed to a 2zw);34_al that time the third frstest time ever by an American. /Mark Rosen/ think there were skeptics out there, but my 2:08 at Boston reallY helPs legitimize Grandma's. " The world record is Salazar's 2:08:13, run last October in New York. But Beardsley believes Grandma's is the course for anyone who wants to set records. His string of high quality marathons indicates he may have the potential to break Salazar's record himself. Beardsley has always done most of his training alone. He believes it aids his mental toughness. In 1981, he placed himself under the tutelage of Bill Squires, former trainer for Alberto Salazar and Bill Rodgers. To prepare for Boston, he moved temPorarilY to Atlanta. After six or seven 140 mile weeks to rebuild his base, he got involved in an Olympic testing program under the direction of Dr' Dave Martin. He learned that about 120-125 miles per week was his oPtimum training mileage. With his friend Dean Matthews, he did weeklY track workouts including long intervals of 660 yards to a mile. He believes his training in Atlanta, which naturally included hills and hot weather, prepared him well for Boston. Back in Rush City recovering from his Boston race, the wirY 5' ll' , 128 pound Beardsley talked of his am- Running Times, JulY 1982 bitious long range goals. "Next year the world championships are in Helsinki Finland," Dick said. "I hope to be on the U.S. team. After that, the Olympics. My main goal is to try and make the 1984 Olympic team." The friendly and articulate Minnesota native works in public relations for a plastics moulding comPanY in Rush City. The comPanY is owned bY a sympathetic friend who gives Dick free reign to pursue his second occupation, running. He is also able to capitalize on The Athletics Congress's new policy toward prize moneY. Prodded bY the Association of Road Racing Athletes, TAC now allows athletes like Dick Beardsley to send prize money into a trust fund for future training. His performance in Houston netted him $6500 for his trust fund. t I Although running has become a waY of life for Beardsley, he retains a wellrounded perspective on the sPort. "Running is something I really enjoy right now. But my wife, MarY, definitely comes first," he said. "If running were ever to start messing up my marriage, without question I would end my competitive career tomorrow' " Speaking in his characteristically open and energetic style, Dick paused only briefly when asked what he would like to say to others. "When I started out, I wasn't a world class runner," he said. "I didn't run until I was a senior in high school. I started out as pretty much of a jogger like most people. I kept at it and got determined and stubborn enough to keep doing it until it has definitely paid .-l'; t ---r-- +
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Race recap + women's race coverage (.pdf) - Runner's World

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