Dick Beardsley

Dick Beardsley

Keynote Speaker: Best-Selling Author, Marathon Runner, Resilience Expert

Dick Beardsley Biography

Dick Beardsley is a renowned motivational and inspirational speaker, known for his ability to engage and profoundly influence his audience. He is also an international best-selling author, with his book "Staying the Course: A Runner's Toughest Race" detailing his journey through numerous challenges, including severe injuries and overcoming addiction. The book has garnered wide acclaim for its honest and inspiring narrative.

Beardsley's speaking career has taken him to a variety of venues, including Fortune 500 companies, non-profit organizations, conferences, conventions, corporate events, fundraisers, galas, sporting events, schools, and drug treatment centers. His ability to evoke a range of emotions in his audiences—making them laugh, cry, and most importantly, reflect on their lives—has made him a sought-after keynote speaker across the globe.

Despite the adversities he has faced, including near-fatal accidents and the profound loss of his son Andrew in 2015, Beardsley continues to share his experiences with resilience and positivity. His talks not only recount his achievements as a runner, notably his performance in the 1982 Boston Marathon where he narrowly finished two seconds behind Alberto Salazar, but also his personal trials and triumphs beyond the track. Beardsley's life story is not just about athletic prowess but also about personal perseverance, making his messages resonate with a wide audience. He remains a compelling figure in the world of motivational speaking, continually inspiring others to appreciate and embrace life's challenges.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Dick Beardsley and other top speakers and celebrities.

Dick Beardsley Speaking Topics

STAYING THE COURSE

Dick will share his life with your clients and they will leave knowing that anything is possible, despite any roadblocks or doubts. 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 he will bring your listeners to laughter, tears, the pinnacle, the bottom, and back up again. They 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.

NEVER GIVE UP HOPE

Whether Dick is talking about his world class running career or series of numerous accidents, where he started at the very bottom of the running world to becoming a world class athlete or he’s talking about the beginnings of his horrific addiction to narcotic pain medicines, your clients will leave the event a changed person. They will be encouraged and inspired to face their own demons with courage and to continue getting up no matter how many times life may knock you down.

WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE WORLD CLASS?

Dick was ranked as one of the top 5 marathoners on the world. He won some of the world’s most prestigious races. He ran world record holders into the ground. Dick knows the simple truths of what it takes to be world class and be the best that can be. The same principles that apply in sports apply as well in life and business.

HOW TO TAKE ON GOLIATH BY BEING YOUR BEST

Many young organizations are faced with the daunting challenge of taking on, in the marketplace, market leading brands and companies, that have decades of success and pedigree. This is exactly what Dick faced in the 1982 Boston Marathon by taking on the world record holder and never before challenged, the “King” Alberto Salazar. Starting with training, both mentally and physical, to the starting line and to the brink in this unbelievable finish, Dick shares the underlying learnings of how to take on the “Goliaths” in life and give them a run for their money. Dick will show you how to reach for excellence and make it a reality.

OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

Organizations reflect life. It can be a series of ups and downs. Nothing can be more demotivating than an organization that reaches the greatest of highs and then falls to the lowest of lows. Dick personally knows in an incredibly powerful way how this feels and how to climb back up to greatness again, going from world class athlete at the top of his field to confessed drug addict, falling to the depth of the valley. Dick shares in a personal and poignant way how to get back to the top of the mountain again.

Dick Beardsley Videos

Dick Beardsley: World Class Marathon Runner, Motivational ...

How do I book Dick Beardsley to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dick Beardsley for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dick Beardsley, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dick Beardsley or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Dick Beardsley for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Dick Beardsley, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dick Beardsley, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Dick Beardsley speak about?

Dick Beardsley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Health, Motivational, Peak Performance, Athlete, Disruptive Thinking, Sports, Personal Growth, Resilience and Overcoming Adversity.

Where does Dick Beardsley travel from?

Dick Beardsley generally travels from Bemidji, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Dick Beardsley?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dick Beardsley for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dick Beardsley for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dick Beardsley or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Dick Beardsley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Health, Motivational and Peak Performance. Please contact us for live or virtual event fee details. Dick Beardsley generally travels from Bemidji, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Vince Papale, Kyle Maynard and Rocky Bleier. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dick Beardsley for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/11/2024.

Dick Beardsley Speaking Topics

  • STAYING THE COURSE

    Dick will share his life with your clients and they will leave knowing that anything is possible, despite any roadblocks or doubts. 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 he will bring your listeners to laughter, tears, the pinnacle, the bottom, and back up again. They 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.

  • NEVER GIVE UP HOPE

    Whether Dick is talking about his world class running career or series of numerous accidents, where he started at the very bottom of the running world to becoming a world class athlete or he’s talking about the beginnings of his horrific addiction to narcotic pain medicines, your clients will leave the event a changed person. They will be encouraged and inspired to face their own demons with courage and to continue getting up no matter how many times life may knock you down.

  • WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO BE WORLD CLASS?

    Dick was ranked as one of the top 5 marathoners on the world. He won some of the world’s most prestigious races. He ran world record holders into the ground. Dick knows the simple truths of what it takes to be world class and be the best that can be. The same principles that apply in sports apply as well in life and business.

  • HOW TO TAKE ON GOLIATH BY BEING YOUR BEST

    Many young organizations are faced with the daunting challenge of taking on, in the marketplace, market leading brands and companies, that have decades of success and pedigree. This is exactly what Dick faced in the 1982 Boston Marathon by taking on the world record holder and never before challenged, the “King” Alberto Salazar. Starting with training, both mentally and physical, to the starting line and to the brink in this unbelievable finish, Dick shares the underlying learnings of how to take on the “Goliaths” in life and give them a run for their money. Dick will show you how to reach for excellence and make it a reality.

  • OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

    Organizations reflect life. It can be a series of ups and downs. Nothing can be more demotivating than an organization that reaches the greatest of highs and then falls to the lowest of lows. Dick personally knows in an incredibly powerful way how this feels and how to climb back up to greatness again, going from world class athlete at the top of his field to confessed drug addict, falling to the depth of the valley. Dick shares in a personal and poignant way how to get back to the top of the mountain again.

Dick Beardsley Videos

Dick Beardsley: World Class Marathon Runner, Motivational ...
  • How do I book Dick Beardsley to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dick Beardsley for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dick Beardsley, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dick Beardsley or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Dick Beardsley for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Dick Beardsley, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dick Beardsley, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Dick Beardsley speak about?

    Dick Beardsley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Health, Motivational, Peak Performance, Athlete, Disruptive Thinking, Sports, Personal Growth, Resilience and Overcoming Adversity.
  • Where does Dick Beardsley travel from?

    Dick Beardsley generally travels from Bemidji, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Dick Beardsley?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dick Beardsley for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dick Beardsley for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dick Beardsley or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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DICK BEARDSLEY

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