The true story of a Minnesota dairy farmer who defies the odds to become a world-class marathon runner, but after a horrific farm accident discovers that his toughest race begins after the finish line.

“Against the Wind” is the winning title chosen from over 450 submissions.

Dick is a compelling motivational and inspirational speaker.  He is in high demand as the keynote speaker at many events including races, schools, corporations, non-profits, prisons and drug treatment centers.

For a brief moment in the early ‘80s, Dick Beardsley became the most famous runner / athlete in the world - by losing a race.  In the 1982 Boston Marathon, Beardsley, foiled by a motorcycle that cut him off near the end, finished two seconds behind Alberto Salazar in a contest often called one of the most memorable in marathon history.  It was the closest finish ever at the world‘s premier marathon, and both runners broke the course and the American records.

The story of Dick‘s running career alone is the stuff of legends, but it is the story that comes after that draws people in and keeps them listening.

Dick is the founder of the Dick Beardsley Foundation, a community-based organization created to educate children and young adults about the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle and to educate the public about the danger of drugs, including prescription drugs and the dangers of chemical dependency.

For more information about Dick Beardsley and the Dick Beardsley Foundation, visit: http://dickbeardsleyfoundation.org/.