Pace Setter : May 2024

Duel in the Sun: Alberto Salazar, Dick Beardsley, and America’s Greatest Marathon - A Book Recommendation / Review by Thomas O’Grady

At the start of the 1982 Boston Marathon the temperatures were already in the mid 60's, the humidity was high, and the sun was out. As the starting gun fired for the noontime start, Alberto Salazar shot out from the line as if being fired from a cannon (according to Dick Beardsley). Salazar would continue driving through the first mile at the front of the lead pack (consisting of Salazar, Dick Beardsley, Bill Rodgers, and Ed Mendoza) in a blistering 4:33. Sure, the first mile was downhill, but Salazar was sending a clear message that he had come sharp and ready to race for the win.

The race would remain relatively uneventful through the first half. By mile 17, at the start of the Newton Hills, both the weather and the fast pace had left just Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley ("The world #1 and the country bumpkin from Minnesota" according to one newspaper) to battle it out over the remaining nine miles of the course. As many are aware, mile 17 marks the start of the infamous Newton Hills. 

Beardsley had prepared well for this specific point in the race. Bill Squires, Beardsley's coach, had picked out rolling hills to simulate the terrain of the Newton Hills. Beardsley had even come to Boston to complete a grueling workout on Heartbreak Hill in preparation for the race. Beardsley's single goal was to concentrate on the three hills. By Heartbreak Hill at mile 21, Beardsley would make a final push running flat out up, over, and down the other side of the famous hill. 

Beardsley took a slight lead and surged through the hills. The plan did not go exactly as expected. Salazar, ever the competitor, kept right on Beardsley's tail running so close that it's often when watching videos of the race to tell Salazar is even running with Beardsley. By this point in the race the temperatures were in the mid-70s, it was humid, and the sun was still shining brightly. The atmosphere was intense. The crowd was so thick on both sides there was barely enough room for the runners and their police escort to make their way through. 

The duo would continue in tight tandem like this for the remaining five miles, both refusing to give an inch, with Beardsley leading the way and Salazar a short distance behind. By this point, Beardsley was so tired he was simply trying to will his tired body to keep the blistering pace for one more mile. This tactic worked as the runners passed through miles 22, 23, and 24 without changing places or slowing.

By 25.2 miles, Beardsley was still in the lead and realized that his dream of winning the Boston Marathon could become a reality if he could simply hold off Salazar for one more mile (a task that was certainly easier said than done). With about 1,000 meters to go, Beardsley made a move to surge and take it home. Unfortunately, the fast pace and hot weather had taken its toll on Beardsley and his hamstring seized up briefly. This small, barely noticeable, change in Beardsley's stride signaled to Salazar that it was his moment to strike after patiently waiting for so long. With that, Salazar quickly opened a gap. The gap widened and in moments was seemingly insurmountable. 

As the runners continued and made the famous last right onto Hereford and left onto Boylston, Beardsley had summoned a heroic final effort and looked like he was closing the gap on Salazar. As Salazar, Beardsley, and four police motorcycles make the very last turn it looks as if the fourth motorcycle in the police escort inadvertently blocks Beardsley out a little. Beardsley still drives forward and nearly draws even with Salazar in the last 100 meters before Salazar breaks the tape in 2:08:51. Beardsley would finish two seconds behind in 2:08:53.

The 1982 Boston Marathon would go on to be nicknamed the Duel in the Sun. It remains one of the most exciting Boston Marathon finishes ever. There are so many different stories that have been told or written about this famous day in the history of the Boston Marathon and the duel that unfolded between Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley. My summary of the events of the race itself are just a small part of the story. In 224 pages, John Brant does a great job of telling the full story. Brant captures both the exciting build up to the race as Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley prepare to clash for the title of Boston Marathon champion and the excitement of the race itself. After a hot and sunny 2024 Boston Marathon, I couldn’t think of a better story to recommend to club members to read about this month! 

 

Tom O'Grady is a runner, coach, and public health professional. In addition to being the new Editor of  The Pace Setter, Tom also writes book reviews and covers a variety of topic areas for The Pace Setter.

 

 

 

 

 

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