Dennis Beardsley

Residence: Schodack

Hometown: Lansingburgh

Age: 47

Family: Ryan (16), Charlotte (8)

Career: Automotive Instructor, North America Training Manager, Saint Gobain

Primary Sports: Running, Triathlon

Favorite Quotes: “Have passion in what you do” and “Show up prepared”

I Shouldn’t Be Here

By Linda Waxman Finkle

“266 days post-surgery. 174 days to Ironman Lake Placid. I’m the luckiest guy on the planet.”

Dennis Beardsley’s best friend describes him as unstoppable, and there’s not a shadow of a doubt about that. But, let’s put this in some perspective:

June 29, 2019 – Dennis enters the water for the Tupper Lake Tinman triathlon, and quickly realizes that something is very wrong. With a well-documented congenital heart issue, discovered in his 20s, he makes the difficult decision to exit the race. The medical staff gives him nitroglycerin, runs some tests and rules out a heart attack, but sends him by ambulance to St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, a three-hour ride from the race.

July 1 – His cardiologist, Dr. David Putnam, tells him that the time has come for open heart surgery. July 12 – Dennis undergoes surgery, where his heart is stopped for six hours while Dr. Niloo Edwards replaces a valve, as well as his aortic root. July 14 – Two days after surgery, he can barely walk the 20 feet he is asked to by hospital staff. His doctors remind him that this is going to be excruciatingly painful and challenging, and to only expect 2% improvement daily. These are dark days when he feels that he will never make it back.

Sept. 6 – 8:00am, Dennis is cleared by his doctors to start training again. 9:41am, he completes an 18-mile ride in 1:11:16. Any questions?

This could all possibly be understood if Dennis’ parents were athletic (they weren’t) or if he had participated in sports his whole life (he hadn’t). He lost his mother when she was just 28-years-old, and his father passed away at 59. He played some Little League and was a BMXer in his youth. “It was both my freedom and my means of transportation.”   

The real story begins about 15 years ago after a visit to his primary physician, Dr. Kevin Flanagan, who confronted him directly, “What the (bleep) are you doing? Do you want to die? This operation is serious and you need to be fit for it!” This was his epiphany; he started training on his own, ran some 5Ks, lost 40 pounds, and set big goals. He ran his first and fastest marathon in New Jersey in 2015, finishing in 3:16:05. “I had no idea that I was fast,” he recalls, also qualifying for the Boston Marathon that same year. “When I took a left on Boylston Street, my ears rang from the cheers. It’s the closest I’ve ever felt to being like a rock star,” he says with a smile. He finished in 3:43:46, while experiencing some breathing problems.

Enter Ironman Lake Placid, which Dennis refers to as his church. “When you come onto the Olympic Speedskating Oval… the whole feeling when you go up there… it’s just so moving.” In 2016, he completed his first and fastest Ironman there to date, finishing in 12:58:32. 

Then, in 2018 while competing there, he again had a tough time breathing, but wouldn’t quit. Were these signs of what was coming? Dennis says that he will never know, but in Tupper Lake there was no question that he had to stop. And, the fact is that he recovered so quickly because he was extremely race ready – he was just in a different race after surgery. “My job was to rest and recover, and to do whatever the doctors told me to. Normal recovery is 15 weeks; I went back to work at eight.” And, he recalls telling those in the ambulance with him that his work here wasn’t done. “I’ve always been a forward thinker, but this made me think differently, be more chill, appreciate more.”

Sunday, July 26, 2020, in Lake Placid is what he and a small, tight-knit group of friends have their bodies and minds focused on right now. “It takes a village to build an Ironman.” Training six days a week, typically ramping up in December for a July race, he also works with Coach Kerrianne Sanicola in San Francisco, who keeps him in check. “She gave me a hard time last week, as she should have, when I ran 7:49 for five miles. I’m testing out the new motor,” he jokes, very seriously.

Dennis’ extraordinary passion and commitment extends to everything he does. By day, he instructs techs and distribution companies on how to repair cars after a collision. Covering all of North America, he often goes out into the field and also teaches remotely. He prides himself on trying to be the best that he can be at whatever he’s doing, and enjoys connecting with his students.

One of the ways he demonstrates his gratitude is through SkillsUSA, an association that serves students from middle school through college, helping them to prepare for careers in trade, technical and skilled service occupations, including those in the health industry. At their National Leadership and Skills conference in Kentucky this June, he’ll be one of several reviewers judging the plastic repair category. “It’s my way of giving back, and I’ve pushed my company to be involved with this. It will become part of their legacy.”

And, Dennis’ love for and dedication to Lake Placid extends well beyond Ironman, reaching all the way to the luge sleds, which he gladly paints for the Olympic teams. Proud that his company is a sponsor, not only did he volunteer last year for two weeks post-surgery, he also painted two weeks prior to surgery because, “Who else was going to do it?” Is it any wonder that other friends describe him as considerate, giving and generous?

Both of his kids have inherited his athletic genes and drive. His son, Ryan, plays goalie for the Voorheesville High School soccer team, who won the Section 2 championships and regionals, and made it to the state Final Four last year. His daughter, Charlotte, is a five-time IronKids triathlete, doing her sixth on July 24, two days before IMLP. “I’m teaching them to show up prepared.” And, no doubt he inspires them as well, just as he’s inspired one of his doctors, Lance Sullenberger, who’ll also be competing in Lake Placid in his first Ironman this year.

Requalifying for Boston is a short-term goal and the Kona Ironman World Championships is a longer-term one. These days, he’s focused on Lake Placid. “I can’t wait to hear Mike Reilly, the voice of Ironman, announce my name and say for the third time, ‘You are an Ironman!’ Today is a recovery day – he’ll swim 2,000 yards and bike for an hour. Tomorrow he’ll bike for an hour-and-a-half, and the next day he’ll run eight miles. ‘Anything is Possible’ is a well-known phrase in the Ironman community. Dennis is the epitome of all of the hope, planning and work that goes into making that statement a reality, while also being a staunch advocate for listening to your body.

“I’ve been given a gift. If I’d kept going in that Tinman, I would have died. Each day since July 12, 2019 is a win. It’s not ego, it’s just a gift to do this.”

We’d all do well to remember those simple, but profound words. Thank you for showing us the way, Dennis Beardsley, and best of luck in Lake Placid!

Linda Waxman Finkle (LWF518@gmail.com) is an Albany-based writer who enjoys running, skiing, cycling, kayaking and ZUMBA. When not pursuing stories or sports, you’ll find her hiking in a National Park, waiting at an airport, or creating at a sewing machine.