1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Walking Races

WALKING RACES, a form of athletic sports, either on road or track. Road walking is the older form of the sport. The records for the chief walking distances were as follows in 1910:—

Distance.	Name.	Time.	Date.	Place.
		hr. min. sec.
001 miles	A. T. Yeomans	17 06 193/5	1906	Bath
102 miles	A. T. Yeomans	77 12 531/5	1906	Swansea
103 miles„	J. W. Raby (professional)	17 20 211/2	1883	Lillie Bridge
104 miles„	G. E. Larner	17 27 141/2	1905	Brighton
105 miles„	W. Raby	17 35 101/2	1883	Lillie Bridge
010 miles„	J. W. Raby	71 14 451/2	1883	Lillie Bridge
015 miles„	J. W. Raby	71 55 561/2	1883	Lillie Bridge
120 miles„	W. Perkins	12 39 571/2	1877	Lillie Bridge
130 miles„	J. Butler	14 29 521/2	1905	Putney
140 miles„	J. Butler	16 11 171/2	1905	Putney
150 miles„	J. Butler	17 52 271/2	1905	Putney
100 miles„	T. E. Hammond	17 25 221/2	1907	London to Brighton and back

The record distance walked in 1 hour was 8 m. 339 yds. by the English amateur G. E. Larner in 1905; in 8 hours, 50 m. 1190 yds. by another English amateur, J. Butler, in 1905; in 24 hours, 131 m. 580¾ yds. by T. E. Hammond in 1908.

About the year 1875 there was a revival of interest in professional walking, which took the form of “go-as-you-please” competitions, extending over several days, usually six. These may be classed as walking contests, for, although running was allowed, it was seldom practised, excepting for a few moments at a time, for the purpose of relief from cramped muscles. The great difficulty in competitive walking is to keep within the rules. A “fair gait” is one in which one foot touches the ground before the other leaves it, only one leg being bent in stepping, namely, that which is being put forward.