< 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica

​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.

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