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 191o: The record distance walked in 1 hour was 8 m . 339 yds. by the English amateur G . E . Larner in 1905; in 8 hours, 5o m . 1190 yds. by another English amateur, J . Butler, in 1905 ; in 24 hours, 131 m . 58o! 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 .