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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.