By Davy Crockett

From 1875 to 1879, at least 130 six-day races were held, mostly in America and Great Britain. In 1879, the foot races became the #1 spectator sport in America. During that single year, at least 88 six-day races were held worldwide, with about 900 starters and witnessed by nearly one million spectators. Women played a significant role in these early six-day races, a century before they could take part in marathons. From 1875 to 1879, at least 30 six-day women’s races were held, involving 150 women starters who ran as far as 393 miles in six days. These daring women athletes caused a significant rift across the Victorian-era society. An editorial in the New York Times stated, “Today it is the walking match, soon the women’s vote will come.” It isn’t surprising that once the women competed, that New York City considered passing an ordinance banning “all public exhibitions of female pedestrianism.”

Many people thought these races, even limited to men, were a plague on society, especially because of all the wagering that took place and suspected corruption involved. In Louisiana, it was written, “Can’t someone up there give these lunatics some kind of creditable employment in which they can exercise their pedal extremities to their hearts’ content?” From London, England, “One of these days, when one of these poor fellows, dazzled with the distant prospect of gold, drops down dead on the track, science will be satisfied, sport appeased, and public indignation aroused. Pedestrians will go on doing the ‘best time on record’ until they drop down dead.”

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After a huge race in New York City, The Third Asley Belt race, that affected attendance at churches that week, a minister wrote, “New York has been shamefully disgraced. This commercial emporium is in dishonor in the sight of God and in the eyes of the civilized world.”

These early pedestrians at first had a goal to surpass 500 miles in six days. They then kept pushing the six-day world record further until George Littlewood reached 623 miles in 1888. That record stood for nearly a century and was considered a running record that would never be broken. But it eventually was broken by one man. Today, the six-day world record is held by Yiannis Kouros, of Greece, who covered an astonishing distance of 635 miles on a track in New York City in 1984. Later, in 2005, he covered 643.

Running vs. Walking

In 1878, the British established a six-day world championship series of races called “The Astley Belt.” After the 3rd Astley Belt Race in early 1879, won by Charles Rowell of Great Britain, Daniel O’Leary, the former six-day champion of the world, spent a lot of time pondering how the British seemed to being exceeding the Americans in the six-day sport. He became convinced that no strict walker could ever again win a highly competitive six-day race against runners. The best strict heel-toe walkers could exceed 500 miles, but not much further. He believed the runners being developed in Britain could go much further than 500 miles, and it was time for Americans to learn how to run more during these “go-as-you-please” six-day races.

The six-day races held during April 1879

During April 1879, at least 13 six-day races were held, including five during the same week. Two significant races were held that month, the American Championship Belt at Gilmore’s Garden, New York City, and the 2nd English Astley Belt held at the Agricultural Hall in London.

Plans for the American Championship Belt

The six-day American Championship Belt race was billed as a contest to produce the best man to be sponsored to compete in the 4th Astley Belt race to be scheduled in June 1879, in England. For this qualifying race, $1,000 and a championship belt would be awarded to the winner. The race was open only to residents of America and would be under the direction of the New York Athletic Club.

Belts, not belt-buckles,