By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

By the end of 1878, at least 41 six-day races had been held in America and Great Britain since P.T. Barnum started it all with the first race in 1875. Daniel O’Leary of Chicago was still the undefeated world champion with ten six-day race wins. He was a very wealthy man, winning nearly one million dollars in today’s value during 1878.

All the racing was taking a toll on O’Leary, and he had frequent thoughts about retiring. However, he still had obligations as the holder of the Astley Belt and the title of Champion of the World. If he could defend the Astley Belt one more time, three wins in a row, by rule he could keep the belt. A Third Astley Belt Race was in the early planning to be held sometime during the summer of 1879. In January he went to Arkansas to rest at the famous hot springs with its six bathhouses and 24 hotels.

Little did he know that the Third Astley Belt Race would be one of the most impactful spectator events in New York City 19th century history witnessed by more than 80,000 people. It impacted ten of thousands of workers' productivity for a week and even distracted brokers on Wall Street away from their ticker tapes. The major New York City newspapers included more than a full page of details every day that revealed the most comprehensive details ever of a 19th century six-day race. Because of its historic importance, this race will be presented in two articles/episodes.

Please help the ultrarunning history effort continue by signing up to contribute a little each month through Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ultrarunninghistory

Astley Backs a Potential British Champion

John Astley

Sir John Astley wanted to make sure a Brit would next win the belt. After putting on an English Championship in late October 1878, he identified the best British candidate that he thought could contend with O’Leary and bring the Astley Belt back to England. His man was Charles Rowell, who had recently placed third in Astley’s English Championship Six-Day race with 470 miles. Astley formally issued a challenge to O’Leary on behalf of Rowell.

Charles Rowell

Charles Rowell (1852-1909), age 26, was born in Chesterton, Cambridge, England, and was fond of sports athletics in his childhood. He had gained some fame as a rower at Cambridge and was regarded as one of Britain’s top emerging athletes. He started his running career in 1872, winning some races. In 1874 he won a 19-mile race in 1:57:45 and later covered 32 miles in four hours. He was no doubt very fast.

When Edward Payson Weston first came to England in 1876, Rowell raced against him in a 275-mile track race in the Agricultural Hall in London. He mostly played the role as a pacer and completed 175 miles to Weston’s 275 miles.

Astley charged Rowell to get himself fit and promised to pay the expenses for him to travel to America for the Third Astley Belt Race. After a few weeks of training, Astley invited Rowell to his estate and observed his running abilities. “I was satisfied that he was good enough to send over to try and bring back the champion belt to England.” He provided £250 for his expenses. Prior to leaving England, it was rumored that he had covered a world record 539 miles in a private six-day trial, but Rowell would not confirm or deny it.

Third Astley Belt Scheduled

On November 7, 1878, John Ennis of Chicago, was the first runner to properly apply to London’s Sporting Life (the stakeholder) to challenge for the Astley Belt.  Charles A. Harriman of Boston was the next, followed by Charles Rowell on December 1, 1878. By the end of January 1879, O’Leary accepted the challenges and started planning for a June race. But within a few days, John Astley, the founder of the Astley Belt series, decided that the next Astley Belt Challenge would be held in March 1879 at New York City in Gilmore’s Garden, soon to be renamed Madison Square Garden.

By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

In 1878, Daniel O’Leary of Chicago was the undisputed world champion of ultrarunning/pedestrianism. He cemented that title with his victory in the First International Astley Belt Six-day Race in London, defeating seventeen others, running and walking 520.2 miles.

The Astley Belt quickly became the most sought-after trophy in ultrarunning. O'Leary was then the most famous runner in America and Great Britain, pushing aside the fleeting memory of Edward Payson Weston. As with any championship, want-a-be contenders came out of the woodwork. They coveted the shiny, heavy, gold and silver Astley Belt and wanted to see their own names engraved upon it. But more than anything, they also wanted the riches and the fame from adoring fans of the new endurance sport which was about to experience an explosion of popularity in both England and America.

Please help the ultrarunning history effort continue by signing up to contribute a little each month through Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ultrarunninghistory

Challenger: William Howes

William Howes

On the same day of O’Leary’s Astley Belt six-day victory, he received a challenge for the belt from William Howes (1839-), age 39, a waiter from Haggerston, England. Howes had been a very vocal critic of the Americans, O’Leary and Weston. He must have looked old because he was referred to as being “rather advanced in years.” He was 5’4” and had competed in running for many years.

Back in December 1876, O’Leary had experienced the first pedestrian defeat of his career against Howes in a 300-mile 72-hour race when O’Leary had to drop out mid-race because of sickness. Howes had accused O’Leary of faking the illness to delegitimize Howe’s victory. Then a month later, Howes anonymously tried to put together a race against O’Leary, Weston and himself. But then Howes experienced an injury, couldn’t participate, and was very mad that the race wasn’t postponed for him.

Howes Issue Challenge to O’Leary

Howes was a legitimate ultrarunner, who in February 1878 had set a new world walking record for 100 miles (18:08:20) and 24 hours (127 miles). But for unknown reasons, Howes withdrew his entry for the Astley Belt race a week before the race. Now, instead of racing against the 18 runners in that race, he wanted a head-to-head match against O’Leary to try to snatch away the coveted Astley Belt.

O’Leary was required to accept any challenge within three months and defend the belt within 18 months, but he had no intention of staying in England with his family to race against the pesky Howes. Howes, who clearly dodged competition in the First Astley Belt Race, just one week later, on March 30, 1878, raced against ten others for 50 miles in the Agricultural Hall in London.  Howes, won by two minutes and broke the world record with 7:57:54, the first to break the eight-hour barrier. (Later in the summer he would lower it further to 7:15:23 at Lillie Bridge).

Also, just three days after O’Leary’s victory, Weston, who had also pulled out of the Astley Belt race claiming illness, realizing the huge money that could be involved, issued his own challenge against O’Leary. Other challenges came from Brits, Henry Vaughan, William Corkey, and Blower Brown, all veterans of the First Astley Belt Race.

O’Leary Returns to America with the Belt

O’Leary infuriated Howes and many others in England when he made it clear that he was returning to America and that any challenge to the belt would need to be competed against him there. He said, “Having won the belt, I had the say where the walking should be done. I wouldn’t walk in London again. They don’t know where America is, and of course wouldn’t go there.”  This didn’t please Sir John Astley who feared that the belt would never come back to England. He stated that if it didn’t come back, he would create an identical belt for the British to compete for,

By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

By 1878, interest in ultrarunning/pedestrianism had taken a strong hold in Great Britain. The six-day race was viewed as a unique new branch of the running sport that fascinated many sporting enthusiasts. Like P.T. Barnum who was the first major promoter of ultrarunning in America, John Astley became the first prominent ultrarunning promoter in England. Astley’s significant involvement in 1878 helped to legitimize pedestrianism and he was the person who put “running” into "ultrarunning." He thankfully removed the walking restriction in the six-day race and established the first international championship race, later called “The First Astley Belt.”

Please consider supporting ultrarunning history by signing up to contribute a little each month through Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ultrarunninghistory

Sir John Astley

Sir John Dugdale Astley (1828-1894) was a member of Parliament representing North Lincolnshire. He grew up in a wealthy family and was a lieutenant colonel in the Scots Fusilier Guards, serving in the 1854 Crimea War where he was wounded in the neck at the Battle of Alma. He was a great sportsman and while young, was an elite runner at the sprint distances.

Astley was truly a “larger than life” character. “He was a big, burly, old man, fond of strong language and strong drink. Wherever he went he was made conspicuous by his large figure, white hair and beard, the enormous cigar, never out of his mouth, save when he was eating, drinking or sleeping, his strident voice and his frequent, boisterous laugh.”  A friend said, “He must have smoked more miles of cigars than any man living.”

William Gale

Astley also had a passion for horses and boxing and wagered large sums of money. He lost a small fortune betting against O’Leary in the Edward Payson Weston vs. Daniel O’Leary II race of 1877 (see episode 105). Astley introduced the first belt (not belt buckle), into ultrarunning when he awarded William Gale a massive belt for accomplishing 4,000 quarter miles in 4,000 consecutive periods of ten minutes during October-November 1877 for 28 days. Championship belts had been introduced in boxing as early as 1810, and Asley brought the belt into the sport of pedestrianism.  “Sir John Astley girded Gale’s waist with a belt of crimson velvet and massive silver. But the belt was too large, so amid much applause and some little merriment, it was slung across one of his shoulders.”

Plans for the Long-Distance Championship for the Astley Belt

On December 8, 1877, Astley announced that a six-day championship race would be held in the Agricultural Hall in London, open to all pedestrians in the world. A perpetual belt valued at £100 pounds would be awarded to the winner. The entrance fee was initially set at £10 (about $1,400 in today’s value). A telegram was sent to the recognized world champion, Daniel O’Leary in Chicago with an invitation. O’Leary quickly responded that he was interested.

Go-As-You-Please Rules Introduced

In January 1878, more detailed plans were announced for the historic event. The date was set for March 18th, with a prize package of £750. The field would be limited to twenty starters. But the most significant announcement was that the race would not be limited to heel-toe walking. The athletes could run if they wanted. It was called “Go-as-you-please.”  This was a historic decision made by Astley to embrace running along with walking.

The decision to open up the competition to running was made for two reasons. 1. Weston was constantly criticized that his walking style of wobbling was not always true “heel-toe” walking. Even O’Leary had also been accused of running at times in his matches. This put pressure on judges during events and caused anger among wagerers. 2. In recent decades, the British had been developing running, not walking, and were at a clear disadvantage to Weston’s and O’Leary’s skill at walk...

By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

In America, 1876 had been a “loopy” six-day race year, with at least eighteen races held. Interest was high, but there were also skeptics. Closing out the last episode, Daniel O’Leary, of Chicago, the champion pedestrian of the world, reached 500 miles for the third time in six days, but his reputation had been tarnished due to some false accusations that in some people’s minds also put a black eye on the ultra-distance sport.

With criticism swirling around him, it was time for O’Leary to show England that he was the true champion ultrarunning/pedestrian of the world, not Edward Payson Weston, who had been winning over the British respect and their money for months. By going to England, O’Leary would face off in a rematch with Weston for their historic second six-day race. It would receive nearly as much attention as the Ali vs. Frazer II boxing match that took place 97 years later in Madison Square Garden. O'Leary would become a key figure in the history of the sport that attracted international excitement for the six-day race, and also would bring back a massive fortune.

Please consider supporting ultrarunning history by signing up to contribute a little each month through Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ultrarunninghistory

O’Leary Heads to England

In late September 1876, while O’Leary was on a ship crossing the Atlantic, Weston finally succeeded reaching 500 miles in six days for the second time. This was accomplished at the Ice-Skating Rink at Toxteth Park, in Liverpool and he went a little further, to 500.5 miles.

Weston Ad

O’Leary arrived in London a few days later, in early October, and immediately tried to help the British understand that he was the true pedestrian champion, not Weston.  O’Leary wrote, “I am desirous of forever settling the question, ‘Who shall be the champion pedestrian of the world? Should Weston be desirous of entering into a side-by-side contest of 500 miles with me, I hereby agree to give him a start of 25 miles in that distance.” Weston ignored O’Leary’s challenge and didn’t want to share the spotlight that was shining on him by the British public. He was even getting money from a product endorsement, doing ads for a cream to help with rheumatism, sprains, chest-colds, and lumbago.

O’Leary Beats Weston’s Six-day Mark in Liverpool

Frustrated that a race could not be scheduled, O’Leary wanted to prove to the British that he was better than Weston. He also went to Liverpool, determined to beat Weston’s recent mark set there of 500.5 miles in six days. On October 16-21, he also walked in the Admiral Street Skating Rink at Toxteth Park on a track measured 11 laps to a mile. Sam Hauge (1828-1901) of Liverpool, organized the event with a bet against O'Leary of £100, that O'Leary could not beat Weston's recent solo six-day mark of 500.5 miles under the exact same conditions on the same track. The English, skeptical of this newcomer, commented, “He is much prettier and a more rapid walker than Weston, but his dress is not near so neat as that worn by Weston.” To the British, how you looked was just as important as how you performed.

Interest in Liverpool was intense.  Trams were filled, taking spectators to the rink where they would pay one shilling to watch day and night, and be entertained by a band.  O’Leary walked strongly on the first day, reaching 106 miles. On day two, show fatigue, he reached 169 miles and was 11 miles behind Weston’s pace.  He usually walked with a pacer who helped keep him awake by chatting and he improved, reaching 263 miles after three days despite being ill. Unable to take in solid food, he fueled mostly on soup and "slops." He didn't like walking to the music of a brass band, so a string orchestra replaced it. On the final days he lived on oysters stewed in milk. After five days, he reached 427 miles, and it was believed to be “doubtless” that he would succeed.

By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

The year 1876 was a particularly important year in ultrarunning/pedestrian history and thus several episodes have covered the events held that year. It was the year when the six-day races started to spread across America for the first time.

Lost in ultrarunning history, is the story of the first major six-day race held in America with twelve competitors. It was called “The Grand Walking Tournament for the Championship of the World,” held in May 1876, in the massive Exposition Building in Chicago, Illinois. For the first time, the story of this historic race will be retold. In addition, that year, Daniel O’Leary, took the six-day race to California.

Please consider becoming a patron of ultrarunning history. Help to preserve this history by signing up to contribute a little each month through Patreon. Visit https://ultrarunninghistory.com/member

Daniel O’Leary’s influence upon American Pedestrianism

In America, in 1876, Daniel O’Leary, the true pedestrian champion of America, was the driving force to spark interest in the sport. He competed, trained and encouraged other athletes, and invested his own time and money to make events successful. Early in 1876, he especially supported Chicago’s female pedestrians (see episodes 101 and 102). But with his success, outspoken critics emerged.

Oleary had been criticized by some for his handling of the first women's six-day race between Bertha Von Hillern and Mary Marshall that ended in controversy. (see episode 101) “Mr. O’Leary may be a splendid walker, and he may have lined his pockets by this last appearance in public, but as a manager he has proved a lamentable failure and has not added to his reputation as a gentleman.”

Challengers to O’Leary’s Title

O’Leary received continual six-day challenges from others. Now that he was the champion over Weston, he was careful not to waste time with pretenders. When Caleb W. Sidnam (1829-1902), age 57, a travel agent from Chicago, publicly challenged him, O’Leary’s response included, “Of course, I am most desirous of preserving my championship medal, as also the reputation already acquired.” But he countered with strict conditions for the contenders to put up or shut up. Put up guaranteed money to show that they were serious. He said, “During the past few months I have been much annoyed by persons requesting me to give them a start of several miles. I will give no odds whatever, being convinced of the necessity of having such persons make a record on strength of their own merits.”

Henry Schmehl (1851-1932), a German-American, and O’Leary’s friend, was one who hoped to be a challenger. He made it clear that he wanted no handicaps or favors, “that I had better establish a record for myself before I presumed to challenge him.” Thus, he first participated in the six-day race against Ellen Wickers and reached an impressive 502 miles, second only to O’Leary (see episode 102).

When Weston was only able to reach 450 miles in six days in England (see episode 99), Chicago called him a “fraud” and wondered why no international attention was being paid to O’Leary or Schmehl who both exceeded Weston’s best. “Verily, if the Englishmen are astonished at Weston, will they not be amazed at O’Leary if he brings his match to England?”

O’Leary heads to California

Daniel O'Leary

O’Leary took the Overland Railroad across the country in March 1876 to San Francisco, California. He then published a challenge to any man on the Pacific Coast, to race against him from 100-500 miles for as much as $10,000. If a challenger didn’t come forward, he would do a solo six-day walk for 500 miles and try to beat the world best time of 142:54:00, which was a little more than an hour less than six days.

How would California react to this new sport and O’Leary’s brash challenges? One newspaper wrote, “If O’Leary would devote his leg-ability to some useful employment, say,

By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

Ultrarunning in Ukraine has had a long, wonderful history since the early 1970s. As the country is being ravaged from war, ultrarunners around Ukraine have turned their attention to survival, defending their country, or fleeing as refugees to other countries. Ultramarathons, once held regularly in Ukraine, are sadly gone for now.

This episode will highlight the history of ultrarunning in Ukraine and profile some of the very talented Ukrainian ultrarunners who over the years have been a great inspiration. Ultrarunners from Ukraine ran with joy in the past, but now they run in fear. With most communications cut off from them, thoughts and prayers go out as they deal with the severe violence taking place in their homeland. Some recent news is being heard from Ukrainian ultrarunners.

Over the years, there have been more than 5,000 ultrarunners from Ukraine who have walked or ran in ultramarathon events around the world from distances from 50 km to 3,100 miles. Before the pandemic, in 2019, there were 30 ultramarathons held in Ukraine and at least 1,300 Ukrainians finished ultras that year.

100km Along the Belt of Glory

The first ultra in Ukraine was started in 1974, while the country was still part of the Soviet Union. It is called “100km Along the Belt of Glory” held in Odessa, Ukraine’s biggest port city. The race has been held every year since, for the 48 years. It was established to dedicate the day of liberation of Odessa from the Nazi invaders on April 10, 1944.

The race, with a 24-hour cutoff, used to run a big loop around Odessa, but recently starts in Shevchenko Park, near the monument to the "Unknown Soldier," and then runs a big loop through Odessa, visiting many of monuments of the Second World War. It was first organized as a walking event in 1974 with 128 starters, and eventually evolved into a running ultra. The race’s largest year was in 1988 when there were 2,111 starters and 889 finishers in under 12 hours.

The current organizers wrote this description, “On April 10, 1944, the troops of the 3rd Ukrainian Front liberated our city from the fascist invaders. And on April 6, 1974, the inaugural ‘100 km along the Belt of Glory’ took place. Since then, every year, without exception, at the beginning of April, a walking “hundredth” starts. "We can run because you stood still!" - this phrase has become the motto of the hundred. Sadly, and obviously, the race will not be held this year for the first time since 1974.

The Belt of Glory 100km has had many traditions through the years. Guitarists walk along playing songs, accompanying the walkers and runners for the first 15 kilometers. At the finish line is played, “We are the Champions,” recognizing all those that finish as champions of the event. Finishers then get to dine on a signature soup cooked with love in the field kitchen.

During the 1980s, the race was dominated by Vitalii Kovel (1947-) of Russia, a seven-time finisher, who still holds event record with a time of 6:14:12. He also holds five of the six fastest times in the history of the race. Among the women, Natalya Marimorich (1949-) of Ukraine has had the most wins, six from 1976 to 1985. The course record is held by Tatiana Khomich of Belaris with a time of 8:31:00, set in 1990. In 2021, the overall winner was Saaryan Andrey Pavlovich with 8:13. The women’s champion was Valentina Kovalskaya with 10:05.

The Stadium Run in Odessa

The runners in Odessa can be credited for being the pioneers of Ukrainian Ultrarunning. In 1988, another race was established in Odessa, a 24-hour track race that started a long tradition of fixed-time ultras in Ukraine.  It was held annually in late October for ten years and called the “24 Hours Stadium Run” and held in Spartak Stadium. For the first year, there were 35 runners from Ukraine, Russia, Latvia, and Moldavia. Valerii Gubar (1948-) of Russia won with 163 miles/262 kms.

By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

Women's Six-Day Race

In 1876, Chicago, Illinois was the six-day race capital of the world. A six-day race frenzy broke out in many other cities, after the incredible Mary Marshall vs. Bertha Von Hillern race was held in February 1876. (see episode 101).  They showed America that not only could men pile up miles in six days, but women could too, even mothers.

Both men and women sought to race for fame and fortune, even some who weren’t properly trained. There were so many people who wanted a piece of this action that the Chicago Tribune wrote that it would no longer publish challenges unless there was proof that money had been forfeited (secured) for a six-day wager.  This new policy was put in place “in view of the extraordinary lunacy which has lately been prevalent among the boys and women of Chicago on the question of walking matches and challenges.”

The 1876 six-day craze took place especially among women. This episode will continue to tell the story of the earliest women six-day races. At least twelve six-day races involving women were held in 1876. Pedestrian historians have missed most of this history. The forgotten story has been discovered and can now be told.

Please consider supporting ultrarunning history by signing up to contribute a little each month through Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ultrarunninghistory

Millie Rose vs. Anna Mattice in Cincinnati

Millie Rose, age 27, the infamous cowhide-wielding fiery pedestrian originally from England, had tasted some of the exciting six-day race between Mary Marshall and Bertha Von Hillern in early February 1876. (See episode 101). She immediately wanted a race of her own and found it in Cincinnati, Ohio. There, she competed against Anna Mattice, a Canadian living in Cincinnati, who was an "older runner." The race began on February 14, 1876, at the Cincinnati Exposition Hall, on a track measured to be 15 laps to the mile. Rose, who had not yet won a race, claimed to be “the champion female pedestrian of America.”

For a surprise side-show during this Cincinnati race, Rose’s seven-year-old daughter Louise “Lulu” Rose walked an impressive 10 miles in 2:25:50. In the end, Millie Rose won in a shortened five-day match with 207 miles to Mattice’s 187 miles. Mattice only managed 19 miles on the last day.

Millie Rose vs. Clara Hubbard in Toledo

With that success, Rose wanted more. Just one week later, on February 26, 1876, another woman’s six-day race was held. At Toledo, Ohio, in Toledo Hall, Rose took on young Clara A. Hubbard (1859-1909), age 18, of Chicago, Illinois. The race started on a Saturday at 10 a.m., probably to attract spectators, instead of the typical early Monday start right after midnight. This race was scheduled for six and a half days.

The event attracted great curiosity in Toledo. On day two, more than 1,000 spectators watched as Rose reached 88 miles and Hubbard 77 miles. On day three (after 2.5 days), both were doing well, and the score was Rose 132 and Hubbard 121. Running was obviously permitted or ignored because the women were able to clock amazingly fast miles. Hubbard’s fastest mile was run in 8:22.

On day five, Rose’s seven-year-old daughter Lulu, raced against a nine-year-old boy for an hour. She reached five miles in 57 minutes. The little girl, with her mother’s fire, immediately challenged the boy to continue the race to 20 miles, but the boy wisely declined.

Crowd-control was always a problem during these popular events. During the evening, a local bartender forced his way onto the track and refused to leave. “The affair caused a little excitement, but the fellow was ejected in a few minutes and the performance went on. The management took precautions against any such annoying episodes in the future.” Rose was ahead with 204 miles to Hubbard’s 186.

On day six, Rose had a 24-mile lead, but Hubbard was narrowing the deficit fast,

By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

In early 1876 while Edward Payson Weston was taking on England in storm, embarrassing the British long-distance walkers and runners in the first six-day race in that country (see episode 99), the six-day race continued to be of growing interest in America, this time among women! Some in the press called these female wonders, “Pedestriennes.”

Was America truly ready to accept that idea that women could walk or run for days, for hundreds of miles? Obviously, there were strong cultural beliefs during the era that it was improper for women to participate in distance walking and running.

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 started to compete that New York City considered passing an ordinance banning “all public exhibitions of female pedestrianism.”

Please consider supporting ultrarunning history by signing up to contribute a little each month through Patreon. Visit https://www.patreon.com/ultrarunninghistory

Early Women Pedestrians

Emma Sharp - Barclay walker from 1864

In 1876, female pedestrians were not entirely new.  As early as 1844 in England, women started to attempt the Barclay Match, walking 1,000 miles in consecutive 1,000 hours, one mile each hour (see episode 18).  Several British women were successful over the next thirty years. Often men wagering against their success would attempt to assault them to make them fail.

In America, in 1868, Anne Fitzgibbons, “Madame Moore,” a clog dancer from England, exported women pedestrianism to America. She began putting on 50-mile walking exhibitions in upstate New York, wearing “male attire” during her walks, for which she was arrested. She went on to be the first known woman to walk 100 miles in less than 24 hours.

There was speculation whether American women could be ultra-distance pedestrians. “American girls are generally poor walkers, and it will soon be a difficulty to find an American lady who can walk more than twenty minutes without complaining of fatigue. They pay too much attention to the shape and make of their boots for pedestrian performances.” A few isolated ultra-distances walks were performed by women during the early 1870s. In 1871, Lydia Nye walked 30 miles in eight hours over a rough, mountainous road near Bennington, Vermont. She received national attention in the newspapers.

In 1874 a woman created quite a stir who had walked all the way from Kansas City, to Sacramento, California “in search of a truant husband.” She wouldn’t take rides offered or ride the railroad because of a fear of trains. “That husband will be the biggest fool of the two if he ever lets her catch him.” Other women soon started to make walks of huge distances, getting their names in the news.

In 1875, M’lle Lola, a gymnast, and trapeze performer, walked 30 miles against a man in P.T. Barnum’s New York City Hippodrome (see episode 97) gaining intense fame.

Time for a Women-only Six Day Race

Chicago, Illinois seemed to be the right place for women pedestrians to race for six days for the first time and gain initial acceptance. Daniel O’Leary had energized the city with his historic six-day victory over Edward Payson Weston late in 1875 (see episode 98). Two daring women took the stage to be the first women in history to compete in a six-day race: Bertha Von Hillern and Mary Marshall.

Bertha Von Hillern

Bertha Von Hillern (1853-1939) was born in Stadtkreis Trier, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany on August 4, 1853. Her mother encouraged and trained her in activities of strength and endurance. She joined in with boys in walking contests and she would outlast them all. They would “gaze with mortified astonishment at the little figure, erect, quiet, moving silently and steadily on toward the goal.” It was reported, "She began to study the science of pedestrianism when but twelve ...

By Davy Crockett and Phil Lowry

You can read, listen, or watch

In Auburn, California, on the evening of July 30, 1972, an awards banquet was held at the fairgrounds for the finishers of the Western States Trail Ride, also known as the Tevis Cup. There was additional excitement that year among the exhausted riders, who early that morning had finished the most famous endurance ride in the world. Not only would the 93 riders receive their finisher belt buckles, but they would witness a trophy awarded to the first person in history to finish the famed trail, not on a horse, but on foot. The special trophy was made and would be presented by the ride’s founder, and president, Wendell Robbie.

But when the trophy was presented, it was not awarded to Gordy Ainsleigh. His important accomplishment would come two years later. He was not the first to finish Western States on foot, despite the marketing hype you may have been told for 45 years. Ainsleigh was in the audience and watched the trophy and other awards go to the true first finishers. This is the story that has been left out of Western States 100 history.

Note: Also listen to the audio episode for a discussion at the end between the two researchers/authors of this article.

 

Learn the true history of Western States 100, including this story in the new books covering the history of the 100-milers. This true story is covered in detail in part two: https://ultrarunninghistory.com/100miles2/

Fort Riley, Kansas

Today, where is the trophy for the first finisher on foot? It likely resides forgotten in a dusty storage room in Fort Riley, Kansas, 140 miles west of Kansas City. Perhaps, similar to the depiction in the movie Raiders of the Lost Ark, the trophy will stay hidden for another 50 years. What is the true story behind this “first finisher on foot” trophy, and who received it? It was a front-page story in the Auburn Journal that was later forgotten and buried.

How the First Finisher Story Started

Mary Lyles McCarthy

The Western States first finisher story started in 1967 with a young woman named Mary Bradley Lyles (1948-), of Visalia, California. Mary's father had served in the cavalry in World War II and passed on his passion for horsemanship to his daughters. As teens, Mary and her two sisters, Anne and Peggy became very involved in equestrian events, shows, competitions and weekly training events outside their back door. Their mother would support them by driving horse trailers all over.  Mary became a very experienced rider and completed the 1967 Western States Trail Ride at the age of 18. It had been an amazing experience riding day and night across the High Sierra. She married Joseph Thomas McCarthy (1945-) in 1969, who was in the army and soon was sent off to fight the war in Vietnam.

Joseph McCarthy in 1969

After returning from the war, Capt. McCarthy was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. He became the leader of an adventure team consisting of many Vietnam veterans still in the service.

As McCarthy was looking for a hard endurance adventure to test his team, his wife, Mary, proposed that the team try to cover the Western States Trail on foot, with the horses, during the Western States Trail Ride that year.

General Edward Flanagan

McCarthy loved the idea and received initial approval from Fort Riley post commander, General Edward M. Flanagan, Jr. (1921-2019), who had formed the adventure team, part of the 6th Battalion of the 67th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. Having the team climb over the Sierra for 100 miles in military-issue leather boots and fatigues could be viewed as “fun” for recruiting purposes.

Plans for the March

Wendell Robie

Early in 1972, McCarthy contacted Wendell Robie (1895-1984), the president of the Western States Trail Ride to ask permission for his team to march the trail during the upcoming ride. He explained to Robie, “The Army has a new program of providing its men with challenges...

By Davy Crockett

You can read, listen, or watch

The six-day challenge (running as far as you could in six days) originally started in England during the late 1700s. Fifty years later, in the 1820s, a six-day frenzy occurred as many British athletes sought to reach 400 or more miles in six days (see episode 91). But then, six-day attempts were essentially lost for the next 50 years. Surprisingly, it was the Americans who resurrected these events in the early 1870s and brought them indoors for all to witness.

The Brits believed they owned the running sport and surely their athletes were superior and could beat the upstart Americans, Edward Payson Weston and Daniel O'Leary. It was written, “They cannot be expected to be much better than those bred in England.” Both American and British runners/walkers wanted to prove that they were the best and challenges were sent back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean. The British did not realize that in 1875, there was no one truly skilled and trained in England to do heel-toe walking for the distances that Weston and O’Leary were doing in America.  Thus, Weston took the English bait and boarded a steamship to England.

Please consider becoming a patron of ultrarunning history. Help to preserve this history by signing up to contribute a little each month through Patreon. Visit https://ultrarunninghistory.com/member

British Pedestrian Talent

The British attitude toward Americans in athletics at the time was characterized in one of their sporting newspapers. “Americans have long looked upon us as being far behind the times, while they have prided themselves on their ability to go ahead of all creation. This may be true, or it may not be so, but there can be no doubt that we have on all occasions shown ourselves fully equal to them in all branches of sport.” Another explained it this way, “We Englishmen only believe what we see of American prowess is the extreme untruthfulness of American sportsmen. We are not in the least degree jealous of their athletic prowess, we are only skeptical.”

Lillie Bridge Grounds

The current Pedestrian hero in England was William T. Perkins, “The Champion Walker in England.” On September 20, 1875, at the Lillie Bridge grounds in London, England, the home of the London Athletic Club, he covered eight miles in 59:05 in front of 5,000 people. In England “Pedestrianism” was not limited to walking, it included distance running and short-distance “sprint running.” But interest was low. During December 1875, a Sporting newspaper wrote, “Professional pedestrianism is at its lowest ebb in London.” The first long-distance running race, professional or amateur in more than a year was scheduled for December 26th that year, a ten mile-race held at Lillie Bridge.

Reaction in England to Weston-O’Leary Race

Weston and O'Leary

British sports writers doubted the results of the December 1875 Weston-O’Leary six-day race in Chicago won by O’Leary (see episode 98). A respected British sportswriter, Easterling, wrote, “Either O’Leary is a wonder of endurance such as has never been before even dream of, or he isn’t, and that can only be tested by his walking against some known man round a large ground or on a road. Not to mince matters, the reason we Englishmen only believe what we see of American prowess, is the extreme untruthfulness of American sportsmen.”

A running/walking expert in London carefully looked over the statistics of the Weston-O’Leary six-day race. He was impressed with the amount of data collected but wondered about competing that distance in “a covered building.” Indoor running competitions were not yet taking place in England, and it was believed that there were many British professional athletes who could beat “the Yankee horses,” Weston or O’Leary, easily on roads outside, rather than in comfy looping indoor accommodations, events which they referred to as “dreary tramps.”

William Curtis