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. | ||||
| 1 mile | A. T. Yeomans. . | 6 191
|
1906 | Bath |
| 2 miles | A. T. Yeomans. . | 12 531 | 1906 | Swansea |
| 3 .. | J. W. Raby (professional) | 20 21} | 1885 | Lillie Bridge |
| 4 .. | G. E. Larncr . . | ^7 14 | 1905 | Brighton |
| 5 » | W. Raby . . | 35 10 | 1883 | Lillie Bridge |
| 10 „ | J. W. Raby . . | » »4 45 | 1883 | Lillie Bridge |
| 15 » | J. W. Raby . . | 1 55 50 | 1883 | Lillie Bridge |
| 20 „ | W. Perkins . . | 2 39 57 | 1877 | Lillie Bridge |
| 30 „ | J. Butler . . . | 4 29 52 | 1905 | Putney |
| 40 » | J. Butler . . . | 6 11 17 | 1905 | Putney |
| 50 ,. | J. Butler . | 7 52 27 | 1905 | Putney |
| 100 „ | T. E. Hammond . | 17 25 22 | 1907 | London to Brighton and back |
The record distance walked in l 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, 1. Butler, in 1905; in 24 hours, 131 m. 580} 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.