Planet UltraMarathon

The Mudgee Newspaper, December 7, 1858

PEDESTRIANISM. – The astonishing feat of walking 1000 miles in 1000 consecutive hours, is now being performed at the Olympic Theatre, Melbourne, by Allan McKean. He commenced on Tuesday, and at midnight, yesterday, completed his 42nd mile. He walks at a quarter before every hour and a quarter after. The shortest time occupied by him in walking a mile was at ten o’clock on Tuesday night, when he accomplished the distance in eight minutes and forty seconds. – M. Herald.

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The Mudgee Newspaper, January 18, 1859

THE GREAT WALKING MATCH AGAINST TIME. – On Monday night the 3rd inst., at 20 minutes past 10 the pedestrian, Allan McKean, accomplished his herculean task of walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours. For the last few days this event has caused great excitement in the sporting world, although there appeared to be only one opinion, namely, that McKean was possessed of sufficient powers of endurance to complete his task. The Olympic Theatre, which has been the arena on which this match was performed, was last evening crammed to excess, there being, as near as it is possible to form an opinion, between 500 and 600 persons present, every available corner being taken possession of. Allan McKean, it will be remembered, accomplished the feat of walking 1000 miles in 1000 hours at Ballarat a few weeks only before he commenced his second attempt in Melbourne, on Tuesday, November 23, at a quarter to 8 o’clock a.m., and it was generally thought that he had not allowed himself sufficient rest, but the event has proved that he did not overrate his capabilities. The shortest time in which he has walked a mile has been 8 min. 40 secs., and the longest time 26 mins. and 44 secs., that being during the period at which he was suffering a very severe sore on the sole of the foot. He completed his thousandth mile in fifteen minutes thirty-nine seconds, and appeared to be as little fatigued as when he had accomplished one-half of his allotted distance. Upon the completion of the 27th round, he was most loudly cheered, and it was some time before sufficient silence could be obtained for the result to be made known. – Argus of Tuesday.

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The Mudgee Newspaper, November 8, 1859

PEDESTRIANISM. – A Miss Beverly Howard has accomplished the feat of walking 1250 miles in 1000 consecutive hours. The Ballarat Times says: - “Those who had seen the almost utterly helpless state to which the task of walking one thousand miles in (one) thousand hours rendered Allan McKean here, on Ballarat, expected to see Miss Beverly Howard creep or crawl rather than walk her last rounds; but it was not so: she was neither lame, nor halt, nor slow, but walked her last one and a quarter mile in 21 minutes and 45 seconds, or at almost a regular pace, with her body suitably thrown forward, but not bent, with a free motion of both hands and feet, and with no perceptible heaviness of step.”

EXTRAORDINARY PEDESTRIAN FEAT.

The Evening Standard of 18th February has the following account of Weston’s unparalleled feat: - The great walking match is at length over, and Weston, the famous American pedestrian, has succeeded in covering no less than 180 miles of ground by fair heel and toe walking in forty-eight hours. It is difficult to compare this performance with any that have gone before, for the simple reason that no long distance walking matches like the one Weston has just concluded have ever taken place before in this country. On one or two occasions men like Captain Barclay and Powell have undertaken to go long distances, getting over the ground the best way they could on foot, or, in other words, walking or running, as best suited them. But the difference between this and fair walking is obvious, and this fact should be borne in mind in order that Weston’s performance may meet with due appreciation. The difference is very marked when it is remembered that Manx once backed himself to travel on foot 100 miles in twelve hours, and his powers were so well known that no one could be found to back time. After leaving off on Wednesday night about twenty-five minutes past eleven o’clock, Weston resumed his walk 27 min. 53 sec. past three o’clock yesterday morning, thus having had a rest of four hours, the distance accomplished after this point being a little over 107 miles. He continued walking at a by no means rapid pace, and at 44 min. 20 sec. after eight caused a slight diversion by taking a cornet and playing God Save the Queen while he walked around, apparently as fresh as ever, and evidently meaning to persevere till the bitter end. By twelve o’clock he had gone 138 miles and four laps. By 1.45 p.m. he was still walking steadily, and had accomplished a little over 146 miles of ground. Strange to say, as he went on he seemed rather to increase in strength than to begin to exhibit any sign of fatigue. The hall was very far from crowded. By 3.40 he had walked not less than 154 miles. Those present seemed greatly interested in his undoubtedly great performance, and there were a few private bets as to the 180 miles being accomplished in the 48 hours. By six o’clock he had completed 44 hours out of the 48, and had in the time got over 163 miles of ground, and as he drew nearer to the finish of his journey the interest felt by the spectators was evidently increasing. At the end of the 171st mile Weston took a rest of about 12 minutes, when he started again, apparently fresher than ever. Starting at twenty-five minutes past seven, he walked his next mile in the good time of 12 min. 20 sec. – a wonderful rate of speed considering the distance he had travelled. By eight o’clock the hall was fairly filled. The crowd now cheered at almost every lap, and loud applause greeted the completion of the 175th mile by 8 h. 30 min. 44 sec., for now the180 mile in the forty-eight hours seemed not merely possible but very probable. At the end of the 180 th mile the enthusiasm was at its height. Weston succeeded in accomplishing this distance in 5 min. 53 sec. under the forty-eight hours. He continued to walk on, and went two laps and three quarters more, when the pistol, announcing that time was up, was fired. At the end of the long journey, so far from being fatigued, Weston mounted the judge’s box and made a short speech, in the course of which he stated that, though he had been walking in different pedestrian matches for eight years, the first time he had met with really fair play was on British ground. A few words of well-merited praise for the services of his attendant, Jack Hopkins, were equally well received. Weston intends attempting the feat of walking 275 miles in 75 consecutive hours, and will start at the Agricultural Hall at eight o’clock on Tuesday next.