The 6-Day Race became a standard footrace distance in the 1870s and was a popular form of entertainment with up to 70,000 paying visitors during such a Pedestrians event. However the widespread use of the bicycle from 1890 caused it to be replaced as spectator sport by cycle races of the same duration.[1] It was in two forms: strict "heel-and-toe" racewalking, or "go-as-you-please" combination of walking, jogging, running.
In 1773, Foster Powell, of England, started the focus on walking/running for six days when he walked from London to York and back, 400miles, in six days and is considered the “Father of the Six-Day Race.”[2] The first six-day race in history was put on by P.T. Barnum of circus fame, in his New York City Hippodrome on March 1, 1875, between Edward Payson Weston and "Professor" John R. Judd. Weston won with 431miles to Judd's 222miles.[3] The second race was held November 15, 1875, between Weston and Daniel O'Leary in Chicago, Illinois, with O'Leary emerging victorious with 503miles and Weston finished with 451miles.[4] On March 6, 1876, the first six-day race was held in England, inside the Royal Agricultural Hall, in Islington, London, won by Weston with 450miles. His nearest competitor, W. Newman finished with 190miles.[5] The first six-day race between women was held in 1876, in Chicago Illinois, between Bertha Von Hillern and Mary Marshall. Marshal won with 233.9miles to 231.5miles.[6] In a re-match between Weston and O'Leary in 1877, O'Leary was victorious again and the excitement created enough interest for Sir John Dugdale Astley, a British Member of Parliament, to inaugurate a series of 6 day races to determine the "Long distance Champion of The World". These became known as the "Astley Belt" races and cash prizes were offered. O'Leary won the first two and was thwarted by Charles Rowell in his quest for three in a row. Weston won the fourth, setting a record of 550miles and Rowell won the final three multiday races to permanently keep the Astley Belt.
| P. | Athlete | Nationality | Miles | Km | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 480 | 772.89 | |||
| 2 | 461 | 742 | |||
| 3 | 452 | 727.5 | |||
| 4 | 450 | 724.6 | |||
| 5 | 438 | 705.1 | |||
| 6 | 401 | 645.8 | |||
| 7 | 225 | 362.1 |
In 1880, Frank Hart set a new record of 565miles earning $17,000, a fortune at the time.
Between 26 November and 1 December 1888, George Littlewood of Sheffield, England, created a new world record of 623 miles 1,320 yards—a record that wasn't beaten for 96 years.
By the early 1890s the six-day races were in decline and no longer drawing the public or offering large prizes. They were discontinued by 1903 because local laws were passed to disallow amusement events lasting more than a day.[7]
It wasn't until Don Choi hosted a 6-day race on July 4, 1980. at Woodside California that interest began to grow again.[8] Briton Mike Newton became the first man to cover 500 miles/800 km in a modern 6-day race at Nottingham in November 1981. In 1982, Tom O'Reilly took the 6-day total to 576 miles/927 km. In 1984 Yiannis Kouros twice ran over 1022km (635miles) setting a new world record that would stand until 2005 when he broke his own record again with 1036km (644miles) at the Cliff Young Australian 6-day race in Colac, Australia. This record would stand until 2024 when ran 1,046km in Hungary.
The first women's 6-day race took place in 1876 and was won by May Marshall with 233miles. Camille Herron set the current women's World Best of 901.763km (560.33miles) in March 2024 at Further.[9]