Manual of British Rural Sports

PART 11. RACING IN ALL,ITS BRANCHES. BOOK VII.—PEDESTRIANISM,AND GENERAL TRAINING OF MAN. CHAR L DESCRIPTION OF PEDESTRIANISM. 279. BY PEDESTEIANISM is understood, in racing parlance, the contest between two or more men, orbetween a mand time, in walking, running, leaping, vaulting, &c. 280. IN QUICK WALKING, which is the oniy kind useful in racing, the body is Inclined forwards, and the heel touches the ground before the toes, which next receive the weight. As the former is raised ftom the ground by the straightening of the ankle, at the same time projecting forward the wholebody, the toes come under the centre of gravity and receive the weight; and as the body is still lurther pushed forward, the other leg swings by its follow; and before thetoes ofthe first are raised from the ground, the heel of the second reaches it. Hence, this iscalled walking "toe-and-heel." In this kindof walking, from 180 to 200 steps per minute are usually taken, according to the distance to be walked; and in very short spirts, with small, quick, and active men, fully 220 steps are the average per minute. From 6 to 6i miles perhour is the outside rate of walk­ ing, except in very extraordinary pedes­ trians like Mr. Hull, who, some years back. Is said to havewalked 7 miles per hour; and, ina matchwith Mountjoy, to have completed 1 mile in 7 m utes 13 seconds, 2 miles in 15 minutes 20 seconds, and 4 miles in 32 minutes exactly, which, if correct, is the fastest time on record. There was, however, great doubt as to thefairness of the walking; but many experienced pedes­ trians were of opinion that his wasa fair "toe-and-heel" walk. The great art is to keep the knees supple and not too straight, and to make use of the arm as a balance- spring, or evenas akind ofulcrum; but in this respect walkers vary a gre t deal, some, likeMountjoy, using great action of the arms, and others k eping them as still as if they were glued to their bodies. 281. Running is a different action to w lk­ ing, being,in fact, a series of small leaps, with one footat atime, and each alter­ nately, whilst hopping is with one foot only. The upper partof the body is inclined forwards, the head well up, and even a little back, except in running "spirts." The breast is well expanded, and the shoulders thrown back, with the arms raised, the elbows bent, the fingers clenched intothe palm of the hand, and the wholenppcr extremity as rigid as possible,in order to allow of the auxiliarymuscles of respira­ tion actingwith their full force. There is a great variety in the use and actio legs indifferent runners; most, however, keep their knees rather s raight, and alnK,-t graze the ground with their feet; t is on the balls of the toes, and slightly also on the toes themselves;and thesprin? is made rapidly from one footto the other, e ch passing its fellow and taking its turn with great rapidity; at the same ti is avery slightmovement of the anns In unison with the legs,but scarcely visible except on close inspection. Good wind is as groata requisite as good legs, and no one should attempt a running-match he hasa full volume of lungs, and a so and strong heart. The besttime In which the various distances have been done is as followsA quarter of a mile in a minute; half amile in 2 minutes down-hill, or2} minut s on level ground; 1 mile in 4J minutes; 2 miles in rather less than 10 minutes; 4 miles in 20i minutes; 10 miles in the hour; 15 miles in 1 hour 35 minutes; and 20 miles in 2 hours and a quart, r. Captain Barclay walked 1,000 miles i successive hours; and sincehis time^tlie feat hasbeen repeated, and even excecili by doing 1,000 half-miles in 1,000 hall-hours. 282. The Conditions of walking -matc are generally in writing, specifying t man or men shall start at the drop handkerchief, or other signal agreed upon: and that the walker must keep to a "toe-and-heel walk"—that is tosay, tw either the toe of one foot or the heel of11 other must always bo in contact with ground. An umpire on each side is ap­ pointed, who follow the men closely, either exceeds tho " toe-and-hcel wal . running (in which case there is a m ' im . when both feet are clear of the gronna).^ umpire named by his opponent calls t • to turn, and he must do o or lose the ® ' unless the order of the oneumpire is - pu ed b the other, iu which case referee, who hasalso been appoui' 6 tho umpires, decides between st being call d upon to turn, the walker turn completely round, and also aiw-