Did you know that in the late 1800’s athletes walked up to 100 miles per day - for 6 days?!

Famous sporting personalities have long since been commonplace. However, few will be aware that, during the 1870’s and 1880’s, professional pedestrians competed against each other in gruelling races for up to six days - and nights - on indoor sawdust tracks.

Resting for just a few hours each day, they literally ate ‘on the trot’ and underwent tremendous hardship... all in the name of sport. Beginning in 1861, when an American made a bet to walk a certain distance in 10 days, the incredible story of pedestrianism ends in 1888 as the sport witnesses its greatest feat.

Often referred to as ‘walking matches,’ or ‘go-as-you-please’ races, Madison Square Garden in New York and the Agricultural Hall in London were just two of the venues in the big cities of America and the UK to attract the best contestants.

This book provides a fascinating insight into this hugely popular 19th century sport. Successful athletes won massive prize money, a share of the gate receipts and ornamental gold belts from ruthless promoters who made lucrative livings from thousands of enthusiastic fans.

But a pedestrian had to be tough to stay at the top. The reader will journey into a world where the likes of ’Black Dan’, the ‘Brooklyn Cobbler’, the‘Cambridge Wonder’, the ‘Flying Collier’, the ‘Sharp Sheffield Blade’, and the ‘Wily Wobbler’ competed in appalling conditions and exhibited unbelievable courage.

Pedestrianism provided incredible riches for those willing to push themselves to the limits of physical endurance. Influenced by money and suffering, it reached the end of its limits; a sporting legacy lost to the passage of time.

In this book, pedestrianism’s exciting history and reputation has been brought back to the public’s attention.

The careers of hundreds of professional international pedestrians are presented in this book. After considering all the evidence, I invite you the reader to decide who deserves to be crowned…... King Of The Peds.