159: Ted Corbitt – Part Two (1953-1963)

By Davy Crockett After Ted Corbitt's disappointing 1952 Olympic marathon, he was determined to continue running. (Read Part One). His key takeaway was that he had to elevate his performance by running more often and covering greater distances. But as he continued to push his training, he experienced a series of chronic muscle strains for the next year. Corbitt was focused on the marathon distance and continued to finish high each year at Boston. He believed that success would require training every day, reaching at least 100 miles per week. His perseverance finally paid off in January 1954, when he emerged victorious in a marathon held in Philadelphia, completing it in 2:36:08. He won again, at the 1954 Yonkers Marathon, considered the national championship, with a time of 2:46:13. He had proven that his 1952 Olympic selection was justified. In 1955, he made the team for the Pan American team in Mexico City but was cut from the team became of lack of funds. It bothered him that some newspapers listed him as a non-finisher in the race. He never started it. Throughout his long running career, he never had a "did not finish (DNF)." Learn about the rich and long history of ultrarunning. There are now ten books available in the Ultrarunning History series on Amazon Learn More The 1956 Olympics were to be held in Melbourne, Australia, during the month of December, which caused alterations to everyone’s training calendars. With the goal of making the Olympic team again, he surpassed 5,000 miles in 1956. If the Olympics had been held during the northern hemisphere summer, he would have made the team. But after a six-place finish at the Yonkers Marathon, held during the fall, he fell to the alternate place for the team. Corbitt was obviously very disappointed that he missed being on the ’56 team by just one man. He recalled, “It was like being in mourning.” Still, he never contemplated quitting running. In May 1956, he set the American record for a marathon on the track with 2:42:25 in Philadelphia, and became the U.S. National Champion at 30 kilometers, competed on a one-mile bicycle loop in Cincinnati. He repeated in 1957. Corbitt's future involvement in ultrarunning would take root with the London to Brighton race held in England. London To Brighton Ultra-distance races essentially disappeared during the World War II era. In the late 1950s, the modern era of American ultrarunning gave birth. This was largely because of the efforts of the Road Runner Club of America (RRCA) established in 1958, and also because of the efforts of Corbitt. England took the lead in the 1950s to reestablish ultras, and specifically the 50-miler. The London to Brighton 52-miler began as an official running race in 1951 with 47 starters. It had been a standard point-to-point challenge for both walkers and runners since the first running race held in 1897. Heel and Toe walking races were held for many years on the route during the first half of the twentieth century. In 1951, the London to Brighton running race was established by Ernest Herbert Neville (1883-1972) and the Surbiton Town Sports Club. It would eventually be considered the de facto world championship 50-mile race for several decades. The Road Runners Club (RRC) In England, the Road Runners Club (RRC) was founded in 1952 by Neville to help promote London to Brighton and to encourage more long-distance running. “The aim of the RRC is to bring together all those interested in long distance running, to stimulate interest in our great sport, to serve as a forum for all enthusiasts, and to further the interests of road runners everywhere.” By 1953, London to Brighton got the attention of leading long distances runners from other areas of the world, especially among ultrarunners in South Africa who had been running the Comrades Marathon (54 miles). London to Brighton became the race that the best ultrarunners in the world wanted to compete in.

By Davy Crockett Ted Corbitt, known as "The Father of American Ultrarunning," was from South Carolina, Cincinnati, Ohio, and New York City. Ultrarunning has existed for more the 200 years, but with the Great Depression and World War II, it went on a long hiatus in America. Because of Corbitt’s efforts, running past the marathon distance took root in the New York City area, starting in the late 1950s. Not only was he a world-class runner, but he became a talented administrator, and race organizer that made huge contributions toward innovations to the sport, such as course measurements, that we take for granted today. All ultrarunners need to take time to learn who this man was and not let the memory of him fade. He was the first person to be inducted into the American Ultrarunning Hall of Fame. Because of his significance to the sport, this will be a multi-part article/episode. Visit TedCorbitt.com to learn far more about this amazing athlete and man. Also, you can read his official biography by John Chodes: Corbitt: The Story of Ted Corbitt, Long Distance Runner. Theodore “Ted” Corbitt (1919-2007) was born in Dunbarton, Barnwell, South Carolina, to John Henry Corbitt (1894-1974) and Alma Bing (1895-2003). Dunbarton was a railroad stop town with agriculture as the main focus. His father, John, was a cotton and corn farmer and part-time preacher. Corbitt’s ancestors from the Corbitt and Bing lines were enslaved in South Carolina for many generations. Ted's Grandfather, Ezekiel Bing His grandfather, Deacon Zeek Bing (1855-1938) was born into slavery, also in Barnwell County. In 1860, there were at least 17,000 slaves in the county. Most of them had ancestry from Angola, Africa. Children on the cotton plantations started to work by about the age of five and by 10-12 years old did hard adult work. When freedom came after the Civil War, the hard work as freedmen to survive in South Carolina did not go away. Ted Corbitt was the oldest child in his family. He later had two sisters, Bernice (Corbitt) Buggs (1926-2006) and Louise Estelle (Corbitt) Fairbanks (1927-2022) and two brothers, Elijah Corbitt (1928-1999), and Henry Corbitt (1924-1925) who died as an infant. As a youth, Corbitt worked hard on the family farm, which eventually grew to 160 acres. At times, he would pick more than 100 pounds of cotton in a day. He had to walk a total of four miles each day to get to and from his school, using the narrow, dusty roads and trails. His grandfather, Henry Corbitt (1873-) lived nearby. Grandpa Corbitt had good running and jumping abilities as a youth, and he inspired Corbitt with stories of his athletic adventures. The Bings, who were his mother's relatives, enjoyed greater financial success, and his mother's ambition encouraged him to succeed academically and attend college. In 1929, Corbitt's family relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio, when he was about ten years old, due to the challenges of farming in South Carolina. During the Great Depression, they lived in the West End, which was the center of Cincinnati’s black community. The neighborhood had a high concentration of inexpensive housing covering a 35-block area. It was the home to 70% of the city’s black community. Times were very hard. His father worked as a pick and shovel laborer. They lived at 1027 Richmond Street, which is now a freeway (I-75). Corbitt encountered athletics after arriving in Cincinnati. In junior high, he entered a 60-yard dash and won. As he got bigger and stronger, he became faster. At Woodward High School, he joined the track team. Compared to other high schools in Cincinnati, the school on Sycamore Street had the most inadequate facilities, including the absence of a sports field. It was not until his final year of high school that he really excelled in the 880-yard run. He finished fourth in the city championship. Tarzan Brown During his high school years, he saw a newsreel about the native American,

By Davy Crockett The Astley Belt was the most sought-after trophy in ultrarunning or pedestrianism. This race series was recognized as the undisputed international six-day championship of the world. The international six-day race series was established in 1878 by Sir John Astley, a wealthy sportsman and member of the British parliament. Daniel O’Leary won the first two races and then lost the coveted belt to Charles Rowell of England at the Third Astley Belt held in Madison Square Garden during early 1879. Rowell received several challenges for the belt and, by rule, needed to defend the belt again in 1879 and eventually was scheduled in June. Making challenges to the belt was costly, requiring a deposit of £100, which today would be the same as depositing nearly $20,000. So, you needed to be very wealthy or must have wealthy backers who wanted to see you enter so they could wager on you. The first ultrarunner to make a formal challenge was American, John Ennis, was one of the first to enter. Runner Spotlight - John Ennis John T. Ennis (1842-1929), was a carpenter from Chicago, Illinois. He was born in Richmond Harbor, Longford, Ireland, emigrated to America while young, and served in the Civil War for Illinois. He had been competing in walking since 1868. He beat O’Leary in a handicapped race, early in October 1875, walking 90-miles before O’Leary could reach 100-miles. Additionally, he excelled as an endurance ice-skater. In 1876, he skated for 150 miles in 18:43. Ennis was a veteran of several six-day races, but he usually came up short due to stomach problems. Many in Chicago had turned against him. “Is it not about time that this man should end his nonsensical talk? He has made more failures than any known pedestrian in this country.” His pre-race bio included: “John Ennis of Chicago, a remarkable, but unlucky pedestrian, who on several occasions, with victory almost in his grasp, has been forced to leave the track through sickness.” In 1878, Ennis finally started to taste success. He won a six-day race in Buffalo, New York, but only reached 347 miles. Then he finally had good success walking six days in September 1878, again at Buffalo. He won with 422 miles. The next month, he went to England and raced against Rowell and others in the First English Astley Belt Race where he finished 5th with 410 miles. He finished second in the Third Astley Belt race with 475 miles, winning a fortune of $11,038 ($340,000 value today). He was 5’8” and weight 156 pounds. Before the Race Ennis sailed for England on the steamer City of Berlin, on April 20, 1879, to get a full month of training in England before the race. He said, “I never felt better in my life than now.” During the voyage, he planned to walk up and down the decks to keep himself from getting rusty. He would train at the London Athletic Club at Lillie Bridge, Fulham. He said, “The whole of England is against me, I know, and I shall exert myself to perform the greatest feat in my life, and if possible, to bring the Astley Belt back to the United States.” His wife and three children sailed with him, and they arrived in London on May 5th. Get my new book on Amazon The race was postponed for two weeks until June 16th. The defending champion, Rowell, had to pull out of the race because of an abscess on his heel. During some of his final training, the heel was punctured by a peg or small stone that had to be extracted. “Unfortunately, the chief interest in the present competition is lost, owing to the fact of Rowell having at the last moment, broken down.” This was the first time that the Astley Belt holder would not compete to defend the belt. There were four starters, John Ennis, of Chicago, Edward Payson Weston, of Connecticut (but had been in England for three and a half years), Richard “Dick” Harding, of Blackwall, London, and Henry “Blower” Brown, of Fulham, England, holder of the English Astley Belt,

By Davy Crockett During April 1879, the same month that the new American Championship Belt race was held in New York City, the second English Astley Belt race, for the “Championship of England,” was put on April 21-26, 1879, at the Agricultural Hall in Islington, London, England. While the Americans were putting up mediocre times and distances, still focusing mostly on walking during their six-day races, the Brits would run fast in this race and break 13 ultra-distance world records, proving that they were now the best in the sport. It truly was a mind-blowing race for the time. Sir John Astley In October 1878, Sir John Dugdale Astley (1828-1894), a member of Parliament, created an “English Astley Belt,” or “Championship Belt of England” six-day race series, which had to be competed for in England. It had bothered him that his original “Astley Belt” series had gone to America for its second and third races, so he created an English Astley Belt series. The First English Astley Belt was won by William “Corkey” Gentleman, a vendor of cat food, with a world record 521 miles (see part one, chapter 17). For the second edition of the race in this series, four entrants put up the required £100, including the defending belt holder, William “Corkey” Gentleman (1833-), of Bethnal Green, England. Others were, “Henry “Blower” Brown (1843-1900) of Fulham, England, George Hazael (1845-1911), of London, England, and Edward Payson Weston (1839-1929), the pioneer American six-day pedestrian, who had been in England since 1875. The best six-day finishes to date for each of the entrants were: Corkey – 521, Brown – 506, Hazael – 403, and Weston – 510. In England, just as in America, critics against six-day races were becoming vocal. In Nottingham, it was written, “We are to have another of those ‘wobbling’ contests, of which so many have been inflicted upon us lately. The cure of this disease rests with the public is they abstain from paying the entrance money and stay away from these useless six days’ ‘wobbles.’”  At least eighteen six-day races had been held in England so far, during the past three years. The Start Agricultural Hall The number of people who came out to witness the early morning start of the English Astley Belt Six-Day Race in the Agricultural Hall was impressive. “One would had almost thought that the public interest in this sport would have by this time been on the wane, if not entirely exhausted, but judging from the number of persons who witnessed the start, it does not seem to have abated in the least.” The race would be scheduled for less than 144 hours (six days), 141.5 hours. A little before 1 a.m., on April 21, 1879, the four runners were led to the starting line. Astley gave them some words of caution about fair play. Weston, always the showman, started in “a dark blue cloak with black trunks and scarlet stockings.” He looked bigger and more muscular than anyone could remember. As soon as Astley signaled, the three Englishmen sprinted away, while Weston casually walked, removing his cloak on the second lap to reveal his famous white frilled shirt. The track was measured to be eight laps to a mile. Runner Spotlight – George Hazael George Hazael (1845-1911), of London, England, was an experienced champion ten-mile walker who had been competing since 1870. He was also a true runner and ran the mile in 4:20:15. In 1877, he broke the 20-mile world record with 1:57:27. He started competing at the ultra-long distances in 1877, winning a 30-mile race in London. His first six-day race was in February 1878, at Pomona Gardens, Manchester, England, where he won with 239 miles. In March 1878, Hazel competed in the First Astley Belt Race but quit early with only 50 miles. In April 1878, he broke the 100-mile world record in Agricultural Hall, in London, England, with a time of 17:03:06. He also held the 100-mile walking world record with 18:08:20. In July 1878,

By Davy Crockett New book on Barkley history The Barkley Marathons course (thought to be roughly 130 miles and about 63,000 feet of elevation gain) at Frozen Head State Park was the brain child of Gary Cantrell (Lazarus Lake) and Karl Henn (Rawdawg). The idea for the race was inspired upon hearing about the 1977 escape of James Earl Ray, the assassin of Martin Luther King Jr., from nearby Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary. The first year of the Barkley was 1986. Prior to 2024, only 17 men had finished the entire rugged course within 60 hours, and no women had ever finished. That would change this year. Let’s let Jared Beasley tell the story in his article: Barkley 2024: A Bit Traumatic and Wonderful in Ultrarunning Magazine. Subscribe or renew your subscription to Ultrarunning Magazine with a 25% discount which support Ultrarunning History. Use this form. The Barkley 2024 was predictable: after three finishers last year, no one was expected to make it to the fifth loop. The course would be toughened up. But what unfolded was something altogether different and soon we were dealing with a rash of firsts, tattoos, a Rusty Spoon, a photo gone round the world and an Italian painting from 1603. By 4 a.m. on Friday morning, almost 48 hours after the race began, Jasmin Paris was sitting in a camping chair in a small pool of light near a metal gate attached to a stone pillar. This gate has come to embody the most challenging test in ultrarunning. It’s a test that Paris has been battling for years. Items litter the ground in front of her: an empty Coke bottle, a half-full Coke bottle, a gallon of Minute Maid and a pint of oat milk. Read the rest of Jared Beasley's article here. Learn about the early history of the Barkley Marathons Barkley Marathons - The Birth Barkley Marathons - First Few Years Video: Barkley Marathons - The First Year 1986 New Book including how Barkley began All-time Barkley Results

By Davy Crockett From 1875 to 1879, at least 130 six-day races were held, mostly in America and Great Britain. In 1879, the foot races became the #1 spectator sport in America. During that single year, at least 88 six-day races were held worldwide, with about 900 starters and witnessed by nearly one million spectators. Women played a significant role in these early six-day races, a century before they could take part in marathons. From 1875 to 1879, at least 30 six-day women’s races were held, involving 150 women starters who ran as far as 393 miles in six days. These daring women athletes caused a significant rift across the Victorian-era society. An editorial in the New York Times stated, “Today it is the walking match, soon the women’s vote will come.” It isn’t surprising that once the women competed, that New York City considered passing an ordinance banning “all public exhibitions of female pedestrianism.” Many people thought these races, even limited to men, were a plague on society, especially because of all the wagering that took place and suspected corruption involved. In Louisiana, it was written, “Can’t someone up there give these lunatics some kind of creditable employment in which they can exercise their pedal extremities to their hearts’ content?” From London, England, “One of these days, when one of these poor fellows, dazzled with the distant prospect of gold, drops down dead on the track, science will be satisfied, sport appeased, and public indignation aroused. Pedestrians will go on doing the ‘best time on record’ until they drop down dead.” Get my new book on Amazon After a huge race in New York City, The Third Asley Belt race, that affected attendance at churches that week, a minister wrote, “New York has been shamefully disgraced. This commercial emporium is in dishonor in the sight of God and in the eyes of the civilized world.” These early pedestrians at first had a goal to surpass 500 miles in six days. They then kept pushing the six-day world record further until George Littlewood reached 623 miles in 1888. That record stood for nearly a century and was considered a running record that would never be broken. But it eventually was broken by one man. Today, the six-day world record is held by Yiannis Kouros, of Greece, who covered an astonishing distance of 635 miles on a track in New York City in 1984. Later, in 2005, he covered 643. Running vs. Walking In 1878, the British established a six-day world championship series of races called “The Astley Belt.” After the 3rd Astley Belt Race in early 1879, won by Charles Rowell of Great Britain, Daniel O’Leary, the former six-day champion of the world, spent a lot of time pondering how the British seemed to being exceeding the Americans in the six-day sport. He became convinced that no strict walker could ever again win a highly competitive six-day race against runners. The best strict heel-toe walkers could exceed 500 miles, but not much further. He believed the runners being developed in Britain could go much further than 500 miles, and it was time for Americans to learn how to run more during these “go-as-you-please” six-day races. The six-day races held during April 1879 During April 1879, at least 13 six-day races were held, including five during the same week. Two significant races were held that month, the American Championship Belt at Gilmore’s Garden, New York City, and the 2nd English Astley Belt held at the Agricultural Hall in London. Plans for the American Championship Belt The six-day American Championship Belt race was billed as a contest to produce the best man to be sponsored to compete in the 4th Astley Belt race to be scheduled in June 1879, in England. For this qualifying race, $1,000 and a championship belt would be awarded to the winner. The race was open only to residents of America and would be under the direction of the New York Athletic Club. Belts, not belt-buckles,

By Davy Crockett This is the story of the ultramarathon that was the most impactful of all races in the history of the sport. This race was witnessed by tens of thousands of people in Madison Square Garden and followed by millions in long daily newspaper story updates. It received so much attention that it sparked an ultrarunning frenzy on multiple continents and captured the imagination of millions of people who came to realize the humans can run hundreds of miles and not die. This is the story of the 3rd Astley Belt race, held March 10th through 15th, 1879 in New York City. Make sure you get my new book on Amazon, The Six-Day Race Part One: When Ultrarunners were Called Pedestrians (1875-1879). You will read stories that have never been retold before. For the next few episodes of this podcast, we will return to the late 1800s as I research for part 2 of the six-day race history, and uncover amazing stories that have been missed by other pedestrian historians. By the end of 1878, at least 44 six-day races had been held in America and Great Britain since P.T. Barnum started it all with the first race in 1875. Daniel O’Leary of Chicago was still the undefeated world champion with ten six-day race wins. He was a very wealthy man, winning nearly one million dollars in today’s value during 1878. All the racing was taking a toll on O’Leary, and he had frequent thoughts about retiring. However, he still had obligations as the holder of the Astley Belt and the title of Champion of the World. If he could defend the Astley Belt one more time, three wins in a row, by rule, he could keep the belt. A Third Astley Belt Race was in the early planning to be held sometime during the summer of 1879. In January, he went to Arkansas to rest at the famous hot springs with its six bathhouses and 24 hotels. Little did he know that the Third Astley Belt Race would be one of the most impactful spectator events in New York City's 19th century history witnessed by more than 80,000 people. It impacted ten of thousands of workers' productivity for a week and even distracted brokers on Wall Street away from their ticker tapes. The major New York City newspapers included more than a full page of details every day that revealed the most comprehensive details ever of a 19th century six-day race. Because of its historic importance, this race will be presented in two articles/episodes. Read the details of the Third Astley Belt Race here: Part One Part Two You can also read the details of the race here: The Six-Day Race Part One: When Ultrarunners were Called Pedestrians (1875-1879).

Listen to the audio version. I included my interview on the very good Trail Runner Nation podcast. I recently went on it to talk to the guys about my new book, Classic Ultramarathon Beginnings. We discussed several of the very early ultras in our history. Classic ultramarathons (races longer than 26.2 miles) include the oldest races, the most prestigious, the largest, the toughest, and the races that have captured the imagination of outsiders who look inside the fascinating sport of ultrarunning. Classic Ultramarathon Beginnings is the definitive history of how nine classic ultras began and includes the history of their first years.   Read the fascinating origins of these classic ultramarathons The Barkley Marathons in Tennessee - "The race that eats its young." The Comrades Marathon in South Africa - The oldest and largest ultramarathon in the world London to Brighton - The race that started in 1897 and became the most prestigious ultra in the world The Mount Baker Marathon in Washington - The first American mountain trail ultra that started in 1911 The Redwood Indian Marathon in California - The race of more than 400 miles that featured Native Americans in 1927 The JFK 50 - The oldest ultramarathon in America, held in Maryland The Lake Waramaug 100 km - The oldest 100 km race in America, held in Connecticut Across the Year - The premier fixed-time race in America, held in Arizona Spartathlon - The race from Athens to Sparta in Greece in the footsteps of Pheidippides

By Davy Crockett The “around the world on foot” craze of the 1890s was first dominated by Americans, but eventually spread to Europeans. Some very interesting individuals, mostly from Germany and France, appeared in New York City claiming to be making a global journey on foot. Most were usually highly educated and impressive. Why would someone leave their well-respected careers and endure the hardship of being on the road for months and years? But the biggest question is why the public and news press could believe in such a hoax. Well, some figured it out. Here are three stories that were followed in newspapers across America. In a way, this was their way of following a continuing reality show that was often printed on the front pages of newspapers. These three stories are among more than 60 included in my new book, Around the World on Foot: The Early Globetrotters. Three German Barons Some young men in New York City had an ingenious scheme to escape depression-induced poverty and get treated like royalty. On June 10, 1896, three men professing to be German officers took the city hall in New York City by surprise, when they came into the building dressed in military uniforms. They handed their cards to a policeman and explained who they were: Baron Otto Von Sarkmitzlaff, Baron Friedrich Ferdinand von Levetzow, and Baron Alexander von Kawezynski. Since they didn't speak English, an interpreter was promptly summoned. Through the interpreter, a story unfolded that they were German officers on a furlough and were walking around the world on foot for a secret wager. They wanted their travel book to be signed by Mayor William Lafayette Strong (1827-1900) “As they advanced toward the mayor, they saluted with their right hands.” The mayor signed the book, and the city seal was stamped in it. For an unknown reason, the three individuals were hesitant to sign their names in the city hall visitor's book. They also would not reveal their around the world route, except to state that they were going to “foot it” to San Francisco. Their next near-term destination was Albany, New York. The three had their skeptics and after they left the city, some were puzzled. “Friends of the trio are at a loss to account for their action at city hall, as two of the young noblemen have resided in New York for the last three years. What their object could have been in getting the mayor to sign a voucher for an alleged pedestrian trip around the world, no one seemed to be able to explain.” A week later, two of the “barons,” including a new one, were 180 miles to the west in Sunbury, Pennsylvania instead of going north to Albany. They now spoke English fluently and finally came up with a story. They claimed to have begun their journey from New York City with no money and were required to report to the mayor of New York within two years after going all the way around the world. Instead of being in uniforms, they were now dressed in $5 suits they had acquired from a pawnbroker. They said they could not ride on trains, but oddly could ride in farmer’s wagons. As proof of their identity, they pointed out the New York seal in their book, signed by the mayor. They claimed that a year earlier in Berlin, Germany, they were in a café where some Americans were bragging about the U.S. Army's superiority. Levetzow then boasted that he could walk around the world, and a wager was established. After their visit to Sunbury, a man, Burgess Stern, let the city know that the two were frauds. “Stern claims that he has positive proof of the facts, as he saw them riding on the train cars, which they claimed they were not allowed to do and that they are two frauds who make it a business to fake people out of all they can.” Davenport, Iowa As the men arrived in cities, they would seek out any German immigrant populations, let them know they were barons, and would then be treated like royalty with the best room and board available.

By Davy Crockett My new book, Around the World on Foot: The Early Globetrotters is available on Amazon. After an introduction to help you understand what in the world was going on, I will share a chapter about the strange tradition of starting in a paper suit. I am pretty proud of this book. I wanted to share some details about what my research found. Years ago, as I was doing some research into transcontinental walks and runs, I came across some newspaper articles about two German men, in 1893, who were trying to walk all the way around the world, taking steamers between continents. I had never heard of something like that before, so I did some further research that resulted in episodes 38-45. But I still didn’t understand just how many people took part in the frenzy on foot. In recent months, I researched the topic much deeper, which resulted in my new book, Around the World on Foot: The Early Globetrotters. The reason I’m proud of this book is that no one else has ever researched deeply the amazing event before. No one had ever before lined up side-by-side the hundreds of walker stories to answer many questions of why. Why were there so many walkers? Some towns got tired of globetrotters continually coming into their towns. Did any of them truly succeed circling the globe on foot? How many of them were frauds? Why did it take so long for the public, including newspaper reporters, to catch on to some schemes? How many years did this fad last? Why did many of these globetrotters start in paper suits? Who originated that wild idea? Were there really some around the world races as several of these globetrotters claimed? I found the answers to many of these questions. My book will share more than 60 stories of men and women who attempted to walk around the world or were conning people into thinking they were. I don’t just tell the stories; I analyzed them for truthfulness and validity. If a walk was legitimate, it was covered in dozens or even hundreds of newspapers as they made progress across America, Canada, or Great Britain. If they went to Australia, they received news coverage there too. For a given walker, I collected all those articles together, plotted their progress and dates from town to town, to validate or invalidated their pace. It was a fascinating exercise. For example, one walker was in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the very next day was 400 miles further west on the railroad line at Battle Mountain, Nevada. When he arrived in San Francisco, he proclaimed he walked every mile by foot across America. In my book, I point out these amusing claims and inconsistencies. Some fakers would appear in towns but have no one witnessing them going in or out of the town on foot. They would simply march into a newspaper office, give them a press release, try to set up a lecture, and free room and board. The resulting book is hopefully entertaining, a bit mind-blowing, and at times amusing. I had to pull it all together to make sure this history was told. Now, to some details. Introduction In 1872, the French author, Jules Verne (1828-1905), released his renowned adventure book, Around the World in 80 Days. This novel fascinated readers with the idea of circumnavigating the world within a specific timeframe and encountering incredible sights. Also, starting about that time, “pedestrianism,” competitive walking and running indoors in arenas and town halls, entered its heyday. Beginning in 1875, people began talking about the idea of walking around the world. Wagers were made, and some isolated attempts began. They had no true idea how far it was around the world, what roads and trails existed, how many miles could be walked each day, and how long it would take. It took over 100 years more for guidelines to be established for those who truly wanted to walk around the world. How far is it to walk around the world? Today, the World Runners Association has set a standard...